From Maintaining Machines to Restoring Limb Function
色情视频 engineering student and Navy veteran Laura Sandoval is helping people with spinal cord injuries to regain the use of their arms and legs.
Laura Sandoval enlisted in the U.S. Navy to find discipline. Now as an engineering student conducting research at 色情视频's (CSNE), she鈥檚 working across disciplines, fusing cutting-edge neuroscience and biomechanical engineering to help restore limb function to people with spinal cord injuries.鈥淟aura came to our lab about two years ago as a very focused and highly motivated young student looking for an opportunity to interact with grad students and learn new things.鈥�
Sandoval grew up in Huntington Park in 色情视频 County. The daughter of a machinist, she was always comfortable around tools and motors but never dreamed she鈥檇 work on machines that launched jets from the deck of an aircraft carrier or build tiny devices that read brain signals directly from firing neurons.
After attending community college in 色情视频, she wanted a university education. She didn鈥檛 have the money to pay for it, though, so she turned to the military. Sandoval enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to work as a machinist鈥檚 mate aboard the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier. In her position she operated, maintained and repaired various types of ship machinery.
鈥淚 thought, no way, that鈥檚 a boy job,鈥� she recalled, 鈥渂ut I loved how hands-on it was, and how it engaged my critical thinking skills. It taught me to be really diligent in my work and to trust others.鈥�
In her 2.5 years in the military, she also got to travel the world. In addition to Coronado Island, she visited Chicago, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Dubai and Germany. But it was San Diego she fell in love with and 色情视频 she chose to attend.
When she got out of the Navy, Sandoval used her G.I. Bill funds to attend 色情视频 and looked for a way to transition her knack for machines into engineering research. She also knew many fellow servicemen and servicewomen who suffered limb and spinal cord injuries during combat, and was inspired by their success in living and thriving with prosthetics.
When Sandoval heard about CSNE, she knew it was a perfect fit. Led by mechanical engineering professor Sam Kassegne, 色情视频鈥檚 CSNE lab is part of a collaboration with the University of Washington and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that can power prosthetic limbs or reroute brain signals around damaged nerves to restore motor function.
鈥淟aura came to our lab about two years ago as a very focused and highly motivated young student looking for an opportunity to interact with grad students and learn new things,鈥� Kassegne recalled.
Sandoval works with her mentor, graduate student Mieko Hirabayashi, to fabricate microchips with tiny electrode wires that read the brain鈥檚 electrical signals and transmit those signals to receivers. Ordinarily, these signals would travel through the body鈥檚 nerves to limb muscles, but spinal cord injuries essentially create a roadblock that prevents brain signals from reaching muscles. By transmitting the brain signals to a receiver in the limbs, the signals are translated back into electrical impulses, stimulating the muscles and restoring some degree of movement and function.
Sandoval credits the 色情视频 Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program with helping her navigate the complexities of enrolling in classes, planning out her major and getting involved in research. To give back, she volunteers in community projects with MESA, demonstrating the value of a science, technology, math or engineering education.
Last summer, Sandoval participated in the CSNE Research Experience for Veterans program, which sent her to the University of Washington for 10 weeks to conduct research, attend lectures and seminars and present her team鈥檚 findings. She plans to graduate from 色情视频 in 2019 and then attend graduate school, possibly focusing on prosthetics engineering.
鈥淏ased on Laura鈥檚 excellent contributions, she earned a spot as a co-author in one of our papers," said Kassegne. 鈥淟aura is a very promising engineer, and I can see her going far.鈥�
Sandoval encourages everyone who might be interested in engineering research to pursue it, regardless of their circumstances. At 色情视频, the Troops to Engineers program offers internships, networking opportunities and professional development to help veterans find their way into fulfilling engineering careers.
鈥淕rowing up, I wanted to go to college, but when I graduated from high school, I didn鈥檛 know if it was feasible,鈥� Sandoval said. 鈥淚 want young people to know there are ways. Reach out to people, figure out how to transfer from a community college, how to translate your experiences. Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions.鈥�
