Project Mentor
Dr. Liisa Kuhn
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Description
| Project Description | Women that have breast cancer often require having one or both breasts surgically removed. Afterwards, some women chose to wear prosthetics, a breast-like form worn in their bra to restore a symmetric appearance. Current breast prosthetics are hot and heavy bags of silicone gel, available in standard sizes and often don't provide a good fit. Dr. Kuhn's lab has discovered that 3D printed mesh silicone is an ultra comfortable, much better option than silicone gel breast prosthetics. In this project, you will help Dr. Kuhn to design and produce these prosthetics that can be given away for free to breast cancer survivors in CT thanks to philanthropic funding that established the Biosymmetrix Project. This project involves learning how to take 3D body scans, manipulating the files in design software and learning how to use our custom-made 3D printer to produce the customized breast prosthetics made of silicone mesh. |
| Project Direction | Unfortunately medicare insurance does not cover the cost of customized prosthetics and most women do not have the means to pay thousands of dollars for customized prosthetics every other year. The longer term goal of this project is to design standard forms made of silicone mesh that fit better and are more comfortable since now the prosthetic can be made of this novel mesh silicone material. The 3D printed mesh optimization and weighted inserts that help the form stay in place remain areas of development that the student could continue with into the academic year. |
| Mentorship and Supervision | Training is accomplished through 1 on 1 training sessions with Dr. Kuhn and/or her PhD student Raheli Roy. Expectations for summer goals are established in the first week based on the capabilities of the student and needs of the project. The student's progress will be monitored through a combination of the following methods: Weekly group meetings with lab members where the student presents a short update about their activities - Weekly 1 on 1 meetings with mentor - An evaluation of progress at the mid-point of the summer. Feedback is provided during in person meetings. Dr. Kuhn's office is directly across from the lab so it's easy for the student to stay in regular contact with Dr. Kuhn. |
| Student Qualifications | Dr. Kuhn is seeking students to train that are highly motivated to help breast cancer survivors through technologies that help them live more comfortably after their cancer treatments have ended. Ideally they have an interest in materials science, 3D printing for healthcare and experience with 3D printing and CAD software. |
| Summer Schedule Options | Research Dates: May 18 to July 24, 2026 Schedule: M-F, 9:30am-4pm, Some activities like CAD design and coordinating 3D scanning visits can be done remotely since they do not require direct supervision. |
| Project Continuation | Fall 2026, Spring 2027 |
| Academic Year Time Commitment | 3 hours/week |
| Possible Thesis Project | Yes |
Application
Submit an online application for this research opportunity at https://quest.uconn.edu/prog/HRPSU26-21. The application deadline is Monday, February 16, 2026.
This application requires a resume or CV, GPA and science GPA, a brief statement of research interests, and a brief statement of career interests.