Pictured above is junior, Emma Smith, presenting her poster on the correlation of a genomic biomarker for adipose-derived stem cells.

Author: Emma Smith | Major: Biomedical Engineering | Semester: Spring 2023

Emma is a biomedical engineering with a general business junior from Peoria, Illinois. This past year Emma has had the opportunity to work with and attend a conference with Dr. Rebekah Margaret Samsonraj, a faculty member in the Biomedical Engineering Department on a project of the correlation of a genomic biomarker status with phenotypic characteristics of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. Emma hopes to continue the project and continue research on mesenchymal stem cells during her undergraduate career.

Mesenchymal stem cells are an essential component to regenerative medicine, which explores the use of different cells and biomaterials to regrow and repair tissues. Stem cell research is a relatively new field of research so it needs to be understood more in depth before it can be clinically sed. Stem cells, specifically mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have the capability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple lineages without becoming cancerous. These characteristics of MSCs make them an ideal candidate for use in medicine involving various therapies for different conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Samsonraj’s previous research has found that there is a genetic biomarker in bone marrow derived MSCs, which correlated with stem cell growth capacity and efficacy. Bone marrow derived stem cell retrieval is a tedious process that does not have a high yield of cells; however, adipose-derived stem cells are more abundant and easier to extract from donors. My project was to correlate the same genomic biomarker to adipose-derived MSC growth capacity and efficacy so that adipose-derived MSCs may also be considered as a potent cell for regenerative therapies.

Earlier this month, I attended the Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE) conference in Ames, Iowa at Iowa State University. I attended this conference to gain experience with presenting research projects as well as the opportunity to connect and learn from more experts in the biomedical field. At this conference, I presented on a poster on my research on a correlation between a genomic biomarker and adipose-derived MSCs. The trip helped me move forward in my research by allowing me to gain confidence in presenting my work. The IBE conference also allowed me to learn from fellow peers and experts in the field.

The conference helped me think of different ways to approach research questions as well as tactics. During the poster presentation, multiple judges and fellow peers in biological engineering came to look at my research. During this time, I received feedback on how to improve my results and enhance the poster that was created for the conference. While presenting, an expert in the field asked me multiple questions that required me to give a detailed description of my research, while allowed me to have a deeper understanding of my topic. The expert also gave me a few suggestions of how to organize my poster results better. He suggested that I use the same set up for every result as well as provide more detailed figure captions, so that it can help the reader better understand the material easier. I hope that I can apply this feedback to future presentations.

At the 2023 IBE conference, there were multiple experts from the biological and biomedical engineering field. I was able to meet experts in both industry and academia. During the conference, I attended a panel where different professionals talked about their experiences working in that field. Through this panel, I was able to network and connect with professionals who shared similar career goals and interests as me. I was able to use the opportunity to network at the conference. After the conference, I scheduled information interviews with some of these experts to ask them about their career as well as any advice that they would have for students. The opportunity to talk to these professionals has helped me develop a clearer vision for my career. I got to connect with professionals who went to graduate school and professionals who went directly into industry after undergrad.

My advice to other students who are also attending upcoming conferences would be to be open to connecting with others. I was a little nervous at first; however, once I started asking questions, I was more informed about my major, research, and what future opportunities are available to me. I would tell students to not be afraid to ask questions and that questions are encouraged to help you become more knowledgeable. Overall, I learned a lot from my experience presenting at this conference. This experience allowed me to grow professionally as well as enhance my research interests.

I plan to graduate in spring 2024 and continue research throughout my senior year. As of now, I plan to further my education by either obtaining a Ph.D. or master’s degree in biomedical engineering. After graduating, I plan to pursue a job in the industry as a research and development engineer. I want to continue research as my career and work in the industry on cellular therapies to help treat illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and other immune disorders. I am grateful for this opportunity and how it has helped me grow as a student.