Learning in the Lab: Summer Research in Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering undergraduate student Jacob Massoff, E28, didn’t expect setbacks to feel so exciting. But his summer experience constructing a battery cell in Assistant Professor Graham Leverick’s lab taught him that the trial-and-error process of scientific innovation, while frustrating at times, can also be surprisingly fun.

Massoff’s work will contribute to the design of future electrolytes and batteries with better performance, efficiency, and longevity. On a personal level, preparing electrolytes, and collecting and analyzing data gave him a tangible experience of the scientific process and a newfound understanding of how he’d like to move forward in his career. He is continuing to work on the project during the fall semester.

Massoff is one of several undergraduate students in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering who spent the summer conducting research in department labs alongside faculty members and graduate students. Their work had applications ranging from clean energy to human health and was generously supported by Arnie, E72, and Roby Greenbaum.

Learning by Doing

Jeanine Cao, E27, agrees that the unexpected moments in the lab helped her grow the most. “Experiments did not always go as planned, which pushed me to become more comfortable troubleshooting and adapting my approach. Learning how to identify what went wrong, seek guidance, and make thoughtful adjustments became one of the most valuable parts of the summer,” she reflected.

As she helped scale up organoid production for pancreatic models in Professor and Chair Manolis Tzanakakis’ lab, Cao’s experience tied into her larger goal of working in the medical field someday. “Being able to balance research, clinical exposure, and preparation for medical school reinforced my interest in pursuing medicine while showing me how my background in engineering and research can shape the way I approach problems as a future medical professional,” she said.

Anjali Batra, E27, who worked in Assistant Professor Nat Eagan’s lab, agreed that the lab helped her hone useful skills for her future career. “My research this summer has improved my ability to approach independent work and clearly explain my work to others,” she shared.

Figuring Out the Future

Whether students have their career paths mapped out already or are still exploring, lab experience can help them gain insight into what they’d like to do after Tufts. “While I don’t know exactly where my future lies, this experience has been a great step for me in understanding my long-term career aspirations,” said Dahlin Allport, E28. “This summer has helped me build confidence with the experimental design process and many new instruments and pieces of equipment,” he said.

Allport and Batra both worked with Assistant Professor Nat Eagan to improve catalysts and their supports. Catalysts help reduce energy demand for industrial processes like fertilizer production. Allport helped develop a new synthesis procedure for gold (Au) and rhodium gold (RhAu) nanostructured catalysts on aluminum oxide. With a less resource-intensive synthesis procedure, manufacturers can use the catalysts more efficiently. Batra focused on the materials used to support catalyst growth, investigating various options to determine which would be most effective for catalyst synthesis. 

During the school year, students balance research with classes, extracurriculars, and other obligations. Over the summer, they have more time to explore their research topics in depth. Ramona Ortiz, E28, took the time to read about procedures and techniques for their experiment. Alongside Associate Professor Hyunmin Yi, they fabricated SBMA hydrogel microsphere particles which can be used to quantify proteins. In addition to learning how to conduct experiments, they learned how to analyze scientific papers and fit their work into a larger conversation among researchers.

Tufts Grows Capacity for Experiential Learning

The new Engineering Blueprint initiative is strengthening the amount and variety of experiential learning available in the future. Generous supporters are rallying behind it, including a couple who created an $11 million bequest intention to ensure the department can continue to offer transformative experiences for its students. Ultimately, these research opportunities help students gain the skills they need to succeed, both in the lab and beyond. “I have gained experience that will be invaluable to me wherever I end up,” Allport shared.  

Learn more about the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.