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The next ExpecTAtions workshop for prospective TAs in Engineering will be held on Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 8:30-3:30 (2 days)

Workshop Schedule

Day One - April 28

ABSTRACT:  Stem cells respond to both physical and biochemical changes in their stem cell niche. An ideal scaffold for tissue engineering application should mimic the microenvironment for natural tissue development and present the appropriate biochemical and topographical cues in a spatially controlled manner. Studies have shown that physical forces from the substrate topography play a role in stem cell proliferation, migration and cell fate determination.

ABSTRACT:  The exogenous delivery of RNA into tissues has shown great potential for the treatment of destructive diseases by therapeutically controlling the expression of genes within those tissues.  A key need for the broad application of RNA for therapeutic biomedical engineering applications is the development of safe and effective delivery systems capable of targeting specific cells within the body.

ABSTRACT:  The development of molecular simulation algorithms for predicting the thermodynamic properties of classical fluids and their mixtures began over 50 years ago. An ultimate goal is to predict system properties at both the macroscopic and molecular levels with the minimal need for experimental data. Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) are the two main approaches, both based on specifying an underlying mathematical model for the molecular interactions (force fields).

ABSTRACT:  Polymer nanocomposites have unique multifunctional properties resulting from the size and shape of the fillers and display superior electrical, thermal and mechanical properties to conventional polymer composites due to the nanoscale size of the filler.  Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as well as Copper and Silver nanowires were melt-mixed with polymers via solution mixing and in miniature mixers, and electrical and mechanical properties were tested.

ABSTRACT:  In order to solve the energy crisis, we need high-impact technology solutions which allow us to make and use energy products in a way that provides a similar standard of living but with a much-reduced environmental footprint. It's not easy.  Any new approaches will have to not only be proven to be less damaging to the environment, but they must be politically and socially acceptable, and they must still be profitable enough such that the industry actually wants to try them.