May/June 2020
Latest Research in our Department 
New urine testing method holds promise for kidney stone sufferers

An improved urine-testing system for people suffering from kidney stones inspired by nature and proposed by researchers from Penn State and Stanford University may enable patients to receive results within 30 minutes instead of the current turnaround time of a week or more.  >>
A novel method to precisely deliver therapeutics inside the body

A new way to deliver therapeutic proteins inside the body uses an acoustically sensitive carrier to encapsulate the proteins and ultrasound to image and guide the package to the exact location required, according to Penn State researchers.  >>
Engineers model mutations causing drug resistance

Whether it is a drug-resistant strain of bacteria, or cancer cells that no longer react to the drugs intended to kill them, diverse mutations make cells resistant to chemicals, and "second generation" approaches are needed.  >>
Knowing why bacteria are great upstream swimmers may prevent serious infections

New findings on how bacteria can maintain persistent and fast upstream swimming motion over distances comparable with many human organs, may help prevent life-threatening infections, according to a team of international researchers.  >>
Acoustics and biomedical engineering professor receives NSF CAREER grant

Julianna Simon, assistant professor of acoustics and biomedical engineering, will use this grant to further advance the mission of her research lab - Biomedical Acoustics Simon Lab (BASiL) - which focuses on developing diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound to improve human health.  >>
Student Impact
Ling named biomedical engineering student marshal

Melissa Ling was selected as the student marshal for the biomedical engineering baccalaureate degree program for Penn State's spring commencement, held virtually on May 9. College of Engineering student marshals are selected for their outstanding academic achievement and contributions to engineering student life.  >>
BME student teams take six awards at College Capstone Design Showcase

With the shift to a virtual format for this year's College of Engineering Learning Factory Capstone Design Project Showcase, students shared their semester's hard work on the showcase's newly developed website. >>
BME students among summer entrepreneur startup leaders

Student startups from across Penn State campuses are getting ready for the 2020 Summer Founders program, a 13-week entrepreneurial bootcamp offering mentoring, networking, resources, and $15,000 in funding to teams of Penn State student entrepreneurs from all campus locations and the World Campus. >>
Dual major engineering student brings research impacts to Kenya

Lucy Spicher, recipient of the 2020 Karadis Award for Research Achievement, pursues mechanical and biomedical engineering to build custom biodevices, including 3D-printed solutions for providing medical supplies in remote regions of Kenya.  >>
BME doctoral student Ali Kazemi part of team studying plasma medicine impact

As interest in the application of plasma medicine - the use of low-temperature plasma created by an electrical discharge to address medical problems - continues to grow, so does the need for research advancements proving its capabilities and potential impacts on the health care industry. 
>>
In the Fight Against COVID-19

Revisit our recent COVID-19 newsletter

Read stories of faculty and students who made the adjustment to online learning with success and ingenuity, faculty who shifted their research focus from fields like cancer and stem cells and applied their skills to fight the pandemic, and even learn about a graduate student who defended her thesis over Zoom. 
 
Through it all, there is a single thread that ties it all together: interdisciplinary collaboration. We have a long history of working with other departments in the Penn State College of Engineering; Penn State entities such as The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, the College of Medicine, and others; researchers at other universities; and industry.

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