Applications of Engineering in Translational Medicine: Theory and Applications in Refractive Surgeries

Faculty Advisor: Lecturer in Discipline, Columbia University

Research Program Introduction

Modern engineering is versatile and multidisciplinary, requiring collaboration between engineers specialized in different fields. To communicate successfully with collaborators and ensure the project's success, today’s engineers need to be acquainted with various disciplines in addition to their field of specialization.

This program introduces students to refractive surgeries' principles, theories, and applications. About 60% of the United States population and approximately 90% of young adults in China either need or already use some form of refractive correction. Although most of this population relies on spectacles or contact lenses, permanent correction of refractive error is an attractive choice for many patients, enabling them to enter occupations previously unavailable due to vision impairment.

Weekly meetings will include discussions and student presentations. Readings and independent research will be assigned after each meeting. The final deliverables are a paper and a presentation on the chosen topic.

Project Topics

• Principles, theory, and applications related to refractive surgery

• Societal impact of the myopia (nearsightedness) pandemic

• Fundamentals of lasers

• Laser-plasma physics applications in medicine

• Engineering of medical devices

Program Details

• Cohort size: 8 students

• Workload: Around 5 hours per week (including class and homework time)

• Target students: 9 to 12th graders interested in mechanical engineering, bioengineering, applied physics, and pre-med studies.