Research Portfolio
Below I have listed some of my key research projects. In each section, I list major takeaways plus relevant examples of blog posts, posters, presentations, and papers. For more information, please visit the Projects section or contact me at sarah.glomski@duke.edu.
Surgical Education and Activities Laboratory (August 2024 – Present)
Graduate Researcher
Summary:
- Spearheading a cross-functional research project in collaboration with the Duke Medical School and Ni Lab
- Designing a sensor-integrated tissue model to measure stress during suturing to quantify surgeon performance
- Improving training in surgical robotics by creating ML algorithms to give real-time feedback on robotic suturing
Media:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (May 2023 – August 2024)
Non-Destructive Testing & Evaluation Engineer (Part-time during school)
Summary:
- Optimized quality assurance of nuclear detonators to help monitor and preserve the U.S. nuclear stockpile
- Streamlined CT artifact research by creating a framework to connect simulation and reconstruction software
- Developed methods to apply the ASTM E1695 Standard for CT system QA to artifact characterization
- Developed a new CT calibration method with an 88% reduction in error and 80% reduction in noise sensitivity compared to the current standard; incorporated this technique into the existing CT pipeline
- Simulated the effects of CT cabinet misalignment to teach radiographers how to diagnose various CT artifacts
- Shared findings with an esteemed podium presentation to the Non-Destructive Testing & Evaluation division
Media:
- Challenging the Current CT Calibration Techniques at Los Alamos National Lab — blog post
- LANL Presentation 2023 — Presented at the 2023 Los Alamos Student Symposium
- LANL Presentation 2024 — Presented at the 2024 Los Alamos Student Symposium
Robotics Projects (August 2020 – December 2024)
Media:
- Designing a Rock-Climbing Robot to Traverse Extreme Terrain — blog post describing MEMS Capstone work
- RoboSub Technical Design Report — earned 1st place in the 2021 International RoboSub Competition with the Duke Robotics Club
Duke BME Medical Device Design Course (August 2023 – May 2024)
Senior BME Student
Summary:
- Collaborated with 3 other BME seniors over 2 semesters to develop a medical device for monitoring diabetic foot ulcers in diabetic patients; filed IP disclosure and abstract accepted into Adv. Tech. & Treatments for Diabetes
- Developed multi-model sensors to detect pre-ulcerative calluses via skin temp and modulus within 88% accuracy
- Derived novel formulas for spherical skin indentation to back-calculate skin modulus based on force applied
- Presented results at the 2024 Diabetic Lower Extremity Symposium (DLES) and Duke Engineering Design Symposium
Media:
- Monitoring Diabetic Foot Ulcers to Prevent Amputation — blog post
- BME474 ATTD Abstract — accepted into the Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes Journal
- BME474 Poster — presented at the Duke Engineering Design Symposium
- BME474 DHF — submitted as final deliverable in course
Injury Biomechanics Laboratory, Duke University (January 2021 – May 2024)
Undergraduate Research & Independent Study Student (x3)
Summary:
- Developed methods for collecting and processing kinematic data from sensors in high school football players’ ears
- Trained deep learning models to classify sub-concussive head impacts from practice data and simulated data
- Applied Gradient Class-Activated Mapping (Grad-CAM) to assess and visualize model decision-making processes
- Presented findings to hundreds of engineers at the annual Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) conference
- Earned the SMIF Undergraduate User Program (SUUP) grant for characterizing lumbar spine injuries from micro-CT scans of crushed cadaver vertebrae
- Devised an experimental setup for cyclic load testing on post-mortem human subject (PMHS) lumbar spines
- Assisted PhD candidates with literature reviews, simulated data collection in LS-DYNA, and CAD design
Media:
- Harnessing AI to Track Concussions in Football — blog post
- BMES Poster — presented at the 2023 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Conference
- GWDD Abstract — submitted to graduate with departmental distinction
- GWDD Poster — presented to graduate with departmental distinction
- GWDD Paper — submitted to graduate with departmental distinction
- SUUP Grant — submitted to receive SUUP grant funding
Duke BME Vehicle Safety Design Course (August 2023 – December 2023)
Senior BME Student
Summary
- Worked with 3 other BME seniors to develop a new biomechanical neck model for protecting children in car crashes
- Developed performance corridors and evaluation metrics to assess model performance based on literature data
- Shared results with a poster presentation at the 2023 Duke Engineering Symposium
Media:
- Using FEA to Protect Children in Car Crashes — blog post
- BME432 Poster — presented at the Duke Engineering Design Symposium
DOmath Program, Duke University (May 2021 – July 2021)
Undergraduate Researcher
Summary:
- Developed and implemented a new algorithm for more accurate targeted radiation therapy of a region of interest
- Derived formulas to create algebraic reconstruction algorithms to solve computational inverse problems
- Presented findings at the DOmath Research Symposium and authored a manuscript
Media:
- DOmath Report — submitted as final deliverable for the DOmath program
- DOmath Presentation Slides — presented at the DOmath Research Symposium
Human Neuromechanics Laboratory, University of Florida (June 2019 – August 2019)
Summary:
- Streamlined the EEG and EMG data-collection process for participants in a kinematic brain study
- Designed a device capable of isolating and removing neck muscle artifacts from EEG data
- Won the Best BME Research Paper Award (85+ participants)
Media:
- SSTP Poster — presented at the Student Science Training Program Symposium
- SSTP Presentation — presented internally at the Student Science Training Program
- SSTP Paper — received the Best BME Research Paper Award (85+ participants)
