Expo_flip-book-na

Summer Scholars Stats Entrepreneurship at Stevens Is Our Mission

The program includes There has never been a more exciting time to be an entrepreneur.
9 freshmen, 10 sophomores
Stevens Institute of Technology, a university founded by a family of inventors, understands the
and 12 juniors opportunities presented by this bold new world — and the collaborations required to realize
them.
Participating student
average GPA: 3.536 That’s why we build entrepreneurial training and teamwork into our undergraduate curriculum
from day one. We train our students to think differently, to believe in the possibilities of their
18 ideas and to actualize those ideas by equipping them with the conceptual, design and business
13 skills and tools that transform novel concepts into real products and services.

41.9% (13) of the 2016 Then we connect our students with real-world opportunities and viable business partners,
scholars are women including our own faculty members, who frequently innovate and patent new technologies of
their own.

Here are just a few recent examples of Stevens undergraduate entrepreneurship in action:

• A student team developed a monitoring and response system for cars that detects when a driver
suffers a medical emergency and slows the vehicles, steers it to the side of road and dials 911.

• A group of undergraduates developed a compact system of patches that offers an easily
deployed method of continuously monitoring the structural health of bridges.

• An undergraduate team created a web application that can search patents faster and more
efficiently than existing tools, potentially saving patent lawyers time and the expense of trips to
the U.S. Patent Office in Washington.

The Stevens Office of Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ORIE) coordinates and
manages the university’s entrepreneurial activities.

We steward the patenting, commercialization and licensing of faculty-generated research and
intellectual property, transforming new ideas and breakthroughs into a multitude of products
and services.

We create academic programming in entrepreneurship across the Stevens curriculum and
organize annual entrepreneurship “pitch” competitions and awards programs to help students
further hone critical business skills.

We involve hundreds of students in the Stevens Innovation Expo, an annual showcase of team
projects conducted by seniors in close partnership with sponsors including the Cleveland Clinic,
Cooper Surgical, Exelis, General Dynamics, Hackensack University Medical Center, PSE&G,
Rutgers University, Stantec, Stryker Orthopaedics, the United States Department of Defense
and URS. These projects represent the capstone of the Stevens undergraduate experience,
conferring invaluable skills in teamwork, project management, marketing and business
planning.

And we administer a comprehensive, merit-based ORIE undergraduate summer research
program to encourage and support faculty-student research in important societal areas.

This book describes the 2016 ORIE summer research program. Within its pages, you will read
about the inspired research of this year’s class of scholars, an impressive group of 31
undergraduates who tackled topics ranging from cognitive radio to dental and medical devices
to advanced prosthetics to complex financial instruments.

The Stevens Innovation Students’ Home
Expo is an annual, one-day, Departments
campus-wide event that
displays the extensive Sciences 11
research and innovation Engineering 19
accomplishments of faculty
and students. Business 1

stevens.edu/expo 10

TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT: 10 of Stevens’ 34
undergraduate majors are
Sandra Furnbach Clavijo, P.E. represented in the program
Programs Manager
201.216.8186 Biomedical Engineering 8
[email protected] Chemical Biology 4
Bioinformatics 1
David Peacock
Director, Intellectual Property Mechanical Engineering 5
Management Chemical Engineering 2
201.216.5242 Electrical Engineering 5
[email protected]
Computer Science 2
Werner Kuhr, Ph.D. Physics 2
Director, Technology
Commercialization Physics and Mathematics 1
201.216.3509 Quantitative Finance 1
[email protected]

HEALTHCARE

Aditya Paul Bhalla, Class of 2018

Major: Biomechanical Engineering
Advisor: Marissa Gray, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological
Sciences

Self-Inflating Personal Flotation Device
for Navy SEALs

Project Summary:
Aditya Paul Bhalla and his research team worked on a self-inflating
personal flotation device (PFD) for Navy SEALs, one of the principal
military forces operating under the United States Special Operations
Command. SEALs perform difficult operations that involve risks such
as falling overboard, becoming incapacitated or being knocked
unconscious. To eliminate the risk of drowning, SEALs are outfitted
with PFDs that inflate upon any contact with water. Often, they
inflate prematurely. The Navy SEALs initiated this project and
requested that Stevens Institute of Technology work on the
development of an automatic PFD that will not compromise the safety
of SEALs during aquatic missions. Aditya and his research team
created a device that is pressure detecting and has timed inflation,
which will allow for activation only when the vest is submerged.

Alexis Connor, Class of 2017

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Antonio Valdevit, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological
Sciences

Piezoelectric Tooth Actuator

Project Summary:
The goal of the piezoelectric tooth actuator is to provide a less
traumatic alternative to the current practice of extracting a tooth
by cutting into gum tissue and applying pressure to elevate the
tooth, which can result in unintended damage or tooth breakage.
The piezoelectric tooth actuator uses low-frequency vibrations that
slowly loosen a tooth without causing damage to surrounding teeth
or restraining soft tissues. Alexis Connor and the team spent the
summer improving the circuit that controls the actuator and
testing that actuator on sample porcine teeth. They used a
transducer to measure how much a tooth moved before and after
being vibrated for 30 minutes. The results showed that the tooth
was displaced 0.38 millimeters before vibration and 0.87
millimeters after vibration, translating to a 226 percent increase
in displacement. This means that with future testing and
modification, the piezoelectric tooth actuator could be a viable
alternative for dentists.

Steven Shulman ’62 Scholar

2 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2016

HEALTHCARE

David Guirguis, Class of 2018

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: James Liang, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and
Biological Sciences

Bacteria-Responsible Materials for
Bio-Fouling

Project Summary:
Scientists and engineers have been using silver as an
antibacterial agent for many years, but it can be highly toxic if
it enters the human circulatory system. David Guirguis’
research focuses on ways to alter various biocompatible
materials so that they will be able to carry the silver
antibacterial into the body safely. He and his team used a
polyethylene (PET) film, a biocompatible and clear structure
with a plastic texture, to implant the silver into the patient
with no physical or chemical consequences. They used various
types of bacteria such as E. coli and S. aureus to test the
effectiveness of silver as an antibacterial on the PET film. If
successful, this research could have a profound impact on the
medical industry. It would enable doctors to prevent bacterial
infections and allow patients to overcome diseases such as
pneumonia and food poisoning.

Drew Lustig, Class of 2018

Major: Chemical Biology
Advisor: Samantha Kleinberg, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological
Sciences/Electrical Engineering

Audio- and Accelerometer-Based
Calorie Estimation

Project Summary:
Drew Lustig and her team are developing wearable devices that
can automatically log food, much as a pedometer or Fitbit tracks
movement. Such devices can be useful for calculating insulin
levels required for diabetes patients, aiding in weight loss and
identifying food allergies. The sensors they are using include two
LG smart watches — one on each wrist — to track wrist
movements involved in cutting food and picking it up with a fork,
and one microphone, which is inserted in the right ear to pick up
chewing and other eating sounds. Study participants are outfitted
with the sensors and data from their daily routine is collected. The
project is currently in the second round of testing outside of the
lab, while analysis of the first round of data is underway. The team
expects to submit a report of its findings for publication in the
coming months.

3Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University

HEALTHCARE

Edward Curtin, Class of 2018

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Negar Tavassolian, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry
and Biological Sciences/Electrical Engineering

Inside-the-Ear Vital Sign
Monitoring System

Project Summary:
Edward Curtin and his team developed an app for
smartphones that uses a phone’s accelerometer to
determine the user’s heart rate. Users activate the
app and place their phone in their front shirt
pocket to begin monitoring. This app is designed
to be used by people who are considered “at risk”
for heart-related medical emergencies. The app
can also be paired with a special earpiece sensor
to determine the user’s blood pressure, providing
multi-faceted healthcare operations at all times.
This app can provide real-time medical
information to both doctors and emergency
services, which will help shave precious seconds
off the response time in emergencies like heart
attacks or strokes.

Franzisca Komar, Class of 2020

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Hongjun Wang, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and
Biological Sciences

Creation of a Dental Root Scaffold
for Tooth Regeneration

Project Summary:
Franzisca Komar worked with Dr. Hongjun Wang’s laboratory
to create a scaffold of a dental root for tooth regeneration. A
tooth root is complex, with multiple layers of various materials
such as dentin, cementum periodontal ligament and dental
pulp. The team set out to recreate a tooth root using cells and
nonliving materials. The various layers that had to be
replicated consisted of nano- and microfibers, with layers of
cells in between. The goal of this research was to create a
replica of a natural tooth root that would regrow a tooth when
implanted in a patient. This novel technology could replace
standard tooth implants less invasively and with reduced risk
of rejection because the patient’s own cells would be used to
replace a missing tooth.

4 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2016

HEALTHCARE

Gerald Lamina, Class of 2017

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Ramana Vinjamuri, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological
Sciences

One-Degree-of-Freedom Hand
Exoskeleton

Project Summary:
People who experience stroke, a neurological disorder or spinal
injury are prone to loss of motor function in their upper limbs.
This may impede their ability to do common activities and
significantly worsen their quality of life. Exoskeletons have
been proven to aid in developing prosthetics and promoting
rehabilitation. These prosthetics can be expensive, however,
and they often must be custom tailored. This summer, Gerald
Lamina and his research partner, Katherine Van Orden,
designed, developed, fabricated and tested a one-degree-of-
freedom hand exoskeleton designed to aid in grasping common
household objects such as a cup of water. The exoskeleton was
designed using computer-aided drafting and was produced by a
3D printer. The team hopes that this inexpensive alternative to
a prosthetic can be used worldwide and accommodate those
who may not be able to afford conventional assistive devices.

Gianna Stella, Class of 2017

Major: Bioinformatics
Advisor: Dr. Yong Zhang, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological Sciences

Modulating Catalytic Functions for Green
Synthesis

Project Summary:
Many hydrocarbons are not reactive at room temperature, which inhibits
organic syntheses and makes drug development more difficult. Gianna
Stella’s project focused on improving a well-known catalyst to solve this
problem. Metalloporphyrin is an excellent catalyst involved in various
aerobic oxidation reactions under biological conditions. Experiments
show that metalloporphyrin complexes are successful catalysts for
improving the reactivity of hydrocarbons. These experiments, however,
were conducted at high temperatures. Developing a better catalyst that
works at room temperature is important for green and sustainable
chemistry. This project tested the reactivity of an iron porphyrin catalyst
with the addition of axial ligands 5-MeIm, MeS-, MeO-, Me- and CO.
Iron was used as the metal center because it is abundant in nature,
non-toxic and inexpensive. The axial ligands were added to determine if
they would improve the reactivity of the catalyst. A better iron porphyrin
catalyst will aid in drug development by increasing the reactivity of
different hydrocarbons.

5Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University

HEALTHCARE

Hannah Timm, Class of 2018

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: George McConnell, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological Sciences

Quantifying Neural Activity During Deep Brain
Stimulation to Predict Neuroanatomical
Electrode Placement

Project Summary:
Hannah Timm’s research evaluates the neural activity and behavior of rats with
Parkinson’s disease before and after deep brain stimulation (DBS). The goal of
the ongoing study is to determine the proper placement of electrodes in the
brain to optimize the benefit to Parkinson’s patients and reduce side effects. In
addition to location, the parameters of stimulation frequency and amplitude
were to be tested to determine the mechanisms of action of SNr DBS. Deep
brain stimulation has already proven to have a positive effect in relieving other
symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as tremors, rigidity and slow movement.
Although these symptoms improve with dopaminergic medication, gait and
postural stability symptoms worsen as the disease continues. Hannah and her
team hope their research will improve the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients
and slow the progression of the disease.

Kristin Allocco, Class of 2017

Major: Chemical Biology
Advisor: Joseph Glavy, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological Sciences

Inducible Expression of Guardian Genes
and the Subsequent Formation of
Micronuclei

Project Summary:
Kristin Allocco is working to identify specific protein pathways that are
impacted in Werner syndrome, a premature aging disorder, by quantifying
cellular anomalies in patient cell lines with variably expressed DNA-
maintained genes. Her research focuses on micronuclei, fragmented
pieces of a chromosome that are left unincorporated into daughter cells
following cell division, as indicators of a cell’s rehabilitation capabilities
following the induced and targeted increase or decrease in protein
function. This research also examines the positioning of the nucleus
within the diseased cell lines to determine if there is a characteristic
nuclear anchoring pathology found specifically in Werner syndrome. This
research should be able to shed more light on the essential proteins
impacted in Werner syndrome, perhaps ultimately leading to a cure.

Steven Shulman ’62 Scholar

6 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2016

HEALTHCARE

Nathan Tahbaz, Class of 2020

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Hongjun Wang, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological Sciences

Biomedical 3D Printer for the Production of
Designed Tissues

Project Summary:
The goal of Nathan Tahbaz’s project is to deliver a working prototype of a
biomedical 3D printer designed to produce scaffold structures on which to
grow cells and to print biological components with a cellular gel-based
material. The printer is designed to operate precisely, reproducibly and with
a high degree of accuracy. Nathan also researched the design, optimization
and production of micro-scale cell-scaffold structures. In the field of
biomedical engineering, 3D printing has almost limitless application. The
ability to replicate or originally produce biological structures has relevancy
in fields ranging from reconstructive surgery and cosmetic augmentation to
biomedical research and organ repair. The key to commercializing any new
technology is reliability. The printer designed as part of Nathan’s project is
robust, accurate and, most important, reliable.

Olivia Butera, Class of 2019

Major: Chemical Engineering
Advisor: Xiaoguang Meng, Ph.D. and Qiantao Shi, Ph.D.
Department: Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering

Evaluation of Filtration Media for Lead
Removal

Project Summary:
Across the country, concern is growing about unsafe levels of lead in
drinking water. Exposure to lead can damage the blood-forming, nervous,
urinary and reproductive systems. Lead in water is colorless and
odorless, thus difficult to detect. Fortunately, devices such as the Brita
faucet filtration system have helped by employing adsorption by
activated carbon. This technique has proved to filter out lead, but it
could be adapted to further its absorbance capacity. In Olivia Butera’s
research, a synthesized filtration combination of titanium dioxide and
activated carbon (Ti-AC) was found to successfully filter out more lead
for a longer period with less adsorption material. This is an important
breakthrough for cities such as Flint, Michigan, where this adsorption
material could help keep families safe by lowering lead concentration to
the national drinking water standard.

7Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University

HEALTHCARE

Paul Moyer, Class of 2019

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Stephanie Lee, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and
Biological Sciences

Engineering Stem Cell Arrays
for Therapeutic Applications

Project Summary:
Paul Moyer worked to solve a problem that underlies
many of the Food and Drug Administration’s
restrictions on stem cell therapy. Although many of
these regulations are necessary, they prevent stem
cells from being used to their full healing potential.
Based on the work done by others in the tissue
engineering community, Paul theorized that stem cell
characteristics could be controlled by their shape.
Using computer-aided design software and physics
simulating programs, he was able to analyze how
stem cells would interact in his custom-made nano
scaffolds. The ability to control stem cell
characteristics could lead to less-restrictive FDA
policies, expanded clinical research on stem cell
applications and rapid advances in modern
medicine. Paul will continue his research into the
fall and spring semesters.

Soindos Abdah, Class of 2018

Major: Chemical Biology
Advisor: Sunil Paliwal, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biological
Sciences

Development of Novel Drugs Targeting
the ERK Signaling Pathway for Cancer
Treatments

Project Summary:
Soindos Abdah is working alongside a team of researchers to help
develop a novel drug that targets and inhibits the activity of the ERK
signaling pathway in cancerous cells (ERK is a specific kinase/
enzyme). Using her experience in organic synthesis, she helped
create several drugs with different signal “hinges” that can activate
and deactivate the ERK protein kinase. The phosphorylation of the
ERK pathways is present in the majority of cancers and contributes
to cancer metastasis. There is no drug that focuses on inhibiting this
kinase. Soindos and her team worked to develop and improve drug
performance with nanotechnology. Ultimately, this work could lead to
a drug that can cross the blood-brain barrier and help prevent
cancers from spreading to the brain.

8 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2016

HEALTHCARE

Zachary Santi, Class of 2017

Major: Chemical Biology
Advisor: Xiaojun Yu, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and
Biological Sciences

Peripheral Nerve Regeneration by
Freeze-Drying Chitosan Scaffold

Project Summary:
Nerve regeneration is a cutting-edge medical technology.
Despite the common belief that nerves stop developing in
adulthood, they actually continue to grow throughout life.
After nerve damage, the nerve axons will regrow and try to
reconnect with the site from which they were severed.
Implanting a scaffold at the location of regrowth can
enhance the efficiency of the regeneration process and
serve as a guide for the re-growing cells. Zachary Santi is
comparing the two most commonly tested materials for
such scaffolding — nerve grafting and PCL sheets— plus
a third material, chitosan, which can make the nerve
regeneration process cheaper and more effective.

9Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Christopher Blackwood, Class of 2019

Major: Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Mukundan Iyengar, Ph.D.
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

AutoVision, the Self-Adjusting Automobile
Windshield

Project Summary:
Every 27 seconds, someone around the world perishes in a motor vehicle
accident. While many factors contribute to car accidents, studies
accepted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
indicate that accidents occur much more frequently after dark in areas
where lighting is poor. Multiple studies have shown that the bright glare
caused by the headlights of oncoming traffic during night driving can
negatively impact reaction time, amplifying the risk of a crash. AutoVision
is a system designed to reduce glare from headlights or by the sun at
sunrise or sunset. Through the use of smart-glass technology, a
transparent flip-down visor can be electronically shaded to decrease
stress on a driver’s eyes and prevent temporary blindness. A light sensor
used in conjunction with a low-power microcontroller can detect the
presence of glare automatically and adjust the shade of the visor in
response.

Fei Wu, Class of 2018

Major: Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Yu-Dong Yao, Ph.D.
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Cognitive and Software Radio
Test Bed-Based Development

Project Summary:
Cognitive radio aims to utilize limited spectrum
resources efficiently. Licensed radio users (primary
users) use their own channels to transmit information.
But primary users don’t use their own channel all the
time; cognitive radio allows non-licensed (secondary
users) to use these channels when they are idle.
Typically, cognitive radio communication has been done
through hardware, but with the booming of computer
technology, we can now do most of the work through
software. This summer, Fei Wu worked with a team to
build up a cognitive radio communication system with
five primary users. In this system, secondary users are
able to detect only one of the five channels and transmit
signals when the detected channel is idle. The team
developed a program for the secondary users so they
could record the behavior of the primary users and
complete communication at the same time.

10 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2016

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Guanhao Wu, Class of 2020

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Gary Engler, Ph.D.
Department: Mathematical Sciences

Neuromorphic Data Science

Project Summary:
The goal of this project was to develop principles of computation for brain-inspired computing
systems. Neurons are the core component of the brain. The network of neurons holds answers to
many profound questions, including how the brain forms memories and how it performs enormous
numbers of tasks with incredibly little energy. Guanhao Wu and his team sought to answer these
questions by investigating the neural activities in an artificial neural network. The team built a
simulator for generating neural networks and gathering data from them. They were able to
visualize the network activities by plotting the center of activities and neuron firings in time and
spatial coordinates. Guanhao focused on programming the neuron models and the network
architecture and the math behind them. The simulator has potential academic and commercial
applications. The brain-inspired computing method itself can also have a significant impact on
the field of computer science and beyond.

Ivan Dickson, Class of 2017

Major: Physics
Advisor: Yuping Huang, Ph.D.
Department: Physics and Engineering Physics

Optical Arbitrary Waveform Operation

Project Summary:
Ivan Dickson spent the summer developing an all-optical quantum
switch. This device is an important component in the emerging fields of
quantum computing and quantum communications. It can potentially
replace some of the more complex systems available and provide
unparalleled efficiency. The project combined several fields of physics
including classical optics, electromagnetism, high-frequency electronics
and quantum mechanics. This quantum switch is a key building block
for future optical communications and computational networks and
could be integrated into quantum computers, allowing for higher
speeds, lower power consumption and improved quantum efficiency.

Jia Deng, Class of 2016

Major: Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Yu-Dong Yao, Ph.D.
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Cognitive and Software-Defined Radio

Project Summary:
Cognitive radio is an intelligent radio that automatically detects band frequency. It
allows one to change transmission or reception parameters to ensure that every
user occupies a separate channel, increasing the efficiency of communications. It
uses spectrum-sensing scanning frequency bands to see whether a channel is
available that allows cognitive radio to avoid interference. This summer, Jia Deng
focused on simulating how cognitive radio works to detect and occupy channels.
She made an HTML webpage to display parameters, channel situations and
statistics. The result: a method of increasing the efficiency of the cognitive radio
network and optimizing the usage of spectrum in wireless communications
systems for both military and civilian applications.

11Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Maria Cruz Campos, Class of 2019

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Kishore Pochiraju, Ph.D.
Department: Mechanical Engineering

Soft Conductive Electrodes for Additive
Manufacturing

Project Summary:
Soft conductive electroactive polymers, or EAPs, are polymers that
exhibit a change in size or shape when stimulated by an electric field.
They are frequently referred to as artificial muscles due to their similar
behaviors. EAP actuators have a wide variety of applications, such as
micro-robotics, medical prosthetics and morphing touch screens. EAPs
are formed by combining different layers of flexible/stretchable polymers
and soft conductive electrodes. Most EAP electrodes are made with
carbon black or graphene, which has disadvantages such as stiffness and
disconnection when the polymer is stretched. Maria Cruz Campos was
part of a research project team that analyzed different gels that could
serve as a better operating conductive electrode. The experimentation
included diffusing electrolytes into soft gels such as gelatin to create
electrically conductive layers and films. Upon successfully identifying an
appropriate material composition, the project investigated integration
with additive manufacturing processes.

Pengcheng Li, Class of 2017

Major: Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Yu-Dong Yao, Ph.D.
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Cognitive and Software Defined
Radio

Project Summary:
Cognitive radio is a form of wireless communication in which
a transceiver can intelligently detect which communication
channels are in use and which are not and instantly move into
vacant channels while avoiding occupied ones. Pengcheng Li
focused on simulating the operation of a cognitive radio
system using JavaScript. He developed a program to simulate
a simplified cognitive radio system and used several methods
to locate available bands precisely and quickly. His research
resulted in higher efficiency and optimized spectrum usage in
cognitive radio. Cognitive radio is currently used primarily in
the military, but it can provide an enhanced public wireless
communication environment.

12 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2016

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Raj Mistry, Class of 2019

Major: Chemical Engineering
Advisor: E.H.Yang, Ph.D.
Department: Mechanical Engineering

Search for the Best-Suited
Substrate for Polypyrrole (PPy)
Fabrication

Project Summary:
One of Dr. E.H.Yang’s major projects is PPy oil-water
separation, which involves trying to separate oil from
water using a polymer. This project has many important
applications; a primary one is protecting marine life in
the event of an oil spill. Raj Mistry and his team hoped
to create a filter from the PPy polymer so that it is more
efficient in separating oil from water, keeping marine life
safe in the process. Raj was charged with finding the
most suitable substance for the filter to which the
polymer will be attached. Identifying the optimal filter
substance can impact the performance of the system
and, therefore, is vital to the project.

Silvio Maione, Class of 2017

Major: Physics and Mathematics
Advisor: Ting Yu, Ph.D.
Department: Physics and Engineering Physics

Quantum Computing and Quantum
Information in the Presence of Noise

Project Summary:
Computers are becoming ubiquitous and more integrated into our
lives and society. Silvio Maione’s research focuses on the next
stage in computation. He and his team explored quantum
behaviors, such as entanglement, de-coherence and quantum
control in quantum open systems. He performed computational
simulations to numerically solve vital quantum stochastic
equations to gain relevant data for modeling larger qubit systems
in the presence of noise, critical for quantum dynamic
information. The overall goal will be to learn how to scale qubit
systems so quantum computers can one day become a reality.
Quantum computers are the next and perhaps ultimate step in
computational power. Due to quantum behavior, they are
exponentially faster than traditional computers.

13Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University

NEW TECHNOLOGY

William Boettcher, Class of 2018

Major: Computer Engineering
Advisor: Robert Chang, Ph.D.
Department: Mechanical Engineering

3D Printing a Tissue-Based
Electrophysiological Model

Project Summary:
In studying the electrical signaling behavior of the brain,
researchers often rely on lab-grown cultures of isolated neurons
to serve as simplified models of the nervous tissue of living
animals. While these in-vitro models offer improved access for
imaging, stimulation and recording, they are generally unable to
emulate the three-dimensional architecture of the tissues for
which they serve as models. To address the shortcomings of
these models, William Boettcher pursued a 3D-printed solution
consisting of a biomaterial tissue scaffold with an embedded,
carbon nanotube-based microelectrode array enabled by 3D
print integration with the scaffold. The resulting models, by
virtue of their fully 3D, reconfigurable scaffold geometries and
electrode placements, may be applied to the study of a far
greater variety of scientifically valuable neural circuits than is
possible for their 2D counterparts.

Yongxin Feng, Class of 2018

Major: Computer Science
Advisor: Georgios Portokalidis, Ph.D.
Department: Computer Science

Location-Enhanced Authentication
Using Internet of Things

Project Summary:
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical devices
and everyday objects that have network connectivity. Yongxin
Feng’s research focused on a user location that could act as a
factor of authentication in scenarios where physical presence
is required, such as in-person purchases. Yongxin developed
an application for the iOS platform, called Icelus, to collect
all user location data, including location, speed and motion
movement, establishing a reliable data source for long-term
research. Yongxin also worked to optimize the user
experience. He applied a variety of application interfaces and
integrated many system design ideas. As a result, Icelus can
adjust battery, memory and CPU cost intelligently by
analyzing users’ motion and energy status. The application
helps researchers obtain a comprehensive variety of user data
and apply the analysis of data on location-enhanced
authentication more precisely.

14 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2016

ROBOTICS

Randall Devitt, Class of 2019

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Yi Guo, Ph.D.
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dynamic Robot Guide for
Evacuation Research

Project Summary:
In scenarios involving danger or evacuation, pedestrians
instinctively rush away from the situation, causing congestion
and bottlenecks. The “faster is slower” phenomenon dictates
that slowing the movement of people in such situations is
actually the best way to maintain efficient traffic flow. Randall
Devitt’s research established a method for slowing pedestrian
traffic using dynamic robot guides that interrupt natural
speed patterns, thereby slowing the traffic flow. This research
provides an alternative to costly redesigns of structures and
eliminates the need for human guides. Based on the results of
this research, dynamic robot guides may have utility in
high-traffic areas such as public transit entries, stadiums,
hallways and event parks.

Zachary Zavoda, Class of 2017

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Ramana Vinjamuri, Ph.D.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and
Biological Sciences

Zeus Arm

Project Summary:
The Zeus Arm is an adaptable exoskeletal pneumatic arm
capable of highly accurate and precise positional control. The
system was designed to be adaptable and to integrate with
existing exoskeletal hands. The Zeus Arm can be used for
both healthy and disabled individuals because it is wheelchair
adaptable. The Stevens Sensorimotor Control Lab aims to
develop high-degree-of-freedom upper-limb control systems
using the Zeus Arm, which will open the door to new methods
of exoskeleton control. These new control methods could lead
to more adaptive robotic physical therapy and better patient
outcomes.

15Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University

BUSINESS

Aisha Koyas, Class of 2019

Major: Quantitative Finance
Advisor: Dragos Bozdog, Ph.D.
Department: Financial Engineering

Contingent Convertible (CoCo) Bonds: Pricing Models

Project Summary:
Contingent convertibles, also known as CoCo bonds, are hybrid capital securities that absorb losses when the capital of the issuing bank falls
below a certain level. CoCos differ from regular convertible bonds in that their conversion into equity is contingent on a specified event, such
as the stock price of the company exceeding a particular level for a certain period of time. CoCos are designed to convert into shares if a
pre-set trigger is breached in order to boost capital levels and reassure investors. Investors are drawn to CoCos for their attractive yields.
Currently, Aisha Koyas and the team are researching the complex pricing models used to evaluate CoCos on several financial markets.
Because CoCos are a relatively new instrument and their valuation needs further research, the goal is to examine the pricing of contingent
capital in secondary markets and financial models associated with them to help determine whether there may be potential commercial value.

16 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2016

BUSINESS

Ephraim Russo, Class of 2017

Major: Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Mukund Iyengar, Ph.D.
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

VentureMe for iOS

Project Summary:
VentureMe is an iOS app capable of providing real-time
information about restaurants, events and other activities
in the user’s community. It utilizes open application
program interfaces (APIs) such as StubHub, Ticketmaster
and Yelp and location information to find and suggest
events of potential interest. Search results are displayed
in a user-friendly list and include details about each
event and why it’s special. Users may incorporate social
media platforms so that their interests are considered in
searching for events and so that others can be informed
about entertainment plans. To compute possible events,
a back-end Node.js server employing a MongoDB
database will be used to distribute and save generated
events. As more events are scraped from source APIs, the
results generation time will be reduced.

Francesca Bueti, Class of 2018

Major: Computer Science
Advisor: Mukund Iyengar, Ph.D.
Department: Computer Science

Web Domain Analysis

Project Summary:
Francesca Bueti’s research focuses on the analysis of web
domain names. Web domain names fluctuate in price, ranging
anywhere from a mere 99 cents to millions of dollars.
Francesca is exploring what causes these extreme variations
in prices to gain a better understanding of how the domain
name market works. She has found that a variety of factors
contribute to the price of a domain, including word trends,
length, search engine ranking and current events. Francesca’s
research focuses on quantifying these contributing factors to
develop an algorithm that could predict the prices of domain
names over time. Her research is especially relevant today
with the rise of new top-level domains and she hopes an
algorithm of this sort could aid in the analysis of domain
trends and forecast the domain name market.

17Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University

Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
1 Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030
T 201.216.8186 F 201.216.8185
stevens.edu/oie