Nalima Munyofu
Currently attending the University of Pittsburgh, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Bioengineering, Biomechanics track, with a minor in mathematics.
Current Research
I was a part of the Swanson School of Engineering 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research program (SURI), mentored by Dr. Steven Abramowitch. I am continuing my research this Fall semester.
My research project aimed to investigate the viability of developing a pipeline to generate synthetic ultrasound images with the goal of training AI models. We were specifically interested in forming realistic pelvic ultrasound images similar to those of patients diagnosed with Obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) without dyssynergia.
Senior Bioengineering Design
For my senior design project, my team is investigating ways to improve gynecological tools, specifically the speculum. Below are my personal sketches, notes, prototype, as well as a snap shot of a 3D model I made for an addition to our prototype. I have also included a flyer I designed to collect ethnographic data.
Writing
Ocular Biofluid Mechanics
Biotransport Phenomena research paper with four other students. The paper examines how the intracranial pressure changes that astronauts encounter due to microgravity affects both the structural and functional components of the eye, and how the body attempts to self-regulate to reduce the changes in pressure.
Reverse Osmosis Water Desalination
Research paper with two other students on the mechanical process of reverse osmosis and its efficacy and sustainability as a solution to the global water crisis.
Ethical Dilemma: Organ Donation by Incarcerated Individuals
Bioethics paper with three other students on the ethics of Massachusetts bill that would allow inmates to donate organs and bone marrow for reduced sentences.
Flower Microbiome Research Lab - Fall 2021
Over the course of the semester, under the instruction of Sean Gess, my lab group conducted research in hopes of better understanding the relationship between flower UV patterning, microbiomes, and environment.
Our research objective was to characterize the flower microbiome of sunflowers grown around the University of Pittsburg from different environments, natural and urban, and determine any differences between their UV patterns and microbiomes.
We collected flowers from opposite environmental settings and cultured the bacterial communities from their flower petals, which had unique UV reflection patterns. We isolated single bacteria morphologies and identified their genus/species. Then will performed UV tolerance tests on purified bacteria to analyze whether or not the UV reflection pattern of where the bacteria originated correlates with its susceptibility to UV light. By the end of our research, our team and the rest of our lab had collected enough data to compare our results from the collection sites to understand what factors affected the flower microbiome.
Design and Entrepreneurship -
Fall 2020 Design Project
My team and I developed a prototype for the purpose of reducing crowding on campus. We created an enhanced turnstile that combines a physical gate with a data collection system. Students and staff use their ID to "Check in/out" of spaces with the turnstile. Once an area has reached its occupancy limit, the gate will no longer open. The turnstile only allows entrance when a vacancy is made available.
The data collection component of the design is a public database. As people check in and out of rooms, the turnstiles catalog the live population of each space into a public database. The database allows people to know ahead of time what areas are most available to them at any given moment.
The way crowding is currently being addressed is through signs and guards on campus, and though both are effective in their own way, they're either ineffective in enforcing occupancy limits or their goal is to enforce other regulations (i.e wearing a mask).
Our design offers the safety, security, data collection/ analysis, contact tracing, and crowd control. Although the design was intended for University campuses, because of its assets, it could be applicable in settings such as banks and government facilities.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nmunyofu/