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June, 2018

CREATE labs recognized for impact of National Biomechanics Day event

Jun. 28, 2018—For the second year, the School of Engineering’s biomechanics and assistive rehabilitation labs have received top honors for an event that introduces young students to a dynamic field that includes exoskeletons, sports and prosthetics. Vanderbilt had one of three events recognized for “Greatest Impact” among the 150 held across the globe to mark National Biomechanics...

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Fellowship extends Ndukaife’s lab-on-chip work to Nigeria

Jun. 26, 2018—An award-winning Vanderbilt School of Engineering researcher will work with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on development and testing of a lab-on-a-chip device for isolation and concentration of e-coli bacteria. Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Justus Ndukaife has used plasmonics to develop a new kind of nanotweezers that can rapidly trap and detect molecules, viruses...

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Smart prosthetic ankle moves with user over rough terrain

Jun. 26, 2018—It’s virtually impossible to know Mike Sasser’s left leg is a prosthetic one – after a decade of practice, he moves surely and swiftly through his busy days as a consultant and father. But when Sasser encounters uneven ground or a flight of stairs, he focuses very hard on balance, because that’s when using a...

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Vanderbilt engineers develop capabilities for more secure blockchain applications

Jun. 22, 2018—Vanderbilt engineers have successfully developed and validated the feasibility of blockchain-based technologies for secure, confidential sharing of patient medical records in a case study that demonstrates how blockchain could solve a huge health care challenge. Health IT interoperability has been an elusive goal, with data silos between hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and payers making exchange of information difficult. The Vanderbilt case study shows...

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Cyber-physical systems security summer camps are games and fun for young learners

Jun. 21, 2018—In this tug-of-war game there was no rope and no pulling. Groans, however, were plentiful as pairs of middle and high school campers at Vanderbilt jabbed at computer keys and space bars to push left or right a small robot car with cartoon googly eyes. One person in each pair was going to win. At...

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Researchers find political leaning influences city water policies as strongly as climate

Jun. 20, 2018—A team that includes Vanderbilt engineering researchers has found urban water conservation policies are reflecting the nation’s political polarization. A new, interdisciplinary report demonstrates a city’s water ordinances can be as much related to whether it leans left or right as to whether the climate is wet or dry. Vanderbilt University environmental researchers found Los...

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Research dean to teach molecular simulations ‘crash course’ to grad students in Beijing

Jun. 19, 2018—In a one-week intensive course in June, engineering’s associate dean for research will teach molecular simulations to 44 graduate students in Beijing. “I’m presenting a crash course for chemical engineering students on how to perform simulations of materials from the molecule up,” said Peter Cummings, also the John R. Hall Professor of Engineering. Cummings is...

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Giorgio wins spot in 2018 NIH mobile health institute at UCLA

Jun. 15, 2018—Todd Giorgio, professor of biomedical engineering, has been selected by the Center of Excellence for Mobile Sensor Data-to-Knowledge (MD2K) to attend a Mobile Health Training Institute at UCLA July 29-Aug. 3. The summer institute seeks to advance biomedical discovery and improve health through mobile sensor big data. Participation is limited to 30 scholars for a...

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