Awards presented for Trine’s second STEM Symposium

Trine University presented its second annual STEM Research and Design Symposium on Dec. 7 in the Jim and Joan Bock Center for Innovation and Biomedical Engineering.

The symposium featured 43 student projects from the Bock Department of Biomedical Engineering, the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Exercise Science, the Department of Mathematics and the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. More than 85 students participated.

Projects ranged from departmental freshman and research projects to Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and graduate-level research.

More than 100 attended the event, including students, faculty, staff and community members.

Awards were presented in the following categories:

Best REU/Graduate Project:  Robert Dick, a senior chemistry major from Lawrence, Michigan, for Improvements to Battery Systems through Surface Modifications.

Honorable Mention REU/Graduate Project:  Michael Forthofer, a senior biomedical engineering major from Shelbyville, Indiana, for The Effect of Gelatin MW on Tendon Lubrication Utilizing an Extrasynovialized Turkey Flexor Tendon Model.

Best Undergraduate Project: Zach Hollis, a junior electrical engineering major from Peru, Indiana, and Dylan Kunce, a junior computer engineering major from Sturgis, Michigan, for A Model for Sequential Processes that Allow for Temporary Setbacks Before Terminating.

Honorable Mention Undergraduate Project: Hope Scholma, a junior biomedical engineering major from Montpelier, Ohio, and Shelby Oldham, a senior biomedical engineering major from Greenfield, Indiana, for The Influence of Step-Down Technique on Lower Extremity Kinetics.

Honorable Mention Undergraduate Project:  Nicole Finchum, a junior biomedical engineering major from Oak Forest, Illinois, and Alex Plastow, a junior biomedical engineering major from Warsaw, Indiana, for Platelet Adhesion of a Fibrinogen-Soaked Polycrystalline Silicon Biointerface: a Comparison with a Novel d-LbL Biointerface.

People’s Choice Award Research:  Brittani Smith, a senior biomedical engineering major from Indianapolis, and Marisa Robinett, a junior biomedical engineering major from Auburn, Indiana, for The Influence of ACL Reconstruction on Step-Down Mechanics.

People’s Choice Award Freshman:  Madison Howard, a freshman biomedical engineering major from Stockbridge, Michigan, and Autumn Burgo, a freshman psychology major from Caledonia, Michigan, for The Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve.

People’s Choice awards were determined by attendees, while other awards were selected by a panel of judges.

Photo: Robert Dick, winner of the Best REU/Graduate Project award at Trine University's second STEM Research and Design Symposium, shares about his project with attendees at the symposium. (Photo by Dean Orewiler)