UMass Amherst Rising Researcher Program Recognizes Three Brilliant Undergraduate Researchers from College of Engineering
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The UMass Amherst Rising Researchers Program has chosen three very talented undergraduates from the College of Engineering (CoE) to recognize them as “leaders and role models as they guide other undergraduates in navigating the joys and anguish of conducting research.” All three are conducting cutting-edge research. Senior Raul Vera III of the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department does critical studies on how to produce safe drinking water. Alexandra Katsoulakis ’26 of the Biomedical Engineering (BME) Department conducts pioneering research to support nerve regeneration. And BME senior Lily Bigelow performs vital investigations into refining timely diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. See https://www.umass.edu/gateway/research/stories/rising-researchers.
The UMass Amherst Rising Researcher Program recognizes undergraduate students who excel in research, challenge their own intellects, and exercise exceptional creativity. This fall, the program selected seven outstanding undergraduate researchers from across the campus, including the three from the CoE.
Vera – of Eastville, Virginia – studies how organic matter enters the water supply, and he seeks solutions to mitigate the presence of potential carcinogens in drinking water.
As Vera explains, “My work aims to understand how organic matter enters the drinking-water reservoirs of upstate New York. To do this, I compile long-term datasets on the geochemistry of streams from multiple federal and state agencies. I’m looking specifically at the Neversink River, which feeds into the Neversink Reservoir.”
Vera, who has also created a stream-research station on campus with help from his lab group, adds that “We hope to expand this effort to understand the transport of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (also known as ‘forever chemicals’) as well.”
Vera observes that “By understanding organic-material transport, I hope to find ways to feasibly remove disinfection byproducts from New York City’s drinking water, either by mitigating the creation of disinfection byproducts in pretreatment or by removing disinfection byproducts after they have been created.”
Vera says that his faculty mentor, CEE Assistant Professor Christian Guzman, “encourages me to perform to the best of my abilities in and out of the classroom. With his support, I have presented my research at the 2024 Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC) and the 2024 SHPE National Convention, and will soon present at the American Geophysical Union annual meeting in December 2024.”
Katsoulakis, whose hometown is Amherst, conducts research to create flexible “nerve cuff electrodes” to help spinal nerves heal, offering promise for patients with spinal-cord injuries.
According to Katsoulakis, “While I haven’t built the final [nerve-cuff-electrode] device yet, my work focuses on developing the materials and techniques needed. This includes testing graphene, a thin conductive material, to ensure it will safely attach to nerve tissue and conduct gentle electric currents.”
Katsoulakis explains that “My project on graphene-based nerve cuff electrodes could eventually support nerve regeneration, offering potential solutions for patients with spinal-cord injuries by restoring lost functions. In particular, one of my goals is to improve access to low-cost, effective, bioelectronic devices, which could lead to broader availability of medical technologies.” She adds that “Each step brings me closer to making these cuff electrodes a reality.”
Katsoulakis says that “I find it incredibly exciting to contribute to pioneering medical research that could lead to affordable, accessible, healthcare solutions. The prospect of my work improving the quality of life for others is a major motivator for me.”
Katsoulakis says that her faculty mentor, BME Assistant Professor Dmitry Kireev, “provides me with continuous guidance and resources, fostering a collaborative and welcoming research environment. This supportive setting has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth, helping me develop key skills in data analysis and team collaboration.”
Bigelow, whose hometown is Upton, Massachusetts, is developing process maps to understand how primary care clinicians diagnose diabetes in adults and gain insights to improve healthcare access and equity.
Bigelow explains that “For my current project, I am creating process maps, or visual workflow diagrams, to show the steps that primary care clinicians – often the first line in helping patients with health concerns – take to diagnose Type 2 diabetes in adults. These maps help us see where obstacles might be stopping doctors from making timely and accurate diagnoses, which are essential for providing the right treatment.”
According to Bigelow, “Delays in diagnosis often affect groups [that] already face unfair disadvantages in healthcare which worsen existing inequalities. By mapping out the diagnostic process, we can identify specific challenges, find areas for improvement, and suggest changes to help doctors and clinics provide faster and fairer care.
Bigelow says that Assistant Professor Muge Capan of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department “is a fantastic mentor and incredible support for my research. When I first began working with Professor Capan, I knew almost nothing about how to analyze data and visualize it meaningfully. However, she welcomed me regardless and taught me the fundamentals of conducting quality research. I have learned so much from her and have been given great opportunities to grow as a researcher, even publishing findings in a manuscript.”
According to its website, “The Rising Researcher student-acknowledgement program is designed to raise the profile of our most promising undergraduate students and publicly acknowledge their excellent work. This program is co-supported by University Relations, Research & Engagement, and the Commonwealth Honors College.” (December 2024)