Daniela Valdez-Jasso

Email Address: dvj@uic.edu
College: Engineering Department: Bioengineering
Title: Assistant Professor
Office: SEO 208 Phone: 3129969252
Webpage: http://www.bioe.uic.edu/bin/view/BIOE/DanielaValdezJasso
Participating in the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Awards program: Yes

Research Interest:
The research goal of Daniela's group focuses on soft-tissue biomechanics and multi-scale mathematical modeling of organ and tissue function, particularly as they pertain to understanding the vascular adaptations to pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH is a progressive vasculopathy that commonly results in intractable right-heart failure and premature death. Each year, nearly 500,000 patients are hospitalized in the United States with PH. Importantly, transplantation of the heart and/or lung currently remains the only curative treatment option. The DVJ Research Group's immediate research interests rest with understanding the dynamic vascular remodeling process in PH at the biological level and to determine its effects at the system level. Experimental findings are incorporated into mechanistic mathematical models for testable quantitative formulations of organ and tissue function.

Minimum time commitment in hours per week: 15

Qualifications of a Student:
Bioengineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, or applied mathematics students are welcome to apply. Basic programming skills in Matlab is required. Need to be comfortable with differential equations, linear algebra, and some classical mechanics (i.e., statics). No previous experience is required

Brief Summary of what is expected from the student:
I expect the student to be write reports to summarize their findings; keep organized files of their work; and to work with the rest of my research group. The student would learn cardiovascular physiology, learn how to use the mechanical testing devices in the lab, how to process the acquired data and support with data processing.

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