Recently-joined lab member Caden Hamrick added a second fellowship to his CV with his acceptance of the ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Fellowship from the University of Utah’s ECE Department. Caden was also recently awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and focuses his research on EMG decoding for human-computer interaction. Congratulations Caden!
Graduate student Connor Olsen recently presented at the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon. His presentation discussed a MATLAB tool Connor developed for a new introductory robotics course here at the University of Utah, co-authored by Dr. Jacob George, Dr. Daniel Drew, and Dr. Amy Verkler.
The Orthotics and Prosthetics Foundation for Education and Research with the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics (ABC) offer a scholarship to support individuals pursuing a clinical Master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P). Research fellow Abby Citterman has been awarded the Chester Haddan Scholarship for 2024, which includes a $2,500 cash award.
“Abigail is a recent graduate of Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center, an incoming NCOPE resident with Gillette Children’s, and a research fellow with the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, developing and validating novel rehabilitative technologies for individuals with neuromuscular disabilities. She has a specialized interest in the convergence of neural engineering, O&P, and design. Abby is especially passionate about helping bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation in academia and the most optimal, personalized patient care. She also loves exploring the outdoors, creating art, and making music. Abby is deeply honored to be recognized as the recipient of the Chester Haddan Scholarship and is inspired by his legacy of innovation, leadership, and service.”
Congratulations Abby!
Graduate student Michael Adkins and a team of researchers recently completed the NSF I-Corps program. He and his team received $50,000 for the Electronic Grip Gauge (EGG). Read more about his accomplishments here.
Congratulations Michael!
Undergraduate student Lyndsey Schultz was awarded second place overall for her poster at the University of Utah’s BME Senior Symposium on April 19, 2024. Her poster is titled “Design of Lower-Limb Muscle Activity Monitoring Sock Using Surface Electrodes.” Congratulations Lyndsey!
The Utah Neurorobotics Lab welcomes Caden Hamrick, who will be joining us this Fall as a PhD student in ECE. Although he will be a new PhD student, he brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Caden worked with our lab as an undergraduate research fellow during the Summer of 2022, and was recently awarded the NSF GRFP. For his PhD research, Caden will be working on EMG decoding for human-computer interaction.
Welcome Caden!
Congratulations to Michael Adkins for completing the NSF I-Corps Entrepreneurial Training Program!
Through this program, Michael was awarded $50,000 for customer discovery to explore the commercial viability of his Electronic Grip Gauge (EGG). Over the past month, Michael interviewed over 100 stakeholders (therapists, patients, clinic directors, etc.) to come up with a concise value proposition for a beachhead customer. In other words, he found the problems worth solving, the solutions worth paying for, and the most likely first adopters. As a result of Michael’s hard work, we formed a start-up company and are now competing for seed funding through Bench2Bedside and an NIH STTR grant.
Two undergraduate research fellows from the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, Cassandra Burdick and Joshua Gubler, presented their research at the Utah Conference of Undergraduate Research (UCUR) held at Utah Valley University. UCUR is an annual conference celebrating and highlighting undergraduate research. This event demonstrates and celebrates undergraduate research and creative work from 10 colleges and universities in Utah. Students of all disciplines from around the state share the results of their investigations with other students, faculty, field specialists, and the public. Cassandra’s and Josh’s presentations were:
Mingchuan Cheng, a dedicated member of our NeuroRobotics Lab since May 2023 and a junior at West High School, showcased his work at the district-level science fair on February 1st, 2024. Mingchuan’s research, titled “Unraveling Cognitive Load in Prosthetic Tasks via Detection Response Task,” delves into quantifying cognitive load to establish crucial baselines and standards for future prosthetic advancements. His approach lays the groundwork for enhanced prosthetic designs, allowing future researchers to use the Detection Response Task to objectively measure the cognitive load of individuals operating prostheses. Mingchuan’s dedication and innovative thinking exemplify the spirit of scientific inquiry we foster in our lab, inspiring peers and mentors alike. He will continue his research and present again at a state-wide science fair in March of this year.
Josh Gubler, an undergraduate student in biomedical engineering at the University of Utah, recently presented his research at the Research on Capitol Hill (ROCH) event on January 18th, 2024. The event, organized by the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Office of Government Relations, and the Office of Undergraduate Research, provides a platform for selected students to present their research findings to Utah State legislators. Gubler’s participation underscores the significance of undergraduate research and creative work from the University of Utah and Utah State University, the top two research universities in the state.
Gubler’s research at ROCH focused on finding strategies to downsample EMG (Electromyography) signals while maintaining good control. His work addresses practical applications at the intersection of biomedical engineering and signal processing. The event allowed him to engage with legislators, showcasing the real-world impact of his research and contributing to the broader conversation on the importance of supporting undergraduate academic endeavors, particularly in areas like biomedical engineering. The collaborative effort between university offices in selecting and showcasing students like Gubler reflects the institutions’ commitment to fostering a vibrant undergraduate research community across diverse disciplines.
See Josh’s poster here.
