Student Spotlight: Carter Rodzik

A Place to Grow

The next big advancements in physiology and cell biology are happening at the micro-level. In Associate Professor Smitha Rao's Biomedical Micro-Devices Lab, research is being conducted across a range of fields, from nanofiber scaffolding to cancer metastasis to cellular uptake of heavy metals.

Undergraduate biomedical engineering student Carter Rodzik has been part of Rao's lab team since fall 2024, primarily working on nanofiber scaffolds for tissue engineering. While conducting his research, he realized that certain environmental conditions affect nanofiber structures and wanted to explore how humidity affected the manufacturing process. That led to him setting up his own lab system to control humidity.

"I enjoy being entrusted with independent work that challenges my thinking, especially when designing experiments," he said. "If I ever need guidance, Professor Rao is always there to mentor and encourage me."

Rao is not only eager to see her students take initiative, she's come to expect it. For Rodzik, that's what makes his research so interesting.

Learn more about Carter's work and Michigan Tech's Biomedical Micro-Devices Lab.

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