DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.



 

Lab Website Link


I have been involved in research with Prof. Balaji Sitharaman since Fall 2009. Through the lab I was able to learn how to conduct research and present my work coherently for both academic and non academic audience. I was able to present my work in several conferences on and off campus getting useful feedback that helped me improve not only my project but also my communication and presentation skills. BMES and TERMIS-NA Conferences in 2010 were the highlight of my presentation experience. Abstracts I wrote were accepted for the conference publications and I was asked to present my work at the conferences. At the conference the movers and shakers of the field presented the “new” they have found in their lab and for once I didn’t have to read through journals and newspapers for keeping up with contemporary research around the globe. Listening to these great scientists talk about their work seemed far more interesting than any class that I have ever sat in. Just meeting students and faculty from various nations in itself was inspiring.

 

 

 At Stony Brook University I have tried my best to use my experiences from these conferences and my work at the lab to promote research amongst undergraduate students. I have worked with Karen Kernan from URECA to advocate for undergraduate research and discuss the benefits of the experience.  I was invited to several undergraduate freshman seminars to talk about my research experience and advice the students on how to get started as an undergraduate researcher.

 

 Over the last one year that I have worked in Prof. Sitharaman’s lab I have been part of both in vitro and in vivo studies. With help from Prof. Sitharaman and other lab members I have planned and executed a study on nano-particle enhanced biophysical stimulus for bone tissue engineering in my junior year. From planning the groups needed to the statistical analysis of the data obtained, I played a crucial role for the completion of the project. The manuscript that I co-authored has been communicated with Tissue Engineering journal in December 2010. Furthermore I have been assisting in an in vivo study for developing a novel Gd-SWCNT based contrast agent for MRI. Apart from the various techniques I have learnt from the project, I have grown to appreciate the dedication and hard work required to complete such projects.

 

 

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.