Career Connectors: 

Ariel Wilson-Gray, ‘26 chemical engineering - biotechnology & bioengineering track, 

When did you do your Internship?

Summer 2023

Where was your Internship?

Purdue University with Dr. Tamara Kinzer-Ursem

What is the focus of your Internship?

Optimizing Antibody Conjugation using F-C Specific Oligonucleotides

What are you looking forward to the most about your Internship? 

Before I started, I was most excited to step foot in a real lab and work on projects on my own.

What was the best part of your Internship OR What was the biggest learning moment of your Internship ?

As this was my first internship, the graduate student I worked with was very accommodating and I was able to learn a lot of new techniques including gel-electrophoresis, western blot, and NanoDrop.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in getting involved in research or an internship?

Go for it! Even if the topic is not exactly what you’re interested in, the experience can help hone your interest and maybe introduce a new one.

Are you a member of any clubs/campus organizations?

NOBCChE, ChewMBC, NSBE, AIChE

What are your goals after graduation?

PhD in Biomedical Engineering

Learn more about Ariel Wilson-Gray: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-wilson-gray-428646236/

Congratulations are extended to all participants for their exceptional contributions and remarkable achievements of CBEE faculty and graduate students  during the 2023 ACS Conference in San Francisco, CA.

ACS BIOT TANK COMPETITION

Vikash Kumar, chemical and biochemical engineering Ph.D., who emerged victorious at the 2023 BIOT Tank competition, organized by ACS BIOT (Division of Biochemical Technology of the American Chemical Society)  at the 2023 ACS conference in San Francisco, CA. 

Kumar's company, Breathable Bioprocessing, showcased their groundbreaking solution: a breathable flask paired with a non-invasive sensor system designed for shake flask, t-flask, and G-Rex applications. His innovative solutions in bioprocessing captured the attention of both industry experts and peers, highlighting his commitment to advancing the field.

Watch Vikash’s video here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vikashk-as4711_bio-works-x-breathable-bioprocessing-at-acs-biot-activity-7097479059839811584-0t17/

POSTER & ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Hasib Hasan is an Electrical Engineering PhD student advised by Dr. Gary Carter with a research interest in biosensor development and prototyping. Hasib works in CAST under the guidance of Dr. Govind Rao.  He did a poster presentation at ACS Conference 2023 on "Machine Learning Techniques in Online Glucose Monitoring Using Glucose Binding Protein-Based Sensor: Application in Bioprocesses". 

Poster title: “Machine learning techniques in online glucose monitoring using glucose binding protein-based sensor: Application in bioprocesses”

Read here

Vida Rahmatnejad is a chemical and biochemical engineering Ph.D. student advised by Dr. Govind Rao with a research interest in noninvasive process monitoring for cell therapy applications. She presented a talk  at ACS Conference on her research titled “Noninvasive Bioprocess Monitoring for Cell Therapy Applications”

Talk Title: Noninvasive Bioprocess Monitoring for Cell Therapy Applications 

Watch Vida’s talk here

Tyler R. Josephson, an assistant professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering, captivated the audience with his talk at the ACS Conference.

Talk Title: AI tools for discovering molecular interaction equations

Read here

Upal Ghosh,  professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering, paid tribute to his former mentor Richard Luthy by organizing a special session at the conference. As a mark of respect and gratitude, Ghosh orchestrated an event that celebrated Luthy's invaluable contributions to the field. 

Dr. Blaney, professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering, Dr. He, post doctoral research, '17 chemical and biochemical engineering Ph.D and Sahar Souizi, environmental engineering phd student gave oral presentations at  ACS Fall 2023 

Blaney, L.; Mangalgiri, K. Photodegradation of antibiotics in the presence of agriculturally-derived organic matter. Fall 2023 ACS National Meeting (San Francisco, CA), August 13-17, 2023.

Souizi, S.; Chen, H.; Stewart, K.; Blaney, L. Sustainable nutrient recovery with novel tube-in-tube Donnan dialysis reactors. Fall 2023 ACS National Meeting (San Francisco, CA), August 13-17, 2023.

He, K.; Liang, J.; Siao, M.; Ellington, M.; Chen, H.; Stewart, K.; Blaney, L. Development of anion-exchange membranes as passive samplers for diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.   Fall 2023 ACS National Meeting (San Francisco, CA), August 13-17, 2023.

The UMBC LSAMP 2022-2023 Annual Report highlights involvement in the UMBC LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION (LSAMP) program. LSAMP participants have access to individualized advising, campus workshops, funded research experiences, and national and international conferences to strengthen their STEM identity and promote entry into top graduate programs. 

We want to specifically celebrate the achievements of those pursuing their bachelors of science in chemical engineering and the departmental faculty supporting their efforts. 

ANNUAL BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE FOR MINORITIZED STUDENTS (ABRCMS) (Page 11)

Name| Major| Topic | Faculty Advisor

Evalynn Ellison | Chemical Engineering | Molecular Biotechnology | Dr. Brandon DeKosky

Ariel Wilson-Gray | Chemical Engineering | Bioengineering | Dr. Tamara Kinzer-Ursem 

SUMMER 2023 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (Page 27)

Name and Class | Major |Topic| Faculty Mentor | University

Nhyira Ghunney ‘24 | Biological Sciences | Tissue Engineering | Dr. Erin Lavik | UMBC 

Amaya Johnson ‘25 | Biological Sciences | Tissue Engineering | Dr. Erin Lavik | UMBC

CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATING FELLOWS AND POST-GRADUATION PLANS (Page 34-35)

Joana Hernandez Chemical Engineering Prospective Graduate Student

Diego Iglesias Vega Chemical Engineering Graduate Student at MIT

Rachel Myers Chemical Engineering PhD Student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

On April 10, 2024, hundreds of research posters, oral presentations, dance performances, films, interactive games, and much more were hosted in the University Center and other venues around campus, all presented by UMBC’s undergraduate students. 

Congratulations to all CBEE students who participated in the event!

Alvin Bett | Influence of Solution PH On PFAS Accumulation in a Novel Equilibrium Passive Sampler | Lee Blaney | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

An Dang | Phosphate Recovery By Donnan Dialysis: Impact of Operating Parameters in a Batch-Recycle Reactor | Lee Blaney | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Casey Douglas | Phenotypic Characterization of an Aspergillus Nidulans ∆mpkA∆hogA Strain | Mark R. Marten | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Evalynn Ellison | A Synthetic Data Generator to Accelerate Machine Learning Algorithm Development | Brandon DeKosky | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Elias Gilotte | Online ATP Monitoring in Cell-Free Protein Synthesis | Govind Rao | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Garrett Hill | Phenotypic Characterization of Aspergillus Nidulans Protein Kinase PrkA | Mark Marten | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Raey Hunde | Advancing In Vitro Tissue Models: The Development of an Innovative High Throughput Model of the Colon | Erin Lavik | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Terra Miley | Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Magnesium Sensor to be Used in an Industrial Cell-Free Bioreactor | Govind Rao | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Meredith Morse | Characterizing the Aspergillus Nidulans Kinase Deletion Library For Septation in Response to Cell Wall Stress | Mark Marten | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Chiad Onyeje | Verification of Hemostatic Nanocapsules Through Rotational Thromboelastometry Analysis | Erin Lavik | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Tatiana Perez | Phenotypic Characterization of the Aspergillus Nidulans Double-deletion Mutant ΔmpkAΔnrc2 \ Mark Marten | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Matthew Quintanilla | High Throughput Screens to Discover Uncharacterized Cell Wall Signaling Kinases in Aspergillus Nidulans | Mark Marten | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Andrea Sequeira | Characterization of ΔmpkAΔsnf1 Double Deletion Strain in Aspergillus Nidulans | Mark Marten | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

A big congratulations to Vikash Kumar, chemical and biochemical engineering Ph.D., who emerged victorious at the 2023 BIOT Tank competition, organized by ACS BIOT (Division of Biochemical Technology of the American Chemical Society) at the 2023 ACS conference in San Francisco, CA. 

BIOT Tank is ACS BIOT’s version of “Shark Tank”, where cutting edge start-ups in the fields of bioprocessing compete for the finale with their product and their business plan. There were more than twenty submissions for the 2023 competition, and four were selected to give their final pitch during ACS Fall 2023 in San Francisco. Unlike the other “Shark Tank”, ACS BIOT has two awards instead of investors investing, a judge’s choice award and an audience choice award. It provides a great platform for Vikash Kumar and team to reach a wider and like-minded audience which is an investment of its own kind. We won the audience choice awards. We were the only student team at the competition. The other teams giving their pitch, were established start-ups with millions in funding and an experienced team.

Kumar's company, Breathable Bioprocessing, showcased their groundbreaking solution: a breathable flask paired with a non-invasive sensor system designed for shake flask, t-flask, and G-Rex applications. His innovative solutions in bioprocessing captured the attention of both industry experts and peers, highlighting his commitment to advancing the field. 

Watch Vikash’s video here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vikashk-as4711_bio-works-x-breathable-bioprocessing-at-acs-biot-activity-7097479059839811584-0t17/

Abstract:

Small-scale bioreactors like shake flasks, t-flasks, and G-rex are extensively used in upstream bioprocessing at academic labs and biopharma companies. However, their inability to support process monitoring due to design constraints and sterile requirements has made them function as black boxes during cell culture, leading to inefficiencies and inconsistent product quality.

To address these issues, a novel breathable membrane-based technology has been developed. This breakthrough allows for non-invasive monitoring of critical process parameters, such as dissolved oxygen and dissolved carbon dioxide, from the external environment of the vessels. For shake flasks, a breathable shake flask has been introduced, enabling measurements of dissolved O2 and CO2 through externally attached sensors. As for T-flasks and G-Rex, a sensor manifold placed at the bottom of the flask facilitates non-invasive monitoring of O2 and CO2 through gas diffusion processes without compromising the integrity of the ongoing processes.

This technological breakthrough promises to revolutionize bioprocessing by providing vital process knowledge and control. As a recent startup with three employees, the company is in early discussions with potential customers and collaborators to expand the technology's implementation globally. This innovation is expected to significantly improve the efficiency and reliability of bioprocessing studies, leading to better therapeutic product outcomes.

Excerpt from:

Machine Learning for Bioprocess Sensor Innovation

By Gareth John Macdonald - January 31, 2024

Machine learning (ML) could allow drug firms to create predictive process models that optimize development, production, and quality control. But, before embracing ML on the factory floor, manufacturers will need data to “train” the computer algorithms that drive the approach. And this means having process sensors sophisticated enough to track multiple parameters in real-time in highly complex cell cultures according to an industry expert.

Machine learning is a specialized form of artificial intelligence in which computer programs learn to solve tasks or understand the dynamics of complex systems with minimal or no direction. The process is iterative, and the solutions improve over time as more data is introduced.

This need for training data is driving innovation in process sensors, says Govind Rao, PhD, who is director of the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

“At the end of the day, AI/ML tools will allow for process monitoring to be simplified once data are generated at scale to relate process conditions to critical quality attributes. The need to run QC tests on quarantined bulk drug substance will be greatly reduced,” he explains. “However, to get there will require high-density process monitoring to allow ML/AI algorithms to relate process conditions to off-line measurements such as glycosylation, aggregation, etc.”

Read full article

National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences highlight Professor Upal Ghosh’s work cleaning contaminated waterways

By: Catherine Meyers | Published: Feb 23, 2024 | UMBC NEWS

The positive environmental and health impacts of work led by Upal Ghosh, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering at UMBC, was recently highlighted by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The agency showcased a low-cost technology that Ghosh and his colleagues developed to clean waterways contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a group of likely carcinogenic chemicals that were used in insulation, coolants, and electrical equipment for decades before being banned in the U.S. in 1979. 

The chemicals are stable and persist in the environment, often accumulating in fish that live in contaminated waterways and posing a risk to humans who consume those fish. NIEHS funded Ghosh’s research into using activated carbon pellets to bind the chemicals in place at the bottom of the waterways. This prevents the PCBs from circulating through the aquatic food chain. In projects carried out in contaminated lakes, rivers, and harbors in Delaware, Maryland, and elsewhere, Ghosh’s team demonstrated that the technique could significantly reduce the concentration of PCBs in the water and in aquatic lifeforms. Importantly, the technique is also significantly cheaper than standard clean-up approaches, such as dredging and disposing of contaminated sediment. 

In related work performed with Kevin Sowers, from the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Ghosh’s team also developed a way to combine the activated carbon with microbes that break down PCBs, reducing their toxicity.

With NIEHS support, Ghosh has co-founded two companies—Sediment Solutions and RemBac—to commercialize the technology and deploy it at full-scale to clean up contaminated sites across the country, such as at Mirror Lake in Delaware.

“The technology brings together innovations in material science and biology,” says Ghosh. It’s an honor, he says, that the NIEHS, the leading agency in the country that funds research on public health and the environment, recognized “the real impact our research is having on improving public health.”