Undergraduate Research: Rutgers University RISE Program: Cellular Bioengineering REU

Maya Schreiber

‘27 chemical engineering - biotechnology and bioengineering track 

When did you do your Research?

Summer 2024

Where was your Research?

Rutgers University, RISE Program: Cellular Bioengineering REU (www.rise.rutgers.edu/)

What is the focus of your Research?

Investigating optimal chronic wound healing environments through measuring oxygen consumption.

What are you looking forward to the most about your Research? 

When first starting the research internship, I was excited to gain experience in a wet lab and a better understanding of graduate student life.

What was the best part of your Research OR What was the biggest learning moment of your Research ?

The biggest lesson I learned was the importance of continually asking questions! I was the only undergraduate in the lab. It could be intimidating at times, however I used it as an opportunity to learn from people with much more experience than me. I was inspired by the passion my mentor had for his research. He constantly encouraged me to think of new approaches for my own project. The friendships formed with my REU cohort in the BME department broadened my perspective, exposing me to various research techniques, studies, and research environments across the country.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in getting involved in research or an internship?

Embrace every opportunity that comes your way! Never underestimate your resume or abilities—you might be exactly what a lab, company, or school is searching for.

Are you a member of any clubs/campus organizations?

Event Coordinator for Society of Women Engineers, Member of the National Society of Black Engineers, College of Engineering and Informational Technology Peer Navigator

What are your goals after graduation?
After graduating, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering.

Learn more about Maya Schreiber: www.linkedin.com/in/maya-schreiber1 

Read more about her summer research here: https://collections.libraries.rutgers.edu/new-brunswick-student-exhibits/presenter-list

Student Exhibit Description from RISE 2024 Cohort

Maya R. Schreiber

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Co-Author: Dr. Rick Cohen

Mentor: Dr. Francois Berthiaume, Biomedical Engineering

Measuring Oxygen Consumption to Understand Optimal Chronic Wound Healing Environments

Chronic wounds affect 6.5 million people across the United States, altering lifestyles and immobilizing patients. Adequate healing conditions for chronic wounds involve proper access to oxygen and nutrients, and since these quantities differ between wounds, we seek to quantify the extracellular oxygen consumption rate of wound cells to form conclusions about healing. To understand wound cell metabolism in the context of chronic wounds, we cultured immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) in multi-well plates to mimic epidermal healing in a controlled environment. We developed a system to simulate wounds with differing oxygen levels and manipulate the environment easily and at a low cost. We hypothesize greater rates of oxygen consumption will correlate to faster chronic wound healing because oxygen is vital to cell proliferation and migration. Utilizing an extracellular oxygen sensitive dye allowed us to monitor the oxygen consumption of the HaCaT cells in the well. We standardized the method, confirming that fluorescence intensity increases with decreasing oxygen concentration. Then we plated HaCaT cells to confluence and multiple different treatments were added to the media. We observed changes in fluorescence as a function time over a two hour period. After validating these tools to manipulate oxygen uptake, my lab will perform a scratch assay and image cell closure over time with different conditions, such as the addition of drugs, amino acids, or using cell culture media with differing oxygen exposures. The assay would correlate oxygen uptake rate by the cells with the rate of healing in the wells. We also expect that chronic wounds will heal faster when in high-oxygen environments. The assay platform developed in this project will allow testing different compounds that improve cellular metabolism and wound healing rate, which will support the development of innovative treatments for people with chronic wounds worldwide.

Biography: Maya Schreiber is a motivated rising sophomore attending University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), originally from Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Maya is majoring in chemical engineering with a biotechnology and bioengineering focus, aiming to deepen her knowledge in pharmaceutical sciences. She has been part of the cellular bioengineering REU, under the mentorship of Dr. Francois Berthiaume and Dr. Rick Cohen of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. With a passion for seeing under-represented groups succeed in STEM graduate and professional fields, Maya is a part of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, serves on the executive board of UMBC’s chapter of Society of Women Engineers, and is an ambassador for the College of Engineering and Informational Technology. She plans to participate in sustained research at her university this fall, and after graduating she hopes to attend graduate school in pursuit of a PhD.