Awards
RISE Awards will be presented to those showing excellence in:
- Research – $1,000 awarded for methodological and procedural excellence in exploration and study
- Innovation – $1,000 awarded for the discovery of novel and revolutionary inventions or processes that can be translated into real-world applications
- Scholarship – $1,000 awarded for an academic breakthrough in a particular field
- Entrepreneurship (People’s Choice) – $2,500 awarded for research with the greatest entrepreneurial potential. Granted to the student presentation receiving the most RISE investment dollars from attendees
Awards are given in the following categories to one undergraduate and one graduate:
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Engineering and Technology
- Health Sciences
- Humanities and Arts
- Interdisciplinary Topics, Centers and Institutes
- Physical and Life Sciences
- Social Sciences, Business and Law
Focus Awards
- Best Video Pitch Award – $1,000 awarded to presenter submitting the best RISE Video Suite
- DATA Award – $1,500 awarded to the presentation demonstrating the most inventive and promising approach to creating value with data-driven and technology-enabled analytics and automation
- Grand Impact Award – $1,500 awarded to the presentation displaying the most judicious means for advancing social, civic, and/or environmental equity
- SAIL Award – $1,000 awarded to the participant whose Reflection statement best applies the SAIL framework and language to describe a notable experience related to RISE participation
- Sharing Economy Award – $1,500 awarded to the presentation demonstrating the most creative and promising approach to using technologies and algorithms for optimizing design, incentives, operations and security of sharing economy systems as well as enabling socially desirable outcomes, such sustainable growth, social equity and improved resilience
- Graduate Innovator Award – Recognizes a graduate peer who demonstrates remarkable innovation by identifying new approaches to problem solving for maximal social impact
2018 Winners
Research
Shivahamy Maheswaran: A Pre-Diagnostic for Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer
Innovation
Avery Watterworth: Structural Resilience: Building for Stormwater
Scholarship
Yian Xu: Using Mindfulness to Reduce Cognitive Bias
Entrepreneurship
Nathan Kotler: Arbitrage Opportunities in Exchange-Traded Funds
Best Video Pitch
Samantha Ernst: Electronic Medical Records & Child Abuse
Graduate Innovator Award
Shadi Emam: MIP Gas Sensor
Computer and Information Sciences
Undergraduate: Anush Devadhasan: Elucidating Mechanisms of HIV Control
Graduate: Kaustubh Shivdikar: The Prime Hexagon
Engineering and Technology
Undergraduate: Victoria D’Agostino: Point-of-Care HPV Diagnosis
Graduate: Javier Fonseca: Reticular Chemistry to Predict MOFs
Health Sciences
Undergraduate: Shivahamy Maheswaran: A Pre-Diagnostic for Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer
Graduate: Katlynn Gwilt: Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Inflammation
Humanities and Arts
Undergraduate: Alya Abourezk: Forestation Urbanization
Graduate: Avery Watterworth: Structural Resilience: Building for Stormwater
Interdisciplinary Topics, Centers and Institutes
Undergraduate: Samantha Ernst: Electronic Medical Records & Child Abuse
Graduate: Sanahan Vijayakuma: Scale-Up Manufacturing of ‘INCeRT’ Implants
Physical and Life Sciences
Undergraduate: Eun Kyung Jeon: Cell Cycle Kinetics in Denervated Regenerate
Graduate: Seamus McKenney: Dissecting Immuno-Heterogeneity with Microfluidics
Social Sciences, Business and Law
Undergraduate: Samantha Goldman: Differences in Dehumanizing Language in the Media
Graduate: Yian Xu: Using Mindfulness to Reduce Cognitive Bias
Past Winners
2017 Awards
Research
Alaina Baker: What’s in a Headline? Framing of Mass Violence Impacts Social Perception
Innovation
John de la Parra: Discovering Novel Biomarkers for Women’s Health: A Robust Platform for Disease Detection in the Menstrual Blood Proteome
Scholarship
Yian Xu: Cognitive Bias in Legal Decision-Making: New Evidence from Psychological Studies
Entrepreneurship
Brian Phillips: Sentiment Driven Market Modeling
Best Video Pitch
Elikem Tettey-Tamaklo: Redesigned Bubble CPAP to Effectively Curtail Preterm Infant Mortality in Low Resource Areas
Graduate Innovator Award
Liam Timms: New Insights into the Brain, Consciousness and More with QUTE-CE MRI-Based Quantitative Vascular Mapping
Computer and Information Sciences
Undergraduate: Benjamin Trapani: A Fast Parallel Level Set Segmentation Algorithm for 3-D Images
Graduate: Bryan Koch: Detection and Mitigation of Malicious Modifications on the Minnowboard Turbot
Engineering and Technology
Undergraduate: Justin Hynes-Bruell: Augmented Reality for Parkinson’s: An Assistive Tool Based on Visual Cues
Graduate: Harsh Engineer: Portable Thermoelectricity Generating Kit
Health Sciences
Undergraduate: Gilbert Yap: Motion Capture-Based Robotic Interfaces to Enhance Engagement and Adherence In Pediatric Rehabilitation
Graduate: Amirah Aly: Focused Ultrasound Enhancement of an Intranasal Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Humanities and Arts
Undergraduate: Evan McEldowney: Kleo: User Centered Art Tours
Graduate: Cyrus Dahmubed: Rising with the Tides: Saving Boston from Sea Level Rise with a New Eco-District
Interdisciplinary Topics, Centers and Institutes
Undergraduate: Emily Navarrete: A Student Designed Curriculum: Developing a Project-Based Introductory Chemistry Laboratory Course
Graduate: Michael Gargano: Cancer Publication Portal: Identifying Gene-Cancer Associations from Biomedical Literature
Physical and Life Sciences
Undergraduate: Michael Nelson: Exploring Hydrogel Potential in Football Helmets
Graduate: John de la Parra: Discovering Novel Biomarkers for Women’s Health: A Robust Platform for Disease Detection in the Menstrual Blood Proteome
Social Sciences, Business and Law
Undergraduate: Alaina Baker: What’s in a Headline? Framing of Mass Violence Impacts Social PerceptionGraduate: Yian Xu: Cognitive Bias in Legal Decision-Making: New Evidence from Psychological Studies
ConnectIn 1st Place
John de la Parra: Discovering Novel Biomarkers for Women’s Health: A Robust Platform for Disease Detection in the Menstrual Blood Proteome
ConnectIn 2nd Place
Louise Katzovitz: Rapidly Deployable Wheelchair Power Assist Device
2016 Awards
Research
Mansi Jain: Automated Diagnostic System for Gastric Cancer
Innovation
John de la Parra: Controlled Biosynthesis and Diversification of Plant-Derived Pharmaceuticals
Scholarship
Sarah Solomon: Housing the Boston Homeless
Entrepreneurship
Colin Bernardo: 3D Scanning of Neuroanatomical Structures
Best Video Pitch
Jacob Ganley: Functionalizing Antibodies Using Flow Chemistry
Graduate Innovator Award
Joshua Martin: Developing Hierarchically Reinforced Composites Via 3D Printing and Magnetic Assembly
Computer and Information Sciences
Undergraduate: Mansi Jain: Automated Diagnostic System for Gastric Cancer
Graduate: Keith Harrigan: Anonymity and Gender Inference on Reddit
Engineering and Technology
Undergraduate: Quan Do: A Sensor-Based App for Video Game Play
Graduate: Joshua Martin: Developing Hierarchically Reinforced Composites Via 3D Printing and Magnetic Assembly
Health Sciences
Undergraduate: Alyssa Long: Pharmacy Student Interactions with Minority Groups
Graduate: Julie Goff: Gross Motor Group Effects on Children with ASD
Humanities and Arts
Undergraduate: Sarah Solomon: Housing the Boston Homeless
Graduate: Joseph di Bella: Re-thinking Structure
Interdisciplinary Topics, Centers and Institutes
Undergraduate: Shawn Jones: Triton SCUBA Diving Prosthetic
Graduate: Michael Williams: Human In the Loop Debris Collection
Physical and Life Sciences
Undergraduate: Joseph Chung: Development of a Fluorescent Western Blot of CFTR
Graduate: John de la Parra: Controlled Biosynthesis and Diversification of Plant-Derived Pharmaceuticals
Social Sciences, Business and Law
Undergraduate: Amelie Desrosiers: Pathways to Progress
Graduate: Matthew Murry: Attachment and Emotion Perception Across Adulthood
2015 Awards
Research
Kristofer Patel: NanoCRISPR: An Alternative to Chemotherapy
Innovation
Salar Shahini Shamsabadi: PAVEMON: A GIS Web-based PAVEment MONitoring System
Scholarship
David Potter: De Novo Urbanism
Entrepreneurship
Codi Gharagouzloo: Diagnosing Neuropathy Early with QUTE-CE MRI
Best Poster Presentation
Paul Elliott: Durable ZnO Nanorod and Polymer Composite Surface with Controllable Wettability
Best Video Pitch
Salar Shahini Shamsabadi: PAVEMON: A GIS Web-based PAVEment MONitoring System
Graduate Innovator Award
Computer and Information Sciences
Undergraduate: Chisheng Liang: VistaLight: A Game Helps People Make Better Decisions
Graduate: Bochao Shen: SmartShift: Expanded Load Shifting Incentive Mechanism for Risk-Averse Consumers
Engineering and Technology
Undergraduate: Ethan Edson: Research and Design of an Oceanographic Microplastic Sampling Instrument
Graduate: Benjamin Geilich: Silver Nanoparticle-embedded Polymersome Nanocarriers for the Treatment of Antibiotic-resistant Infections
Health Sciences
Undergraduate: Jennifer Schirmer: Standardization of Cardiopulmonary Skills: Measures of Aerobic Capacity
Graduate: Abhijit Kulkarni: Novel Pharmacotherapy for Treating Cognitive Dysfunction and Chronic Pain in Alzheimers Disease
Humanities and Arts
Undergraduate: Mario Accordino: Everett | Intraface
Graduate: David Potter: De Novo Urbanism
Interdisciplinary Topics, Centers and Institutes
Undergraduate: Kristofer Patel: NanoCRISPR: An Alternative to Chemotherapy
Graduate: Codi Gharagouzloo: Diagnosing Neuropathy Early with QUTE-CE MRI
Physical and Life Sciences
Undergraduate: Ronan Talty: Estrogen-Dopamine Interactions During Extinction Learning in Female Rats
Graduate: Divakaran Murugesapillai: Quantitative DNA Binding, Looping, and Compaction Properties of the HIV-1 Viral Protein R
Social Sciences, Business and Law
Undergraduate: Alison Campbell: The Socioecology of Academic Achievement Across Racial Boundaries: The Role of Context in Understanding Disparate Outcomes
Graduate: Jin Xun Goh: Gender-Stereotyping of Sexual Minorities at the Interpersonal Level
2014 Awards
Research
David Walsh: Microfluidic Chemotaxis-Based Cell Immunophenotyping for Ocular Diagnostics
Innovation
Chris Marciano: The Millennial Village
Scholarship
Sean Kocur: Salsolinol Compounds as Biomarkers for Human Alcohol Consumption, Disease, and Toxicity
Entrepreneurship
Amir Farjadian: Interactive Cyclists Accident Prevention System (iCAPS)
Best Video Pitch Award
Philip Strandwitz: GABA Modulating Bacteria in the Human Gut Microbiome
COE Dean’s Award
Aida Ehyaei: A System For Gathering Data on Sleep Behavior and Context in the Home Setting
SREC Engineering Award
Robinson Greig: Gather – Enhanced Short-Term Social Event Discovery and Plann
Graduate Student Government Award
Amirah Aly: Treating Parkinson’s Disease Using a Non-Invasive Gene Therapy Approach
Computer and Information Sciences
Undergraduate: Chris Germano: Minutes to Midnight: Promoting Creation, Culpability, and Critical Thinking
Graduate: Ceyhun Karbeyaz: A web-based laboratory for computational social science
Engineering and Technology
Undergraduate: David Potter: Resilient Structures
Graduate: David Walsh: Microfluidic Chemotaxis-Based Cell Immunophenotyping for Ocular Diagnostics
Health Sciences
Undergraduate: Emily Nasson: A pilot project in preparation for the randomized control trial: Moving On After Breast Cancer
Graduate: Sean Kocur: Salsolinol compounds as biomarkers for human alcohol consumption, disease, and toxicity
Humanities and Arts
Undergraduate: Joey Lafyatis: Artist Co-Funding: Redefining The Modern Record Label
Graduate: Chris Marciano: The Millennial Village
Interdisciplinary
Undergraduate: Matt Gowie: WeTeam
Graduate: Jodi Belz: Localized tumor delivery of radiosensitizers and chemotherapeutics using ‘INCeRT’ implants
Physical and Life Sciences
Undergraduate: Douglas Townsend: Application of Spectral Cytopathology as a Diagnostic Tool for Barrett’s Esophagus
Graduate: Jennifer Woodring: Optimization of pharmaceutical properties of a lead compound targeting human African trypanosomiasis by nano formulations
Social Sciences, Business and Law
Undergraduate: Inbae Choi: Know Thyself…Or Not
Graduate: Mollie Ruben: Perceived Control of Pain Contributes to Reduced Pain Ratings and Accurately Recalling Pain
2013 Awards
Research
Innovation
Scholarship
Entrepreneurship
Amir Farjadian: Development of Virtually Interfaced Robotic Ankle and Balance Trainer (vi-RABT)
Computer and Information Sciences
Undergraduate: Katherine Schneider: Creating Neighborhood: Rethinking Urban Family Housing
Graduate: Yiyun Ma: Designing Cloud and Big Data Platforms for Data-intensive Scientific
Engineering and Technology
Undergraduate: Antonio Rufo: FilterLight
Graduate: Ryan Hennessy: Damage Characteristics in MEMS Switch Contacts
Health Sciences
Undergraduate: Nick O’Donnell: Adverse Events Associated with IV Sedative Use and Related Mortality in the United States over an Eight Year Period
Graduate: Malav Trivedi: Novel Mechanistic Explanation for use of Gluten Free Casein Free Diet in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Humanities and Arts
Undergraduate: Benjamin Greer: A Post Industrial Somerville: Urban Development with an Ecological Infrastructure
Graduate: Jessica Wilcock: Urban Revitalization through Resilient Infrastructure
Interdisciplinary
Undergraduate: Chelsea Costanev: arc: building conversations
Graduate: Ryan Myers: Biohybrid Robot Fabrication using E-Jet Printer
Physical and Life Sciences
Undergraduate: Ashley Cryan: Projected Effects of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification on the Incidence and Severity of Blooms of Harmful Algae in the Gulf of Maine
Graduate: Mehmet Nurullah Ates: Revolutionizing Li-Battery Infrastructure for Energy Storage Applications: Short Term and Long Term Solutions
Social Sciences, Business and Law
Undergraduate: Krista Langley: How Anger Influences Threat Detection: The Independent Contributions of Affect and Conceptual Knowledge
Graduate: Lisa Granquist: Armoring the Massachusetts Coast: Increased Protection or Added Risk?