By Sarah Stone
The diversity of research within the field of textiles was on display at NC State University’s 6th Annual Graduate Research Student Symposium.
Nine Wilson College of Textiles graduate students were nominated to present their research at the event, which featured more than 200 students from across the university. Researchers competed within one of nine academic categories for first, second and third place. Wilson College student Suh Hee Cook placed first in the engineering category this year.
Below, Cook and other Wilson College students who participated share more about their research and how they benefited from the symposium.
Ph.D Fiber and Polymer Science
Suh Hee Cook | Advisor: Assistant Professor Jessica Gluck
How would you explain the research you are presenting about to somebody not familiar with the field?
In 2007, a scientist named Yamanaka discovered he could turn any human cell into what he called an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) which he could then turn into any other cell. My research aims to turn these iPSCs into functional heart tissue by exposing them to conductive materials and electrical stimulation, with the goal of using this engineered heart tissue to repair and replace tissues damaged by heart disease.
Which labs, studios or technologies offered by the college did you use to conduct your research (if applicable)?
I used the ZTE Physical Testing Lab and the Microscopy Lab.
Why were you interested in presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium?
I wanted the opportunity to practice scientific communication.
Nasif Mahmood | Advisor: Assistant Professor Jessica Gluck
How would you explain the research you are presenting about to somebody not familiar with the field?
Limbal stem cells are required to provide a healthy corneal epithelium. The loss or dysfunction of the limbal stem cells results in limbal stem cell deficiency. Numerous causes of limbal stem cell deficiency exist, including chemical injury, burns, radiation, Stevens‐Johnson syndrome, contact lens wear and cicatricial pemphigoid. Limbal stem cell deficiency manifests as persistent epithelial defects, corneal scarring, chronic inflammation, chronic pain, photophobia and blindness. Other than corneal or conjunctival transplantation, there is no effective treatment. Transplantation has been the gold standard for treating corneal and limbal disorders for the last few decades.
Technology has improved over the last twenty years for corneal transplants, but limited progress has been made to address limbal stem cell deficiency. However, the treatment options are limited to donor‐derived limbal epithelial stem cells using a human amniotic membrane as a delivery substrate. Existing treatments of ocular surface disorders have some drawbacks: 1) lack of suitable carrier or substrate for cells; 2) limited supply of corneal epithelial cells and their progenitors’ limbal epithelial stem cells; and 3) use of xenogeneic and undefined culture components, which is subject to batch‐to‐batch variation leading to unwanted variation, uncertainty, and complexity in the procedure.
My research focuses on developing surface‐modified polymeric grafts and seeding them with limbal epithelial stem cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to treat limbal stem cell deficiency and other ocular surface disorders. I will also emphasize using xeno‐free and chemically defined components so that the findings are also clinically relevant.
Which labs, studios or technologies offered by the college did you use to conduct your research (if applicable)?
I used the Analytical Services Lab, Phenom SEM and Forensic Textile Microscopy Laboratory.
Why were you interested in presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium?
My research is very interdisciplinary in nature, so I felt that I would benefit a lot if I received feedback from people with various backgrounds. I also want to learn from others about the latest research happening in their area of study.
Nilu Rajendran | Advisor: Professor Emiel DenHartog
How would you explain the research you are presenting about to somebody not familiar with the field?
Webbings are high strength textile products that are used in critical applications like parachute straps, seat belts, payload deployments and more. The regular wear and tear can be easily spotted and thus the webbings can be spotted before critical failure.
However, the degradation of these webbings due to UV is harder to gauge. Myresearch aims to develop a method to monitor the strength loss due to UV without the use of conventional tensile test methods.
Which labs, studios or technologies offered by the college did you use to conduct your research (if applicable)?
I used the Microscopy Lab, Analytical Lab and Composites Lab.
Why were you interested in presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium?
Presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium gave me an opportunity to talk to peers and experts in the field of polymer and analytical chemistry, which can help me gain more knowledge. It also helped me refine my presentation skills. It is a good opportunity to learn to present to experts of the field, as well as to a more general audience with no prior knowledge in this field.
Nigar Sultana | Advisor: Associate Professor Januka Budhathoki-Uprety
How would you explain the research you are presenting about to somebody not familiar with the field?
My research focuses on the development of molecular sensors and their applications. We use tiny particles called single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) which are about 50,000 to 100,000 times thinner than human hair, to develop optical sensors that signal through changes in fluorescence in the near-infrared spectrum. In recent years, SWCNTs have emerged as a promising class of nanomaterials for molecular optical probes and sensors due to their exceptional photophysical properties, including fluorescence in the near-infrared (nIR) spectral range, sensitivity to molecular recognition, and non-photo bleaching nIR emission.
In this project, we developed carbon nanotube-based sensors for the detection of changes in pH levels in various environments. Sensors that allow precise pH measurements have potential applications in fields such as healthcare, bioengineering, environmental science and chemistry.
pH measurements play a critical role in biological systems, as even slight changes in pH levels can have significant consequences. For instance, a decrease in the pH of the human stomach, from its normal range of 1.5-3.5, can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease, whereas an increase in pH can interfere with the effectiveness of digestive enzymes. Similarly, the pH of the blood must be tightly regulated within the narrow range of 7.35-7.45, as deviations from this range can cause serious health issues such as acidosis or alkalosis. Therefore, accurate pH measurement is essential in understanding and treating a wide range of biological conditions. In the biomedical field, pH sensors have the potential to provide valuable insights into a range of patho-physiological conditions, including microbial infection, tumor metastasis, acidosis and wound healing.
Sweat analysis is a non-invasive technique with several advantages, including its potential for monitoring personal health. The current sensor technology offers the ability to analyze sweat samples, providing a convenient and practical approach for measuring pH levels. This capability makes the current sensor a valuable tool for tracking personal health status and facilitating early detection of potential health issues.
To develop the sensors, we functionalized carbon nanotubes with pH responsive compounds. The functionalized nanotubes were then tested in model biofluids such as artificial sweat. We found that these sensors are capable of detecting changes in pH levels within the pH range that are relevant to disease conditions.
In summary, my research represents a significant advance in the development of optical pH sensors.
Which labs, studios or technologies offered by the college did you use to conduct your research (if applicable)?
Most of my research work was done using the instruments available within our lab (Dr. Budhathoki-Uprety’s research lab). Other facilities that I used for my research include Analytical Services Laboratory and the Materials Science and Engineering Testing Lab.
Why were you interested in presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium?
I am thrilled to have had the chance to participate in the Graduate Research Symposium, as I believe that this opportunity holds significant value for me. Presenting my research at this event provided a platform to share my findings with a wider audience of researchers and academics at NC State, which could potentially lead to new collaborations and ideas. Additionally, I wanted to receive feedback on my work, which can help me improve the quality of my research and may even open up new avenues for exploration.
As a graduate student, I understand the importance of enhancing my presentation and communication skills, which will prove vital in my academic and professional career. Through this symposium, I had the opportunity to practice and improve these skills as I present my research to a diverse audience. I believe that this helped me explain complex concepts and ideas in a clear and concise manner, which will prove valuable in my future endeavors.
Moreover, I was excited to attend the presentations of other graduate students and engage in discussions with them. This will not only help me stay up-to-date with the latest research at NC State but will also allow me to learn from my peers and gain insights into their work.
I believe that this experience provided me with an excellent opportunity to showcase my research, enhance my presentation and communication skills, and learn from other researchers and graduate students in my field.
Siyan Wang | Advisor: Associate Professor Sonja Salmon
How would you explain the research you are presenting about to somebody not familiar with the field?
My research is not hard to understand, it’s about the recycling of textiles. Here, we take cotton as an example, exploring the potential value of cotton fiber fragments (CFFs) extracted from the waste. The properties of these CFFs vary a lot due to the applied treatments (mechanical and enzymatic) and the dyes on the cotton fabrics. Our goal is to study these properties so that we can predict the performance when CFFs are applied into different applications.
Why were you interested in presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium?
I think it was a good platform for graduate students to show their work and communicate with their peers. Discussion with people from various backgrounds helps enrich my knowledge and gives me the opportunity to collaborate with others.
Ph.D. Textile Technology Management
Wenna Han | Advisor: Professor Yingjiao Xu
How would you explain the research you are presenting about to somebody not familiar with the field?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused dramatic life changes to consumers. In response to this stressful situation, consumers have adopted various coping strategies to maintain their physical and mental well-being.
Through the lens of fashion shopping, this study aims to provide a systematic understanding of how consumers have coped with the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding emotional stress. An observational research method of analyzing social media (i.e., Twitter) data was adopted to reveal consumers’ coping strategies.
Which labs, studios or technologies offered by the college did you use to conduct your research (if applicable)?
I used Brandwatch: a social media analytics platform.
Why were you interested in presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium?
Participating in the Graduate Research Symposium presented an excellent opportunity for me to disseminate my research findings to a broader audience and receive invaluable feedback. The symposium provided a unique platform to engage in discussions with scholars from diverse academic backgrounds, which could lead to gaining new insights and perspectives on my work.
Additionally, presenting at the symposium allowed me to refine my presentation skills and gain experience in effectively communicating complex ideas to a wider audience. Overall, I believe that the Graduate Research Symposium is a critical step in my academic and professional development, and I am honored to have been selected to participate.
Ailin Li | Advisor: Professor Yingjiao Xu
How would you explain the research you are presenting about to somebody not familiar with the field?
My research focuses on understanding the influence of Chinese fashion key opinion leaders on consumers’ information adoption behavior. Key opinion leaders, or KOLs, are individuals with a large following on social media platforms, such as Weibo and RED, who are seen as experts in a particular area. In the field of fashion, KOLs are particularly influential in shaping consumers’ purchasing decisions.
My research aims to investigate the mechanisms behind this influence and the factors that affect consumers’ adoption of information from KOLs. By understanding this process, we can provide insights for fashion brands and marketers to better engage with their target audiences in China.
Why were you interested in presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium?
Presenting at the Graduate Research Symposium provided me with the opportunity to share my research findings with a wider audience and receive feedback from experts in the field. It also allowed me to engage with other graduate students and learn about their work, which could help me to develop new research ideas and approaches.
Additionally, presenting at the symposium enhanced my professional development by building my presentation skills and providing me with valuable networking opportunities. It was a great way to showcase my research.
