Ongoing Projects
Genetic Mutations in Influenza Viruses and Their Effects on Transmissibility | Self Directed Research
Currently being Planned, Scheduled to Begin September 2022 edit edit
Mathematical Modelling of Heat Inducible Promoters and Downstream Metabolites | UBC iGEM
October 2021 - Present
This year, UBC iGEM is pursuing a environment-centred project to increase heat resistance in Triticum aestivum (wheat crop), by genetically altering wheat cells' response to elevated temperatures. By harnessing the utility of heat-inducible genetic promoters, the team hopes to express ACC Deaminase, SBPase and Choline Monooxygenase, enzyme which have downstream effects of degrading heat stress molecules and increasing crop yield. We were motivated to pursue this project due to the devestating effects of last year's heat wave on British Columbia's wheat yield, and the growing impact of heat waves on crop yields globally.
In this project, I have the core responsibility of creating mathematical models of the heat inducible wheat system. I am modelling the activity of the TaHsp70d heat inducible promoter and TaHsfA2b transcription factor, the Michaelis-Menten kinetics of ACC Deaminase, SBPase and their respective substrates, and attempting to develop a mathematical model of the Calvin Cycle and its relationship to SBPase activity. Furthermore, I am attempting to simulate these results through GePasi, and am looking to PyMol to better understand enzyme structures and their interactions with substrates. Lastly, I plan on developing rudimentary climate models to find regions in British Columbia susceptible to heat waves.
Designing Interfaces Modelling Anisotropic Gas Flow in Landfill Wells | Dr Yana Nec, Thompson Rivers University
April 2021 - Present
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Archived Projects
Comparative Study of Orthopaedic Braces for Femoral Neck Fractures | Course Project
January 2022 - April 2022
The objective of this term project was to compare three established implants in stabilizing bone fractures at the femoral neck in patients suffering from osteoporosis. Anthropometric data regarding each implant was gathered from research papers and manufacturers' documentations, before being simulated on Solidworks. The group then simulated loading of each surgically modified femur at the femoral neck, and performed Von Misen and Deformation simulations to find the failing load of each surgical procedure.
Results revealed that a hip-stem implant with an anisotropic Young's Modulus is the optimal solution to resist loading on the femoral neck, failing at a load of 800N applied inferiorally at the femoral head. The project also explored the limitations of our comparative study, and explored approaches to mitigate them. Results were presented in a Seminar like format and deliverables included a memo, conference paper and presentation poster. In this project, I had core responsibilities in gathering anthropometric/manufacturer's data to create and simulate the human femur and each implant. Furthermore, it was my first experience presenting the project in a seminar, and I gained invaluable technical skills co-authoring the manuscript for our research paper.
The seminar poster is attached below
Designing a Surgical Implant to Brace Femoral Fractures in Patients with Osteoporosis | Course Project
September 2021 - December 2021
The purpose of this project was to detail a prosthetic design that could be used to brace a transverse fracture in an elderly patient with osteoporosis. Although not a critical condition in younger patients, a distal femur fracture is a severe injury for the elderly. The osteoporosis reduces the bone density at the fracture site, which coupled with the effects of stress shielding disqualify our patient from current treatments . Furthermore, the elevated post-operative mortality rates in the geriatric population limits the complexity of the surgery and recovery period in elderly patients, as they need to regularly load their bones to prevent bone resorption. This motivates the need for and innovative surgical method to treat such conditions.
In this project, my group designed an implant system consisting of helical braces and nitinol staples. The braces stabilize the fracture site with a minimal impact on blood flow due to their helical nature allowing for flexibility in surgical insertion; the nitinol staples apply compressional loading along the femoral axis, stimulating osteoblasts and nullifying the effects of stress shielding. The most innovative technology in this project was the incorporation of a Shape-Memory Alloy (Nitinol), typically used for odonatological procedures, into an orthopaedic surgery in the form of traditional bone staples. I had the core responsibility of creating CADs for all prototypes, and integrating them into a virtual "fractured" femur created using anthropometric data. We simulated loading on the condyles, femoral head and greater trochanter, and evaluated the performance of the implant system. I also researched material properties of Nitinol and the human femur, and quantified the effectiveness of these staples in producing compressional loads on the femur's cortical bone using simulations.
Fabricating Mechatronic Systems to Compete in FIRST Robotics Competition | Semiahmoo Robotics
September 2016 - June 2020
FIRST Robotics competition is a annual international competition attracting High School students interested in Engineering to budget, build, test and compete with robots that must perform specific tasks. These tasks change every year and teams are given 6 weeks to go through the engineering design cycle to come up with a robust machine that can compete in an intense three day competition with little maintenance.
Through this project, I was introduced to the engineering test cycle (Design-Build-Test-Learn). In this regard, I gained foundational skills in Drafting and Computer Aided Design using SolidWorks, learned fabrication techniques such as MiG/TiG Welding, soldering, plumbing pneumatic systems and wiring electrical sensors/actuators. During my senior years, I transitioned away from technical projects towards team leadership, project management, logistical planning and administrative duties :- leading the Build Team as an executive from 2018-2019, and the club as the fabrication director from 2019-2020. Although very few of these technical skills are relevant to lab work in Cellular Engineering, this project helped me understand the frustrations associated with any engineering project, and how to overcome them. My time with Semiahmoo Robotics was instrumental in establishing my work ethic, and granted me a perspective to problem solving that will be applicable throughout the rest of my career.