Under the guidance of Dr. Machado, the co-op student will contribute to a multidisciplinary project focused on the characterization and disruption of bacterial biofilms using Nano-NaCl-based interventions. The project integrates biofilm mechanics, chemical composition, and the analysis microbial persistence to support the development of novel materials for biofilm control with potential translational relevance to medical device-related infections.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop a working understanding of biofilm structure, mechanical properties, and persister cell biology.
- Perform atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements to quantify biofilm mechanical properties, including stiffness, adhesion, and viscoelastic behavior.
- Conduct total organic carbon (TOC) analysis and targeted chemical assays to characterize biofilm matrix composition (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, and extracellular DNA).
- Support development and optimization of fluorescence microscopy-based persister cell assays
- Analyze experimental data and contribute to the interpretation of relationships between biofilm composition, mechanical integrity, and persister cell prevalence.
- Document experimental procedures, protocols, and results, including preparation of figures, lab reports, and technical summaries.
Specialized Skills and Learning Opportunities:
- Exposure to advanced analytical and characterization methods including AFM, fluorescence microscopy, and biochemical assays relevant to material biofilm interactions.
- Experience working at the interface of biomedical engineering, microbiology, and materials science.
- Development of skills in experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of complex biological–mechanical systems.
- Training in documentation practices aligned with engineering research and early-stage technology development.
