Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering – FULL

The objective of the course is to provide the students with hands-on experience in artificial intelligence applications for developing biomedical instrumentation. We will study what artificial intelligence is, its current uses, potentialities, challenges, and risks, in a practical and simple way. We will explore some algorithms and mathematical models that help machines "learn" and make decisions, including decision trees, support vector machines, and neural networks. From deep learning models, which are multi-layered neural networks, we will explore the amazing applications, and how can be used for detecting diseases. The students will be able to build their own artificial intelligence models using available data and data that they will collect in a simple experiment.

Students will understand what exactly artificial intelligence is, and will be able to explain the functioning of widely used machine learning algorithms. Students will be able to identify the applications of machine learning in biomedical instrumentation and its future opportunities in this field all through hands-on experiences in training artificial intelligence models.

Hugo F. Posada-Quintero,

Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering

My research includes the development of signal processing techniques, wearable instrumentation, and sensors for biomedical applications. Specifically, the aim of my research is to develop models and biomedical instrumentation for the detection and prediction of stress, fatigue, pain, emotional state, hydration status, wakefulness, cognitive performance, and heart failure, among others. We use modern mathematical tools to process bioelectrical signals obtained from different sites of the body, like the electrocardiogram, electromyogram, photoplethysmogram, and electrodermal activity, and explore the relationship between those signals and the biomedical variable being detected or predicted. Our mathematical processes are focused on the development of more sensitive biomarkers and features, and the development of multimodal algorithms (multiple signals combined). In addition, we use our novel features and train artificial intelligence tools (machine learning and deep learning algorithms) for the development of more accurate models. Furthermore, we develop novel sensors and electronic devices to better capture electrophysiological signals using portable and wearable devices.

Climate Models – CLOSED

Prerequisites: High School Math and Physics with a grade of C or higher, and basic understanding of programming

Building climate models is designed to engage students to investigate the physical basis of climate change and learn Python coding skills to solve mathematical and physical equations. Topics covered will include, principles of the conservation of energy, theories and observations of Earth’s energy balance and climate feedbacks. Throughout the course, a mixture of lectures and interactive Python exercises with Jupyter notebook to introduce scientific principles and step-by-step Python practices to students will be introduced. This course is unique in several ways: 1) it provides hands-on exercises for students to explore the physical principles of Earth’s energy balance and climate feedbacks; 2) it allows students to learn Python coding with Jupyter notebook and apply it to study a societally relevant scientific question, i.e., the physical basis of climate change.

This course will advance students’ understanding of dynamical models and the concept of climate change through hands-on practices of building dynamical models and exploring physical principles driving climate change. In addition, this course will also advance students' computer literacy through introductions and exercises on writing Python code to solve and visualize simple dynamical models.

These outcomes directly contribute to students’ college application success by providing students with the experience of taking a college-level class. Students will also gain demonstrative coding skills to computationally solve mathematic equations. Climate Change and/or environmental literacy is one of the core knowledge requirements of the general education at many universities. This course will prepare students for college-level courses that teach this literacy. Moreover, through coding exercises, students are also exposed to Python programming, which may inspire their interests and prepare them for the continued education in data science and computational physics and climate sciences.

Ran Feng, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Growing up in southwest China, Ran studied meteorology and climate at Nanjing University, and Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Ran became fascinated by climate change and decided to work towards a PhD at the University of Michigan. Ran is currently interested in cloud and precipitation processes in warm climate states, and feedbacks that determine the sensitivity of climate system to forcings from greenhouse gases and other geological changes. Ran is currently teaching two courses separately on how to apply multivariate statistic methods to study observations of the Earth, and how climate models are constructed and implemented to make projections.

Introduction to Equine Science and Horsemanship – 2 SEATS LEFT

Introduction to Horsemanship and the use of horses for riding and competition. You will gain insight into the equine industry and the team of professionals it takes to prepare a horse for competition. Areas of focus in this course will help you to select a horse for athleticism and conformation to use as a riding or competition horse. You will be able to identify horse breed, color, conformation and its suitability and soundness for riding. Topics to be included are anatomy, physiology, behavior, training, sports therapy and care. Subjects will be introduced to students through lecture, hands-on activities, and demonstrations. This course will give students experiences that they can use to build a career in the equine industry as a veterinarian, farrier, nutritionist, manager or trainer.

Upon completion of this course students will be able to evaluate a riding horse based on athleticism and conformation. Identify basic horse breeds, color, conformation and suitability for disciplines. Evaluate horse gaits for soundness and athleticism. Gain insight into career paths in the equine industry and practical skills in horse management and behavior. Understand horse behavior and psychology as it relates to training. Students will learn practical skills and knowledge to prepare them for horse facility management and ownership.

Students will be engaged in hands on learning activities like grooming, bandaging, lunging, ground work, TPR, body condition scoring, tack fit, and riding.
Industry professionals demonstrating and presenting in class.
We will learn about the 6 key points of horse care turnout management, digestion and feeding, farrier care, vaccination, worming, and dental floating.
Insight into horse training for riding or competition with a strong emphasis on the Dressage Training Scale and Natural Horsemanship.
Evaluation of conformation and gaits of horses in comparison by judging show class.
Evaluating soundness of the horse by the use of a pre-purchase exam.

Melissa Tindall - UConn Dressage Team Coach

Melissa Tindall has been riding horses for 40 years and earned her USDF Bronze medal on her self-trained mare. She is the coach of the UConn Dressage team, has managed and been head trainer for several young horse training and sales barns in the past but her true passion is teaching. She was an apprentice with FEI rider and USDF Instructor faculty member Melanie Tenney at the BHS approved Woodcock Hill in West Willington, Connecticut where she went through the British Horse Society Instructor training program. Melissa began her riding career in hunter jumper and eventing but has focused on dressage for the last 25 years. She focuses on positive teaching and training methods utilizing in-hand work, in addition to mounted work, to encourage connection and understanding of both students and horses. She is currently competing at 4th level in dressage and schooling Prix St. George with the goal of earning her USDF Silver medal. She has ridden in clinics, lessons and demonstrations with many national and international instructors including Jan Ebeling (US Dressage Olympian), Eric Horgan (Irish Eventing Olympian), David Marcus (Canadian Eventing Olympian) and many more. These influences and her interest in the biomechanics of riding have helped shape how she teaches and trains today.

Robotics Engineering – FULL

The robotics engineering course is designed for high-school students to provide them with understanding of robotics as an engineering discipline. The participating students will learn about a number of newly emerging robotics technologies and their impacts on a variety of areas ranging from industrial sectors, such as manufacturing, medical, defense; home assistance to elderly and disabled people; to improving learning for autistic children/students. The main goal of the course is to motivate the students in pursuing robotics as an engineering discipline by providing them an introduction to behind the scenes science and art of robotics. The course will involve interactive and fun-filled group sessions that include video lectures, interacting with real world robots, and hands-on programming.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the robotics as an engineering discipline, state of the art in robotics and the relevant skills and knowledge required to become a roboticist.
Describe the nature and type of research work conducted in robotics in various state of the art robotics disciplines and the impact of those on our world.
Develop problem solving, critical thinking, and programming skills.

Interactive introductory lectures on history of robotics and overview of robotics engineering as an interdisciplinary field.
An overview of the three main areas of robotics engineering using a mix of video tutorials and class discussions. The areas are: Bio-robots, Human-robot interaction, Autonomous robots
An invigorating hands-on experience of discovering the intricacies of electrical circuit wiring, programming on microcontrollers, and robot building using kits.
Interaction with real world robots

Shalabh Gupta received his M.S. degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering, and his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut. His current research interests include distributed autonomy, cyber–physical systems, robotics, network intelligence, data analytics, information fusion, and fault diagnosis in complex systems. Dr. Gupta is currently serving as the Chief Editor of Frontiers in Robotics and AI (Specialty Section: Smart Sensor Networks and Autonomy) and an Associate Editor of Structural Health Monitoring: An International Journal. Dr. Gupta has published around 120 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers.

Abhishek Dutta received his MSc in informatics from the University of Edinburgh with informatics prize for outstanding thesis in 2007 and his PhD with distinction in electromechanical engineering from Ghent University in 2014. He was then an aerospace postdoc at the coordinated science laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign till 2016. Since 2016 he is an assistant professor of ECE at UConn and is affiliated to BME and UTC-IASE. His research lab is focused on systems medicine that deals with disease network modeling and control and on biological robotics dealing with neuromuscular control of insects.

Data Science – FULL

Data science is a fast developing science of extracting meaningful information from massive data for better decision-making. It is interdisciplinary by nature, involving statistics, computing, and domain knowledge. Important principles of data science will be elaborated through interactive games and real applications in this course.

Students will have a basic understanding of the essential components of data science as well as the basic computing skills needed to explore this field further independently. The fun, game-based introductions will engage students' interest in data science.

Haim Bar is an Associate Professor in Statistics at the University of Connecticut. He received his Ph.D. in statistics from Cornell University in 2012. He received his M.Sc. in statistics in 2010 (Cornell University) and an M.Sc. in computer science in 2002 (Yale University). He received his bachelor's degree in mathematics (Cum Laude) in 1993, at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

His professional interests include statistical modeling, shrinkage estimation, high throughput applications in biology (e.g., genomics), Bayesian statistics, variable selection, and machine learning. From 1995 to 1997, he was with Motorola, Israel, as a computer programmer in the Wireless Access Systems Division. From 1997 until 2003 he worked for MicroPatent, LLC, where he held the position of Director of Software Development. In 2003 he moved to Ithaca, NY, and worked as a Principal Scientist at ATC-NY. Prior to coming to UConn, he worked at the Cornell Statistical Consulting Unit (CSCU) and the Department of Statistical Science at Cornell, as a consultant and lecturer.

HaiYing Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Connecticut. He was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of New Hampshire from 2013 to 2017. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Statistics at the University of Missouri in 2013, and his M.S. from the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2006. His research interests include informative subdata selection for big data, model selection, model averaging, measurement error models, and semi-parametric regression.

Jun Yan is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Connecticut. He received his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2003. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa before joining UConn in 2007. His research interests include survival analysis, clustered data analysis, multivariate dependence, spatial extremes, and statistical computing. He is actively involved in applications and education of data science in public health, climate change, ecology, and sports. He has a special interest in making advanced statistical methods widely accessible via open-source software. Dr. Yan is a fellow of the American Statistical Association and is the Editor of the Journal of Data Science.

More info is available at http://merlot.stat.uconn.edu/~jyan/.

Pre-Vet: Marine Animal Health and Veterinary Science – FULL

The Pre-Vet: Marine Animal Health and Veterinary Science course will be hosted at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT where students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the marine world. Throughout this course students will be interacting with aquarium research scientists, veterinarians, animal trainers and animal rescue professionals to understand the science behind their work. Students will gain knowledge and experience through labs and activities focused on animals at Mystic Aquarium including penguins, seals, reptiles and fishes.

Through this course students will participate in labs, tours and activities that will increase their scientific literacy in genetics, hematology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology. Students will learn about careers and education/career pathways directly from working professionals to understand if animal health and veterinary science is a desirable education and career path. Journal discussions will develop students’ skills in reading and analysis of primary scientific literature.

The course involves off-site visits to Mystic Aquarium and the UConn, Avery Point Campus. Supervised transportation is provided by the program and is included in the course cost and fees. Parents/guardians and students will be required to submit Mystic Aquarium participation forms prior to attending this course.

Learn about a wide variety of careers in animal health and veterinary science, from professionals in all stages of their careers.
Participate in lab programs focused on hematology, microbiology, molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, and learn how each is utilized to analyze an animal’s health.
Observe feeding and training sessions with beluga whales, penguins and sea lions, and have the opportunity to learn from and ask questions of their animal care teams.
- Please note: students will not have direct encounters with marine mammals.
Visit behind-the-scenes areas to view animal care, research and veterinary staff at work. This will include a visit to the animal rescue clinic to understand the veterinary care of both animals at the aquarium temporarily for rehabilitation as well as animals permanently in our care.
Explore current topics in marine mammal research during journal article discussions.

Dr. Laura Thompson, Ph.D.

Mystic Aquarium Research Scientist

University of Connecticut Assistant Professor in Residence of Marine Sciences

https://marinesciences.uconn.edu/person/laura-thompson/

Dr. Thompson is a research scientist at Mystic Aquarium where she has held multiple positions since 2005. Her time at Mystic includes carrying out her PhD studies on dive physiology in Marine Mammals, as a joint student with the University of Connecticut Marine Sciences Program. Dr. Thompson is involved in many aspects of research at the Aquarium including the development of non-invasive sampling techniques and investigating the response of the immune system to environmental and anthropogenic challenges. Her unique area of interest lies in understanding the complicated relationship between diving and health, via adaptation of the immune system in marine mammals as compared with humans. Dr. Thompson holds a BSc with Honours in Marine and Freshwater Biology from Queen Mary College, University of London and a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Connecticut. She is also an Assistant Professor-in-Residence at UConn, and lectures for Marine Biology courses offered at UConn and URI.

Marine Biology – FULL

Prerequisites: Two years of High School Science and Math through Algebra II with a grade of C or higher

Marine scientist strive to understand the properties of the ocean and coastal waters. This understanding will allow us to make decisions about how to protect marine life and sustain ocean resources. To do this, marine scientists make observations and collect data on plant and animal diversity, ocean temperatures, currents, chemistry, and geology.

This hands-on course will have you making these same observations both out on the Long Island Sound (LIS), along the shore, in the laboratory and on the computer. Over the week you will study fish diversity in a nearby cove and marine invertebrate inhabitants of our rocky intertidal as well as seagrass and seaweed populations. You will conduct plankton tows and study our campus tidal pools. Dissections and laboratory experiments will inform you about the physiology and adaptations of local marine animals. We will collect data on the chemical and physical environment using instrumentation and sensors. Highlights of the hands-on nature of the course are listed below.

By the end of the week you will have learned and worked with many different types of equipment and instruments. You will conducted lab work and instrumental analysis. However, the key to being a good scientist is to be curious and ask good questions. You will use math, test hypothesis and apply reasoning to interpret your data and explain your observations. You can then begin to answer some of these questions and generate new ones. This is the foundation of marine ecology. We will be using this approach throughout the week. Finally, we will converge all our topics, data and observations to develop a better appreciation of the marine environment and create a sustainability plan for eastern LIS. This will also involve the critical thinking which we will have incorporated throughout the week as well as creativity.

Our goals for you are:

That you leave the program with a better understanding of how scientists discover and explain the workings of the natural world
That you learn how oceanography helps us to appreciate and manage our planet’s resources
To understand that marine ecology is the interaction of marine organisms with each other as well as their physical and chemical environment
To appreciate that the survival of marine life depends upon our stewardship of the oceans
To always be curious and think critically

Dr. Claudia Koerting has been a scientist, faculty member and academic advisor in the department of marine sciences for nearly twenty years and she has been teaching at UConn for nearly 30 years. Her research at UConn has included marine benthic ecology, detection and ecology of marine pathogens and analysis of toxin producing microalgae but she now focuses on water quality. She is the undergraduate program coordinator for Marine Sciences. Currently Dr. Koerting teaches several undergraduate courses and mentors undergraduate research projects. Her interests and research continue in the fields of marine chemistry and marine microbiology.

Pharmacy: Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery – FULL

Prerequisites: High School Chemistry with a grade of C or higher

This course will provide students with an overview of the entire drug development process. We will start with how pharmaceutical companies determine what disease they want to target and work our way through the entire discovery process over the one-week course, ending with post-approval monitoring by the FDA. Along the way, we will answer a variety of specific topics including the following: what is a lead compound, what are drug-drug and drug-food interactions, and how do clinical trials work. Much of our discussion on these topics will revolve around the development of currently used drugs such as Lipitor (high cholesterol), Januvia (type II diabetes), and Harvoni (hepatitis C).

By the end of their week in this course, students will be able to describe the general steps taken by a pharmaceutical company to produce a drug. Students will also gain hands on experience in both chemistry and biochemistry-based science experiments. Finally, students will be introduced to several career options associated with drug discovery, research, and pharmacy.

Dr. Kyle Hadden is Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and the Director of Research and Graduate Programs in the School of Pharmacy at UConn. He received his BS in Chemistry from Wofford College in 2000 and his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2004. Dr. Hadden started his independent career at the University of Connecticut in 2009. Throughout his career, Dr. Hadden’s primary research interests have been the early stage development of small molecules as anti-cancer chemotherapeutics and several projects in this area are ongoing in the Hadden lab.

As the Director of Research and Graduate Programs, Professor Hadden plays a primary role in the recruitment and progression of graduate students. He also works directly with other faculty in the Department and School to enhance individual and collaborative research efforts. Professor Hadden teaches in both the pharmacy and graduate curriculum at UConn and has mentored a wide-range of students and postdoctoral fellows in his research lab.

Pharmacy: Explore the Field

Where will you be in five years? That’s a hard question to answer, especially for high school students. UConn’s Pre-College Summer Pharmacy: Explore the New and Exciting Changes in the Professions course can help students figure it out. No matter what area of pharmacy you pursue, the underlying theme of pharmacy practice is to help people live healthier lives. Whether it be in a community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy or the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacists play a major role is assisting patients, clients and other health professionals in the proper use of medications to provide the best outcome for patient health.

A career in pharmacy is diverse and rewarding, with opportunities for patient care, scientific research and innovation. Offered during Session 5, our Pharmacy: Explore the New and Exciting Changes in the Professions session will provide students with an overview of the many career opportunities available to graduates of pharmacy programs and the path that they must follow to achieve their goals. This course will incorporate lectures, hands-on learning activities, guest lecturers and field trips.

Keep an open mind when deciding on what career or major option is right for you. There are so many specialties and opportunities available for pharmacists including working at pharmaceutical companies, state and federal agencies, insurance companies, uniformed services, hospital practice, community practice and academic pharmacy just to name a few. Pharmacists hold a unique knowledge and skill-set that is greatly valued by other health care providers and the public.

Students will be able to identify key roles of pharmacists in different parts of the healthcare industry, recognize how the profession has changed in recent years, compare how pharmacy is practiced around the globe, determine what skills are needed to be a pharmacist and give many examples of how pharmacists have changed patient outcomes.

Nathaniel ("Nate") Rickles is an Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs and Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. He received his B.S. in psychology and chemistry from Dickinson College, Pharm.D. from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, M.S. and Ph.D. in the Social and Administrative Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nate also completed a psychiatric pharmacy practice residency and is board certified in this area. He was inducted as a Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association. He came to the UCONN School of Pharmacy in 2016. He taught previously at Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and Long Island University (Brooklyn, NY).

His primary research interests are to develop, implement, and evaluate intervention programs that improve community pharmacist communication with patients and/or other team members to subsequently improve medication adherence and patient safety. His research on medication adherence has explored measurement of adherence, factors affecting medication adherence, and interventions to improve adherence. Nate also explores educational methods to improve the teaching of communication skills. His primary teaching interests involve courses on communication skills, health promotion, cross-cultural health care, and research methods. He has published approximately 45 peer-reviewed publications, invited to present at more than 40 local, national, and international meetings, and presented 50 peer-reviewed posters or podium presentations at local, national, or international professional meetings. He had led and/or co-led several national, state and local research grants and continues to actively be involved in grants and publications. Nate was the lead editor on the third edition of the textbook Social and Behavioral Aspects of Pharmaceutical Care.

Earth and Environmental Sciences – FULL

This summer experience program focused on Earth and Environmental Science, high school students will explore the field via a course bridging camp and college-level study. Brought to you by UConn Department of Earth Sciences Faculty, Dr. Ouimet and Dr. Hren, students will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with field researchers and experts.

Geoscientists study all aspects of the Earth, including its history, structure, rocks, soils, rivers, oceans and atmosphere. The UConn Environmental Science pre-college summer course will introduce this wide-ranging discipline and discuss how earth and environmental scientists play a crucial role in understanding and making predictions about a diverse range of earth resources, processes and hazards, from mineral deposits to earthquakes to floods and climate change. Why is this important? Earth’s ecology is closely linked to sustainability and environmental science is key to this pursuit.

This Earth and Environmental summer course for high school students will integrate:

lectures and dynamic learning modules on background geoscience material
field and lab demonstrations
collection and analysis of rock, soil and water samples
guest visits from Geoscience faculty across the wide range topics in the discipline

William Ouimet, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Geosciences

Dr. Ouimet (Will) is an Associate Professor of Geosciences at UConn. He loves working with students outdoors and on field trips, and it’s one of the reasons he became a Geologist. His research and teaching involves the study of erosion, rivers, landslides and environmental change around the world, as well as the influence of human activities. He works in the field, where he collects samples and maps out geological features, in the lab, where he analyzes rocks, water, soil and sediment, and on the computer, where he explores remote sensing datasets of the earth and uses models to simulate how landscapes change through time. His research has taken him all over world, from the Colorado Rockies, to Greece, Tibet, Taiwan, and the Bahamas. It has also allowed him to appreciate and explore the geology underfoot and processes at play here in southern New England, right where he grew up.

Michael Hren, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Geosciences

Dr. Hren (Mike) is also an Associate Professor of Geosciences at UConn. His research and teaching is focused on understanding how Earth’s climate, ecosystems, and environment evolve over time and how Earth’s history informs its future. His work takes him to mountain ranges around the globe, from the high peaks of Patagonia to the mountains of Tibet to the Sierra Nevada of California, where he and his students collect sediment, rocks, soils and water to bring back to UConn for analysis. He is the director of the Stable Isotope and Organic Molecular Biogeochemistry laboratory, and when not traveling for research, can be found working in the laboratory with students and colleagues from UConn and visitors from around the world analyzing modern and ancient plants, sediments and even an occasional woolly mammoth, to understand Earth and life through time.

Explore the basics of artificial intelligence for tracking health and emotions

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Learn the basics of climate physics and coding

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Animal Science Equine Management and Horse Behavior and Training

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Impacts of Robotics Engineering on Our World: An Introduction to Real World Robots

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Learning Data Science Through Games and Applications

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Immerse yourself in the marine world and explore your passions for veterinary science, animal care, animal training and research.

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Get your feet and hands wet and salty as you learn how marine scientists study Long Island Sound ecosystems

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Develop a working knowledge of the drug discovery process

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Optimizing Medication Use and Safety- Learn Pharmacist's Contributions Across the Healthcare Industry

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The Earth, The Environment, and You

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