Home Department: Chemical Engineering
Supported by: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Mentor: Gerald G. Fuller, Professor of Chemical Engineering

Fasika Asrat is pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree at Stanford University. She is currently working in the lab of Professor Gerry Fuller to produce glass substrates coated with oriented collagen fibers. Topographical cues provided by the collagen fibers will allow cells cultured upon them to elongate in the direction of the collagen oriention. They hope to gain a thorough understanding of the mechanical properties of aligned cell monolayers using a cell monolayer rheometer. If understood, this proposes a method for early ailment detection and diagnosis. Fasika aims to explore the intersection of chemical engineering, biology, and medicine this summer through her research.

Poster presented at the Stanford Bio-X Interdisciplinary Initiatives Symposium on August 25, 2010:

A Platform for the Shearing of Cell Monolayers

Fasika T. Asrat, Claire M. Anderson, Gerald G. Fuller
[Chemical Engineering, Stanford University]