From South Florida to rural Arkansas to Panama, England, and Nigeria, some of the undergraduate student researchers at I³R reflect on what has drawn them to the Institute and how they are shaping careers and the future of innovation:
Caleb Carpenter
Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what are you studying, what inspired you to major in your discipline, etc.?
My name is Caleb Carpenter, and I am a junior computer science major from Lakenheath, England. I first discovered my passion for computer science through my high school robotics team, where I saw firsthand how coding and technology can make tasks more seamless and efficient, from small activities like transporting items from one spot to another to more complex issues like virtual reality applications in educational settings. That experience sparked my interest and continues to drive my goal of pursuing a career in computer science after graduation.
What do you do at the Institute?
I work with Dr. Alejandro Martin Gomez on developing and integrating extended reality (XR) applications. Specifically, I help design immersive environments using Unity and work with advanced XR devices to support medical telehealth and anatomy education. Our goal is to create interactive tools that improve access to healthcare options and enhance STEM learning through virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Describe a recent project or experience at the Institute and what you learned.
For the institute’s grand opening, I created a spine model to be displayed in augmented reality that users could interact with to learn about each individual bone in the spine. This was my first project as a part of the Institute and allowed me to gain valuable experience in human anatomy, how objects are overlayed on the real world in XR, and the potential applications of XR in the medical world.
What are your long-term career goals?
I would love to work in the extended reality industry as a software developer. Whether that be medical applications, creation of new headsets, or others, I want to be a part of the growing field of XR.
Gabriel Vang
Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what are you studying, what inspired you to major in your discipline, etc. ?
My name is Gabriel Vang. I’m from Bentonville, AR, though I spent much of my early life in Wisconsin. I’m majoring in Computer Science with minors in Business Management and Math. In many ways, I’m following in my mom’s footsteps because she double majored in Computer Science and a general business degree, but the reason I planted my heels in Computer Science is that I have a deep love of strategy games. Coding gives me a way to channel that love into creating intentional, thoughtful systems. I get a lot of satisfaction seeing a project come together exactly the way I intended or even succeed in unexpected ways.
What do you do at the Institute?
I work with Dr. Alejandro Martin Gomez in the virtual reality labs. My main focus is developing my honors thesis, but I also support projects related to medical augmented reality and improving user experiences in extended reality environments. A lot of my work explores how users interact with immersive technology and how we can enhance those experiences. It’s very rewarding work and can be fun to be a part of, especially when experiencing the world through an entirely different point of view.
Describe a recent project or experience at the Institute and what you learned.
I’ve recently taken on a project that includes occlusion methods in augmented reality. The goal of my study is to determine the most optimal method for aligning virtual objects with physical space. It can be a bit of an uphill battle as the biggest problem I face is that there isn’t a perfect substitute for replicating the physical senses a person feels when interacting with real objects vs simulated objects in virtual reality. It’s a facet of virtual reality that has taught me many functional and even artistic methods a developer needs to consider when developing with people in mind.
What are your long-term career goals?
My long-term goal at I³R is to complete my honors thesis and continue tackling projects with curiosity and dedication. Looking further ahead, I hope to break into virtual reality development in the commercial sector. I’m still figuring out exactly what that path looks like, but I’m excited to keep learning, experimenting, and pushing toward that vision.
Yasiel Velasquez
Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what are you studying, what inspired you to major in your discipline, etc. ?
My name is Yasiel Velasquez, and I am from Panama. I am currently a junior studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. I was inspired to choose this major because I want to help improve people’s health and lifestyles by combining medicine and engineering. Seeking new technologies to make someone’s life better is what drives me.
Who do you work with at the Institute?
I work with Dr. James Abbas and the Neural-enabled Prosthetic Hand (NEPH) team within the Adaptive Neural Systems (ANS) Group at the Institute. As an undergraduate research assistant, I conduct analysis of the data collected from participant sessions, developing codes that can help make that analysis easier, soldering data and electrical lines that will be in the prosthetic hand, and taking notes during experimentation sessions. Being part of both the research team and the Institute has been rewarding because everyone is willing to always help, which makes students feel empowered and poised to grow professionally.
Describe a recent project or experience at the Institute and what you learned.
All of the experiences I have had in the Institute have taught me something new, but if I had to choose one, it would be when I was involved in a new participant’s first session as part of the neural enabled prosthetic hand study. The participant had just received the prosthetic hand and was getting comfortable using it. It was incredible to see how well the participant managed new challenges and tasks; it was as if the person was solving a puzzle that contributed to better using the prosthetic hand. This experience taught me two things: the attitude we bring to each task can help achieve a better outcome and it is impressive how the brain can work quickly and accurately to perform tasks that some might consider impossible with a prosthetic hand.
If you’d like, share your long-term goals.
Following my expected graduation in December 2026, I hope to pursue a master’s degree in neuroscience. My mentors at the Institute have inspired me! I want to work with professionals who are determined to make people’s lives better through science.
Iroughene (Efe) Ojoh
Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what are you studying, what inspired you to major in your discipline, etc.?
My name is Iruoghene, and I’m originally from Nigeria. I’m currently pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. My interest in this field stems from a childhood medical experience I had and inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare innovation ever since. I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of medicine and technology, and biomedical engineering allows me to explore both while working on solutions that improve lives.
Who do you work with at the Institute? What do you do?
At the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R), I work with a team focused on advanced rehabilitation technologies, particularly involving prosthetics. I have dedicated mentors including Dr. James Abbas, Dr. Ranu Jung, Dr. Justin Asbee, Dr. Sathyakumar S Kuntaegowdanahalli, and doctoral fellow Aliyah Shell. My role includes assisting with data analysis, prototyping support, and developing VR environments that help test and simulate rehabilitation scenarios. I also participate in collaborative meetings where we discuss research goals, user needs, and ways to improve device functionality.
Describe a recent project or experience at the Institute and what you learned.
Recently, I worked on preparing a virtual reality interface that integrates with a prosthetic prototype for rehabilitation training. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of how user-centered design is crucial in developing assistive technologies. I also improved my skills in convergence research and technical tools like Unity and Python for simulation and data integration.
Please share your long-term goals.
My long-term goal is to pursue a career in the biomedical device industry, where I can contribute to the design and development of prosthetics and diagnostic tools. Eventually, I hope to bridge my engineering background with clinical practice by attending medical school, focusing on patient care and innovation.
Leen Samman
Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what are you studying, what inspired you to major in your discipline, etc.?
My name is Leen Samman. I am a rising senior from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and I am studying biology and psychology with a minor in global studies. I took AP Psychology in high school and was particularly interested in the neuroscience unit; however, I chose a double major in biology and psychology to combine these interests. I minored in global studies after doing Model United Nations because I enjoyed the policy-making process and learning about global systems and it could inform some of my work to know how policies inform research, and vice versa. It’s also nice to have a variety of classes, so I’m never bored.
Who do you work with at the Institute? What do you do?
I work with Dr. Meredith Adkins. I met Dr. Adkins when she came and spoke at the Honors College Forum “Science Communicatons.” She explained to us her path from diplomacy to her research in policy and community development at I³R. She discussed how interdisciplinary the work done at I³R was, and I found her involvement in the institution, her work, and the institution’s work as a whole very interesting. I wanted to learn more about it before I graduated and how it differed from the traditional research I conducted for my honors thesis. I connected with Dr. Adkins through my honors thesis topic, which is looking at the effect of high-protein diets on women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Currently, I am working on two projects: mapping birthing hospitals and clinics that offer maternal healthcare in Arkansas as part of a broad-scale project aimed at reducing severe obstetric complications and summarizing qualitative data from an assessment evaluating the efficacy of a program that combines cash transfers with an educational curriculum on the psychosocial and socioeconomic well-being of low-income Cherokee mothers.
Describe a recent project or experience at the Institute and what you learned.
I have enjoyed the community outreach and analysis aspects of my work with Dr. Adkins. I’ve learned so much about the various health disparities and inconsistent levels of care for rural and Indigenous patient populations. This knowledge has influenced the type of work I aspire to do in my future career as a physician: advocacy, care, and problem-solving grounded in-patient realities.
Please share your long-term goals.
In the future, I hope to not only be a practicing physician but also a medical journalist, making information accessible to the public. I also want to be involved in more translational research in medical school and beyond. Overall, I want whatever I do to be sustainable for myself and to have a meaningful impact on others.
Dustin Durham
Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what are you studying, what inspired you to major in your discipline, etc.?
My name is Dustin Durham and I am from Arkansas. I have lived all over the state, but the place I call home is a little town called Horseshoe Bend, a town of fewer than 500 people. I recently moved to Fayetteville a year ago to complete my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with aerospace focus. The reason I chose to be a mechanical engineer is because I have always loved working with my hands, solving complicated problems, finding ways to do something more efficiently, and a desire to make the world a better place. With this degree, I will develop the skills necessary to create solutions to ‘wicked problems’ as we say at the Institute!
Who do you work with at the Institute? What do you do?
I work closely with Prototype and Fabrication Manager Jeff Jouett as his right-hand support, assisting with tasks both large and small. I help set up and operate a wide range of equipment, including the Wazer Waterjet Cutter, Laguna Laser Cutters, Formlabs 3+ Resin Printers, and smaller tools like welders, belt sanders, and injection molders. I create CAD models for researcher prototypes and help keep the shop running smoothly and efficiently. Through this role, I’ve gained valuable hands-on experience with a variety of machines, providing me with a strong foundation for my professional career. I have a solid understanding of CNC machine programming and operation, I can design and execute 3D prints as needed, and I’m proficient in using many other tools essential to prototype development.
Describe a recent project or experience at the Institute and what you learned.
Our most recent project involved prototyping a component for a medical company using the Formlabs 3B+ Resin Printer. Through this process, I learned firsthand how challenging it can be to post-process extremely small parts. Tasks like removing the part from the build plate, trimming support structures, rinsing in IPA, and curing in the furnace become much more delicate when the object is only a quarter inch in size. The brittleness and scale make it easy to break and difficult to handle with standard tools. I initially underestimated the complexity of working at such a small scale, but this experience has taught me to be more precise, patient, and creative in finding solutions.
Please share your long-term goals.
As I look toward the future, my goal is to complete my bachelor’s degree and pursue graduate studies—ideally at the University of Arkansas and potentially within the Institute. I plan to build on the hands-on experience I’ve gained to eventually become a lead engineer at a major organization like Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, or NASA.
To be honest, growing up, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Over time, I realized that one of the best ways to reach that goal would be to become a person who builds and repairs spacecraft. That’s what inspired me to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace focus. After (hopefully) achieving my dream of traveling to space, I hope to start my own company dedicated to designing original, creative, and innovative inventions that could make a real impact on the world.
Ella Meek
Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what are you studying, what inspired you to major in your discipline, etc.
I’m Ella Meek, and I’m from South Florida. I’m currently studying biomedical engineering at Northwestern University. You always hear that cliché story about how engineers were kids who loved to take things apart and put them back together again. That is not my story. In eighth grade, I completed a project on what I wanted to be when I was older. At the time, all I knew was that I wanted to make the best prostheses ever created. To make that happen, I needed to become an engineer.
Who do you work with at the Institute? What do you do?
At the Institute, I am a summer intern and involved in the Neural Enabled Prosthetic Hand (NEPH) project under the supervision of Dr. Sathyakumar Kuntaegowdanahalli and Dr. Justin Asbee. I also work alongside other undergraduate and graduate students in the Adaptive Neural Systems Group. My main responsibilities involve data analysis and assisting with the ongoing clinical trial.
Describe a recent project or experience at the Institute and what you learned.
Recently, I’ve been working on a few individual projects at the Institute. During the clinical trial, participants are asked to use their prosthetic hand to pick up a plastic squeeze bottle and then use it to fill a graduated cylinder with water. I’m developing a sensor to detect when the bottle is put down or slips. I’m also working toward automating the detection of specific features in the data. Ideally, this will improve data collection for the clinical trial. Through this work, under the mentorship of members at the Institute, I have learned the importance of user-centered design and improved my data visualization skills.
Please share your long-term goals.
I want to immerse myself more into prosthetics research and learn the skills necessary for me to design upper extremity bionic prostheses. I see a Ph.D. in my future. I want to meaningfully impact those in the limb difference community.