14 Research Reflection by Basbo Ayelazono

Faculty Mentor: Samira Shiri (Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah)

I conducted research at the University of Utah Department of Mechanical Engineering under Dr. Samira Shiri, studying how polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics affect oil droplet behavior in water. I designed and ran experiments, analyzed droplet shape and evaporation using ImageJ and MATLAB, and explored how microplastics influence oil-water interactions. This experience deepened my interest in applying computational and biological methods to real-world problems and confirmed my goal of pursuing a career in biomedical research.