By ANDRIANNA MARSTON

alm045@latech.edu

 

Biomedical engineers are preparing to fill the hallways of Bogard Hall tomorrow with newly designed products and poster boards for the Second Annual Biomedical Engineering Research Day.

“This is basically a poster presentation session where graduate students present the research they have worked on all year,” Patrick Clerkin, a graduate student of biomedical engineering, said.

Clerkin said the research day is an opportunity for graduate students to gain experience for the future.

“[The event] gives the students a chance to present research in a low pressure environment and practice for presenting research at conferences,” he said.

Clerkin said last year was a ground breaker for the annual event, and this year student presenters will have more opportunities.

“In addition to the practice students will have gained for the advancement of their future careers, students will also have a chance to see what other students are researching,” Clerkin said.

Clerkin said because the field is so demanding, graduate students usually do not have spare time to check out their peers’ projects.

“When students enroll in graduate school, often they are completely focused on their own work, which leaves no time to see other research conducted in the field,” Clerkin said. “However, this day allows everyone to check out the different research at Tech.”

Jerome Saltarrelli, a graduate student of biomedical engineering, will be one of the many students presenting research at the event.

“I will test a bone graft from a component of crawfish shells,” Saltarrelli said.

He said the program is offered at Tech and Tulane.

“And because Tech offers a better program, I decided to stay here and continue my research,” Saltarrelli said.

Saltarrelli said the research day is also geared toward undergraduate students.

“I remember when I first came to Tech, the only way to find out about a specific curriculum, the research involved and the professors was to look on the Internet, no hands-on experience,” Saltarrelli said.

“With a day like this planned, all potential students can conveniently browse each set up and see what peeks his or her interest,” Saltarrelli said.

Kellie Huckaby, a graduate student of biomedical engineering, is a new participant at the research day.

“Diabetes is a disease that affects people worldwide,” Huckaby said.

“I believe this type of research should be continuously performed and supported because it does have an alternative method to test their glucose levels.”

Huckaby said she feels it is important for the university to keep hosting this event.

“I am working on a project that can help individuals all over the world who are suffering from diabetes,” Huckaby said.

“[My research] can lead to an easier method of testing blood glucose levels than the common finger-prick or other methods.”