We are excited to announce our 2024 summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

The ATP-Bio REU is a 10-week research internship targeting STEM students nationwide, including community college students, who have not participated in prior research. Students will spend their summer doing exciting, cutting-edge research to help “stop biological time” and radically extend the ability to bank and transport cells, aquatic embryos, tissue, skin, whole organs, microphysiological systems (“organs-on-a-chip”), and even whole organisms through a team approach to build advanced biopreservation technologies.

ATP-Bio REU students will work at the University of Minnesota, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of California-Berkeley, the University of California-Riverside, or Texas A&M University. Lodging and travel are provided, along with a stipend.

ATP-Bio aims to enhance the diversity of future scientific communities; we strongly encourage applications from underserved, underrepresented, and underresourced groups. Project descriptions for this summer’s program can be found below.

Applications are due by 11:59 Eastern Time on March 17th

(Search ATP-Bio if the direct link does not work)

Resonance Raman Spectroscopy as a Novel Tool for Organ Viability Assessment Prior to Transplant

Host Lab: Dr. Shannon Tessier
Lead Mentor: Dr. Khanh Nguyen 

Having robust metrics of organic viability will allow us to better understand how the preservation process impacts overall organ health during recovery from cryopreservation. This project aims to further these efforts by further developing a novel approach to measuring mitochondrial health that can be correlated to organ viability across a variety of organ types, providing a quantitative metric of organ viability to be used in post preservation recovery. Students will engage with various measurement and preservation protocols, particularly focused on machine perfusion on organs. Students will also develop skills in Raman Spectroscopy measurements and analysis. This project would be particularly well suited for a student with a background or interest in biophysics and quantitative skills. Up to 2 positions are available. 

Lessons from Nature: Using Synthetic Biology and genome engineering to improve zebrafish cryopreservation

Host Lab: Dr. Shannon Tessier
Lead Mentor: Dr. Rasha Al-Attar

Zebrafish can serve as an effective, high-throughput model for organ preservation and transplantation research. In this project, the student will work to optimize a new protocol for the freezing of zebrafish embryos and explore genetic engineering tools to help mitigate the effects of Cryoprotectant toxicity. The student will gain experience in zebrafish husbandry, cryopreservation protocols, and genetic engineering (such as creating and injecting plasmids, plasmid validation, etc). This project would best be suited for a student with a background or interest in biology, particularly molecular biology. 1 position is available.

Project Title: Optical thermal characterization during cryopreservation and cryo mesh development via laser processing

Host Lab: Dr. Guillermo Aguilar
Lead Mentors: Crysthal Alvarez
Dr. Carla Berrospe-Rodriquez
Balaji Baskar

Vitrification is a rapid approach to cryopreserve biological samples without ice formation, which induces mechanical injury to the specimen. However, developing vitrification technologies for biological systems in the μL - L scale is challenging due to non-uniform cooling/warming and cryoprotectant (CPA) toxicity. Additionally, there are current limitations of monitoring in real-time CPA distribution, temperature, and phase changes to develop cryopreservation protocols. Therefore, real-time monitoring of these parameters is a necessity to make advancements in the field of cryopreservation. This project entails developing and utilizing optical tools, digital holography interferometry (DHI) and Raman spectroscopy, to perform in-situ thermal analysis of water, CPAs, and biological systems to improve vitrification protocols which can lead to enhanced specimen viability post preservation. Additionally, this project includes developing laser processed cryomeshsystems for these vitrification applications. Up to 4 positions are available.

Developing a Low-Cost Device for the Shipment of Cryopreserved 3D Scaffolds

Host Lab: Dr. Boris Rubinsky
Lead Mentor: Linnea Warburton

The expanded use of 3D bioprinted scaffolds requires effective protocols for cryopreserving the scaffolds and shipping them between labs. In order for cryopreserved scaffolds to survive the multi-day shipping process, their temperature must be maintained below -80°C. Temperature loggers should be used to monitor the temperature of the scaffolds and ensure that proper temperatures were maintained during shipment. However, conventional temperature loggers are expensive, and often not suited for temperatures lower than -20 °C. The purpose of this REU project is to design a low-cost, analog temperature sensor to record fluctuations in temperature above -60°C during shipping of cryopreserved scaffolds. In addition, this project will necessitate the design of a shipping container for 3D scaffolds that will maintain -80 °C during shipping and reduce temperature fluctuations. The container should be designed such that the proper temperature can be maintained up until the moment that the thawing process begins, such as in a water bath. The container should be reusable and should protect the 3D scaffold from being crushed or jostled during shipping. The project will help develop skills in Computer aided design (CAD), 3D printing, and cell culture. 1 position is available. 

Cryopreservation of 3D Cell Culture with Temperature Controlled Cryoprinting 

Host Lab: Dr. Boris Rubinsky
Lead Mentor: Linnea Warburton

The development of 3D cell culture techniques such as 3D bioprinting have the potential to revolutionize clinical research and replace animal testing. However, cells in 3D environments are far more challenging to cryopreserve than cells in 2D, which has slowed the adoption of these methods. The Rubinsky lab at UC Berkeley has developed a technology called “Temperature-Controlled-Cryoprinting,” which can be used to cryopreserve 3D bioprinted scaffolds. Temperature-Controlled-Cryoprinting allows the cells to be frozen at uniform rates as they are being printed into a 3D shape. Previously, our group demonstrated that this technology improves outcomes for cryopreserving 3D cell culture. However, this technology has yet to be used to cryopreserve most cell types, including Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). iPSCs can be differentiated into other types of cells, such as cardiac, pancreatic, dermal, or liver cells. Due to their sensitive nature, they require optimized conditions in order to survive cryopreservation. The aim of this REU project is to develop a protocol for the temperature-controlled-cryoprinting of iPSCs. This will involve optimizing various steps to maximize cell viability. Such as, Step 1: optimizing the survival of iPSCs in 3D cell culture, Step 2: optimizing the cryoprotectant composition for iPSCs, Step 3: optimizing 3D printing parameters. Students on the project will learn skills such as:  Cell culture of iPSCs (both 2D and 3D);  3D Bioprinting;  Cryoprotectant optimization. 1 position is available.  

Development of microvascular microphysiological system as a testbed for organ preservation study 

Host Lab: Prof. Kevin Healy
Lead Mentor: Dr. Yongdeok Kim

Endothelial cell (EC) damage in vascular systems during cold storage and reperfusion injury following organ transplantation leads to the deterioration of EC barrier function, ultimately resulting in edema and the failure of organ transplants. Microvascular ECs, especially, are highly susceptible to ischemia and reperfusion injury. Traditional 2D in vitro cell cultures or animal models may pose limitations as preservation testing platforms due to their lack of physiological relevance in static 2D environments and species differences. In this regard, using a 3D microphysiological system (MPS) employing human cells can be a promising testbed for organ preservation studies by offering physiological relevance with dynamic flow and characterization of molecular and cellular levels on chip. In this project, the REU student will develop an MPS using biomaterials and microfluidics devices to recapitulate microvascular systems with microvascular ECs. This project would be well-suited for a student with a background or interest in engineering and biology. The student will be expected to expand the experimental techniques and knowledge in microfluidics, MPS fabrication, and stem cell culture.

Synthesis and Surface Functionalization of Magnetic Nanorods for Organ Nanowarming

Host Lab: Dr. Yadong Yin
Lead Mentor: Sangmo Liu

In this project, we will synthesize magnetic nanorods (MNRs) with different sizes and test their magnetic heating performance in cryopreservation agents (CPAs). To further enhance the colloidal stability of MNRs in CPA, we will also coat their surface with polymer shells. Students will gain experience in nanorod synthesis procedures, conducting and evaluating heating performance tests and polymer coating and stabilization evaluation. Up to 2 positions are available.

Nanomaterials for photonic rewarming

Host Lab: Lorenzo Mangolini
Lead Mentor: Aishwarya Belamkar

The Mangolini group at UCR is developing novel materials that can facilitate the rewarming of tissue from a cryo-preserved state. The group is seeking undergraduate researchers to assist with the testing of the materials. Dispersions of different nanomaterials are heating using a continuous-wave laser, and the thermal response of the system is recorded using a thermocouple. Analysis of the data allows extracting information about the photo-thermal energy conversion efficiency of the materials. Multiple material formulation will be characterized, and their respective photo-thermal efficiencies will be correlated with material properties. 2 positions are available

Reanimation of Large Mammalian Organs

Host Lab: Dr. Paul Iaizzo
Lead Mentor: Ryan Nadybal

Imperative to the success of ATP-Bio’s research mission is the ability to effectively retain organ function post rewarming. To aid in that effort, this project will focus on developing tools to assess the function and health of large mammalian organs (such as lungs and hearts). The goal of the project is to better understand what types of measurements are effective in describing isolated organ health and viability. This project would be particularly well suited for students that have an interest or experience in coding, computer-aided drawing (CAD), or manufacturing and fabrication. Students should expect to further develop these skills during the course of the project as well as get a well rounded exposure to experimental design, data collection, and analysis. 1 position is available. 

Design of an end-to-end droplet system for cryopreservation of cells

Host Lab and Lead Mentor: Dr. Chris Hogan

This project focuses on the design of a droplet generator, cooling, and deposition system, which would be part of a larger effort focused on using a cryo-mesh system for the vitrification and long-term storage of cells. The combined system could be composed of (1) an atomizer to produce droplets of a tunable size; (2) a liquid nitrogen cooling system, designed to cool droplets as quickly as possible, and (3) a deposition section to ensure droplets softly land on a cooled wire mesh for long-term storage. A team of students could collectively work on this project, with each student leading design and testing of the three aforementioned sections and measuring changes in cell viability during droplet formation, cooling, and deposition. This project would enable a multidisciplinary team of students to work towards a common goal, leveraging the expertise of multiple ATP-Bio laboratories (the Hogan and Bischof laboratories). This project would be well-aligned with TA.2. “Multi-scale Thermodynamics of Water”, as successful system construction would enable both fundamental studies of the cooling rates needed to vitrify droplets as a function of droplet diameter and enable direct application in cell vitrification and storage. Up to 4 positions are available. 

Understanding Public Perceptions of Novel Biotechnologies and their Impact on Society 

Host Lab and Lead: Dr. Seth Thompson

This project engages students in the design and field-testing of a novel tool for measuring the public's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to novel biotechnologies. Students will also develop a series of hands-on learning activities aimed at increasing public awareness of novel biotechnologies, which will be paired with the above assessment tool to measure the effectiveness of the learning activities in increasing public awareness. Specifically, this project will focus on technologies related to genetic engineering and cryopreservation of organs. This project would be best suited for a student with a strong interest in connecting cutting edge technology development with societal impact. REUs should expect to develop skills in curriculum development, public engagement, science communication, and survey design. Up to 3 positions are available.