{"id":1016,"date":"2015-11-22T23:59:28","date_gmt":"2015-11-23T04:59:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linacolucci.com\/?page_id=1016"},"modified":"2015-11-24T22:01:02","modified_gmt":"2015-11-25T03:01:02","slug":"urop","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/linacolucci.com\/urop\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeking motivated undergraduate students!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Develop Novel Health\u00a0Hydration Sensor<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Advisor:<\/strong>\u00a0 Michael J. Cima (Cima Lab:\u00a0cima-lab.mit.edu<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Graduate Student Mentor:<\/strong> \u00a0Lina A. Colucci<\/p>\n

We are seeking motivated undergraduate students to join our team at MIT! Undergraduates from near-by universities who can commit 10 hours per week are invited to apply. Payment\/class credit may not be possible for non-MIT or Wellesley students.<\/p>\n

If you are interested in applying for either of the positions, please email Lina <\/strong>at lcolucci[at]mit.edu with a short paragraph about yourself and interest in this project.\u00a0We also would like to hear from you if you are interested in summer research positions!<\/p>\n

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Project Goal<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Develop portable magnetic resonance sensors and algorithms to quantitatively measure fluid levels in the body<\/p>\n

Project Description<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Clinical Motivation \u00a0<\/strong>Hydration status is a vital sign. It impacts both cognitive and physical performance and yet there is no easy way to measure hydration state today.\u00a0 Congestive heart failure (CHF), for example, leads to excessive fluid accumulation (congestion) throughout the body and is a leading cause of hospitalizations that costs $35 billion (!) annually. The ability to measure fluid status in CHF patients would lead to dramatically decreased costs and improved survival. Help us tackle this problem and build an accurate, non-invasive hydration sensor\u00a0using magnetic resonance!<\/p>\n

Magnetic Resonance \u00a0<\/strong>Magnetic resonance (MR) is one of the coolest physical phenomena<\/a> out there! Google[x] uses it their projects, like this<\/a>. MR technology enables us to get information directly from atoms without any ionizing radiation or negative side effects. We believe MR as a sensing modality will\u00a0rapidly increase in popularity. Get an early start on learning about and working with this cutting edge technology.<\/p>\n

Opportunities \u00a0<\/strong>This project is a unique opportunity for undergrads to get involved in all phases of a translational research project.\u00a0<\/strong>You can grow into working on many of these areas over time: the physics of magnetic resonance (MR), mechanical and electrical engineering to build MR sensors, animal work to develop algorithms, MRI imaging work for validation, and clinical trials at MGH. The immediate UROP opening positions to get involved with the project are listed below.\u00a0The project moves rapidly with lots of papers in the works for the upcoming year. The ultimate goal is to spin out this research into a startup company.<\/p>\n

In the News<\/strong> \u00a0WBUR News Segment<\/a>\u00a0and MIT News article<\/a>\u00a0about our\u00a0new grant award that “marries medicine and tech”<\/p>\n

Timing<\/strong><\/h4>\n

IAP \/ Spring 2016
\nMinimum 10 hours per week
\nOptions for credit\/pay available<\/p>\n

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UROP Position #1: Data Scientist <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Analyze sensor and physiological data from the two clinical trials that are underway right now at MGH. Uncover insights in the data, develop new algorithms, and apply machine learning to a rich dataset from our novel\u00a0sensors, MRI, bioimpedance, and clinical data (medical history, blood work, etc.).<\/p>\n

Necessary Skills:<\/strong> Excellent programming skills (2+ years computer science), coursework in statistics
\nWhat You’ll Learn on the Job:<\/strong> Matlab, R, algorithms to analyze MR data, image analysis software
\nBonus Skills:<\/strong> Experience with machine learning
\nInterview will include:<\/strong> Short programming quiz<\/p>\n

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UROP Position #2: Hardware Engineer <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Build sensors and equipment that will get tested on patients at MGH! You’ll be building radiofrequency coils, heaters, and more.<\/p>\n

Necessary Skills:<\/strong> Experience in the machine shop, mechanical design, Solidworks (or other CAD software)
\nBonus Skills:<\/strong> COMSOL modeling, Radiofrequency electronics
\nInterview will include:<\/strong> Show something you\u2019ve built (either side project or class project) and talk through your design and fabrication process.<\/p>\n

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\"dialysisunit\"

Lina and Andrew (a physician and collaborator at MGH) test out our magnetic resonance sensors in the Dialysis Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.<\/p><\/div>\n

More Details<\/h3>\n

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Subject Matter<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Health Sensors, Data Science, Chronic Diseases, Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Hydration, Magnetic Resonance, Fluid Overload, Congestive Heart Failure, RF Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Cardiology, Kidney Failure, Dialysis, Translational Research, Physiology, Data Science<\/p>\n

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Recognition and Resume Builders*<\/strong><\/h4>\n