College of Engineering

For the second year, Kirsten Sims was elected Graduate Councilor for the national Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE).She will represent all graduate students who are involved in the IBE on the national level. Kirsten has been instrumental in assisting MIT and the University of Arizona in organizing and implementing Regional IBE conferences, including the Western Regional Conference to be hosted by USU on December 4.

On her recommendation, and accepted by the IBE Council, regional first place students attend the national IBE conference at no cost to themselves. Kirsten's strategy is to provide opportunities for graduate students to interface with industry through regional and national conferences, and to ensure the conferences are student oriented. She is working to develop a strong student network in IBE and finds it important that students have opportunities to participate and interact with professionals, faculty members and other students who share a similar interest in promoting Biological Engineering.

One of four "Regional IBE Conferences" that Kirsten has developed, the December 4 conference will give students the opportunity to present their research in two different sessions: Biomedical Engineering, and Biofuel/Bioprocess Engineering.

Presenters will be competing for an opportunity to travel to Boston in March to present their research at the National IBE Conference. They will also compete for cash prizes. The conference will be held in the USU Engineering Building. Room numbers for each session will be posted throughout the building. 

Kirsten is currently working toward her Masters of Biological Engineering degree under Dr. Charles Miller. She works as an Engineering Assistant for the Energy Dynamics Lab and is researching energy sustainability, specifically how to optimize a method for tranforming algae from the Logan Lagoons into methane gas, which can be subsequently used as compressed natural gas for generating electricity for the City of Logan. Of her association with IBE she says, "It has been rewarding to represent the Biological Engineering program at USU on a national stage and bring awareness to our (BIE) department."

There is no registration fee for participants. The conference is open to the public, and while there is no cost to attend, the Lunch/Keynote Speaker address is $20. for non-students, payable at the door.