UA Little Rock Student Advances Biomedical Research in a Summer Internship at University of Galway

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student had the opportunity to expand his mechanical engineering and research skills while spending the summer interning at a cutting-edge national research center in Ireland.

Shrigun Maroo, a junior mechanical engineering major from India, spent two months serving as a visiting researcher at CÚRAM at the University of Galway in Ireland. CÚRAM is a national research center for medical devices, where they develop affordable, transformative solutions for chronic diseases.

"My favorite part of the internship was being in an academic lab environment and getting to see how people at different levels work together on projects sometimes requiring interdisciplinary work," he said. "When researchers shared their work in weekly meetings, their cohorts would come up with aspects they might have not already considered or some new things to try. This created an environment where everyone strived to improve their work and help each other to do the same. The community there is what I loved most about this internship."

Maroo found out about CÚRAM through his uncle Dr. Manish Biyani who works as the EU programme manager at the University of Galway. He contacted several professors to see if any internship opportunities were available and connected with Dr. Manus Biggs, a lecturer of biomedical engineering.

Maroo was assigned to assist one of Bigg's doctoral students, Narjes Meselmani, who is working on designing and developing real-time monitoring devices for post-micro reconstructive surgeries in the head and neck region. Maroo helped optimize a design for a microelectrode array using 3D printing and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. He learned many new skills that will be invaluable to his future.

"As I am entering my third year, I hadn't had any previous experience with 3D printing, and I got to use different types of 3D printers," Maroo said. "I learned how to perform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. I learned how to design under constraints, analyze data, and optimize my work based on previous results."

While living in Ireland, Maroo also visited Limerick, Dublin, Athenry, Aran Islands, Connemara, and the Cliffs of Moher. In his free time, he enjoyed windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and playing music on the streets of Galway.

"I'm very grateful to the Donaghey Scholars Program," Maroo said. "Without their support, this wouldn't have been possible. They are the ones who encourage us to study abroad. Without this program, I wouldn't have considered going outside the U.S. for an internship."