Project Mentor
Dr. Sangamesh Kumbar
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Description
| Project Description | The project involves formulation and evaluation of sprayable/injectable bioengineered polymeric scaffolds for wound healing and drug-delivery application. Briefly, the student researcher along with the mentors will optimize the formula for the polymeric scaffold. Furthermore, the student researcher will use the formula to prepare the scaffolds which will then be evaluated to determine a variety of physical, chemical, and biological properties of the scaffold. The student researcher selected in this project will have the opportunity to learn various techniques of formulation of bioengineered scaffolds and in-vitro animal cell culture and understand all of the aseptic methods utilized in animal cell culture. |
| Project Direction | The initiative is focused on the broader topic of wound healing. Wound healing is a time-consuming and painful process that can be sped up by creating an environment conducive to cell growth and proliferation. The project can be extended into the following year in order to assess better ways of evaluation for the formulation. Furthermore, other polymers can be employed to improve the scaffold’s performance. |
| Mentorship and Supervision | Student researchers will receive training in all of the techniques outlined in the project description. Students are expected to keep written records of their daily work in the lab, and all project-related work should be thoroughly documented. The student researcher will be evaluated based on his or her dedication to the work and the upkeep of written records. Each week, the student researcher must show his or her work and records to the mentors at a weekly meeting. The mentors’ feedback will be based on the student’s acceptable completion of work within the time frame specified and any changes that are required. |
| Student Qualifications |
1) Must have basic knowledge of tissue engineering and polymers
2) Should be willing to be committed and devote time to the lab.
3) Should be willing to pursue the project till the end.
4) Should be aware of basic laboratory skills and techniques.
5) Should be able to operate MS-Office or Google Docs, Slides and Sheets.
6) Should be passionate and eager to learn.
7) Should be able to follow all the instructions given by the mentor.
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| Summer Schedule Options | Research Dates: May 22 to July 28, 2023 Schedule: Candidates are expected to devote at least 36 hours per week to the lab which accounts for 7 hours per day. The day of the candidate will start at 9:30 am and end at 4:30 pm out of which 45 minutes will be allocated for lunch. |
| Project Continuation | Fall 2023, Spring 2024 |
| Academic Year Time Commitment | 3-6 hours/week |
| Possible Thesis Project | Yes |
Application
Submit an online application for this research opportunity at https://quest.uconn.edu/prog/HRP23-21. The application deadline is Monday, January 30, 2023.
This application requires a cover letter, a resume or CV, and a brief statement of research interests. References should be available upon request.