Anna Elizabeth Ritchie

Award: Mary Gates Research Scholarship
Major: Physics (STEM)
Mentor: Dr. Paola Rodríguez Hidalgo, Physical Sciences

Christian Paulos

Award: Mary Gates Research Scholarship
Major: Biology (STEM)
Mentor: Dr. David Marcinek, Radiology

Comparison of Skeletal Muscle Force in Aged Three-dimensional Engineered Muscle Tissues and In Vivo Rodent Models
My research project focuses on age-related changes in muscle function. We have previously designed and used novel young and naturally aged in vitro three-dimensional engineered muscle tissues (3D-EMTs) using donated myoblasts from the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging (SOMMA) to investigate this. A question raised in this research is how closely force measured in 3D-EMTs correlates to the in vivo force of intact skeletal muscle. To address this, I stimulated young and aged mice’s gastrocnemius muscles to contract (Aurora Instruments) measuring maximum force, contraction/relaxation kinetics, and fatiguability. Mice were then sacrificed, and hindlimb muscles were dissociated to isolate skeletal muscle myoblasts for cell culture. Myoblasts were amplified and used to generate young and aged rodent 3D-EMT. We tested in vitro 3D-EMT muscle mechanics using a Magnetometric Analyzer for engiNeered Tissue ARRAY (MantARRAY, Curi Bio). In vitro muscle force data was compared to in vivo force data from the same mouse. Results generated by this project helped identify the correlation between in vivo and in vitro force measurements and how they are impacted by age. This study also allowed us to bank multiple cell lines for future high throughput studies to utilize these rodent 3D-EMT models to study the progressive loss of muscle mass and function known as sarcopenia. The results from this project and the cellular models created will be used in the future to investigate potential targets for therapeutic interventions to treat sarcopenia in an ever-expanding aging population.

Kristiina Gaelle Tulleau

Award: Mary Gates Research Scholarship
Major: Mathematics (STEM)
Mentor: Dr. Joey Key, Physical Sciences Division

Developing MCMC Parameter Estimation Capabilities for EMRIs
The LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission is a joint NASA and ESA venture that will measure gravitational waves at frequencies that earth-based antennas cannot capture, such as waves caused by EMRIs (Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals). Before LISA is launched in 2035, it is paramount to learn how to analyze the mission data. My research identifies successful MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) parameter estimation techniques for EMRI signal data. Using simulated LISA data and exploring a range of system parameters in Python, I implemented different MCMC parameter estimation techniques (number of walkers, parallel tempering, etc.) on different kinds of EMRI signals and measured the match between the injected and recovered parameters, as well as examined the likelihood and corner plots to optimize search strategies. With these preliminary results, researchers can better incorporate MCMC parameter estimation techniques for EMRIs into their analysis as they receive data not only from single sources but many overlapping sources at once to determine a “global fit”, which recovers likely parameters for all sources detected. Then, general relativity can be tested as any deviations from expected behavior could indicate gravity acts differently than previously predicted. Furthermore, learning about the population of supermassive black holes via their recovered parameters provides insight to their relationship to galaxy evolution.

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Each year, the recognizes 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional students from the 56³Ô¹ÏÍø Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses in all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the University of Washington.

Adam Chhor

Year: Senior
Major: Computer Science & Software Engineering

Delia Gomez

Year: Graduate
Major: Education

Franchesca Nicole Lazaro

Year: Senior
Major: Applied Computing and Business Administration (Leadership & Strategic Innovation)
Minor: Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies

Khylee Mendez

Year: Senior
Major: Health Studies

Kristiina Gaelle Tulleau

Year: Senior
Major: Mathematics

Lidia Workneh

Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science & Software Engineering and Data Science

Mak Leah

Year: Senior
Major: Psychology

Maleah Haverly

Year: Senior
Major: Psychology

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Liliana Elizabeth Flores

Award: Mary Gates Research Scholarship
Major: Physics (Bothell)
Mentor: Dr. Paola Rodriguez Hidalgo, Physical Sciences Division, STEM

Studying and Developing Programming Tools to measure Extremely High Velocity Outflows
Quasars are some of the most luminous objects in the universe. Through analysis of quasar spectra, outflows of gas and dust can be identified by absorption troughs. Outflows that travel at speeds greater than 10% of the speed of light are known as Extremely High Velocity Outflows (EHVOs), and while there have been fewer studies compared to those at lower speeds, they might carry out large amounts of energy due to their higher speeds. The amount of gas in these outflows can be measured and studied through their CIV absorption troughs. However, in some cases, this absorption is contaminated by absorption of other ions at lower speeds. I have developed programming tools to analyze some of these complex EHVO absorption features. I will present the results of applying these techniques to two interesting cases: (1) one of the most luminous quasars in the universe and (2) the fastest known EHVO to date. My work improves the quality of EHVO analysis, resulting in more accurate measurements of absorption of these extreme outflows. This is crucial to obtain better estimates of mass outflow rates and kinetic energies in quasars, of which EHVOs might be some of the largest contributors.

Jack McFarland

Award: Mary Gates Research Scholarship
Major: Computer Science & Software Engineering
Mentor: Dr. Afra Mashhadi, Computing Software and Systems

FairRL-FL: Reinforcement Learning for Fairer Federated Models
Bias in Machine Learning (ML) can lead to unfair treatment of certain groups, particularly in areas like healthcare and finance, where disparate outcomes can have life-altering consequences. New training techniques aim to improve fairness while preserving privacy. Federated Learning (FL) is one such approach, allowing models to be trained on data from many devices without centralizing it. Instead of sharing raw data, each device trains a local model and sends model updates (adjustments based on its local data)to a central server, which aggregates them into a global model. This protects privacy while enabling large-scale training, but differences in data quality, representation, or access across devices can reinforce bias, leading to models that work well for some groups but poorly for others. This project tests whether a debiasing system can effectively mitigate bias in FL without sacrificing model performance. To tackle this, I’m adapting a Reinforcement Learning (RL) system, where an agent learns by interacting with an environment and receiving rewards for beneficial actions. The agent evaluates fairness using feedback from client devices and adjusts the central model’s weights before redistributing it for further training. Using fairness metrics and accuracy as its reward signal, the agent continuously refines its strategy, learning how to mitigate bias while preserving performance. I’m solely responsible for designing, building, testing, and analyzing this system, though I’ve benefited greatly from the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Afra Mashhadi, insights from her graduate students, and tools developed in prior research. Results from prior work suggest this method can reduce bias while maintaining strong model accuracy, highlighting its potential for improving fairness in FL systems. If successful, this approach could be applied in areas like medical diagnostics, risk assessment in insurance, and hiring algorithms, where biased models can lead to significant real-world harm.

Sabrina Prestes Oliveira

LETI participants toured their new community/event center in Everett, where they plan on launching a variety of new initiatives and expanding their capacity to serve the Latino community.

Award: Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship
Major: Data Visualization
Mentor: Sarina Barrett

Visualizing Latino Demographics, Entrepreneurship, and Developing Outreach Strategies for Community Empowerment in WA
Latinos in the United States, while a fundamental part of its history, often face barriers in education, employment, and healthcare. Nonetheless, research has shown that despite limited access to financing, Latino immigrants over-index among entrepreneurs and business owners nationwide, playing a key role in driving economic growth. Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI), founded in Lynnwood, Washington, in 1998 to provide language classes, career training, and cultural events for Latino residents, is a key organization in the region. As LETI expands its reach with a new location in Everett, it seeks to expand avenues for prospective small business owners and vendors, especially women, to develop as leaders and entrepreneurs. Building on the data analysis started during 56³Ô¹ÏÍø-Bothell’s Data for Public Good program in Summer 2024, this project will further assess and visualize the needs of the Everett Latino community, working with local stakeholders to access diverse data sets and evaluate the state of Latino entrepreneurship in Washington and the Puget Sound region. This will provide LETI with not only insights to guide future outreach and program development initiatives but motivational data stories for the community at large. We face a climate of unprecedented fear, misinformation, and discrimination against Latino immigrants. Through community-based geography and strengths-focused demographic analysis, this project will serve as a counterpoint to popular narratives of marginalization and validate LETI’s mission for collective, local empowerment.

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Christian Paulos

Working with the great faculty members at ISCRM was an amazing opportunity to engage with lab-based science and understand what it’s like to be a researcher!

2024 Bothell Fellow, Sniadecki and Qu Lab (Bioengineering, Mechanobiology, Tendon)
As an ISCRM-Bothell Fellow, Christian Paulos conducted research with the Sniadecki and Qu Labs, where he worked on developing engineered human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived tendon constructs as an in vitro strategy for studying tendon mechanobiology and physiology. His work involved applying an established protocol for tenogenic differentiation using biological morphogens and embedding the differentiated cells into 3D collagen hydrogels suspended between flexible PDMS posts.

Sophia Gillis

My time learning the intricacy and aspirations of regenerative medicinal research is knowledge that I will never forget

2024 Bothell Fellow, Escobar Lab (Biochemistry)
Sophia Gillis was an ISCRM Fellow and 56³Ô¹ÏÍø Bothell Founders Fellows Award recipient for her collaborative research on purifying T6N-Cas12-sfGFP and T6N-Cas9-sfGFP and working with peptide-assisted delivery in primary cells. While studying with other fellows in the Escobar Lab, she worked on producing protein in E. coli, isolating proteins using size-exclusion chromatography, and testing the purity and concentration of Cas12 and Cas9.

Asmaa Abdalla

This opportunity taught me valuable skills I aim to implement throughout my career. My experience in the lab challenged my skills and developed me into the scientist I aspired to become. I took meaningful lessons from this experience that shifted my perspective on science, research, and beyond

2024 Bothell Fellow, Marcinek Lab
As an ISCRM-Bothell Fellow, Asmaa Abdalla researched the link between mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and aortic disease in the Marcinek Lab. Using smooth muscle cells from patients undergoing cardiac surgery, she induced senescence with hydrogen peroxide (Hâ‚‚Oâ‚‚) and test therapies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and senescence. RT-qPCR assessed the treatment effects on key senescence and inflammation markers, aiming to identify potential therapeutic targets.

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, founded by Art and Rita Levinson, aims to support motivated undergraduates who conduct independent research in biosciences and related fields. It offers not only mentorship from 56³Ô¹ÏÍø faculty but also research funding for supplies, transportation, project expenses, and scholarships. The Office of Undergraduate Research will review the faculty-approved project budget of applicants to allow award adjustment based on research requirements and project needs.

Dang Troung

Major in Biology and minor in Physics, mentored by Dr. Nathan J. Sniadecki. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Lab Medicine & Pathology
Elevated von Willebrand Factor and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Impacts Thrombus Embolization Risk

During her time at 56³Ô¹ÏÍø Bothell, Dang Troung dedicated her passion to cell mechanotransduction, actively researching how cells sense and respond to physical forces. The 56³Ô¹ÏÍø Bothell undergraduate research program helped her discover Dr. Nathan J. Sniadecki’s Cell Biomechanics Lab, in which she began the project of studying platelet hemostasis with a microfluidic device, examining factors like medication, disease, and blood proteins. Her research evaluates the restrictions of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in individuals with elevated von Willebrand Factor and its influences on embolization risk.

Research & Creative Projects for Undergraduates in the Office of Connected Learning helps students find research opportunities to cultivate hands-on experiences and develop practical skills in fields of their interest. If you want to connect with research projects or programs and find out more about student opportunities, check out Connected Learning advising.

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The Outstanding Community-Engaged Scholar Award recognizes 56³Ô¹ÏÍø Bothell faculty members for their impacts on community-engaged projects. The programs are either short-term/long-term or with single/multiple partners and focus on a broad range of fields, including teaching and learning, research, creative work, policy, democratic participation, or community building.

Community-Engaged Learning and Research (CELR) provides several research opportunities for 56³Ô¹ÏÍø Bothell students to collaborate with campus and community programs. The courses focus on creating hands-on, reflective, and skill-building experiences for students to apply theory to practice, develop professional experience, and contribute to the public good.

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