School of Engineering Launches "From the Lab"

  • Devora Najjar ChE'16 explains her work analyzing and visualizing beehive microbiomes in New York City

  • Dean Richard Stock introduced the new series

  • Prof. David Wootton described his research into the biomechanics of sleep apnea

  • Prof. Oliver Medvedik explained the breadth of bioengineering projects at Cooper

  • Tushar Nichakawade ChE'18 illustrated how he and Yingfu (Ben) Ma ME'18 used the TdT enzyme to control DNA synthesis

  • Peter Yang CE'16 talked about his work with classmates under the supervision of Prof. Constantine Yapijakis

  • Acting President Bill Mea and guests listened to Jean Dominique Bonnet's (CE'17) presentation

  • Hailey Kim CE'16 discussed her team's research about cleaning oil spills on soil above aquifers

The Albert Nerken School of Engineering hosted its first "From the Lab," a series of talks designed to familiarize  alumni and other guests with some of the work being done by faculty and students. The event, which took place on February 18 in the Rose Auditorium, focused on bioengineering. After an introduction by Prof. David Wootton and Prof. Oliver Medvedik, two sophomores, Tushar Nichakawade and Yingfu (Ben) Ma, spoke about the method they developed to synthesize DNA at the lab bench. After the talks, guests toured laboratories where they spoke to students and professors about their work. The eight research projects included examining beehive microbiomes, extracting an anti-cancer agent from rice wine, and developing a means for bioremediation of oil spills on soil above aquifers. 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.