UROP Opening Summer 2011

IMPORTANT: MIT Direct Funding Deadline is TODAY at 5pm. Please apply today.

UROP job description

We are seeking a student to work on optimization of virus detection in culture systems.  The project would ultimately be applicable for creating diagnostics for real-world situations involving novel point of care diagnostics, enabled with mobile telephone for real-time epidemiology.

Today’s global world health challenges require advanced and sensitive technologies for detecting potential infectious agents that are health threats. To be able to prevent spread of new emerging diseases, to control epidemics and to best equip surveillance, there is a need to implement these highly sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic techniques. Among the emerging disease risks that this proposal will focus on is dengue hemorrhagic fever.

The project consists of refining techniques to detect dengue virus in the laboratory. Goals of the project are to be able to grow, concentrate and detect dengue viruses that are of diverse genetic information, and to develop rapid and highly sensitive assays for ultimate detection of dengue viruses in patients.

Students with prior background in Biology, Biochemistry, and Cell Biology are highly encouraged to apply. The project requires someone capable of working within BL2 level laboratory requirements and who has excellent organization skills necessary for cataloging of the viruses. There is a cataloging and bio-banking portion of the work.

Contact: Jose Gomez-Marquez, Innovations in International Health. helloiih@mit.edu

 

Energy + Medical UROP Opportunities — Apply today!

We have two energy related UROP opportunities for this summer. You need to apply soon!

Project Title: CoolComply: Homecare for MDR-TB Patients in Extreme Environments using Passive Cooling Technology and Telemetry

Supervisor: Jose Gomez-Marquez

Description: We use wireless communication and smart materials to improve care of MDR-TB worldwide through a novel device – CoolComply – designed to maintain temperature and connect patients to healthcare workers in extreme environments.

CoolComply is powered from an “active” photovoltaic matt coupled with a “passive” evaporative cooling system for optimal performance requirements. Our modular storage device will be designed to slot into locally available containers with sufficient R-Values (thermal resistance). Sensors and wireless technology monitor patient adherence through access events, defined by opening the storage device and removing a dosage of medication. Access events and temperature information are time stamped and stored in a standard Secure Digital (SD) memory card embedded in the device. For thermostability security, the device is programmed to send an Short Message Service (SMS) alert the supervisor if either the internal temperature of the device is not less than 15 degrees Celsius 90 percent of the time and/or subjects are not meeting the access requirements.

Innovative devices for home-based care to maintain cool temperatures and strengthen adherence are needed for patients with Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB). MDR-TB is defined as a resistance to two of the most effective drugs, rifampicin and isoniazid, to treat tuberculosis. In 2008, approximately one third of the nearly half a million cases of MDR-TB died and many more continue to emerge. MDR-TB develops due to poor patient adherence and health provider management of tuberculosis. Patients with active tuberculosis can infect ten to fifteen people annually. Similarly, once people develop MDR-TB, it spreads like any contagious disease – through air transmission such as coughing and talking.

You will be working with a high level interdisciplinary team from IIH/D-Lab, Mass General Hospital and St. Peter’s Hospital in Ethiopia to design the cooling system using smart materials for small-scale energy storage, drawing power from renewable energy sources. Along with the thermodynamic modeling and design of the cooling system, you will be responsible for ensuring a user-driven design of the storage compartments for the medication with feedback from our partners in Ethiopia. This is a paid position for June – August 2011 with potential to continue in the fall semester.

Prerequisites: Coursework in physics, thermodynamics, and product design; Machine shop training preferred, but not required; Interest in global health and mobile phone programming and availability to travel to Ethiopia in July 2011.

Contact: helloiih@mit.edu