MRSEC-Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia Partnership

MRSEC researchers participated in a new cross-international partnership led by Joost Vlassak in collaboration with the Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia (UTEC) in Lima, Peru. A team of Harvard undergraduates spent two weeks with their counterparts from UTEC developing devices for soil testing in the Amazon basin of Peru (top left). These field-deployable devices are based on small, yet robust, microfluidic chips that are designed and fabricated during reciprocal visits by UTEC undergraduates to Harvard last summer. During their visit, UTEC students were introduced to microfluidic devices in the Weitz lab (top middle) and 3D printing in the Lewis lab (top right). The students used the Harvard's instructional laboratories and Center's shared instrumentation to build, test, and refine the team's designs. In addition, the MRSEC outreach group led by Pia Sorensen and Alex Suarez (bottom left) traveled Peru to share their expertise in the Science of Cooking as well as learn about the Peruvian cultural and cooking (bottom right). These exchanges are extending the Center's outreach efforts to international students.