tag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:/newsZorlutuna Lab | News2023-02-07T13:32:00-05:00tag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1508322023-02-07T13:32:00-05:002023-02-07T13:32:41-05:00Pinar Zorlutuna named Roth-Gibson Professor of Bioengineering<p><strong><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/pinar-zorlutuna/">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>,</strong> professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Notre Dame, has been awarded an endowed professorship. She was named Notre Dame’s Roth-Gibson Professor of Bioengineering, effective…</p><p><strong><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/pinar-zorlutuna/">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>,</strong> professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Notre Dame, has been awarded an endowed professorship. She was named Notre Dame’s Roth-Gibson Professor of Bioengineering, effective January 1, 2023.</p>
<p>“Appointment to an endowed chair is one of the highest honors in the University, signifying distinguished achievement in one’s field,” said <strong><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/patricia-culligan/">Patricia J. Culligan</a></strong>, the Matthew H. McCloskey Dean of the College of Engineering.</p>
<p>“Professor Zorlutuna is nationally acclaimed for her prominent work and contributions in bioengineering, including her leading-edge research in tissue models and biorobots.</p>
<p>“She has successfully pursued patents that translate her work on biocomputing into action. I am delighted to see Pinar’s contributions recognized with this chair.”</p>
<p>Zorlutuna investigates and develops micro- and nanoscale approaches to cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, with a focus on addressing health problems such as cancer, heart disease and aging as well as engineering bio-inspired systems. The <a href="https://tissueeng.nd.edu/"><strong>Zorlutuna Lab</strong></a> designs biomimetic environments using tissue engineering, genetic engineering, and micro- and nanotechnology.</p>
<p>In 2019, she received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) — the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding young scientists and engineers. In 2021, she was named a member of the Cellular and Molecular Technologies Study Section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review. The National Academy of Sciences named her a Kavli Fellow in recognition of her exceptional contributions to science.</p>
<p>Zorlutuna is an affiliate member of Notre Dame’s <a href="https://harpercancer.nd.edu/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Harper Cancer Research Institute</a>, <a href="https://precisionhealth.nd.edu/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Institute for Precision Health</a> and <a href="https://nano.nd.edu/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Nanoscience and Technology.</a></p>
<p>After completing her Ph.D. at the Middle East Technical University, Zorlutuna was a postdoctoral fellow first at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and then at Harvard Medical School. She joined the Notre Dame faculty in 2014.</p>Karla Crusetag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1466142022-06-27T00:00:00-04:002022-07-07T15:59:54-04:00Summer Undergraduate Research: Five Students Weigh in on What They're Researching and Learning<p>Students with any major can conduct undergraduate research at Notre Dame and many students choose to conduct their research in the summer months. </p> <p>Some students work in labs, some partner with professors for special projects, and many find themselves traveling throughout the United States and…</p><p>Students with any major can conduct undergraduate research at Notre Dame and many students choose to conduct their research in the summer months. </p>
<p>Some students work in labs, some partner with professors for special projects, and many find themselves traveling throughout the United States and even abroad to conduct research over their breaks.</p>
<p>Meet five students from different majors who are conducting research over their break this summer. From ancient manuscripts to zebrafish, they're digging into the topics they love. </p>
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<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Dannyobrien" src="https://admissions.nd.edu/assets/476528/400x/dannyobrien.jpg"></figure>
<h2>Daniel O'Brien '24</h2>
<h4>Majors: Philosophy, Theology, and Classics supplemental major with concentration in Greek </h4>
<p><strong>What I Do:</strong></p>
<p>I am currently working with Prof. David Lincicum on a project concerning the Epistle of Barnabas, a non-canonical Christian work written roughly between 70 and 132 AD.</p>
<p>Specifically, I assist with the manuscript collation, the process of comparing differing manuscripts or editions of the same work in order to establish a corrected text. This process is instrumental in turning the raw data of various manuscripts into a single text to be utilized, while still noting the idiosyncrasies and variants the different manuscripts bring to the table.</p>
<p>I am also working on analyzing the many “scriptural” quotations found in the work, some of which vary distinctly from the “standard” texts they purport to quote and others of which are utterly mysterious in origin.</p>
<p>One lurking question asks to what extent the author of the work is deliberately altering or even generating quotations to fit his uses, or if he is quoting from variant or unknown sources. Another section of my research pertains to how other writers contemporary to the epistle of Barnabas cite and exegete these same sources, in order to ascertain the epistle’s place in post-temple Judaism and early Christianity.</p>
<p><strong>Why I Decided to Do Research this Summer: </strong></p>
<p>I have had a sustained interest in early Christianity since high school, an interest that has grown at Notre Dame, fostered by our excellent faculty and resources across many departments; after graduation, I intend to attend graduate school and eventually pursue a Ph.D. in this field.</p>
<p>Setting aside part of my summer for research allows me to focus specifically on research, acquiring skills first-hand that will help me in my academic career and pursuing a topic I find fascinating.</p>
<p><strong>How I Got Started: </strong></p>
<p>This past semester, I took New Testament Introduction with Professor Lincicum, and became particularly interested with the world of the New Testament—particularly, early non-canonical Christian works, those that “didn’t make the cut.” Fortunately, Professor Lincicum himself mentioned that he was engaged in research concerning one such work, the Epistle of Barnabas, and I asked if I could work as his research assistant on this project during the summer. </p>
<p><strong>What I’m Learning So Far: </strong></p>
<p>Research takes time, but is rewarding—I have begun the manuscript collation process, and looking back upon pages of completed collation is a satisfying feeling. I am particularly glad I am able to research in the summer, with fewer distractions from schoolwork and extracurriculars while having same resources being available to me, particularly those available through the Hesburgh Library.</p>
<p>Personally, this research has highlighted a dimension of my field to which I had previously not given enough thought—the countless hands throughout the centuries who laboriously hand-copied manuscripts for their preservation, a particularly impressive feat for those copying non-canonical works. The idiosyncrasies of Greek handwriting is a world I had not been exposed to before, and being able to read it is a unique experience, not to mention a very important skill to have in my field. Being able to examine and consider the very handwriting of these scribes, instead of typed text on a page, has been a fascinating experience, and I am looking forward to continuing this research for the rest of the summer.</p>
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<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Vivifernandez" height="527" src="https://admissions.nd.edu/assets/476531/400x/vivifernandez.jpg" width="400"></figure>
<h2>Viviana Fernandez '24</h2>
<h4>Major: Biology </h4>
<p><strong>What I Do: </strong></p>
<p>I’m an undergraduate researcher in Dr. David Hyde’s lab, where we study the innate ability of the adult zebrafish to regenerate retinal neurons following damage. We are studying the roles of different cell types and signaling pathways that allow zebrafish to regenerate lost retinal neurons and compare this to mammals, which cannot regenerate retinal neurons. Understanding this process could provide helpful insight to develop treatments for human diseases, ultimately restoring vision in people with blindness. </p>
<p>My project focuses on examining how retinal regeneration varies during repeated rounds of damage. A group of zebrafish are damaged and allowed to regenerate three consecutive times. In each damage round, retinas are sectioned, stained, and imaged. Finally, non-neuronal cells, like Müller Glia and microglia, are quantified, and statistical analysis is used to determine changes in response during repeated damage. </p>
<p><strong>Why I Decided to Do Research this Summer: </strong></p>
<p>I greatly enjoy my work in the Hyde lab. The techniques are interesting, the fish facility is impressive, and the retinas under the confocal microscope are fascinating.</p>
<p>I significantly honed my technical research skills and gained so much scientific knowledge during the spring semester, so I knew that a summer term would be very enriching…and fun!</p>
<p>I expressed my interest to my mentor Celine Lu, and with her help, we developed a summer project. Once the project was approved, it was a no-brainer for me to stay. </p>
<p><strong>How I Got Started: </strong></p>
<p>As I arrived at Notre Dame, I was curious about exploring the world of research. My first biology course at Notre Dame was Dr. Hyde’s Blindness module in the Big Questions course, which piqued my interest in stem cell research.</p>
<p>Retinal processes and the potential of stem cells to serve as treatments for neurodegenerative diseases intrigued me. I wanted to find a way to contribute to the field as an undergraduate student. </p>
<p>During the fall semester of sophomore year, I expressed my interest to Dr. Hyde, and was fortunate to join the lab in the spring semester under the mentorship of Ph.D. candidate Celine Lu. Celine has taught me everything I know about stem cell and regenerative medicine research. She is an amazing scientist and mentor. </p>
<p><strong>What I’m Learning So Far: </strong></p>
<p>Through my research project, I’ve learned to perform techniques required for a biology research project—tissue sectioning, staining, and imaging. I’ve also strengthened my analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as problem-solving skills. Taken together, I’ve acquired the toolkit to successfully carry out a research project, and shifted my mindset from lab student to undergraduate researcher. </p>
<p>Most of all, I’ve learned the value of mentorship. I have an amazing mentor that is very patient and has been open and willing to share her knowledge and experience with me. Expressing that I’m not grasping a concept and asking for help has been the key to success.</p>
<p>I've learned that research entails failure, constant learning, and frequent modification of procedures. Reaching out to others in times of need or confusion definitely contributes to overall success and, more importantly, personal improvement.</p>
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<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Chrismyers" src="https://admissions.nd.edu/assets/476532/400x/chrismyers.jpg"></figure>
<h2>Chris Myers '24</h2>
<h4>Major: Aerospace engineering</h4>
<p><strong>What I Do: </strong></p>
<p>I am a research assistant of the Computational Mechanics and Optimization Laboratory (CaMO). My research focuses on the implementation of a domain map that is used as a reference for a high-order implicit shock tracking method for simulation of complex, high-speed flows.</p>
<p>Using a computer software, I design 2D and 3D models of unique structures encased in a fairfield boundary, generate an unstructured mesh surrounding the structure, and refine the mesh to smooth the results. </p>
<p>The generated mesh model is utilized as a basis for the shock tracking formulation. The referenced mesh ensures the mapping will approximate the boundary of the physical domain to high-order accuracy. </p>
<p><strong>Why I Decided to Do Research this Summer: </strong></p>
<p>I wanted to collaborate with professors and students on advanced problems that goes beyond much of the material learned in class. I knew that surrounding myself with professors and graduate students, I would figure out how to tackle more complicated problems and learn about a topic much quicker through a hands-on process with the assistance of experienced professors and graduate students.</p>
<p>I wanted to learn about the aerospace graduate students’ experience and gain my own experience to discern what I can do during my research and help figure out what I want to do beyond my research.</p>
<p><strong>How I Got Started: </strong></p>
<p>I wanted to exercise my knowledge, gathered from various aerospace and mechanical engineering courses, and use them in a real-world problem. I’ve always enjoyed exploring new softwares and figuring out how to navigate them.</p>
<p>When I found out about this opportunity the CaMO lab, I reached out to Professor Zahr about undergraduate summer research. I work closely with a graduate student who has guided me through the early stages of mesh generation. </p>
<p><strong>What I’m Learning So Far: </strong></p>
<p>I am using a software called Ansys to generate and run simulations on meshes. There is a big learning curve using this software and I realized that research can start off a lot slower than what was anticipated. Research is about taking baby steps to solve one problem at a time and gaining skills along the way to become more efficient and advanced with any new task that is thrown at you.</p>
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<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Victoriadiscuasantos" src="https://admissions.nd.edu/assets/476533/400x/victoriadiscuasantos.jpg"></figure>
<h2>Victoria Discua '23</h2>
<h4>Major: Mathematics (Life sciences concentration)<br>
Minor: Bioengineering</h4>
<p><strong>What I Do: </strong></p>
<p>I am a summer fellow at Zorlutuna Lab under the supervision of Ph.D. candidate Gozde Basara. Zorlutuna Lab focuses on researching cell behavior and interaction with other cells and their environment.</p>
<p>Apart from the biology aspect of conditions like infarct myocardium and breast cancer, the lab utilizes engineering concepts to understand cell mechanics and interactions from a bioengineering perspective.</p>
<p>The work I am a part of this summer is specifically the design and development of a cardiac tissue disease model in which the main aim is to mimic the human body’s response to myocardial infarction. </p>
<p><strong>Why I Decided to Do Research this Summer: </strong></p>
<p>My current short-term aspiration is continuing my studies after graduation and pursuing a Ph.D. degree in bioengineering. However, during the academic year, I do not have much of an opportunity to participate in laboratory practices and experiences through my math classes. So, I decided to hone my research skills during the summer and be exposed to the same environment that I will during my future graduate studies.</p>
<p><strong>How I Got Started: </strong></p>
<p>As a bioengineering minor, I have always been amazed at how researchers approach current clinical challenges and provide solutions. Tissue engineering is especially interesting to me because of how resourcefully engineers utilize novel technology in conjunction with biological concepts to approach these challenges.</p>
<p>After reading one of the Zorlutuna Lab’s papers on bioprinting technology with the use of stem cells, I became interested in their work and decided to reach out. </p>
<p><strong>What I’m Learning So Far: </strong></p>
<p>This experience has taught me a variety of laboratory skills such as cell culturing, bioink preparation, and confocal microscopy imaging that will be incredibly useful in my future academic endeavors. I have also acquired soft skills such as teamwork, time-management, adaptability, and problem solving which are life-essential skills that will be useful in all aspects of my academic career and even everyday life. </p>
<p>Most importantly, I have learned to stay resilient even when every part of the experimentation goes wrong–which has happened a lot. Research is all about problem solving and troubleshooting which makes the successful experiments that much more gratifying. </p>
<p>Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about myocardial infarction because of its prevalence as the world’s leading cause of death. I would have never thought I would have the opportunity to build upon the knowledge we have on the condition and help decrease its morbidity and hopefully mortality.</p>
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<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Hannahenabnit" src="https://admissions.nd.edu/assets/476534/400x/hannahenabnit.jpg"></figure>
<h2>Hannah Enabnit '23</h2>
<h4>Major: Environmental engineering </h4>
<p><strong>What I Do: </strong></p>
<p>I am interning at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, a non-profit that preserves, restores, and manages lands in northwestern Indiana. My work focuses on expanding a water quality monitoring program that began last year.</p>
<p>I sample water from various streams and test them in the National Park Service lab for parameters including nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) and bacteria (E. coli). These parameters are tied strongly to land use, especially fertilizer runoff from farms and leaking septic systems.</p>
<p>Our region of focus is predominantly agricultural, so through SHLT’s partnership with local farmers to implement agricultural best management practices, we hope to improve water quality in the area. </p>
<p><strong>Why I Decided to Do Research this Summer: </strong></p>
<p>I wanted to get hands-on experience in the field of environmental science and conservation. I know that I will have opportunities after college for jobs in industry, so I wanted to take advantage of this unique opportunity to partner with both Notre Dame and an outside organization to complete a research internship.</p>
<p>I especially appreciated how this work struck a balance between being outside in the field for sample collection, in the lab for data analysis, in the office for research, and at events for engagement.</p>
<p><strong>How I Got Started: </strong></p>
<p>In high school I had the opportunity to become a student manager for an environmental research and stewardship project that focused on assessing and improving the health of a local creek. I quickly became fond of the work and knew I would be interested in doing something similar in college or beyond.</p>
<p>I am majoring in environmental engineering where I am furthering my knowledge in water quality and its importance, so when I heard about the work that Shirley Heinze was doing, I reached out to them and quickly knew that it would be a good fit. Throughout the spring semester I met with Alicia Pellegrino from SHLT and Dr. Dominic Chaloner from Notre Dame and they guided me through learning more about land management and water quality, writing grant applications for funding, and preparing for my summer research. </p>
<p><strong>What I’m Learning So Far: </strong></p>
<p>Research can be tedious as information often isn’t as readily available as you might expect. Relevant information can be buried deep in legal code and scientific documentation may be sparse. Combing through it often takes longer than expected but it is worth it in the end!</p>
<p>Also, connecting with people is crucial. Carrying out research on a topic becomes infinitely more important once you use it to engage with the community around you.</p>
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<h2>Learn More About Research at Notre Dame</h2>
<p>Each college and school at Notre Dame is home to centers and institutes that facilitate student research.</p>
<p>Visit individual college websites to learn more:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://al.nd.edu/advising/student-opportunities-and-resources/independent-research/">College of Arts and Letters</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/research/reu-internship-opportunities">College of Engineering</a></li>
<li>
<a href="https://science.nd.edu/research/undergraduate-research/">College of Science</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://keough.nd.edu/undergrad/beyond-the-classroom/">Keough School of Global Affairs</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://mendoza.nd.edu/undergraduate/">Mendoza College of Business</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://architecture.nd.edu/research-publications/research-initiatives/">School of Architecture</a> </li>
</ul>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Shannon Rooney</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://admissions.nd.edu/visit-engage/stories-news/summer-undergraduate-research-five-students-weigh-in-on-what-theyre-researching-and-learning/">admissions.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">June 27, 2022</span>.</p>Shannon Rooneytag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1412452021-10-28T14:00:00-04:002021-10-28T14:00:57-04:00Aging breast tissue could set the stage for invasive breast cancer<p>A woman’s risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer increases with age, but while scientists have long studied cellular changes that take place in the body over time, a new study led by researchers at the University of Notre Dame examines how the extracellular matrix (ECM) — an underlying network of molecules and proteins that provide the structure for tissue growth — can trigger invasive cancer-related genes.</p><p class="BasicParagraph">The American Cancer Society estimates that 284,200 women will be newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, and 43,600 will die of the disease — the second highest cause of cancer death in women.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">A woman’s risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer increases with age, but while scientists have long studied cellular changes that take place in the body over time, a new study led by researchers at the University of Notre Dame examines how the extracellular matrix (ECM) — an underlying network of molecules and proteins that provide the structure for tissue growth — can trigger invasive cancer-related genes.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">“This is the first time we’ve been able to show direct evidence that the aging ECM itself is changing the phenotype of normal epithelial cells,” said <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/pinar-zorlutuna/">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>, the Sheehan Family Collegiate Professor of <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/">Engineering</a> at Notre Dame and principal investigator of the study, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202100128">published in Advanced Science</a>. “Clinical data shows that aging is a big risk factor for breast cancer, and we wanted to investigate why that is. Cellular aging has been explored, but what we didn’t know was what effect aging had on the extracellular matrix.”</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">Zorlutuna and her team studied the ECM tissue in healthy younger and older mouse models, seeding the matrixes with normal mammary epithelial cells — cells that form a thin layer of tissue around the breast — and cancerous cells.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">The research team found changes in the biochemical composition, structure and stiffness of the aged ECM. As the tissue ages, protein levels and collagen production decrease, and collagen fibers become thinner but curlier and form a denser “mesh.” Lack of collagen production can leave the integrity of the ECM vulnerable to invasive tumor cells, while thinner and curlier fibers may contribute to the metastasis of cancer cells.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">“The normal epithelial cells in the aged matrix started to express more invasiveness-related genes associated with breast cancer,” Zorlutuna said. “And we identified the gene critical to this transition called lysyl oxidase (LOX).”</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">Normal epithelial cells grown on aged ECMs showed an elevated expression of LOX, preventing the formation of healthy cellular structures. In the models containing cancer cells, those cells became more motile and invasive. When LOX was inhibited, the study showed the original phenotype of the cells could be rescued — meaning the epithelial cells returned to normal and were less motile as they were in young and healthy ECM models.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">The results could help scientists gain a better understanding of cell migration and invasion in aged tissues and inform new methods for prognosis, diagnosis and prevention of breast cancer. Zorlutuna said she and her team will continue to study the ECM as it relates to cancer initiation and progression.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">Zorlutuna is an affiliate member of Notre Dame’s <a href="https://harpercancer.nd.edu/">Harper Cancer Research Institute</a>, <a href="https://precisionhealth.nd.edu/">Institute for Precision Health</a> and <a href="https://nano.nd.edu/">Nanoscience and Technology</a>.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">Co-authors of the study include Gokhan Bahcecioglu, Ian Guldner, Erin Howe, M. Sharon Stack, Xiaoshan Yue and Siyuan Zhang at Notre Dame and Harikrishna Nakshatri at Indiana University.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">The National Institutes of Health, the Walther Cancer Foundation and Notre Dame’s Harper Cancer Research Institute funded the study.</p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Jessica Sieff</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/aging-breast-tissue-could-set-the-stage-for-invasive-breast-cancer/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">October 18, 2021</span>.</p>Jessica Siefftag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1406222021-10-01T15:20:00-04:002021-10-01T15:20:34-04:00Low-cost, portable device could diagnose heart attacks in minutes<p>Researchers from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Florida have developed a sensor that could diagnose a heart attack in less than 30 minutes, according to a study published in Lab on a Chip. </p><p>Researchers from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Florida have developed a sensor that could diagnose a heart attack in less than 30 minutes, according to a study published in Lab on a Chip. </p>
<p>Currently, it takes health care professionals hours to diagnose a heart attack. Initial results from an echocardiogram can quickly show indications of heart disease, but to confirm a patient is having a heart attack, a blood sample and analysis is required. Those results can take up to eight hours.</p>
<p>“The current methods used to diagnose a heart attack are not only time intensive, but they also have to be applied within a certain window of time to get accurate results,” said <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/pinar-zorlutuna/">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>, the Sheehan Family Collegiate Professor of Engineering at Notre Dame and lead author of the paper. “Because our sensor targets a combination of miRNA, it can quickly diagnose more than just heart attacks without the timeline limitation.”</p>
<p>By targeting three distinct types of microRNA or miRNA, the newly developed sensor can distinguish between an acute heart attack and a reperfusion — the restoration of blood flow, or reperfusion injury, and requires less blood than traditional diagnostic methods to do so. The ability to differentiate between someone with inadequate blood supply to an organ and someone with a reperfusion injury is an unmet, clinical need that this sensor addresses.</p>
<p>“The technology developed for this sensor showcases the advantage of using miRNA compared to protein-based biomarkers, the traditional diagnostic target,” said <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/hsueh-chia-chang/">Hsueh-Chia Chang</a>, the Bayer Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Notre Dame and co-author of the paper. “Additionally, the portability and cost efficiency of this device demonstrates the potential for it to improve how heart attacks and related issues are diagnosed in clinical settings and in developing countries.”</p>
<p>A patent application has been filed for the sensor and the researchers are working with Notre Dame’s <a href="https://ideacenter.nd.edu/">IDEA Center</a> to potentially establish a startup company that would manufacture the device.</p>
<p>Bioengineers Chang and Zorlutuna are both affiliated with Notre Dame’s <a href="https://precisionhealth.nd.edu/">Institute for Precision Health</a>. Additional co-authors from Notre Dame are Stuart Ryan Blood, Cameron DeShetler, Bradley Ellis, Xiang Ren, George Ronan and Satyajyoti Senapati. Co-authors from the University of Florida are David Anderson, Eileen Handberg, Keith March and Carl Pepine. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.</p>
<p>To read the full study published in Lab on a Chip, a journal from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and featured on the back outside cover, visit <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/lc/d1lc00685a">https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/lc/d1lc00685a</a>.</p>
<p class="attribution"><em>Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Brandi Wampler</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://research.nd.edu/news/low-cost-portable-device-could-diagnose-heart-attacks-in-minutes/">research.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">Sept. 28</span>.</em></p>Brandi Wamplertag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1395902021-08-18T13:00:00-04:002021-08-18T13:48:10-04:00Zorlutuna named to Cellular and Molecular Technologies Study Section of NIH Center for Scientific Review<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Zorlutuna" height="200" src="https://conductorshare.nd.edu/assets/438729/300x/zorlutuna.jpg" width="300"></figure> <p><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/pinar-zorlutuna/">Pinar Zorlutuna,</a> Sheehan Family Collegiate Professor of Engineering, has been named…</p><figure class="image-right"><img alt="Zorlutuna" height="200" src="https://conductorshare.nd.edu/assets/438729/300x/zorlutuna.jpg" width="300"></figure>
<p><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/pinar-zorlutuna/">Pinar Zorlutuna,</a> Sheehan Family Collegiate Professor of Engineering, has been named a member of the Cellular and Molecular Technologies Study Section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review.</p>
<p>Members are selected on the basis of “demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements and honors.”</p>
<p>Members of a study section play a significant role in advancing the national biomedical research effort, which adds value to medical and allied research around the country. They review grant applications submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), make recommendations to the appropriate NIH national advisory council or board, and survey the status of research in their fields of science.</p>
<p>Zorlutuna joined the Notre Dame faculty in 2014. Her expertise is in the design of biomimetic environments in order to understand and control cell behavior and cell-to-cell and cell-to-environment interactions through tissue engineering, genetic engineering, and micro- and nanotechnology.</p>
<p>With her students in the <a href="https://tissueeng.nd.edu/">Zorlutuna Lab</a>, she creates tissue and disease models that help address challenges such as myocardial infarction, tissue aging, and breast cancer.</p>
<p><em>— Originally published by the <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/news/zorlutuna-named-to-cellular-and-molecular-technologies-study-section-of-nih-center-for-scientific-review/">College of Engineering</a> on Aug. 10, 2021.</em></p>Joan Fallontag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1022202019-07-24T15:00:00-04:002019-07-24T15:27:45-04:00Notre Dame’s Pinar Zorlutuna receives presidential early career award<p>Established in 1996, the PECASE program identifies and honors outstanding young researchers who show exceptional promise in science and technology.</p><p><a href="https://ame.nd.edu/profiles/pzorlutuna" target="_blank">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>, associate professor of <a href="http://ame.nd.edu/" target="_blank">aerospace and mechanical engineering</a> at the University of Notre Dame, has been named one of the recipients of the 2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (<span class="caps">PECASE</span>). </p>
<p>Established in 1996, the <span class="caps">PECASE</span> program identifies and honors outstanding young researchers who show exceptional promise in science and technology. It is the highest honor that a scientist or engineer at the beginning of an independent research career can receive from the United States government. Selection is based on innovative research and community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, education and/or outreach. Nine government agencies, including the National Science Foundation (<span class="caps">NSF</span>), which sponsored Zorlutuna’s <span class="caps">PECASE</span>, nominate candidates for the program.</p>
<p>“As a former <span class="caps">NSF</span> program manager, I know that the level of competition in the <span class="caps">PECASE</span> program is extraordinary,” said <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/tfuja">Thomas E. Fuja</a>, interim dean of the <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/">College of Engineering</a>. “The work of the <span class="caps">PECASE</span> recipients represents some of the most promising and impactful research agendas being carried out in the United States today, and we are delighted that Pinar’s dedication to improving the human condition has been honored in this fashion.”</p>
<p>Zorlutuna, who joined the University in 2014, explores the design of biomimetic environments to understand and control cell behavior, as well as cell-to-cell and cell-to-environment interactions through tissue engineering, genetic engineering and micro- and nanotechnology. Leveraging her extensive experience in tissue engineering, biomaterials, stem cells and microfabrication, she creates tissue and disease models in order to address clinically important problems such as myocardial infarction, tissue aging and breast cancer. </p>
<p>One of the projects in her lab involves the development of a 3D device called heart-on-a-chip that mimics the myocardium and vasculature of the human heart, a useful tool in studying not only diseases of the heart but how the organ might respond to specific drugs or treatments. </p>
<p>Zorlutuna and her team are also working to develop cell-based electronic devices that can be used to interface with living tissue (cell-based robotics and biocomputing), such as applications for treating limb loss or musculoskeletal disorders.</p>
<p>In addition to the <span class="caps">PECASE</span>, Zorlutuna has received a number of other awards as a young faculty member. Most recently, in 2017 she received the <span class="caps">NSF</span> <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award. In 2016, she was one of six young researchers who received the “Rising Star” Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society.</p>
<p> Zorlutuna is an affiliated member of Notre Dame’s <a href="https://advanceddiagnostics.nd.edu">Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Initiative</a> and the <a href="https://harpercancer.nd.edu/">Harper Cancer Research Institute</a>. For more information on her research, visit <a href="https://tissueeng.nd.edu/" target="_blank">https://tissueeng.nd.edu/</a>.</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:14px"><strong><em>Contact:</em></strong><em> Jessica Sieff, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-3933, <a href="mailto:jsieff@nd.edu">jsieff@nd.edu</a></em></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Nina Welding</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/notre-dames-pinar-zorlutuna-receives-presidential-early-career-award/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">July 23, 2019</span>.</p>Nina Weldingtag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1018322019-03-08T11:00:00-05:002019-07-09T12:28:55-04:00Zorlutuna Receives 2019 Women in Engineering Impact Award<p>On Sunday, March 3, during the women’s basketball game between the University of Notre Dame’s Lady Irish and the University of Virginia Cavaliers, the 2019 Catherine F. Pieronek Women in Engineering Impact Award was presented to Pinar Zorlutuna, associate professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering.</p><p>On Sunday, March 3, during the women’s basketball game between the University of Notre Dame’s Lady Irish and the University of Virginia Cavaliers, the 2019 Catherine F. Pieronek <a class="external-link" data-mce-href="../../wie" href="https://engineering.nd.edu/wie" target="_blank" title="">Women in Engineering</a> (<span class="caps">WIE</span>) Impact Award was presented to <a class="external-link" data-mce-href="../../profiles/pzorlutuna" href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/pzorlutuna" target="_blank" title="">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>, associate professor of <a class="external-link" data-mce-href="http://ame.nd.edu" href="http://ame.nd.edu" target="_blank" title="">aerospace and mechanical engineering. </a><br>
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The <span class="caps">WIE</span> Impact Award was established in 2017 in honor of Cathy Pieronek, associate dean for academic affairs and first director of the Women in Engineering program at Notre Dame, who passed away unexpectedly in 2015. Given annually, the award acknowledges a College of Engineering woman faculty or staff member who has made a dramatic and positive impact on women’s engineering experience. Recipients are selected by undergraduate and graduate students based on teaching excellence, counseling and mentorship of women students, exceptional service in support of women students, commitment to improving the educational experience of women students and advocacy of women’s engineering programs.<br>
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<p class="image-left"><img alt="Pzorlutuna" src="https://conductorshare.nd.edu/assets/312242/pzorlutuna.jpg"></p>
<p>Zorlutuna, who joined the University in 2014, is the third <span class="caps">WIE</span> Impact Award winner. Her research explores the design of biomimetic environments to understand and control cell behavior, as well as cell-cell and cell-environment interactions through tissue engineering, genetic engineering and micro- and nanotechnology.<br>
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The co-owner of two patents related to biomaterials and tissue engineering, Zorlutuna has received a number of awards and honors as a young faculty member. In 2017 she received the National Science Foundation <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for a project titled “Tissue-engineering an Aging Heart: The Effect of Aged Cell Microenvironment in Myocardial Infarction,” which focuses on better understanding the cardiovascular disease progression in older tissue on order to find ways to decrease age-related cardiovascular conditions. Overall, she is working to improve outcomes in breast cancer diagnoses, <a class="external-link" data-mce-href="https://fightingfor.nd.edu/2018/fighting-for-the-human-heart/" href="https://fightingfor.nd.edu/2018/fighting-for-the-human-heart/" target="_blank" title="">heart transplants</a> and other applications.</p>
<p>For her contributions in the classroom and through research, she was recently featured with other female faculty as part of the <a class="external-link" data-mce-href="https://womenlead2019.nd.edu/pinar-zorlutuna/" href="https://womenlead2019.nd.edu/pinar-zorlutuna/" target="_blank" title=""><span class="external-link">University’s celebration of International Women’s Day 201</span>9 </a>“In addition to scientific excellence,” says Zorlutuna, “I encourage my students to always pay attention to diversity and equality. My lab also supports workshops around campus where we give talks and do demonstrations for events where middle school students attend, to be role models to girls or students who are in need of such a model.”<br>
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For more information on Zorlutuna and her research, visit <a class="external-link" data-mce-href="https://tissueeng.nd.edu/" href="https://tissueeng.nd.edu/" target="_blank" title="">https://tissueeng.nd.edu/ </a><br>
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<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Nina Welding</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://conductorshare.nd.edu/news/zorlutuna-receives-2019-women-in-engineering-impact-award/">conductorshare.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">March 08, 2019</span>.</p>Nina Weldingtag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1018332019-03-08T11:00:00-05:002019-07-09T11:32:38-04:00Women Lead<p><strong>Think equal. Build smart. Innovate for change.</strong> In celebration of International Women's Day, meet seven outstanding faculty members whose work is contributing to better understanding and quality of life in our world. </p><p><strong>Think equal. Build smart. Innovate for change.</strong> In celebration of International Women’s Day, meet seven outstanding faculty members whose work is contributing to better understanding and quality of life in our world. </p>
<p><a href="https://womenlead2019.nd.edu">Click here to learn more about the seven scholars.</a></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Andy Fuller</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://research.nd.edu/news/women-lead-2/">research.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">March 08, 2019</span>.</p>Andy Fullertag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008742018-08-21T12:25:00-04:002019-06-04T12:25:44-04:00Will heart cells help solve our most complex problems?<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">As part of a new study, researchers at the University of Notre Dame aim to create a more optimal computer network for solving complex problems — using heart cells.</p><p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">As part of a new study, researchers at the University of Notre Dame aim to create a more optimal computer network for solving complex problems — using heart cells.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Real-world issues, such as managing the U.S. electricity grid or allocating resources in the event of a disaster, all demand optimal solutions that can recognize and process spatial and temporal information.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Conventional hardware used to solve these types of problems today consumes significant energy and time. Digital systems process information sequentially — running through every possible option, then comparing those options for a result that can be still be sub-optimal.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">“Cardiac cells are natural oscillators,” said <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/pzorlutuna">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>, principal investigator of the study and associate professor in the <a href="https://ame.nd.edu/">Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering</a> at the University of Notre Dame. “They beat spontaneously and, when coupled, they can synchronize to a locked, steady frequency. What we want to find out is if we create a network using these bio-oscillators, will their natural spatio-temporal dynamics be able to solve complex problems optimally, in less time and using less energy than silicon-based digital computing hardware?”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">The National Science Foundation in partnership with the Semiconductor Research Corp. recently announced it would invest $12 million in new research in the field of synthetic biology, through a program called the Semiconductor Synthetic Biology for Information Processing and Storage Technologies (SemiSynBio). Zorlutuna’s study is one of eight projects chosen for an exploratory grant as part of the program.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">“Silicon-based devices provide high-precision, high-accuracy computation, but they burn a lot of power,” said <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/sdatta">Suman Datta</a>, co-investigator on the project, Freimann Chair of Engineering and professor in the Department of <a href="https://ee.nd.edu/">Electrical Engineering</a> at Notre Dame. “When it comes to large, complex problems, we settle for a sub-optimal solution. We don’t have a global solution. We’re not talking about high-performance computing here with these networks of bio-oscillators. We’re talking about a task-like constrained optimization solver where we are trying to recognize a pattern using spatio-temporal dynamics — by mapping a given problem to the oscillator network.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Humans are good at processing spatiotemporally distributed analog data — picking up key visual or behavioral cues during conversation, processing a sequence of events, such as understanding a range of contexts.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">What is innate for human beings is difficult when it comes to artificial intelligence or machine learning. The image of a car upside down, for example, is confusing for digital hardware to still classify it as a car. “It hasn’t been trained to look at the object any other way than with wheels always in touch with the ground,” Datta said.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">While previous research has explored the effectiveness of using <span class="caps">DNA</span>, gene or protein circuitries in biocomputing, Zorlutuna said the rate of information processing using those components is inherently slow. The research team, which includes Datta, <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/hchang">Hsueh-Chia Chang</a>, Bayer Professor of <a href="https://cbe.nd.edu/">Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering</a> and concurrent professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Notre Dame, and Nikhil Shukla, assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University of Virginia, will use specialized polymers to connect the cells and build an interacting system.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Engineers could try to mimic the biological oscillations of cardiac cells with conventional silicon circuits, Datta said, but it would take a large number of devices to do the work of a single cell.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">“In addition to solving the need for extensive data processing of computationally hard problems,” Zorlutuna said, the research “could lead to a better understanding of electrical communication in muscle cell networks with potential applications ranging from biorobotics to understanding and treating muscle disorders.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in"><strong><em>Contact:</em></strong><em> Jessica Sieff, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-3933, <a href="mailto:jsieff@nd.edu">jsieff@nd.edu</a></em></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Jessica Sieff</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/will-heart-cells-help-solve-our-most-complex-problems/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">August 21, 2018</span>.</p>Jessica Siefftag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008752018-05-04T12:00:00-04:002019-06-04T12:30:05-04:00Cancer cells thrive in stiff tissue, according to new study<p>Scientists studying tumor growth and metastasis at the University of Notre Dame fabricated a human tissue model to examine how cancer cells interact with connective tissue in the breast.</p><p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Stiffer breast tissue creates an environment more prone to cancer by enabling the disease to interfere with the surrounding healthy cells, according to a recent study <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142961218302400">published in Biomaterials</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Scientists studying tumor growth and metastasis at the University of Notre Dame fabricated a human tissue model to examine how cancer cells interact with connective tissue in the breast. The model allowed the team to control the stiffness of the tissue, mimicking both healthy and cancerous breast tissue structures. They found manipulation of fat cells to be stiffness-dependent.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">“One of the interesting things we’re looking at is how cancer interacts with surrounding cells and how it manipulates those cells to its own benefit,” said <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/pzorlutuna">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>, assistant professor in the <a href="https://ame.nd.edu/">Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering</a> and the <a href="https://harpercancer.nd.edu/">Harper Cancer Research Institute</a> at the University of Notre Dame. “The goal of these tissue engineered cancer models is to mimic the physiological environment of the tumor, so we can use them as a platform to study breast cancer in the human tissue microenvironment.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Fat cells, collagen fibers and epithelial cells make up the microenvironment of breast tissue. Cancer typically appears around the epithelial cells. Previous studies looking at differences between healthy and cancerous tissue found that the cancerous tissue differed in stiffness. According to Zorlutuna’s study, stiff tissue can present a microenvironment susceptible to tumor growth by enabling the cancer cells to modulate its surrounding connective tissue cells.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">“If you have a stiffer environment, the cancer cell can do more manipulation of its immediate microenvironment,” Zorlutuna said. “The model allowed us to study varying levels of stiffness in the tissue. In tissue with normal stiffness, the cancer cells did not interfere with the state of the surrounding stromal cells. In tests where the tissue was stiffer, the cancer halted the differentiation process of the surrounding fat stem cells, favoring a more stem cell-like state creating a microenvironment that favors a tumor to grow.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Researchers have typically conducted similar studies using animal models. While these tests can help advance an understanding of the disease, Zorlutuna said they could also pose a challenge.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">“Animals and humans are quite different,” she said. “If you’re looking at tissue environment, mobility and the immune system, mouse models, for example, are as different to human models as the pancreas is to the lung.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Those models can also pose a challenge to drug discovery. A fraction of the drugs proven effective in mice actually makes it through clinical trials when tested on humans, Zorlutuna said. The results of this study could help make the case for tissue engineered human disease models to be used as part of a parallel approach to drug screening before administering those drugs in clinical trials.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">Co-authors of the study include Trung Dung Nguyen, Xiaoshan Yue, Victoria Zellmer and Siyuan Zhang at Notre Dame.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in">The American Cancer Society, Walther Cancer Foundation Cancer Cure Ventures and the Harper Cancer Research Institute’s Notre Dame Day Pilot Fund funded the study.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in"><strong><em>Contact:</em></strong><em> Jessica Sieff, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-3933, <a href="mailto:jsieff@nd.edu">jsieff@nd.edu</a></em> </p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Jessica Sieff</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/cancer-cells-thrive-in-stiff-tissue-according-to-new-study/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">May 04, 2018</span>.</p>Jessica Siefftag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008492017-05-17T09:00:00-04:002019-06-03T17:20:33-04:00Notre Dame Researchers receive Prestigious National Science Foundation Awards <p>The National Science Foundation (<span class="caps">NSF</span>) has recognized 10 University of Notre Dame faculty members for their excellence in research with Early Career Development (<span class="caps">CAREER</span>) Awards.</p><p>The National Science Foundation (<span class="caps">NSF</span>) has recognized 10 University of Notre Dame faculty members for their excellence in research with Early Career Development (<span class="caps">CAREER</span>) Awards. Over the past five years, Notre Dame has received 35 of these awards, with this year being one of the most successful on record.</p>
<p>Speaking about the awards, Vice President for Research <a href="https://www.nd.edu/about/leadership/council/robert-bernhard/">Robert J. Bernhard</a> said, “We are very proud of our faculty members’ successes in the <span class="caps">NSF</span> <span class="caps">CAREER</span> award competition, which recognizes the very best early career educators and researchers nationally. Their success is reflective of their outstanding creativity and hard work. It is also a credit to the colleges and departments for their ability to recruit and mentor these talented faculty. This all bodes very well for the future of science, engineering, social sciences and other fields here at Notre Dame.”</p>
<p>The full list of <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Awardees, who come from the Colleges of <a href="https://al.nd.edu/">Arts and Letters</a>, <a href="http://science.nd.edu/">Science</a> and <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/">Engineering</a>, is as follows:</p>
<p><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/kbibby/">Kyle J. Bibby</a>, Wanzek Collegiate Chair and Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, received his CAREER Award for his project titled, “Quantitative Viral Metagenomics for Water Quality Assessment. The goal of this work is to monitor the viral or virus-related quality of water by sequencing viral DNA/RNA in order. This will not only help advance water quality monitoring, but also support the detection of viral pathogens in other settings. Bibby joined the University’s faculty in 2017.</p>
<p><a href="http://physics.nd.edu/people/faculty/justin-r-crepp/">Justin R. Crepp</a>, the Freimann Assistant Professor of Physics and director of the Engineering and Design Core Facility, received a <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for “A Diffraction-limited Spectrometer for the Large Binocular Telescope.” The goal of the project is to build a new astronomical tool for the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona that will use hardware that corrects for atmospheric turbulence. By creating clear images that enable measurements at a much higher resolution, the instrument will permit the detection of Earth-like planets orbiting other stars. Crepp joined the faculty in 2012.</p>
<p><a href="http://acms.nd.edu/people/faculty/lizhen-lin/">Lizhen Lin</a>, assistant professor of applied and computational mathematics and statistics, received her <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for a project titled, “Geometry and Statistics: Utilizing Geometry for Statistical Learning and Inference.” The goal of Lin’s work is to study the fundamental role of geometry in statistics and utilize it for learning and inference. Lin became a member of the faculty in 2016.</p>
<p><a href="http://acms.nd.edu/people/faculty/robert-rosenbaum/">Robert Rosenbaum</a>, assistant professor of applied and computational mathematics and statistics, received his <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for a project titled, “Form and Function in Cortical Neuronal Networks.” The goal of his research is to develop novel computational models and mathematical analyses to understand the relationship between the connectivity structure and activity structure in networks of neurons in the brain and how it gives rise to cognitive functions like sensory processing and motor learning. Rosenbaum joined Notre Dame in 2014.</p>
<p><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/jschaefer2">Jennifer Schaefer</a>, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, received her <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for a project titled, “Fundamental Materials Studies on Fast Ion Diffusion in Model Side-chain Ionomers.” Schaefer aims to synthesize novel polymers that will allow for specific hypotheses regarding ion transport to be investigated by in-depth material characterization. Schaefer joined Notre Dame in 2015.</p>
<p><a href="http://sociology.nd.edu/people/robert-vargas/">Robert Vargas</a>, assistant professor of sociology, received his <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for a project titled, “The Evolution of Homicide Hotspots Over the 20th Century: A Three City Study.” To complete the project, Vargas will digitize and geocode homicide data from over a century in order to create new measurements to describe the geographic and temporal dynamics of homicide. Vargas joined the faculty in 2016.</p>
<p><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/nwei/">Na Wei</a>, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and earth sciences, received a <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for a project titled, “Renewable Biocatalysts for Degradation of Persistent Organic Contaminants Using Synthetic Biology.” The goal of the research is to enable the development of more effective tools to implement biocatalysis using synthetic biology for addressing pressing water sustainability challenges. Wei joined the faculty in 2015.</p>
<p><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/tweninger">Tim Weninger</a>, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, received his <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for a project titled, “Principled Structure Discovery for Network Analysis.” The aim of this research is to develop and evaluate techniques that learn the building blocks of real-world networks that describe the interactions expressed by a network. Weninger joined Notre Dame in 2013.</p>
<p><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/pzorlutuna">Pinar Zorlutuna</a>, assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, received her <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award for a project titled, “Tissue-engineering an Aging Heart: The Effect of Aged Cell Microenvironment in Myocardial Infarction.” The main objective of her research is to better understand the cardiovascular disease progression in older tissue in order to find ways to decrease age-related cardiovascular conditions. Zorlutuna became a member of the faculty in 2014.</p>
<p><a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/yzhang10">Yanliang Zhang</a>, assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, received his CAREER Award for “Printing and Interface Engineering of Colloidal Nanocrystals for Flexible Thermoelectrics and Electronics.” The goal of the research is to develop innovative and high scalable additive printing methods to transform semiconductor nanocrystals of unique properties into flexible thermoelectric and electronic devices with unprecedented performances. Zhang became a member of the faculty in 2017.</p>
<p>Additionally, <a href="http://biology.nd.edu/people/david-medvigy/">David Medvigy</a>, associate professor of biological sciences, received his <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award while at Princeton University for research on the “Impacts of Amazon Deforestation on Earth’s Climate, Water, and Ecosystems: The Ebb of the Green Ocean.” Medvigy joined Notre Dame in 2016, and will continue this research with an objective of understanding and quantifying the impacts of contemporary deforestation and projected future deforestation on climate, hydrology and terrestrial ecosystems.</p>
<p><a href="http://math.nd.edu/people/faculty/andrew-putman/">Andrew Putman</a>, professor of mathematics, received a <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Award while at Rice University for “The Topology of Infinite Groups.” Putman also joined the Notre Dame faculty in 2016 and has the goal of using representation theory to study the stable cohomology – or a sequence of abelian groups associated to a topological space – of these groups and their subgroups.</p>
<p>The <span class="caps">CAREER</span> program, which was established by the <span class="caps">NSF</span> in 1995, recognizes and supports outstanding early career faculty who exhibit a commitment to stimulating research while also providing educational opportunities for students. It is the NSF’s most prestigious award available to early career faculty. To learn about the University’s previous <span class="caps">CAREER</span> Awardees, visit <a href="https://research.nd.edu/our-services/funding-opportunities/faculty/early-career-programs/nsf---career-award/">/our-services/funding-opportunities/faculty/early-career-programs/nsf—-career-award/</a>.</p>
<p><em>Contact: Brandi Klingerman, communications specialist, Notre Dame Research, 574-631-8183, <a href="mailito:bklinger@nd.edu">bklinger@nd.edu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/UNDResearch">@UNDResearch</a></em></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Brandi Klingerman</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="http://news.nd.edu/news/notre-dame-researchers-receive-prestigious-national-science-foundation-awards/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">May 17, 2017</span>.</p>Brandi Klingermantag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008482017-01-27T17:00:00-05:002019-06-03T17:15:17-04:00Biocomputing: Imitating the Real Thing to Improve Life<p>Pinar Zorlutuna and a team of University researchers have created a new type of diode, one that is made entirely of cardiac muscle cells and fibroblasts. Their recently published paper titled “Muscle-Cell-Based ‘Living Diodes’” discusses how using muscle cells as the diode components is ideal for cell-based information processing.</p><p>Oscar Wilde said “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery …” There’s more to that quote, but he could have stopped at “Imitation is the sincerest form.” It is a way to replicate the real thing for a variety of reasons, including foundational research in bioelectrical and biomechanical interfaces for biocomputing.</p>
<p>That imitation — the engineering of cell based models that duplicate the way biological systems interact and process information — is exactly what researchers like Notre Dame’s <a href="https://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/pzorlutuna" target="_blank">Pinar Zorlutuna</a> have been pursuing as a basis for bioengineering applications ranging from biorobotics, human-machine interfaces, and treatment for muscular degenerative disorders, arrhythmia, and limb loss.</p>
<p class="image-left"><img alt="Cover of Advanced BioSystems issue featuring Zorlutuna Research" src="https://tissueeng.nd.edu/assets/322491/fullsize/advbiosyszorlutunacover.jpg"></p>
<p>An assistant professor in the <a href="http://ame.nd.edu/" target="_blank">Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering</a>, Zorlutuna and the Notre Dame team have created a new type of diode, one that is made entirely of cardiac muscle cells and fibroblasts. Their paper titled “Muscle-Cell-Based ‘Living Diodes,’” which was published in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adbi.201600035/full" target="_blank">January 11 issue of <em>Advanced BioSystems</em></a> and subsequently featured on the Wiley online journal <a href="http://www.advancedsciencenews.com/living-diode-biocomputing/" target="_blank"><em>Advanced Science News</em></a>, discusses how using muscle cells as the diode components is ideal for cell-based information processing.<br>
<br>
Biocomputing is an emerging field that aims to use biological components for signal processing, but so far it has mostly focused on using genetically modified single-cells or chemical additives to create a computational logic gate. The drawbacks of these options include slower processing and undesired biological side effects. Muscle cells are ideal candidates for use in biocomputing because they are both electrically and mechanically responsive. Additionally, the natural pacing ability of cardiac muscle cells allowed Zorlutuna and her team to modulate the frequency of the electrical activity and pass along information, which was embedded in the electrical signals.<br>
<br>
“We are currently working on cell-based logic gates that can function to achieve more complicated tasks,” says Zorlutuna. She believes muscle-based diodes will enable the development of simple and practical cell-based logic devices.</p>
<p>Zorlutuna, a Notre Dame faculty member since 2014, directs the <a href="http://tissueeng.nd.edu/" target="_blank">Tissue Engineering Laboratory</a> where she explores biomimetic environments in order to understand and control cell behavior. She studies cell-cell and cell-environment interactions through tissue engineering, genetic engineering, and micro- and nanotechnology and is a researcher in the Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and in the <a href="http://harpercancer.nd.edu/" target="_blank">Harper Cancer Research Institute</a>.</p>
<p>The co-owner of two patents related to biomaterials and tissue engineering, she has received a number of awards, including the 2016 Rising Star Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society, the European Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Doctoral Award from the European Society of Biomaterials, and the Thesis of the Year Award from the Middle East Technical University.</p>
<p>Zorlutuna received her doctorate in biotechnology through a joint program of Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey) and the Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials at Queen Mary University (London, England). She has served as an assistant professor in the mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering departments and core faculty of the Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut. She has also served as a visiting scholar in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University and research fellow at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.</p>Nina Weldingtag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008472016-12-07T17:00:00-05:002019-06-03T17:01:48-04:00New Paper Publication<p>Congratulations to Dr. Pinar Zorlutuna and Neerajha Nagarajan on the publication of "Development and characterization of muscle-based actuators for self-stabilizing swimming biorobots" in Lab on a Chip. - See more at: <a href="https://tissueeng.nd.edu/new-publication#sthash.gwhBZotA.dpuf" target="_blank">https://tissueeng.nd.edu/new-publication#sthash.gwhBZotA.dpuf</a></p><p>Congratulations to Dr. Pinar Zorlutuna and Neerajha Nagarajan on the publication of "Development and characterization of muscle-based actuators for self-stabilizing swimming biorobots" in Lab on a Chip. - See more at: <a href="https://tissueeng.nd.edu/new-publication#sthash.gwhBZotA.dpuf" target="_blank">https://tissueeng.nd.edu/new-publication#sthash.gwhBZotA.dpuf</a></p>Aylin Acuntag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008462016-12-07T16:00:00-05:002019-06-03T17:00:23-04:00PhD and Postdoctoral Positions Available<p>Zorlutuna Lab is looking for highly motivated graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to work in the field of tissue engineering and stem cell engineering. If interested please contact Dr. Zorlutuna via email with your CV.</p><h2>Open Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Positions in Biofabrication and Cell Micropatterning</h2>
<p>We are looking for full time graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, who are interested in micro/nanopatterning, microfluidics, and electrical and mechanical properties of cells and engineered tissues.</p>
<h3>Required Qualifications:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Candidates are expected to have a strong background in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or a closely related field with an interest in micro/nanofabrication, microfluidics and electrical and mechanical characterization of cells and engineered tissues.</li>
<li>Candidates must have good written, communication, and team-work skills, and satisfy the usual requirements for an appointment at University of Notre Dame.</li>
<li>High creativity and self-motivation, eagerness to learn, strong problem solving skill</li>
<li>Experience with programming with Matlab, Finite Element Analysis or Comsol.</li>
<li>Interest, and preferably experience with Atomic Force Microscopy and Cleanroom.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Application Instructions:</h3>
<p>Please send your application in a single pdf file containing CV, transcripts, letter of motivation and purpose, names of three references to Pinar Zorlutuna, <a href="mailto:Zorlutuna.1@nd.edu?subject=ND-Biofab">Zorlutuna.1@nd.edu</a></p>
<ul>
<li>Candidates are encouraged to send a copy of one of their representative publications such as a technical report of graduate project, scientific paper or thesis.</li>
</ul>
<p>For the email subject line please use: ND-Biofab.</p>
<p>Please name the file as YourName_YourSurname.pdf</p>Aylin Acuntag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008452016-05-10T16:00:00-04:002019-06-03T16:59:04-04:00Workshop: Aging and Failure in Biological, Physical, and Engineered Systems<p>May 15-17, 2016 Location: Harvard Graduate School of Education Cambridge, Massachusetts</p><p>May 15-17, 2016 Location: Harvard Graduate School of Education Cambridge, Massachusetts</p>
<p>Click <a href="http://www3.nd.edu/~dvural/workshop.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> for more information</p>Aylin Acuntag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008432016-01-07T16:05:00-05:002019-06-04T12:32:17-04:00Dr. Zorlutuna Receives CMBE-ABioM "Rising Star" Award<p>Dr. Zorlutuna has been selected to receive the “Rising Star” Award at the 2016 Biomedical Engineering Society - Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) and Advanced Biomanufacturing (ABioM) Joint Conference.</p><p>Congratulations to Dr. Zorlutuna, for winning the CMBE-ABioM "Rising Star" Award. Dr. Zorlutuna is one of six awardees selected internationally. The "Rising Star" award designates exceptional junior principal investigators and the awardees are invited to give a podium presentation in a special session at the Biomedical Engineering Society - Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) and Advanced Biomanufacturing (ABioM) Joint Conference.</p>Aylin Acuntag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008422016-01-07T16:00:00-05:002019-06-03T16:36:19-04:00Bradley Ellis Receives Naughton Fellowship<p>Congratulations to Bradley Ellis for being awarded Notre Dame's Naughton Fellowship.</p><p>Congratulations to Bradley Ellis for being awarded the Naughton Fellowship. The fellowship is awarded to one incoming PhD student every year, and enables advanced students to experience an international education in the leading universities of Ireland and the University of Notre Dame. With the fellowship, Bradley will travel to the National University of Ireland, Galway for his second and fourth year to study with Dr. Abhay Pandit to study drug and cytokine delivery methods in microfluidic devices.</p>Aylin Acuntag:tissueeng.nd.edu,2005:News/1008442016-01-07T16:00:00-05:002019-06-03T16:57:51-04:00Positions Available<p>Zorlutuna Lab is looking for highly motivated graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to work in the field of tissue engineering and stem cell engineering.</p>
<p>If interested please contact me via email with your CV.</p><h2>Open Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Positions in Biofabrication and Cell Micropatterning</h2>
<p>We are looking for full time graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, who are interested in micro/nanopatterning, microfluidics, and electrical and mechanical properties of cells and engineered tissues.</p>
<h3>Required Qualifications:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Candidates are expected to have a strong background in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or a closely related field with an interest in micro/nanofabrication, microfluidics and electrical and mechanical characterization of cells and engineered tissues.</li>
<li>Candidates must have good written, communication, and team-work skills, and satisfy the usual requirements for an appointment at University of Notre Dame.</li>
<li>High creativity and self-motivation, eagerness to learn, strong problem solving skill</li>
<li>Experience with programming with Matlab, Finite Element Analysis or Comsol.</li>
<li>Interest, and preferably experience with Atomic Force Microscopy and Cleanroom.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Application Instructions:</h3>
<p>Please send your application in a single pdf file containing CV, transcripts, letter of motivation and purpose, names of three references to Pinar Zorlutuna, <a href="mailto:Zorlutuna.1@nd.edu?subject=ND-Biofab">Zorlutuna.1@nd.edu</a></p>
<ul>
<li>Candidates are encouraged to send a copy of one of their representative publications such as a technical report of graduate project, scientific paper or thesis.</li>
</ul>
<p>For the email subject line please use: ND-Biofab.</p>
<p>Please name the file as YourName_YourSurname.pdf</p>Aylin Acun