Group Meetings for Summer 2017 are every other Thursday at 2:30pm in ENGR 402C starting 5/18
2017
April
- Our article "Exploiting Self-Organization in Bioengineered Systems: A Computational Approach" with Dr. Nick Flann has been published in the Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. Check it out here!
- Cindy wins the Graduate Poster Presentation Award for the Engineering Discipline at USU's Student Research Symposium. 246 students participated and only 22 received an award. Congrats!
March
- Dr. Vargis was awarded a Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium Research Infrastructure Award entitled “Simulating the Space Radiation Environment on Human Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle.”
February
- Dr. V is the BE Department's Graduate Mentor of the 2016. Thank you!
- Cindy's paper has been published online in the Special Issue "Applications of Raman Spectroscopy in Biosensors" in Sensors! Check it out here!
January
- Our article "Exploiting Self-Organization in Bioengineered Systems: A Computational Approach" with Dr. Nick Flann has been published in the Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. Check it out here!
- Cindy wins the Graduate Poster Presentation Award for the Engineering Discipline at USU's Student Research Symposium. 246 students participated and only 22 received an award. Congrats!
March
- Dr. Vargis was awarded a Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium Research Infrastructure Award entitled “Simulating the Space Radiation Environment on Human Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle.”
February
- Dr. V is the BE Department's Graduate Mentor of the 2016. Thank you!
- Cindy's paper has been published online in the Special Issue "Applications of Raman Spectroscopy in Biosensors" in Sensors! Check it out here!
January
- Matt Clegg wins "Best Podium Presentation" at the BMES Regional Meeting for his talk "In vitro Antioxidant Treatment Model for Oxidative Stress in Microgravity." Congrats Matt!
- Lori Caldwell is officially a MS Plan A student! She will be working on understanding how radiation affects muscle growth and differentiation.
- Lori Caldwell is officially a MS Plan A student! She will be working on understanding how radiation affects muscle growth and differentiation.
2016
December
- Dr. Vargis has been elected a Councilor-at-Large of the Institute of Biological Engineering Council! Check ibe.org for more details and to check out more information about the annual meeting in SLC March 30-April 1.
November
- Cindy and Mike's Applied Spectroscopy is online too!
- Cindy, Nate and Mike's JoVE paper is now online!
- Cindy successfully defended her proposal! Congrats Cindy! For details, check here.
October
- What an amazing TEDxUSU experience!
- Dr. Vargis has been elected a Councilor-at-Large of the Institute of Biological Engineering Council! Check ibe.org for more details and to check out more information about the annual meeting in SLC March 30-April 1.
November
- Cindy and Mike's Applied Spectroscopy is online too!
- Cindy, Nate and Mike's JoVE paper is now online!
- Cindy successfully defended her proposal! Congrats Cindy! For details, check here.
October
- What an amazing TEDxUSU experience!
- Ian and Katie presented at BMES in Minneapolis.
- Cindy successfully defended her proposal! Congrats Cindy! For details, check here.
August
- Cindy's paper has been accepted to Applied Spectroscopy! Check back soon for more info.
July
- Dr. V will be presenting at this year's TedX at USU. October 28th, 12-3:30.
- Charles received another fellowship from the Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium. Congrats!
- Aaron's paper has been published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering!
June
- Cindy, Nate and Mike's paper is "in press" in JoVE. Congrats! We were filmed during the summer.
May
- USU's BMES Student Chapter is officially chartered!
- A number of new students have joined Dr. V's lab for the summer: Matt Clegg, Zach Jensen, Andrew Merkley, Chase Paterson and Cameron Zabriskie. They are all undergrads in Biological Engineering.
April
- Dallon, Jared and Justus received an URCO for their senior design project "Microscope Growth Chamber"
February
- Cindy presented a talk at SPIE: Photonics West
January
- Cindy has been named Graduate Researcher of the Year by the Department of Biological Engineering! Congrats!!
- Nate, Donald and Cindy's paper has been published. Great work!
- Cindy successfully defended her proposal! Congrats Cindy! For details, check here.
August
- Cindy's paper has been accepted to Applied Spectroscopy! Check back soon for more info.
July
- Dr. V will be presenting at this year's TedX at USU. October 28th, 12-3:30.
- Charles received another fellowship from the Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium. Congrats!
- Aaron's paper has been published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering!
June
- Cindy, Nate and Mike's paper is "in press" in JoVE. Congrats! We were filmed during the summer.
May
- USU's BMES Student Chapter is officially chartered!
- A number of new students have joined Dr. V's lab for the summer: Matt Clegg, Zach Jensen, Andrew Merkley, Chase Paterson and Cameron Zabriskie. They are all undergrads in Biological Engineering.
April
- Dallon, Jared and Justus received an URCO for their senior design project "Microscope Growth Chamber"
February
- Cindy presented a talk at SPIE: Photonics West
January
- Cindy has been named Graduate Researcher of the Year by the Department of Biological Engineering! Congrats!!
- Nate, Donald and Cindy's paper has been published. Great work!
2015
December
- Lori receives an URCO for her project "Development of In Vitro Bruch’s Membrane for Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Growth!"
November
- Aaron successfully delivers his MS presentation
- Charles wins 3rd place for his poster at the annual meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research!
- Cindy presented a poster at AES at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
October
- Cindy wins the Poster Award in Devices and Sensors at nanoUtah 2015.
September
- Cindy presented a poster at SciX presented by FACCS in Providence, RI.
- Lori receives an URCO for her project "Development of In Vitro Bruch’s Membrane for Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Growth!"
November
- Aaron successfully delivers his MS presentation
- Charles wins 3rd place for his poster at the annual meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research!
- Cindy presented a poster at AES at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
October
- Cindy wins the Poster Award in Devices and Sensors at nanoUtah 2015.
September
- Cindy presented a poster at SciX presented by FACCS in Providence, RI.
Charles wins an award for his poster at the Hansen Life Science Retreat (2015)
- Charles wins a poster award at the Hansen Life Sciences Retreat.
August
- Charles is awarded a Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellowship of $15,000! Congrats Charles!
- Charles is awarded a Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellowship of $15,000! Congrats Charles!
Knights Templar Check Presentation (6/2015)
June
- Local news coverage for our lab's retinal research projects. Check out the Herald Journal!
- Articles published in Utah State Today on Dr. Vargis' ORAU and Knights Templar Awards. Check them out here.
- Two articles on recent awards on College of Engineering website, for the ORAU and Knights Templar Awards.
May
- Cindy was awarded an SPIE Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship! Great job Cindy!
- Dr. Vargis received the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)!
- Cindy's report in Laser Focus World on our in-house Raman system has been published. Check it out here!
- Our Research Catalyst grant, with Drs. David Britt (PI) and Lisa Berreau (Co-I), was funded.
April
- Nate successfully defended his Master's! Congrats!
- Nate's abstract to the Biophotonics Imaging for Medicine: A Digital Conference has been accepted! The title of his talk is "Raman Microscope System for the Detection of B-Cell Malignancies using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering."
- Great job to Luke, Brittany and Rob on receiving an URCO grant for their project "Effects of Leachables and Extractables in Single Use Bioprocess Containment Systems on Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Growth and Quality."
- Congrats to the Vargis Lab for receiving a Knights Templar Eye Foundation Career Starter Grant!
March
- Cindy and Nate's review paper has been officially published! Read it here
February
- Congrats to many of our lab members for getting into USU's Student Research Symposium
Oral presentations
Aaron Fronk: Culturing the Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Luke Jarvis: Effects of Leachables and Extractables in Single Use Bioprocess Containment Systemson Chinese Hamster
Ovary Cell Growth and Quality
Nate Israelsen: Multiplex B-Cell Cancer Marker Detection Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Cindy Hanson: Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to Identify Mycobacteria
Posters
Charles Harding: Characterization and Prevention of Microgravity-Induced Atrophy of Muscle Cells
Farhad Farjood: Protein and Gene Expression Alterations in Degenerating Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Lori, Katie, Harsh: Optimal Growth of RPE Cells to Understand Disease and Environmental Stresses on the Retina
- Welcome Farhad Farjood to the Vargis Lab!
January
- Congrats to Nate and Cindy on their accepted review article in The Scientific World Journal. Read it here
- Congrats to Peter Haight on receiving an URCO for his project titled "Cellular Uptake & Distribution of Gold Nanoparticles"
- Congrats to Dr. Vargis' Senior Design Team (Sean Bedingfield, Sara Gertsch, Stephanie Lawanto). Their abstract "Targeted Drug Delivery System for Kidney and/or Liver Failure Patients using Human Serum Albumin" was accepted to both the National Conference for Undergraduate Research and the Institute of Biological Engineering's Annual Meeting.
- PhD student Charles Harding joins the Vargis Lab. Welcome Charles!
- Local news coverage for our lab's retinal research projects. Check out the Herald Journal!
- Articles published in Utah State Today on Dr. Vargis' ORAU and Knights Templar Awards. Check them out here.
- Two articles on recent awards on College of Engineering website, for the ORAU and Knights Templar Awards.
May
- Cindy was awarded an SPIE Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship! Great job Cindy!
- Dr. Vargis received the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)!
- Cindy's report in Laser Focus World on our in-house Raman system has been published. Check it out here!
- Our Research Catalyst grant, with Drs. David Britt (PI) and Lisa Berreau (Co-I), was funded.
April
- Nate successfully defended his Master's! Congrats!
- Nate's abstract to the Biophotonics Imaging for Medicine: A Digital Conference has been accepted! The title of his talk is "Raman Microscope System for the Detection of B-Cell Malignancies using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering."
- Great job to Luke, Brittany and Rob on receiving an URCO grant for their project "Effects of Leachables and Extractables in Single Use Bioprocess Containment Systems on Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Growth and Quality."
- Congrats to the Vargis Lab for receiving a Knights Templar Eye Foundation Career Starter Grant!
March
- Cindy and Nate's review paper has been officially published! Read it here
February
- Congrats to many of our lab members for getting into USU's Student Research Symposium
Oral presentations
Aaron Fronk: Culturing the Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Luke Jarvis: Effects of Leachables and Extractables in Single Use Bioprocess Containment Systemson Chinese Hamster
Ovary Cell Growth and Quality
Nate Israelsen: Multiplex B-Cell Cancer Marker Detection Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Cindy Hanson: Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to Identify Mycobacteria
Posters
Charles Harding: Characterization and Prevention of Microgravity-Induced Atrophy of Muscle Cells
Farhad Farjood: Protein and Gene Expression Alterations in Degenerating Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Lori, Katie, Harsh: Optimal Growth of RPE Cells to Understand Disease and Environmental Stresses on the Retina
- Welcome Farhad Farjood to the Vargis Lab!
January
- Congrats to Nate and Cindy on their accepted review article in The Scientific World Journal. Read it here
- Congrats to Peter Haight on receiving an URCO for his project titled "Cellular Uptake & Distribution of Gold Nanoparticles"
- Congrats to Dr. Vargis' Senior Design Team (Sean Bedingfield, Sara Gertsch, Stephanie Lawanto). Their abstract "Targeted Drug Delivery System for Kidney and/or Liver Failure Patients using Human Serum Albumin" was accepted to both the National Conference for Undergraduate Research and the Institute of Biological Engineering's Annual Meeting.
- PhD student Charles Harding joins the Vargis Lab. Welcome Charles!
2014
October
- Cindy and Nate presented posters at nanoUtah. Cindy's poster was "Use of SERS Magnetic Nanoparticles to Concentrate and Identify Mycobacteria." Nate's was on "Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Nanoprobes for Detecting Hematological Malignancies."
September
- Donald, Nate and Cindy attended SciX presented by FACSS in Reno, NV. Nate gave a podium presentation on "Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Based Detection of Leukemia Cell Surface Markers." Cindy gave a talk on "Application of SERS Magnetic Nanoparticles to Concentrate, Detect, and Identify Mycobacteria." They drove to Reno, volunteered at the registration table, made contacts with vendors and colleagues, and gave great presentations! Great job team!
June
- Dr. Vargis became an Affiliate Faculty Member of the Synthetic Biomanufacturing Institute. We now have a lab space on Innovation Campus which will be used for bioreactor studies and some cell culture work. Thanks to Scott Hinton and Thermo Fisher Scientific for their help and ongoing support.
April
- Donald Wooley was awarded a SURCO for his project "Development of a SERS Library for Detection of Unknown Food Contaminants." Congrats Donald!
- USU Graduate Research Symposium: Cindy gave a podium talk on "A Simple Method for Bacterial Concentration, Detection and Identification Using SERS Magnetic Nanoparticles." Nate presented a poster on "Design of a Multiplex, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Immunoassay for Detection and Diagnosis of Hematological Malignancies." Aaron presented a poster on "Evaluating the Pecten Oculi's Effectiveness as a Medical Microfluidic Device."
March
- Dr. Vargis presented an invited talk for BioOptics World on "Spectroscopy Applications in the Life Sciences"
- Two URCOs awarded, congrats!
1. Dr. Vargis' Senior Design Team (Sean Bedingfield, Sara Gertsch, Stephanie Lawanto) for "Targeted Drug Delivery System for Kidney and Liver Failure Patients using Human Serum Albumin"
2. Stephanie Lawanto for "Effects of Extracellular Matrix on the Growth of Neuroendocrine Tumors"
January
- Dr. Vargis was awarded a Research Catalyst Grant from USU for $20,000 for her proposal "Targeted, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Nanotags for Detecting B-cell Lymphoma"
- MS student Nate Israelsen joins the Vargis Lab
- Dr. Vargis' paper from her graduate work was published in Acta Paediatrica
- Cindy and Nate presented posters at nanoUtah. Cindy's poster was "Use of SERS Magnetic Nanoparticles to Concentrate and Identify Mycobacteria." Nate's was on "Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Nanoprobes for Detecting Hematological Malignancies."
September
- Donald, Nate and Cindy attended SciX presented by FACSS in Reno, NV. Nate gave a podium presentation on "Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Based Detection of Leukemia Cell Surface Markers." Cindy gave a talk on "Application of SERS Magnetic Nanoparticles to Concentrate, Detect, and Identify Mycobacteria." They drove to Reno, volunteered at the registration table, made contacts with vendors and colleagues, and gave great presentations! Great job team!
June
- Dr. Vargis became an Affiliate Faculty Member of the Synthetic Biomanufacturing Institute. We now have a lab space on Innovation Campus which will be used for bioreactor studies and some cell culture work. Thanks to Scott Hinton and Thermo Fisher Scientific for their help and ongoing support.
April
- Donald Wooley was awarded a SURCO for his project "Development of a SERS Library for Detection of Unknown Food Contaminants." Congrats Donald!
- USU Graduate Research Symposium: Cindy gave a podium talk on "A Simple Method for Bacterial Concentration, Detection and Identification Using SERS Magnetic Nanoparticles." Nate presented a poster on "Design of a Multiplex, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Immunoassay for Detection and Diagnosis of Hematological Malignancies." Aaron presented a poster on "Evaluating the Pecten Oculi's Effectiveness as a Medical Microfluidic Device."
March
- Dr. Vargis presented an invited talk for BioOptics World on "Spectroscopy Applications in the Life Sciences"
- Two URCOs awarded, congrats!
1. Dr. Vargis' Senior Design Team (Sean Bedingfield, Sara Gertsch, Stephanie Lawanto) for "Targeted Drug Delivery System for Kidney and Liver Failure Patients using Human Serum Albumin"
2. Stephanie Lawanto for "Effects of Extracellular Matrix on the Growth of Neuroendocrine Tumors"
January
- Dr. Vargis was awarded a Research Catalyst Grant from USU for $20,000 for her proposal "Targeted, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Nanotags for Detecting B-cell Lymphoma"
- MS student Nate Israelsen joins the Vargis Lab
- Dr. Vargis' paper from her graduate work was published in Acta Paediatrica
2013
December
- Stephanie Lawanto was chosen for the Engineering Undergraduate Research Program (EURP) for her project "Effects of Extracellular Matrix on the Growth of Neuroendocrine Tumor." Congrats Stephanie!
- Dr. Vargis' paper from her postdoc at the Oak Ridge National Lab was accepted for publication in Biomaterials
August
- PhD student Cindy Hanson joins the Vargis Lab
- MS student Aaron Fronk joins the Vargis Lab
- Dr. Vargis starts at the Biological Engineering Department at Utah State!
- Stephanie Lawanto was chosen for the Engineering Undergraduate Research Program (EURP) for her project "Effects of Extracellular Matrix on the Growth of Neuroendocrine Tumor." Congrats Stephanie!
- Dr. Vargis' paper from her postdoc at the Oak Ridge National Lab was accepted for publication in Biomaterials
August
- PhD student Cindy Hanson joins the Vargis Lab
- MS student Aaron Fronk joins the Vargis Lab
- Dr. Vargis starts at the Biological Engineering Department at Utah State!