Vision
Regarding Scientific Research:
My own scientific pursuits to date have been diverse, but nonetheless I feel that the integration of various disciplines yields a decisive advantage for innovation. Prior to attending college, I conducted a study on climate evolution for three years at Yale University in the department of Geology and Geophysics, which culminated in a paper submission to the DuPont Challenge, Siemens Westinghouse Competition, Intel Talent Search, and various New York State competitions. I established a global average carbon isotopic composition of Paleogene-age higher-plant organic material, and quantified higher-plant (C3- and C4-plants) paleoecology, exposing the evolutionary history of C4-photosynthesis. I was an assistant in these research methods, and I used stable-isotope mass spectrometry, performed column chromatography, and prepared sediment samples. At Cornell, I have joined a biorobotics laboratory investigating and essentially recreating human bipedal walking dynamics through the construction of autonomous robots. As a researcher for one year, I designed algorithms and simulated actuators to optimize balanace and model human kinematics. I also programmed microntrollers in C/C++ and assisted in PC Board layout architecture. This work concluded with several demonstrations of the bipedal robot�s walking ability. This project was independent, but donated some electronic and coding features to the Cornell Ranger, a record breaking walking robot from the same laboratory.
In the course of these experiences, and through pursuing leadership positions in various political, music, and science organizations, I have demonstrated clear direction, creativity, and an earnest commitment to the future of engineering. I would especially welcome the opportunity to continue to contribute a unique perspective to the growing collaboration of scientists and students working to advance my major field, biological engineering, and was just privelegded to take a research position this last summer in Thailand as a Cornell Engineering Global Fellow.
Please note: Customized Chitosan Nanostructures for Multifunctional Magnetic Nanomedical Platform Veach, Alexander and Chirachanchai, Suwabun (December 2008) Submitted for Publication [PDF here]
Free to contribute!
I conducted research in Bangkok, Thailand at the Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University. This short-term study extended this summer from June 1 until August 16th. Currently, I am finishing a paper for submission, but would actually like to continue this investigation this semester. Iron oxide magnetite nanoparticles were prepared and incorporated into chitosan nanomaterials to form novel magnetic agents for biomedical and environmental application. The polysaccharide polymer chitosan was used for encapsulation and has unique biorelated properties that permit various practical forms; thus, the biopolymer is a leading platform for hemostatic mediation and magnetic separation and purification. Morphologies of three experimental materials were observed by TEM and SEM, which included a chitosan reprecipitate control, a chitosan nanoscaffold, and a chitosan nanosphere. After integration of magnetite, the systems were evaluated in parallel with the specific goal of obtaining a magnetized nanoparticle for (i) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), (ii) Immunomagnetic Separation (IMS), and (iii) drug delivery. Solvent, solvent volume, and concentration ratio were the physicochemical parameters used to control the overall process, which lead to several nanostructural descriptions. While qualitative analysis suggested that a chitosan nanosphere (<200 nm) dissolved in DMF or dispersed in isopropanol incorporated magnetite (5-15 nm) the most effectively for the research aims, quantitative analysis verified structural and mechanistic characterizations. The experimental procedures performed included FT-IR, EDX, atomic absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, contact angle, and zeta potential measurements. Finally, these systems were tested for DNA purification ability by gel electrophoresis to demonstrate the application potential.
