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July 13, 2006 -- The University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science is hosting a National Science Foundation program this summer for talented college students interested in developing computer software to solve modern medical problems.
Seven undergraduate students accepted into this year’s highly competitive program are developing computer software that will advance several cutting-edge projects, including: applications for the testing of medical hypotheses, the writing of secure e-prescriptions, the use of personal digital assistants to check compliance with drug regimens, the use of PDAs for the analysis of medical diagnostic images and the dissemination of medical data via RSS feeds. At the conclusion of the program, participating students will present their research projects on Thursday, July 27, at 10 a.m. in U.Va.’s Olsson Hall, room 236. The presentations are open to the public.
“Through their research, the students should improve the quality of healthcare delivery by devising, developing, adapting or inventing computer-based solutions to modern medical problems,” said Alfred Weaver, professor of computer science at U.Va. and program director. “These are students who are taking computer science courses, but who are also looking to apply their knowledge, to get their hands dirty and produce software that people in the field can actually use.”
Weaver believes the projects are a powerful learning experience for undergraduates.
“Unlike schoolwork — where students are directed pretty much every step of the way — research is about the unknown,” he said. “In research, you have broad goals, but no exact roadmap that shows you how to get there. Often, students thrive with that new freedom and flexibility. We want them to have that experience.”
This is the second year that U.Va. has offered the program, which has been funded for three years by the NSF. The U.Va. program, “Computer Applications to Medicine,” is believed to be the only one of its kind under the NSF’s “Research Experience for Undergraduates” rubric. The Charlottesville program runs for eight weeks and ends July 28.
Participating students:
Name: William Bushey
Age: 20
School: Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y.
Year: Rising junior
Major: Computer Science
NSF Project: Medical hypothesis testing
Hometown: Ogdensburg, N.Y.
Parents: Donald and Karen Bushey, 816 Mechanic St., Ogdensburg, N.Y. 13669
Name: Emily Jenkins
Age: 20
School: Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
Year: Rising senior
Major: Economics
NSF Project: Medical hypothesis testing
Hometown: Glastonbury, Conn.
Parents: Jennifer Jenkins, 3747 Hebron Ave, Glastonbury, Conn. 06033-2852; Robert Jenkins, 19 Sea Island, Glastonbury, Conn. 06033-1475
Name: Andrew Jurik
Age: 21
School: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
Year: Rising senior
Double Major: Computer Engineering and Mathematics
NSF Project: PDA for medical diagnostic image analysis
Hometown: Wesley Chapel, Fla. (Pasco Co.)
Parents: Jerry and Susan Jurik, 26822 Winged Elm Dr., Wesley Chapel, Fla. 33543
Name: Barbara “Basia” Korel
Age: 21
School: University of San Diego, San Diego, Calif.
Year: Rising senior
Major: Computer Science; Minor: Information Systems
NSF Project: e-prescriptions
Hometown: Hinsdale, Ill.
Parents: Bogdan and Maria Korel, 403 Ashbury Dr., Hinsdale, Ill. 60521
Name: Paul Lee
Age: 21
School: Hanover College, Hanover, Ind.
Year: Rising senior
Double Major: Computer Science and Mathematics
NSF Project: Medical data dissemination via RSS feeds
Hometown: Berea, Ky.
Parents: Jing-Pang and Shu-Mei Lee, 150 Redbud Drive, Berea, Ky. 40403
Name: Charlie Mason
Age: 21
School: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
Year: Rising senior
Major: Computer Science
NSF Project: PDAs for drug regimen compliance checking
Hometown: Lansdowne, Va.
Parents: Charles Mason, 19343 Mill Damn Place, Lansdowne, Va. 20176
Name: Kendra F. Wadsworth
Age: 19
School: Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Va.
Year: Rising junior
Major: Computer Science
NSF Project: e-prescriptions
Hometown: Portsmouth, Va.
Parents: Tywana Berkley, 1928 Camden Avenue, Portsmouth, Va. 23704
About the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science
Founded in 1836, the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science combines research and educational opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Within the undergraduate programs, courses in engineering, ethics, mathematics, the sciences and the humanities are available to build a strong foundation for careers in engineering and other professions. Its abundant research opportunities complement the curriculum and educate young men and women to become thoughtful leaders in technology and society. At the graduate level, the Engineering School collaborates with the University’s highly ranked medical and business schools on interdisciplinary research projects and entrepreneurial initiatives. With a distinguished faculty and a student body of 2,000 undergraduates and 650 graduate students, the Engineering School offers an array of engineering disciplines, including cutting-edge research programs in computer and information science and engineering, bioengineering and nanotechnology. For more information, visit.
For more information about the University’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, visit the Web site.
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Alfred Weaver