Undergraduate research in the Ferguson Biomechanics and Biomimetics Lab
Asaiah Gifford is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering. She participated in the during summer 2024.
Final research presentation.
Where did you work over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?
This summer, I was an undergraduate researcher in the Ferguson Biomechanics and Biomimetics Lab through the 鶹ѰSPUR program. I really enjoyed Mechanics of Solids with Professor Ferguson in the spring, which piqued my interest in her lab even though I didn’t have prior research experience. The different projects in the lab primarily involve bone and cartilage tissues and researching their mechanical behavior and properties. It was exciting to utilize concepts and processes we covered in Solids with such a focused application with positive impacts far beyond the lab.
What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on?
I completed research under Oluwafunmilayo “Funmi” Adedokun, a materials science and engineering PhD student in the lab, assisting with a project focused on understanding the mechanical properties and material composition of murine (mouse) bones.
We had two separate sample groups which we prepared and collected data from: one of mice of four, 12 and 24 months of age, and another from a group of mice with deletion of a gene called α2δ1 (which is responsible for enabling bone cells to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli). We used Raman spectroscopy and nano-indentation to analyze how material composition and mechanical properties differed between the mice of different ages and mice with and without α2δ1.
What was it like to work in a research lab? Has the experience changed your idea of what research means in engineering?
It was satisfying to apply the concepts regarding mechanical properties that we touched on in class while also learning more about how the human body works. It gave me the chance to see why having a high-level understanding of mechanics is so important to do biological research in the Ferguson lab.
One of the most important parts of this opportunity was learning how to develop consistent testing procedures to ensure that the data we collected would be precise and accurate, meaning that every day there were places to apply engineering principles and problem-solving approaches.
What has been the most impactful part of your research experience?
Anterior-lateral portion of mid-diaphysis mouse femure cross-section. Taken using a Keyence Microscope to perform analysis of surface roughness to enable collection of Raman spectra.
Learning how to work efficiently when being faced with an immense learning curve was really important for me. For the project I worked on, I had to do a lot of literature review and training on different instruments in the lab for sample preparation and testing, so it was important to ask questions if I was ever unsure about something I was doing. Funmi was a great mentor and taking advantage of the chain of communication/collaboration among the people in our lab group made sure that questions never went unanswered or unexplored.
What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?
Before the SPUR program, I lacked perspective on how much of what we learn as engineers has direct applications to so many scientific (especially biological) research fields. It’s important to be open minded to all types of lab opportunities, no matter how niche they seem, and I would highly recommend connecting with your (or other) professors about joining their labs for SPUR or DLA!