UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1074
Submission information
Submission Number: 1074
Submission ID: 19966
Submission UUID: cd3fd7f8-18c2-43ab-8b40-19c911564aa6
Submission URI: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal
Submission Update: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=GqsmVqYtonOPz-cqZvOYM2KBkXJ9IC8PcYYcN47TV38
Created: Sun, 08/03/2025 - 02:13 PM
Completed: Sun, 08/03/2025 - 02:19 PM
Changed: Wed, 10/29/2025 - 03:03 PM
Remote IP address: 142.186.67.144
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Webform: UROP Project Proposal Portal
Submitted to: UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal
| Primary Research Mentor Name | Dr. Leo Liu, PhD |
|---|---|
| Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns | |
| When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? | Dr. |
| Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) | leo.liu@eng.famu.fsu.edu |
| Position Title | Faculty |
| FSU College (if applicable) | FAMU-FSU College of Engineering |
| FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation | CBE - Chemical & Biomedical Engineering |
| Headshot (optional) |
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| Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above) | Dr. Rojan Saghian |
| Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns | |
| Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific? | Dr. |
| Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) | rs25t@fsu.edu |
| Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable) | |
| Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns | |
| Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific? | |
| Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) | |
| Title of the Project | Investigating Menstrual Hemostasis Using bleeding-on-a-Chip Platforms |
| Project Keywords | Menorrhagia, heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), bleeding-on-a-Chip, cell cultures, microfluidic devices |
| Are you currently looking for research assistants? | No |
| Number of Research Assistants Needed | 1 |
| Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) | Open to all majors |
| Project Location: | On FSU Main Campus |
| If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation? | |
| Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s): | In-person |
| Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work? | 6-10 hours |
| Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work? | During business hours |
| Overall Research Project Description | Project Description: Menstrual bleeding is tightly regulated by complex vascular and haemostatic mechanisms. Disruptions in these processes can lead to menorrhagia, or excessive menstrual bleeding, a condition that affects many women worldwide. This project uses cutting-edge thrombosis-on-a-chip microfluidic platforms to recreate the microenvironment of uterine spiral arteries in vitro. These systems mimic blood flow and vessel geometry under physiologically relevant shear stress conditions, allowing real-time observation of clot formation and stability. As a UROP research assistant, you will play a critical role in running and optimizing these microfluidic experiments. Tasks will include handling blood samples, maintaining sterile lab conditions, preparing endothelial cell cultures, and operating microfluidic devices to monitor thrombus formation. You will also analyze experimental data using computational tools to quantify clot dynamics and relate findings to menstrual haemostasis mechanisms. This hands-on research experience bridges experimental lab work (70%) and data analysis (30%), providing you with a unique opportunity to develop skills in bioengineering, hematology, and microfluidics. The project contributes to foundational knowledge in reproductive health and may inform future therapies for abnormal uterine bleeding. ________________________________________ Time Commitment & Mentorship: • 6–10 hours/week during the semester (flexible scheduling) • Weekly one-on-one mentoring meetings with Dr. Liu and Dr. Saghian • Opportunity to participate in UROP symposium and co-author publications |
| Research Tasks | Student Responsibilities: • Prepare and maintain endothelial cell cultures for microfluidic devices • Collect and handle human blood samples following safety protocols • Operate thrombosis-on-a-chip microfluidic setups to monitor clot formation • Perform microscopy and imaging to capture thrombus development • Analyze flow and clotting data using MATLAB, Python, or similar software • Document experimental procedures and assist in data presentation ________________________________________ |
| Skills that research assistant(s) may need: | Preferred Qualifications: • Interest in biomedical engineering, physiology, or bioengineering research • Basic lab skills and comfort with sterile technique (training provided) • Willingness to learn blood handling and microfluidic operation protocols • Familiarity with data analysis tools (MATLAB/Python) is a plus but not required ________________________________________ |
| Mentoring Philosophy | As a mentor, I aim to create an inclusive, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment where students feel empowered to explore, question, and contribute meaningfully to scientific discovery. I view mentorship as a collaborative process centered on mutual respect, curiosity, and growth. My first priority is understanding each student’s background, goals, and learning style. I strive to tailor mentorship to their interests—whether in experimental work, computational modeling, or biomedical systems—so they feel ownership of their project and are motivated by its impact. I emphasize hands-on experience and inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to test hypotheses, troubleshoot setbacks, and critically analyze results. I believe learning is strongest when students are trusted with real responsibility but know they can ask questions freely without fear of failure. I provide structured support through regular one-on-one meetings, project feedback, and step-by-step guidance where needed, gradually increasing independence as confidence grows. I also share my own experiences navigating research challenges to demystify the scientific process and model perseverance. Ultimately, I hope students leave our collaboration not only with new technical skills, but with a deeper sense of scientific curiosity, intellectual resilience, and confidence in their ability to contribute to meaningful research. |
| Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): | https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cm3NWHgAAAAJ&hl=en |
| Please add any additional information here (if applicable): | |
| Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? | Yes |
| Roundtable times and Zoom links | Friday, 5th September, from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Zoom link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75708533780?pwd=MqDwQc5BuIq8ODwZVD4R4kYIdcO1Ff.1 |
| Roundtable Info |
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| Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication | Yes |
| UROP Performance Evaluation | Yes |
| Materials Grant | Yes |
| UROP Poster Presentation | Yes |
| Year | 2025 |
| update url | https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=GqsmVqYtonOPz-cqZvOYM2KBkXJ9IC8PcYYcN47TV38 |