Each year, the University of Miami’s Research Creativity and Innovation Forum (RCIF) provides the opportunity for undergraduate students to showcase their creativity, achievement, innovation and research in a professional setting. This year was no different, as 82 undergraduate students from all areas of study presented their research, as well as their creative and innovative projects to their peers, faculty members and the community.
Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Community Outreach, the forum is divided into five disciplines: biological sciences, engineering, humanities, physical sciences and social sciences. Each student presents twice and is evaluated by two faculty members, post-doctoral and/or senior graduate students. One winner is selected from each discipline and presented with an award certificate at the award ceremony.
This year, Quratulain Amin (BSBME ’20) received first place in the engineering category for her research entitled, “Engineering a Biomimetic Hydrogel to Model the Glomerular Basement Membrane.” Jan Lin (BSCE ’21) finished runner-up in the same category for his research entitled, “A Minimal Decomposition Algorithm for Tensegrity Structures.”
Amin’s research focused on designing and producing a hydrogel to closely mimic the biological structure and function of the glomerular basement membrane, the part of the kidney that helps filter waste and extra fluid from the blood.
“Creating a biomaterial that can imitate the glomerular basement membrane is critical, as there is no accurate way of emulating its structure and function,” explains Amin. “With these new hydrogels, we hope to provide a model for scientists and researchers to continue the development of new therapies for kidney disease.”
Lin, on the other hand, presented his research on tensegrity, a principle based on the use of isolated components in compression inside a net of continuous tension, in such a way that the compressed members (usually bars) do not touch each other and the tension members (usually cables) hold the structure together. Lin’s research project involved improving the efficiency of an algorithm used in analyzing tensegrity structures.
“Tensegrity structures are very useful because they can be used to design strong, yet lightweight, structures,” says Lin. “However, their usefulness is often undermined by the difficulty of analyzing and constructing them. Our new algorithm enhances analysis and construction aspects of tensegrity structures, opening the realm for novel applications.”
Open to all undergraduates, RCIF provides students with practical experience in public speaking and presentation skills. Additionally, it serves as a forum for other members of the campus and the community to engage in student research. To learn more about this year’s RCIF, please click here.
