Fischell Institute, IBBR Announce 2021 Travel Fellowship Recipients

The University of Maryland Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices and Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) announced the recipients of their joint-issued 2021 travel fellowship award.

The goal of the program is to support the success of scholars whose projects align with the shared missions of IBBR and the Fischell Institute toward the translation of basic scientific and engineering research into innovative solutions to biomedical challenges.

This year’s recipients are Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE) postdoc Robert "Smitty" Oakes and BIOE Ph.D. candidate Sally Wang.

Dr. Robert Robert "Smitty" Oakes works in Minta Martin Professor of Engineering Christopher Jewell’s (BIOE/Fischell Institute) Immune Engineering Lab. Oakes’ research project focuses on the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS), which occurs when the immune system attacks host tissue.

Sally Wang working in a labSally Wang works in Fischell Institute director William Bentley’s (BIOE/ChBE/BBI) Biomolecular and Metabolic Engineering Lab. Wang’s work focuses on the development of electrogenetic CRISPR that mediates the “conversation” between electrodes and genetic networks. Wang and members of Bentley’s lab have created a peroxide (H2O2)-actuated eCRISPR system housed in electrode surface-assembled bacteria.

The semi-annual fellowship provides up to $5,000 toward fees and travel expenses for the recipient to present at a scientific or engineering conference and/or attend relevant professional development workshops.

Published February 16, 2022