MNTL Hilights report web Apr. 2016 | Page 32

NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY SUMMER INSTITUTE More than 50 students, post-docs, and junior faculty from around the world participated in the 2014 + 2015 University of Illinois BioNanotechnology Summer Institute, learning about cancer nanotechnology, cell mechanics, molecular biology, micro & nano fabrication techniques, and microfluidics. Since its inception in 2009, the Institute has trained more than 300 participants, preparing the next-generation of researchers who can apply engineering approaches to cancer and biomedical research. BRADLEY ELLIS SENIOR, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME Why did you choose to attend the Summer Institute? >> I wanted to get a jump-start on graduate school. What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far? >> Probably how different disciplines work together, just this week we learned how materials science concepts work together with electrical engineering processes for applications in medicine. What are your plans after the Summer Institute? >> I want to continue on into academia, get into exciting research, and eventually teach as a professor. HUMA RASHEED RESEARCH SCHOLAR, AMPLITECH, INC. Why did you choose to attend the Summer Institute? >> The summer institute offers instruction on applying advanced technology into biology and other sciences, like nanomedicine. What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far? >> I have a pharmacology background and am most interested in micro cell biology and encapsulated drug delivery. There have been a series of lectures on the applications of nanoparticles in curing cancer that I have found very valuable. What are your plans after the summer institute? >> I want to take some of the advanced techniques I have learned here, back to my native field of targeted drug therapy and pharmacology. 32