BME MONDAY ROUNDTABLE

February 14, 2022

 

HEAD MESSAGE

 

Dear Weldon School,

 

Dr. Nan Kong has been named an Associate Director of Health Systems by the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering (RCHE). Established in January 2005 with funding from the Regenstrief Foundation, RCHE’s goal is to catalyze improvements in healthcare delivery by combining engineering with the healthcare system through research, partnerships, engagements, and educational experiences.  Through RCHE, Purdue, as a world-class research university, aspires to deploy the full range of its scientific and technical resources, expertise, and innovations, to improve healthcare systems' quality, efficiency, and accessibility and improve population health. RCHE’s strategic thrusts include health data science, health systems, health communications, and population health and health equity. Dr. Kong will be responsible for 1) building a team of cross-disciplinary investigators to conduct research related to current problems within the healthcare ecosystem and population health environment; 2) facilitating the development of funding applications with members of the health systems area as well as with the other thrusts; engaging with Purdue Healthcare Advisors to disseminate findings within the healthcare ecosystem or communities; 3) participating in Center activities to support student engagement, create awareness of RCHE across campus and with key stakeholders, and network to establish new partnerships; and 4) supporting requests for information to facilitate bi-annual and ad hoc reporting needs. With this 3-year appointment (renegotiable for any additional terms), Dr. Kong will be appointed a Marta E. Gross Fellow and receive full membership status at RCHE. Dr. Kong looks forward to working with colleagues across the campus to advance the mission of RCHE, and helping promote the research of the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering at RCHE and for the CoE engineering-medicine initiative.   

 

One Faculty candidate this week! Please continue to participate in the faculty candidate seminars!  We will have several candidates over the next 3-4 weeks.  Area chairs- please remind your area to review the website and take notes for updates that are needed. 

 

PROTECT PURDUE

 

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

 

Week of Feb. 14

Mon., Feb. 14 – Thurs., Feb. 17 – Fulbright Week Info Sessions. See attached flyer.

Mon., Feb. 14 – Prospective BME Faculty Seminar: Umut Gurkan, Warren E. Rupp Associate Professor, Case Western Reserve University, “Towards access for all: How to develop and translate diagnostics and cures with equity,” 9:30 a.m., MJIS 2001 and via Zoom (https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/91735135140?pwd=MzVjSHZEMGt0T3BmT3hKcWNmdXh0Zz09)

Tues., Feb. 15 – Nomination deadline for excellence in PhD graduate student research. See details below.

Tues., Feb. 15 – Nomination deadline for COE Outstanding Service Scholarship. See details below.

Wed., Feb. 16 – BME Distinguished Seminar: Tanmay Lele, PhD, Unocal Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, “Cancer Mechanobiology,” 9:30 a.m., MJIS 1001 and via Zoom: https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/95150439811?pwd=a3hOK0o0bmpkS3poTVBCbVhDNU9FZz09

Wed., Feb. 16 – BME Bytes Seminar, 2:00 pm, MJIS 1083. Presenter: Jen Anderson. “Proximal Left Renal Vein Stenosis Impacts Renal Weight During Murine Pregnancy.” Open to all undergraduate and graduate researchers. Lunch will be provided.

Wed., Feb. 16 – BRAG Event, 2:00 p.m., MJIS 2001. Drs. Vitaliy Rayz and Luis Solorio will host a Q&A on the topic “Writing a successful NIH postdoctoral (K99/K25) grant: Advice and insights from previous awardees and reviewers”

 

Upcoming important deadlines and info.

Tues., Feb. 22 – Preclinical Innovation of Biomedical Translational Research: Indiana Clinical and Translational Science (CTSI) Virtual Retreat from 10AM - 3:30PM Eastern.

Wed., Feb. 23 – BME Bytes Seminar, 1:30 pm, Location TBD. Presenter: Angel Enriquez. Open to all undergraduate and graduate researchers. Lunch will be provided.

Wed., Feb. 23 – Thurs., Feb. 24:  Fourth Annual Conference for Associate Professors, sponsored by Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence, Purdue University (see below)

Thurs., Feb. 24 – Science on Tap: “Novel Neurotechnologies for Elucidating Brain Dynamics Across Scales,” Dr. Krishna Jayant, 6:00 p.m., Lafayette Brewing Company (622 Main Street, Lafayette) Open to ages 21+. “An informal conversation about science”

Thurs., Feb. 24 – Sat., Feb. 26: Admissions Open House visit—planning for hybrid (virtual and in-person) event

Mon., Feb. 28 – Deadline to submit a poster to the Graduate School’s Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs (OIGP) for their annual Spring Reception honoring interdisciplinary graduate student research. Details below.

Mon., Feb. 28 – Deadline to register for Graduate Faculty Mentoring Workshop through the Graduate School. Details below.

Fri., Mar. 4:  Coffee Chat with Faculty:  11:00 am-noon, Location TBD. Faculty host: Nan Kong. Potential discussion topics: academic job search, initiate multi-disciplinary research, make social impact with your research

Wed., March 9 – BME Bytes Seminar, 1:30 pm, Location TBD. Presenter: Antonia Susnjar. Open to all undergraduate and graduate researchers. Lunch will be provided.

Thurs., Mar. 10:  Coffee Chat with Faculty:  4:00 pm-5:00 pm, Location TBD. Faculty host: Elsje Pienaar. Potential discussion topics: time management, teaching and diversity statements, work/life balance; imposter syndrome

Mon., March 21 – Deadline for proposals to Women’s Global Health Institute & the Catherine Peachey Fund. Request for proposals on Breast Cancer Research. Funds Available: $15,000.

Wed., March 23 – BME Bytes Seminar, 1:30 pm, Location TBD. Presenter: Luke Brennan. Open to all undergraduate and graduate researchers. Lunch will be provided.

Wed., March 30 – BME Bytes Seminar, 1:30 pm, Location TBD. Presenter: Mazin Hakim. Open to all undergraduate and graduate researchers. Lunch will be provided.

Wed., April 6 – BME Bytes Seminar, 1:30 pm, Location TBD. Presenter: Tommy Jenkins. Open to all undergraduate and graduate researchers. Lunch will be provided.

Fri., Apr. 8:  Coffee Chat with Faculty:  11:00 am -12:00 pm, Location LYLE (Room TBM). Faculty hosts: Mike Heinz and Hari Bharadwaj. Potential discussion topics: writing grants (fellowships), talking to a lay audience, open science, academic job interviews/negotiating

Wed., April 20 – BME Bytes Seminar, 1:30 pm, Location TBD. Presenter: Apekshya Chhetri. Open to all undergraduate and graduate researchers. Lunch will be provided.

Thurs., May 5:  Coffee Chat with Faculty:  11:00 am -12:00 pm, Location LYLE (Room TBM). Faculty host: Alexandria Volkening. Potential discussion topics: website development, public science and outreach, social media, academic job materials (with an interdisciplinary perspective)

 

Upcoming prospective faculty seminars.

Mon., Feb. 14 – Umut Gurkan, 9:30 a.m., MJIS 2001 and via Zoom

Mon., Feb. 21 – Craig Forest, 9:30 a.m., MJIS 1083 and via Zoom

Mon., Feb. 28 – Taimoor Qazi, 9:30 a.m., MJIS 2001 and via Zoom

Thurs., March 3 – Abhay Ramachandra, 9:30 a.m., MJIS 1001 and via Zoom

 

SPRING 2022 BME Faculty Meetings

All faculty meetings will begin at 11:30 a.m. in MJIS 2001

Fri., March 25

Fri., April 22

 

SPRING 2022 BME Primary Committee Meetings

Fri., April 15, 10:00-5:00, MJIS 2001 (LONG meeting!)

 

 

Committee Updates

 

Academic Programs

Accommodating student disability requests: As instructors we are on the front line of creating instruction and course delivery that provide equitable and inclusive access to a Purdue education. Disability is an aspect of diversity that is integral to our society and to the Purdue campus community. It takes a lot of courage for students to ask for accommodation in the classroom. It is our responsibility to treat each request with respect. A rejection can be quite detrimental to the student, as well as being in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need assistance accommodating disability request, the Purdue Disability Resource Center is an important campus resource that collaborates with faculty, students, and staff to create usable, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments.  
https://www.purdue.edu/drc/faculty/index.php
As we are several weeks into the semester, you should have already received accommodation requests from your students and received an “Aggregate Report” from DRC of what curricular accommodations are expected to be requested.  Most questions about accommodations can be answered informally through discussion with DRC staff: drc@purdue.edu.

 

Graduate Admissions (****TIME SENSITIVE****):

 

Graduate Programs – update

 

The Graduate School will be hosting two Graduate Faculty Mentoring Workshops in West Lafayette this spring. The first will be on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; and the second will be on Thursday, March 10, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Both workshops will be held at the Stewart Center in Room 202 unless we have to move to virtual.

 

The workshop provides an overview to the policies, procedures and expectations associated with mentoring graduate students at Purdue University. Participation in the workshop is required for any faculty member who wishes to seek appointment to the Graduate Faculty at Purdue University.

 

Historically it has been the practice of the Graduate School to require faculty new to Purdue to attend a Graduate Faculty Mentoring Workshop before they could obtain graduate faculty status. While a practice, it is not “policy” so we will not hold up faculty appointments due to logistics of when the workshops are offered. This does not negate the request for faculty new to Purdue to attend one of the new faculty workshops, but it does mean the Graduate School will not hold an appointment request based on workshop completion. 

 

In addition to attending one of these two workshops, faculty who wish to hold a position as a regular member of the Graduate Faculty must also be recommended by their unit and be a tenure-track or voting status faculty member. This process must be initiated in the Graduate School Database, and is typically done by the department graduate contact. Appointment to the graduate faculty permits a faculty member to teach graduate-level courses, to serve on graduate student advisory committees, and to chair or co-chair master’s and Ph.D. committees. The level of appointment is dependent upon the faculty member’s position, rank and credentials.

 

Graduate coordinators and contacts - Please provide faculty members the instructions below to register online. I will also still accept email registrations if there are any complications but my preference would be to direct them to use the electronic system. It is very important that participants arrive on time and do not leave early. Missing part of the presentation could cause their attendance to not count toward fulfilling the requirement needed to advise students or become a regular faculty member. Please make sure that he registering faculty members are aware of this.

 

To register for one of the workshops, please go to the following link and complete the Qualtrics survey GradFacultyWkshp2022 or copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3lPEgXEbrU2Aej4  

   

Deadline for registration is Monday, February 28, 2022. Additional workshops (including workshops on regional campuses) will not be held until September 2022.

 

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me

 

Casey Hollingsworth
Executive Assistant to the Dean | The Purdue University Graduate School

She/her/hers

Young Hall, Room 169 | 155 S. Grant Street | West Lafayette, IN 47907

o: 765-494-2604 | chollingsworth@purdue.edu

 

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

It is officially Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition season! This year, the Graduate School’s annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition will be hosted in-person on April 12 in the Loeb Theater. 

To increase academic representation in our 3MT competition, we are asking that West Lafayette graduate faculty members nominate talented graduate student(s) to represent their academic units in this year’s 3MT competition. Nominees must be current Purdue graduate students studying at the West Lafayette campus.

Nominees will be contacted by Graduate School staff and encouraged to register for the competition. I have shared the link to the nomination form below, as well as some additional information about the Graduate School’s 3MT competition. Please email me, Allison Loy (Loy2@purdue.edu), with any questions!

Virtual 3MT 2022 Nomination Form: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1G2Q9X0VcWgBuzc

What is 3MT?

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition that helps graduate students develop academic, presentation, and research communication skills so that they can effectively explain their research to a non-specialist audience. During each competition, graduate students will have three minutes to present a compelling discussion on their research topic, including its significance and relevance, to the general public. This is a fast-paced competition where the top 10 finalists compete by summarizing their two to three-plus years of research in only three minutes with only one slide. 

There are three cash awards for this competition, including $2,000 for first-place, $1,000 for second place, and $1,000 for the People’s Choice Award winner. The first-place winner will also be invited to compete in the Midwestern Association of Graduate School’s (MAGS) annual 3MT competition.

Learn more about Purdue University Graduate School’s 3MT competition here: https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/professional-development/competitions/3mt/index.php

 

Life Sciences The Purdue Lecture Hall Series

Dear all,

 

I would like to send out a broad invitation to graduate students conducting life science research to present their work for “The Purdue Lecture Hall Series”.  This is a program where graduate students present their experience and journey into the world of research to undergrads and high school science students who are interested in learning more about life sciences research and how they can get started.  We are looking for dynamic presenters and investigators that want to engage their audience and inspire a new generation on scientists. 

 

If you or someone you know is interested in participating, please have them reach out to Robin Benson benson75@purdue.edu.

 

Best regards,

Thomas G. Sors, PhD

Assistant Director

Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease

 

 

Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Update

In Spring 2022, the UCC will continue working on introducing BME pathways. The UCC will request each Research Area to present the corresponding Pathway to sophomore students in the next month. This will help the students to decide on their area of specialization. The presentation should clarify the knowledge and skills the students would gain as well as the future career opportunities for each BME Pathway. The UCC will also work on developing the Engineering Design courses for the re-structured undergraduate program, including the Junior and Senior Design and professional development courses. The committee will create a task force for collecting benchmark data on curriculum redesign for the future ABET accreditation.  Also, the UCC will work on increasing our offering of honors courses or honors sections within courses. 

 

DEI Committee Update

 

February is Black History Month

2022 National Theme is Black Health and Wellness. According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History which sets the annual focus, "This theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well." learn more at: https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/

 

Purdue's celebrations of Black excellence this month can be found at: https://lifeat.purdue.edu/black-history-month/

 

The Graduate Student Peer Mentoring groups are running again this semester and new first years have now been paired up with senior students. Grad students and postdocs please reach out to BMEGSA leaders Angel Enriquez (aenrique@purdue.edu) and Claudia Benito Alston (cbenitoa@purdue.edu) if you want to get involved as a mentor or a mentee.

BMES Undergraduate Peer mentoring is also getting underway and sophomores have the opportunity to participate in a mentoring group led by 1-2 upper classmen or in individual mentoring pair with a more senior student. Mentors and mentees participate in one large group and a small-group or meeting as a pair each month. 

Resources for Mentoring 

Webinars: NIH RAISING A RESILIENT SCIENTIST series for faculty and administrators who mentor students and postdoctoral fellows 

Mentoring at Purdue (M@P): network and resources for mentors and mentees  

Podcast: The Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM from the National Academies 

National Research Mentoring Network open to all career stages 

 

Winter Warming Station Meal Sign up Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) – Meals are needed each day Nov 15 through Apr 15. 

 

Business Services Updates

Going forward, Purdue Travel has been restructured in order to assist with the Concur expense report process for employees who travel. Please see the below update on the new process and contact information for questions:

 

Purdue Travel will provide all employees with a central, convenient way to submit travel receipts and business mileage, and then compile the travel expense report on the traveler’s behalf. With this change, there is now a team dedicated to the creation of expense reports. Based on a completed pilot program, the centralization of travel expense reports is expected to significantly reduce the time to create an expense report and reimburse the traveler to just four to seven days. By transitioning this work to dedicated Purdue Travel staff, employees will have more time to focus on their core responsibilities.

 

All employees or their delegates will need to submit expenses for reimbursement using one of the following methods upon returning from business travel:

 

 

A list of required information and documentation is available on the Travel website under the “Expense Reimbursement” header.

 

For business mileage reimbursement to Purdue employees, either of the above processes may be used. The traveler will need to provide a copy of their mileage log or screenshots showing the distance of business mileage traveled (e.g., using Google Maps). The traveler also must provide the reason for travel in the comment box in Concur or in the email to purduetravel@purdue.edu.

 

The Purdue Travel website has been updated to reflect the changes to travel expense reports. Additional information and resources will be added as they become available. Questions may be directed to Purdue Travel at 765-494-7354 or purduetravel@purdue.edu.

 

 

Resources, attachments, further information

 

BME Prospective Faculty Seminar - Monday, February 14, 9:30-10:20am,  MJIS 2001 or Via Zoom:  https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/91735135140?pwd=MzVjSHZEMGt0T3BmT3hKcWNmdXh0Zz09

“Towards access for all: How to develop and translate diagnostics and cures with equity” presented by Umut A. Gurkan, PhD, Warren E. Rupp Associate Professor, Case Western University, and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Abstract: February is Black History Month, and we may be on the cusp of emerging from a major global pandemic. Remembering the following quote by Martin Luther King Jr is very timely and probably more important than ever: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane”.

We are entering a new era in diagnosing, preventing, treating, and curing major health problems and diseases with rapid advances in point-of-care diagnostics, novel therapeutics, mRNA vaccines, and genome-editing-based cures. Despite recent successes, a massive gap exists between the universities, companies, clinics, and researchers developing new diagnostics and therapeutics and their availability to the people who need them the most. The unacceptable reality is a geographic and demographic exclusion of certain populations, resource-limited clinics, and low-and middle-income countries in new therapy and diagnostic development and utilization. This is particularly relevant for cell and gene therapies to treat human immunodeficiency virus infection and hemoglobinopathies, such as sickle cell disease, which are global health crises impacting tens of millions of people primarily located in resource-constrained regions. Every year, millions of babies are born with severe hemoglobin mutations, such as sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia. 99% of people living with severe hemoglobin disorders reside in low- and middle-income countries. In these regions, preventable blood disorders go mostly undiagnosed and untreated, which leads to high mortality rates in children under five. My group works on gaining a fundamental understanding of hemoglobin, red blood cells, blood rheology, blood cell biology, vascular biology, and human microcirculation. Our research has led to new biomedical microtechnologies that improve access to timely diagnosis and personalized management of existing and emerging treatments. In this talk, I will present our use-driven and need-oriented adaptive engineering approach with roots in fundamental design thinking. I will describe an innovation-enabled, accessible precision medicine approach for underserved populations. I will share real-world experience from clinical studies conducted in the US and overseas, which led to new products that are in use in over 44 countries to date.

Bio: Umut A. Gurkan, PhD is the Warren E. Rupp Associate Professor with tenure at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Gurkan holds BS degrees in Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey, and a PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University. He completed his postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology. Dr. Gurkan’s group innovates technologies that enable global equitable access to diagnostics and personalized health. Dr. Gurkan is a leader in the efficient translation of microfluidics and point-of-care diagnostics for blood disorders. He has led international clinical studies on sickle cell disease research in the United States, Africa, Southeast Asia, and India. Dr. Gurkan has authored over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles. His research has been supported by the NSF, NIH, DoD, non-profit organizations, and several industrial partners. Dr. Gurkan’s inventions have led to 11 issued US patents and four successful biotechnology companies to date with products in global markets. Dr. Gurkan’s innovations won numerous awards, including USPTO Patents for Humanity recognition and USFDA Breakthrough Device Designation. Dr. Gurkan’s dedication to diversity, inclusion, equity, mentoring, and societal impact of his research has been recognized by numerous awards. His honors include National Science Foundation CAREER Award, American Society for Engineering Education Curtis W. McGraw Research Award Finalist, Translational Research Featured New Investigator Award, Biomedical Engineering Society Rising Star Award, MIT Technology Review Innovator under 35 Award, Doris Duke Innovations in Clinical Research Award, and he was featured by NHLBI in Today’s Faces of Sickle Cell Disease. Dr. Gurkan is a member of the Global Gene Therapy Initiative, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Society, and American Society of Hematology. Dr. Gurkan is a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and a member of the New Voices in Science, Engineering and Medicine Program by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).

~BME Host: Hugh Lee~

 

Fulbright Week Info Sessions - The Fulbright application process for the U.S. Student Program kicks off. Please put this slide up in your classes (or share screen on Zoom, insert in your PPT) next week (Feb 7 – 11), to advertise before Purdue’s National and International Scholarships Office (NISO) Fulbright information sessions the following week. Sessions are simultaneously virtual and in person.

 

For the first time in Purdue’s history, Purdue is a 2021-22 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Top Producer. This means all of this university’s work toward Fulbright have positioned Purdue University nationally. Thank you!

 

Talking points if you need them:

·      Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the US’s premier program for international research, teaching, and cultural exchange. Its reputation is for funding the best of US scholars

·      This is a grant, not a scholarship; and no glorified study abroad experience. It’s living for a year in one of over 140 countries to conduct research in your field, earn an advanced degree, or teach English

·      English Teaching Assistantships have you teach part time and spend the rest in “cultural engagement” of your own devising. ETAs might go on to jobs, med school graduate school . . . 

·      Graduate schools and industry will often defer offers for a year because Fulbright experience is coveted

·      Approx 50% of recipients are undergrads or recent alumni when they apply and 50% graduate students

·      Those who already had a taste of the good life when abroad often apply successfully for Fulbright as a funding opportunity for more and deeper experience

·      Fulbright also has a special place in its heart to fund those who have never spent time abroad

·      Fulbrighters are independent and creative, and excited to go to their prospective host country

·      It is a post-baccalaureate year

·      First and second year students attend Fulbright Week to find out what to aim for in order to be purposeful in their undergraduate experience;

·      Third and fourth year students as well as graduate students and recent alumni begin applying now for a 2022-23 grant.

More information can be found on our Fulbright Week page where you will find the full schedule, session descriptions, and a digital flyer to download from the left sidebar. You will also find RSVP links and a WebEx address for students off campus to remote into the session.

 

There is an information session for faculty interested in applying to the Fulbright U.S. Scholars program. It’s not on the slide, but that session withChris Lukasik is Monday, 3:30 – 4:30pm in WALC 3138.

 

BME Distinguished Seminar: Tanmay Lele, PhD, Unocal Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, “Cancer Mechanobiology,” Wed., Feb. 16,  9:30 a.m., MJIS 1001 and via Zoom: https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/95150439811?pwd=a3hOK0o0bmpkS3poTVBCbVhDNU9FZz09

Abstract: Many solid tumors are detected by self-palpitation as stiff lumps in the tissue. This gross observation is a manifestation of mechanical changes that begin at the cell level. Tumors are stiff because tumor cells modify the cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents of the tumor microenvironment. The resulting increased stiffness in turn reciprocally influences tumor cell behavior, promoting cell proliferation, invasive migration that leads to new tumors at secondary sites, and resistance to therapeutic drugs. How mechanical changes in tumors occur and how they alter the biology and pharmacology of cancer cells is the subject of the growing field of cancer mechanobiology. I will present ongoing research efforts in my lab to understand how mechanical changes in tumors can impact nuclear, cell and tissue structure and function. 

Bio: Dr. Tanmay Lele is Unocal Professor at Texas A&M University in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. Dr. Lele’s expertise is in the area of mechanobiology. He was awarded the PhD from Purdue University in Chemical Engineering in 2002. This was followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School/Children’s hospital. He joined the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor in 2006. There he was honored with the NSF CAREER award, the American Heart Investigator’s National Scientist Development grant, and was supported by several NIH and NSF grants. Dr. Lele was recruited to Texas A&M through the CPRIT established investigator award in 2020.

 

~BME Faculty Host: Dr. Luis Solorio ~

 

Seminar for Neurotrauma and Diseases

Join the Center for Paralysis Research as we host the Spring 2022 installment of the Seminar for Neurotrauma and Diseases, sponsored by Plexon Neurotechnology Systems! There will be six seminars this semester, on February 9, February 23, March 9, March 23, April 6, and April 20, all from 4:00 PM-5:00 PM EST on Zoom.

 

This neurotrauma-focused seminar will host speakers from Purdue, Harvard, and Carnegie Mellon universities. Distinguished experts in their respective fields will present on a variety of neurobiology- and SCI/TBI-related topics, sharing their unique focuses and cutting-edge research. Individual announcements, including abstracts and other presentation information, will be coming shortly, so keep an eye out for those!

 

View the seminar live at https://bit.ly/3tDZOfm. Some seminars will be recorded, so if you can’t make the live event, make sure to check out our website for the latest updates.

Contact us with any questions at cpr@purdue.edu!

 

Raising A Resilient Scientist Workshop Series

(Message from Sharon Milgram, Director, NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education): Over the last year I have interacted with many trainees across the U.S. as part of the NIH Becoming a Resilient Scientist series. After carefully considering input from students, postdocs, faculty and program administrators who participated in the program, I have decided to offer a series, RAISING A RESILIENT SCIENTIST, for faculty and administrators who mentor students and postdoctoral fellows in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences. The goal of the Raising a Resilient Scientist series is to promote the mental health and well-being of the academic research community by supporting faculty and administrators to develop self-management, relationship-management, and mentoring skills. A variety of topics will be covered with a specific focus on communication and shared problem-solving to help trainees deal with the inevitable setbacks experienced in high knowledge environments.  There will be five units in the series; each unit will consist of a 75-minute lecture, which can be watched in real-time or asynchronously, followed by a 1-hour facilitated discussion with peers. There will be two opportunities for participation in the small groups following each webinar. There is no charge for participation, but advanced registration is required. For more information, and to register, please visit our webpage.  I do not anticipate offering this series again in the future; participation in the entire series is recommended but is not required. Please do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions.

 

BME PhD Defense Announcement for Sarah Lipp (S. Calve, advisor)

Title: Defining tissue level architecture changes in extracellular matrix during murine kidney and forelimb myotendinous junction development

Date: February 14, 2022

Time: 11:00 AM ET

Zoom link: https://iu.zoom.us/j/88099753662?pwd=emp6YkpUVzVPLzZlV3BoRTdzVnFEQT09

Meeting ID: 880 9975 3662; Password: 715208

Advisory Committee: 

Sarah Calve, PhD, Chair

David Hains, MD

Tamara Kinzer-Ursem, PhD

Andrew Schwaderer, MD

Luis Solorio, PhD

Abstract: Congenital diseases of the kidney are the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in pediatric patients. Tissue engineering models used to investigate these diseases are limited by an immature phenotype. Models cultured in an extracellular matrix (ECM), a network of proteins and glycosaminoglycans surrounding cells and providing structural support that mimic the matrix found in development will be likely more mature. However, developing kidney ECM composition and structural dynamics are unknown. To address this gap, we studied ECM composition using mass spectrometry and organization by visualizing the ECM in 3D.

In this work, we used mass spectrometry to resolve ECM basement membrane and interstitial matrix dynamics between embryonic, perinatal, and adult kidneys. Surprisingly, we observed a transient upregulation of interstitial matrix structures that corresponded to dynamic 3D structures in the cortex (vertical fibers) and at the corticomedullary junction (medullary ray sheath fibers). Notably, in a model of abnormal Foxd1+ stromal cells, the vertical fibers were disorganized, and medullary ray sheath fibers were no longer associated with blood vessels, suggesting the dynamic 3D structures depended on stromal cell modulation.

One of the effects of abnormal kidney development is decreased amniotic fluid, which limits embryonic movement and subsequent limb development. In additional studies, we looked at the implications of the lost motility in the muscle dysgenesis (mdg) mouse on the development of the myotendinous junction (MTJ). The MTJ links contractile muscle with tendon. We found the ECM protein COL22A1 was specific to the developing MTJ as early as embryonic day (E)13.5. The development of the MTJ from a linear structure to a cap-like structure with invaginations in adolescent mice depended on muscle contraction. Furthermore, we used a model to decouple the muscle-tendon-bone complex at an ectopic lateral triceps insertion (Prrx1Cretg/+; Tbx3fl/fl). We observed disorganized tendon and MTJ markers at the termination of the ectopic lateral triceps muscle but negligible cartilage markers. Together, this indicated MTJ maturation depended on motility but not on the enthesis.

The information gleaned from our studies on how stromal cells affect dynamic 3D interstitial ECM structures and composition change during kidney development can be used as a template for 3D kidney culture systems. Combined with forelimb MTJ development, our results indicate the importance of the interstitial matrix in tissue morphogenesis.

 

Nomination Deadline for Excellence in PhD Graduate Student Research – Feb. 15, 5:00 p.m.

We are seeking nominations to recognize excellence in PhD graduate student research. Before choosing to nominate one of your past or present BME or IBSC PhD students, please see the specific eligibility requirements and selection criteria that follow:

Eligibility:

·            PhD students in good academic standing who have passed the preliminary exam;

·            Have graduated or are expected to graduate between June 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022;

·            Have published at least one peer-reviewed journal article and/or made at least one oral or poster presentation at a professional conference. For non-publicly published articles, certifications from appropriate authorities are needed. Priority should be given to papers where the student is lead author.

Selection Criteria examples: Peer-reviewed publications in journals or conference proceedings; Awards for research, including best paper and outstanding presentations; Recognized or potential contribution of the research to the field; Recognized or potential contribution of the research to Society; Leadership within a research group or community (including mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students in their research); Academic achievement; Participation in professional societies.

Nomination Deadline: The following materials are due to smmay@purdue.edu no later than February 15, 2022 at 5:00pm EST:

·               Letter from the student’s major professor addressing the selection criteria;

·               Copy of one paper accepted or published in a peer-reviewed journal or conference proceeding;

·               Copy of the student’s Purdue transcript.

Biomedical Engineering will name one recipient for this award. The person that is selected will receive $2,000, a certificate, and recognition in a video by the College of Engineering. Any questions, let us know at smmay@purdue.edu.

 

College of Engineering Outstanding Service Scholarship – nominations due February 15.

The College of Engineering awards an Outstanding Service Scholarship of $2,000 to a graduate student in each school who has provided outstanding service to the graduate student community, the School, the College, and/or the University. Awardees will also receive a certificate as well as recognition in a video produced specifically for this achievement.

 

Nominees should meet the following criteria:

1.      Be pursuing a graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in our school.

2.      Be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0, with a higher GPA preferred.

3.      Have completed at least one full calendar year in your graduate program at the time of the nomination.

4.      Have contributed over time to the quality, reputation, or success of the graduate student community, School, College, and/or University.

 

If you meet the above criteria and wish to submit a nomination, please provide the following documents as one single PDF to tsiemers@purdue.edu no later than 5:00PM on February 15, 2021 (NO exceptions):

 

·         Student’s self-written nomination letter describing evidence of #4 above (1-2 pages), plus a chronological list of your service activities;

·         Student’s current c.v.;

·         Student’s current Purdue transcript (unofficial will suffice)

 

If you have any questions, contact Tammy Siemers (tsiemers@purdue.edu).

 

BME PhD Defense Announcement for Hannah Cebull (C. Goergen, advisor)

Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 3:00PM ET.

Title: Noninvasive biomechanical characterization of the aorta

Date: February 21, 2022

Time: 3:00 PM ET

Location: MJIS 2001 and Zoom – link below*

Advisory Committee: Craig Goergen, Chair; Luis Solorio; Vitaliy Rayz; Ntobeko Ntusi

Abstract: The aorta has many complex features including valve and vessel wall geometry, blood flow, and wall composition. Diseases such as aortic aneurysms and aortic valve lesions affect vessel function and may even lead to rupture, which can be fatal. However, current clinical diagnoses of aortopathies mainly rely on simple parameters such as diameter and growth rate. To better understand aortopathies and ultimately provide better patient diagnoses and treatments, it is important to investigate disease progression as well as the effect of vessel wall composition changes and hemodynamic forces on aortic biomechanics, such as strain and wall shear stress distribution. Preclinical research using small animals allows for disease progression to be studied while controlling outside factors. The next important step is to apply the methods used in the preclinical studies to human patient data. Both preclinical and clinical studies often focus on noninvasive, patient-specific methods for further characterizing the biomechanics of the aorta using advanced techniques such as 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging, 4D ultrasound, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and fluid structure interaction (FSI) modeling. Yet the challenge of bridging these research techniques to a clinical setting remains. Factors such as financial costs, acquisition time, and ease of analysis must be considered. Therefore, the following document highlights two specific aims to extend our knowledge about the effects of aneurysms and aortic valve lesions. We will 1) characterize the regional effects of murine abdominal aortic aneurysms on strain over time, and 2) use CFD and FSI to simulate the hemodynamic effects on the thoracic aorta using both murine and human patient imaging data. Conducting research using clinically translatable methods of biomechanical characterization that consider the complexity of the aorta on a patient-specific basis will contribute to our understanding and lead to better patient outcomes.

 

*Join Zoom Meeting

https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/95658148163?pwd=djlCN1BaN1MyZzdLeTdNS0hHMDZMUT09 

Meeting ID: 956 5814 8163

Passcode: 539840

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,95658148163#,,,,*539840# US (Chicago)

+16465588656,,95658148163#,,,,*539840# US (New York)

Find your local number: https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/u/adoKmAYkr3 

 

 

Preclinical Innovation of Biomedical Translational Research: Indiana Clinical and Translational Science (CTSI) Virtual Retreat

Please join us for the Indiana Clinical and Translational Science (CTSI) Virtual Retreat hosted by Purdue University on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 from 10AM - 3:30PM Eastern.

 

REGISTER HERE

 

A keynote address will be given by Dr. Christopher Austin, CEO Partner of Flagship Pioneering and previous founding Director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).

The agenda includes:

Partners of Indiana CTSI are Purdue University, Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame.

 

CALL FOR POSTERS:  https://engineering.purdue.edu/BME/AboutUs/News/2022/call-for-posters-indiana-ctsi-retreat-at-purdue

 

Fourth Annual Conference for Associate Professors set for Feb. 23-24

The Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence in collaboration with the Office of the Provost will hold the Fourth Annual Conference for Associate Professors on Feb. 23-24 in Purdue Memorial Union. The conference is titled "Charting Your Path to Promotion." The conference will include a keynote address and two panel sessions. Over the course of the conference, attendees will have opportunities to network, share information and learn from others in ways that will enable associate professors, particularly women associate, to accelerate their progression to full professor. The panel sessions comprise speakers from within and outside Purdue. Although this conference targets associate professors, the strategies and insights offered by the keynote speaker and the panelists will be useful for all faculty members.

Conference details include:

o   Keynote address: Elizabeth Field Hendry, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Queens College, CUNY.

o   Panel session 1: "Managing Time: Service, Teaching, Mentoring, and Research."

o   Panel session 2: “Promotion to Full Professor.”

The conference is free for Purdue faculty, who must email butlercenter@purdue.edu for the code before registering. Faculty from outside Purdue will pay a registration fee. Registration will open in about two weeks. More information, including the conference schedule, keynote and panel sessions, is available on the conference webpage.

 

WOMEN’S GLOBAL HEALTH INSTITUTE  &  THE CATHERINE PEACHEY FUND  Request for Proposals on Breast Cancer Research 

Proposal Deadline: March 21, 2022 

Funds Available: $15,000  

The Purdue Women’s Global Health Institute (WGHI) together with the Catherine Peachey Fund are pleased to announce a request for proposals of outstanding scientific merit for research focused on breast cancer.  Proposals from a variety of disciplines, proposals addressing prevention and early detection, or proposals having potential collaborations with clinicians or other collaborations outside Purdue are welcome. The funded project is expected to gather preliminary data to submit competitive applications to external funding agencies, or to seek support from an outside organization (e.g. companies, foundations, etc.) for continuation of the research.  

Funding:  The research team may request up to $15,000.  

Eligibility:  The PIs must be tenured/tenure-track, research, or clinical faculty at or above the assistant professor rank on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University.  

Please see the attached for details.  Thank you. 

 

Please plan on joining The Graduate School’s Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs (OIGP) for our annual Spring Reception in celebration of interdisciplinary graduate student research on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Purdue Memorial Union North and South Ballrooms.  Please consider submitting a presentation and applying for the Most Outstanding Interdisciplinary Project Award (MOIPA—winner receives $1000). Poster and Award Submission Deadline: Monday, February 28, 2022. Details can be found at the links below:

 

Poster Submission Application and Details

Award Application and Details

 

 

 

Attachments

*2022FulbrightWeek

*2022 CTSI Winter Retreat Flyer

*WGHI Peachey Call