Veronica Ibarra (BME, 5th year) is spending one month in Taiwan working with reconstructive surgeons at one of the top hospitals in the world for reconstructive microsurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Ibarra will be studying the function of cells encapsulated in biomaterials following implantation in pre-clinical models.

Ibarra performed the initial research in the lab of Eric Brey, Duchossois Leadership Professor and professor of biomedical engineering, as part of Illinois Institute of Technology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) funded summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

During her time at Armour College, Ibarra has participated in Armour R&D, earning a runner-up award at the 2014 Spring Expo for her PURE project, “Histological and Immunohistochemical Characterization of the Inflammatory Response to Alginate Encapsulation Materials.” She has also been selected to receive numerous awards such as a BMES Undergraduate Design and Research Award, a travel award for the the 2014 TERMIS-AM Annual Conference, and a 2014 OLE Scholarship.