Millennium Café

Microstructure characterization is often relegated to techniques that require extensive sample sectioning and surface preparation. Furthermore, these methods are limited to a small portion of the bulk material. In this presentation, I will show how elastic wave propagation methods (ultrasound) combined with physics-based models can be used to extract microstructural parameters in polycrystals over large areas. I will close with a broader outlook for applications of these techniques in various fields.

Our brains are surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid, which has an important role in transporting waste out of the brain. Failures in this waste transport process contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases but the dynamics of this process are poorly understood. I will talk about recent work looking at the micro-scale drivers of cerebrospinal fluid circulation, and the impact of blocking outflow pathways on waste transport.

Aerosol particles impact the climate system through their interactions with light and clouds while also impacting human health by causing inflammation in the lungs. The Freedman group focuses on laboratory studies of aerosol physical and chemical properties, and in recent years, we have begun incorporating materials chemistry into our studies of ice nucleation and phase transitions under confinement. I am looking for ways in which our research may be applied more broadly in materials science and for applications to human health.

The Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program has a wide range of projects spanning agriculture economics, irrigation, biofuels, low cost diagnostics, and security. I will make a case for humanitarian engineering as a motive for and application of your research, as well as a means to bring additional resources to your lab, recruit broader-minded students, and positively impact humanity. HESE is interested in developing new partnerships on campus that truly broaden research impacts. The recently announced Materials that Matter at the Human Level program could be a great opportunity to jumpstart a collaboration.

Valerie Morley | Read Group

The spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria threatens our ability to treat infections and poses a major threat to public health. This presentation describes new strategies that protect the patient’s microbiome during antibiotic therapy to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. We are looking for collaborators to help develop and test materials that inhibit antibiotics in the gut.

Brady Wassom | Croda Inc – Mill Hall

Mirroring work-related injury and illness incidence rates for US private industry overall, the injury and illness incidence rate at Croda Inc’s Mill Hall Pennsylvania facility has steadily declined since 2005. Strategic efforts to ensure compliance with safety standards, developing and maintaining safety and health management systems, and building a proactive safety culture have all contributed to this success. However, this journey to make our work environment injury free is ripe with challenges and opportunities. In this talk, I will discuss this journey and highlight the skills and attitudes that all of us should adopt to make safety sustainable in our personal and professional lives.