Well this last weeks has been busy. Not only have I begun my own project but additionally I decided to join the Summer Institute Soft ball team.
Research wise I have 2 main things I am working, applications and my project. For application I am working on my NSF proposal, and NDSEG, Hertz and Ford apps. I have finished the NDSEG still have to get my proff to read it over but the grad and post-doc students in my lab have been helpful enough to let me see some of there winning goal stament letters and have reviewed mine. Now that it has passed my peers evaluation it needs to pass Dr. Ferris's evaluation. Below are the guideline and my current NDSEG goals letter. If you have any suggestions or know were I can trim off 43 characters please help out. :)
NDSEG Guide Line: In your own words, provide a summary of your educational program objectives and your long-range professional goals.
As part of this statement, we are interested in your ideas about: (1) the kinds of research in which you would like to be engaged during your graduate study or in the longer term; or (2) specific research questions that interest you and how you became interested in them.
Please discuss these research interests in sufficient detail for an expert who is technically competent in your field to judge your understanding of the questions to be addressed. This includes relevant hypotheses and approaches one might take to answering the questions, and other research principles required to investigate the research area you identify.
However, we do not want this to look like a grant submission. We are interested in not only the science, but also your longer-term goals and how the science fits into your life as an individual.
Your response will be limited to 3,000 characters, including spaces. There is no extra space for citations. If you are writing this text elsewhere and copy-pasting it into this box, be aware that some word processing programs will transfer spaces and returns differently.
NDSEG Stament of Goals:
As a McNair Scholar I have always had a passion for and commitment to the broader aspects of research and its impacts on our society. For this reason, my long-term goal is to conduct cutting-edge research that combines my expertise in electrical engineering and control systems with my passion for neuroscience. The focus of my research will be neuro-prosthetics and neuromotor control. I will work to develop brain controlled electromechanical devices, specifically robotic lower limb prosthetics, which could improve the quality of life for amputees. In addition to my long-term academic and professional pursuits, I intend to serve my community as a role model for underrepresented students and to encourage diversity in science and engineering.
My desire to merge engineering and neuroscience began after a life-altering event; fifteen years ago my uncle lost both of his legs in a vehicular accident in Mexico. Afterwards, my uncle went to the United States to be fitted for his prostheses. I watched him as he suffered through physical therapy and as he learned to use his prostheses. From his struggle, a spark was ignited that motivated my intellectual pursuits.
Based on my experience and knowledge of neuromotor control, I hypothesize that by using brain controlled electrophysiological signals from myoelectrics and electropencephalography as feed-forward inputs to control man-machine mechanical interfaces a new level of intelligent prosthetics can be developed.
To test my hypothesis, I am currently focusing on placing myoelectrics on the residual limb of an amputee and understanding the role of the patients intended movement on the electrophysiological signals.
This research is highly relevant. Over 30 million people, globally, live with limb loss. This includes loss due to vehicular accidents, war, diabetes, cancer, Beurgers disease, and natural disasters such as the earthquakes in Haiti. With limb loss expected to double by 2050, the need for prosthetic devices that can improve quality of life and increase mobility for amputated patients continues to grow.
Another influential part of my life was my youth in Mexico. Growing up in a developing country, along with the hardships my parents faced due to poverty, has shown me the value of a mentor. For these reasons, I am a highly active volunteer and a supporter of mentorships. These activities align with my long-term goal of increasing diversity in science and engineering at the highest level of study.
My academic work and public service go hand in hand. Through my public service I have come to understand the impact ones work has on society. Thus, my interests in prosthetics are motivated by my desire to help the global community, particularly those, like my uncle, who have lost their limbs. The NDSEG fellowship will be a catalyst for my academic career and my commitment to the global community by aiding my research financially and by allowing me to contribute to a field of study whose motivation and passion for science and community are analogous to mine.
As for my personal research I am running into a few issue with some of my programming so I am debugging thats about it :P
For the less academic side of things, as I mentioned above I have started playing soft ball, Team pic below.
Due to our lack of athletic abilities(we are all scientists remember) we are using ability that mother nature teaches us about intimidation I.E. looking bigger than we actually are, talk about brain over brawn. To do use this intimidation tactic A friend of mine and I created a giant named TrogNarl, I am actually playing as the top half TrogNarl! TrogNarl has been raging the field with good effect, we even won our first game last night due to forfeit because of TrogNarl's epic power!!!!! Take a look for yourself and tell me it isn't scary!!!!:
