Author: Sarah Mitchell      Major: Chemistry

Sarah Mitchell

My name is Sarah Mitchell, and I am a Senior Chemistry Major with a minor in Medical Humanities. After graduation, I am heading to medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. Over the course of the Spring 2021 semester, I worked with Dr. Ryan Tian in the Biochemistry Department to develop a biomaterial suitable for improving biological sensing. My goal was to use the nanofibers I created to adapt radio frequency identification tags for the optimal detection of biological materials.

I began working in Dr. Tian’s research lab in the Fall of 2019, my Junior year of college. I quickly began working to find a project suited to me and my interests, hoping to research possible biomaterials for medical devices. However, my research quickly took a turn in the Spring of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began.

I remember sitting in Dr. Tian’s office at the very end of February, reading through a thesis proposal I had just written. It was over the creation of dental implants using a new type of material synthesized in his lab. During this meeting, we began talking about the COVID-19 virus that had begun to sweep the world, and how a graduate student in his lab was going to potentially adapt their project to suit the needs of viral sensing – particularly, the COVID-19 virus. He offered to allow me to work with him on this new project. Not yet knowing the weight of impact that the coronavirus would have on our lives, I agreed to change course, and venturing out into a new form of biomaterial research.

Just a few short days after this meeting, the United States began to slowly shut down due to the virus, until an eventual lockdown in the state of Arkansas ensued. Instead of working in the lab throughout the spring, I was able to use the time to further research Radio Frequency Identification Tags, and the nanofiber biomaterials that could be used to coat them. It was during this time that I outlined the goal of my project, which was to find a biomaterial coating for the radio frequency identification tags that would greatly improve their accuracy and sensitivity in testing biological materials.

This past semester, the Spring of 2021, was when I was finally able to be in the lab conducting research. During this semester, I synthesized reduced graphene oxide in various conditions, to find a form of synthesis that increased the efficacy of the tags for bacterial sensing in particular. I experimented using different temp Throughout the semester, I was able to gain skills in laboratory techniques, literature research experience, and found a greater appreciation for the process of the scientific method.

This research project was made possible by the Honors College Research Grant. It allowed me to spend valuable time in the lab throughout the semester and make up for some time lost during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having the opportunity to research in Dr. Tian’s lab was incredibly fruitful, and I enjoyed the opportunity to explore scientific inquiries in a laboratory setting. I know that this research experience will stick with me in the future. I hope that it has taught me to remember the importance of staying curious, as curiosity is what leads to innovation, creativity, and discovery.