Since September 2019, I have been working on a biomedical sampling project with the goal of ensuring tamper-proof testing for at-home melatonin concentration analysis. This project is a collaboration between the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory. I have been involved in all aspects of the device, including creating the hardware, choosing and testing the electronic circuitry, developing sensors, designing printed circuit boards (PCB), and writing code for the device. Among many design tasks, I developed a way to integrate a real time clock, fit the device to geometric constraints, and implemented dot-matrix displays to communicate with the end user.
Since this is a device meant for production and commercialization, there are a lot of changes that periodically occur in the device and peripheral work that has to support the device’s entry into the market. I have been fortunate to witness and participate in all components of the DLMO Device’s evolution. When I initially joined this group, I spent a lot of time learning the protocols that are regularly performed in relation to DLMO testing in order to understand the role of the technician and the features that would need to be implemented in the device. This led to my inclusion as a co-inventor of the device. More recently, I have written grant applications for VentureWell’s E-Team program, engaged with external consultants regarding the best design and commercialization processes, located potential customers, and analyzed the research and clinical markets through NSF I-Corps.