First DDB Symposium Showcases Importance of Data and Quantitative Tools in BioEngineering
Inaugural DDB Symposium a smashing success with keynote speaker Prof. Emma Lejeune (BU) on the importance of developing open source tools for bioengineering, graduate student research presentations on integrating quantitative tools, and an undergraduate poster showcase.
The inaugural graduate student-led Data Driven Biology Graduate Symposium took place on Thursday, July 18th, 2024 at Henley Hall 1010, UC Santa Barbara. Hosted by the UCSB NSF Research Traineeship Program on Data Driven Biology, the symposium featured a keynote address by Dr. Emma Lejeune, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University, who discussed building open science tools for quantifying mechanical behavior in engineered tissue in her talk, “Building Open Science Tools for Quantifying Mechanical Behavior in Engineered Tissue”.
DDB trainees Daniella Walter, Gabriela Villalpando Torres, Roberto Rodrigues Reyes, Samuel Feinstein, Trent Llewellyn, and Miguel Sanchez Lozano presented their research on topics such as extracellular matrix viscoelasticity, optogenetic control of cellular responses, advances in CryoEM, and the influence of spermidine on cardiomyocytes. The research presentations highlighted the integration of data-driven tools and methodologies, including large data sets and statistical modeling, to create predictive models of biological system behavior at the cellular level. The event concluded with a poster session showcasing the work of undergraduate researchers and their contributions to DDB Labs.
The symposium encouraged discussion on best practices for large data sets and their intersection with mechanics, biology, and developing open science tools. A special thanks to Sam Feinstein (Pruitt Lab) for coordinating the event and ensuring its success.
