PhD students Calvin Alexander Ng, 26, and Nerissa Molejon, 37, won first place in the student poster competition at the 40th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy held from Oct. 20 to 21, 2024 in Massachusetts.
Their award-winning poster, “Quantitative Detection of Biomolecules in Environmental Matrices Using Acoustic Wave Micropillar Biosensors,” presents a novel approach for detecting pathogens in environmental samples using advanced biosensor technology.
“We are developing acoustic biosensors designed to detect pathogens in the environment and we received funding support from the Trinity Challenge and the US National Science Foundation,” said Ng.
They tested the biosensor with water samples containing genes for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which can cause gastrointestinal illnesses and found it to be highly sensitive and able to detect the pathogens with minimal sample pretreatment requirements.
“This means that our technology can be developed to make quick and easy-to-use tools for monitoring environmental and public health,” Ng said.
Ng, who focused on the electrical design and data analytics of the biosensor, highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of the project.
“Our work involved collaboration between researchers in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biology,” he said.
“My role is to test the biosensor with target genes and measure the frequency shift. I also did calculations to determine the number of particles per volume if sample and the magnitude of the frequency shift,” said Molejon.
Ng credits his Filipino-Chinese upbringing for shaping his work ethic and approach to education. “My family always emphasized the value of education. My grandparents, especially my grandmother, were very supportive of my academic pursuits,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of his church community in providing encouragement and guidance whenever he felt overwhelmed. “They always reassure me and point me toward God for strength.”
He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila, and is pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Molejon, on the other hand, completed her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in 2009 and earned her Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from UP Diliman and Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain in 2020.
They advise students who want to engage in research to find their passion, seek guidance from faculty, collaborate with peers, take risks and participate in competitions.
The conference was organized by the Association for Environmental Health & Sciences (AEHS) Foundation, a non-profit group focused on promoting collaboration among professionals in soil, sediment, water assessment, cleanup, and protection. It is held annually, showcasing the latest research in environmental management and public health.
