Stephanie Wilcox, an undergraduate student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, was awarded first place in the technology and engineering poster presentation category at the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), held in Washington, D.C.
Wilcox is advised by Dr. Arum Han, professor in the electrical and computer engineering department. She was recognized for her poster presentation “Analyzing Microalgal Response to Various Temperature Through Droplet Microfluidics.” The research develops and utilizes a micro-fabricated lab-on-a-chip system for next-generation microalgae-based biofuel, a research project funded by the Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation program from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Wilcox was part of the Research Experience and Mentoring Program of the NSF.
The ERN conference is a NSF-funded event that is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students who participate in programs funded by the NSF Division of Human Resource Development unit. It prepares students for science careers in a global workforce by offering strategies for pursuing higher education, workshops in employment searches and material to help students better understand STEM in a global context.