STEM research faculty will share presentations of their work in a Zoom webinar format. Here is the line up of faculty and their talk abstracts. Zoom here: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96794781037 Anna Groat Carmona The Power of (Gene) Expression: Characterizing Infection-Related Membrane Proteins during the Mosquito- to Liver-Stage Transition of the Malaria Life Cycle Abstract: Malaria parasites are obligatory intracellular protists in the genus Plasmodium that are transmitted by Anopheline mosquitoes; continuously cycling their residence between their insect vectors and mammalian hosts where they undergo extensive growth and development. Despite the fact that liver-stage development is a critical parasite amplification event, little is known about the molecular factors that regulate this unique stage of the parasitic life cycle. My research lab examines the morphological changes that occur on the parasite plasma membrane (PPM) during the mosquito- to liver-stage transition, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the infection-related proteins that initiate liver-stage development by examining the role of multi-protein complexes at the PPM. These studies will provide a conduit by which to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the unique cellular morphogenesis of malaria parasites during liver-stage development and will be used to inform essential host–parasite interactions that will provide targets for novel drug intervention strategies. Kelly Kim Finding the Right Medicine: Synthesis of Structurally Diverse Organic Molecules of Biological Importance Abstract: The medicinal applications of natural materials derived from plants and animals have been known to humans for centuries, although the ability to identify the chemical compounds responsible for specific therapeutic effects was cultivated more recently. Advances in biomedical research and spectroscopic techniques have enabled structural elucidation of bioactive compounds at the molecular level and facilitated their synthesis in the laboratory. The ability to prepare organic molecules of interest from commercially available chemical precursors alleviates reliance on plant and animal sources and provides access to bioactive compounds not naturally available. Creation of structurally diverse organic compounds containing a shared central framework with varied peripheral groups reveals the influence of molecular structure on biological activity. As outlined in this presentation, these efforts can inform the development of new therapeutics for infectious diseases, facilitate the study of environmental pollutants, and inspire the invention of new synthetic methodologies, among other applications. Hee-Seok Kim Self-powered, wearable biopatch for continuous human health monitoring Thermoelectric technology is how to convert thermal energy into electricity or vice versa, which has been utilized for waste heat recovery in energy harvesting. Flexible, wearable biosensors have been paid attention along with wearable electronics and AR devices, but rigid, limited battery pack is a hurdle. Collecting and transferring human biopotential data is not simple like using data in a personal cloud system. This talk briefly addresses how to integrate these technologies into a single device for psychophysiological health monitoring. Jim Gawel Legacy arsenic in lakes: that toxic relationship that just won't go away! Abstract: Arsenic contamination of lakes in the US has occurred as a result of mining, smelting, and its use as an aquatic herbicide and terrestrial pesticide. This carcinogen, which has accumulated in Puget Sound lakes affected by the former ASARCO smelter in Ruston, WA, can be mobilized from lake sediments during the summer, but in most lakes there is a spatial separation between dissolved arsenic and oxygen-requiring organisms, reducing the potential for biotic uptake. Now our team of collaborators (UW Tacoma and Seattle faculty and current and former students) has elucidated the mechanisms by which arsenic in the sediments of shallow, urban lakes is transported into surface waters, resulting in significant bioaccumulation of arsenic in aquatic species, and an increased cancer risk for high-consuming populations. We are now working to identify at-risk populations, communicate health risks, and develop more efficient methods for identifying and remediating lakes vulnerable to arsenic’s impacts. Ankur Teredesai Can Artificial Intelligence ever be Fair and Unbiased? Abstract: AI is increasingly used everywhere from making parole decisions to healthcare care management choices. In this talk we highlight why it is important to understand if AI predictions are fair or biased. Then we offer an overview of steps computer science research is taking to address this issue and invite the broader community to reflect and connect to shape these advances. Martine De Cock Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning on Azure Abstract: Machine learning-based applications provide a lot of convenience but rely on our personal data to work well. Can we get the benefits of using them without disclosing sensitive information about ourselves? This year, faculty and students from UWT's School of Engineering and Technology have developed cryptographic protocols for data classification that run on Microsoft Azure and let machine learning-backed applications provide their services without demanding our privacy in return. |