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• UBC Student Katelin Fung Wins First Place at Western's Undergraduate Summer Research Three-Minute Presentation Competition

UBC Student Katelin Fung Wins First Place at Western's Undergraduate Summer Research Three-Minute Presentation Competition

Katelin Fung, a fourth-year electrical engineering student at the University of British Columbia won the Undergraduate Summer Research Three-Minute Presentation (3MT) Competition and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship valued at $15,000.

Katelin Fung, a Frugal Biomedical Innovations Summer Research student, has won first place at the Undergraduate Summer Research Three-Minute Presentation (3MT) Competition at Western University. This competition challenges students to distill their research into a compelling and concise three-minute presentation and highlights exceptional research communication skills. 

A fourth-year electrical engineering student at the University of British Columbia, Fung presented her work under the guidance of Dr. Michael Rieder. Her Non-Invasive Blood Count Sensor project aims to revolutionize blood testing by eliminating the need for painful needles and enabling continuous blood count monitoring. 

In her presentation, Fung addressed the discomfort associated with traditional blood draws, especially for children, and the delays in obtaining test results. “Conventional blood counts require blood draws, which are painful, especially in children,” she explained. “It’s like a photo taken with film photography. There’s a delay between when you take the photo and when you see the result. We don’t want to be stuck in the past restricted to film photography.” 

Fung and her team are developing a poke-less alternative, inspired by the tiny blood vessels located under the nail bed, known as capillaries. She described her innovation with excitement: “In my research, I’ve been working on optimizing the visibility of blood cells using a low-cost microscope. With green light and a 45-degree angled light, I was able to see blood flowing through the capillaries in my finger.” This breakthrough opens the door to continuous blood count monitoring, a tool that could prove especially valuable in rural or remote settings without laboratory access. 

Beyond the technical details, Fung highlighted the broader impact of her work. “I can imagine a world where kids no longer need to get poked for routine blood counts,” she shared during her winning presentation. 

Reflecting on her victory, Fung expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. “I am honoured to have placed 1st in the 3-minute thesis competition. It was an excellent opportunity to practice my research communication skills while sharing my research with the community.” 

The competition wasn’t just about winning for Fung—it was also an invaluable learning experience. “I met other students who have been conducting research this summer. We discussed our projects, and it was wonderful to learn about the wide range of research being done,” she said. 

Her experience at the competition was enriched by the mentorship and support she received. “I am thankful for the mentorship from Dr. Micheal Rieder, Ehshan Kamrani, Abdelbaset  Elzagallaai, professor David Holdsworth, and professor Maria Drangova. Without their guidance, I wouldn’t have achieved what I did.” 

In addition to winning the 3MT competition, Fung was awarded an Ontario Graduate Scholarship valued at $15,000, which will further support her academic and research journey. 

Fung’s participation in the Frugal Biomedical Innovations Program, which focuses on creating low-cost medical technologies for underserved populations, has been particularly meaningful for her. “The program aligns with my interests in engineering and medicine,” she said. “I came all the way to London from Vancouver because I was interested in developing biomedical innovations for low-resource settings.” 

As Fung continues her research, her goal is clear: to advance technology that has the potential to improve the lives of patients worldwide. “Our next steps are to integrate an AI detection system and conduct clinical investigations for validation,” she noted, signalling the promising future of her work. 

With her passion for biomedical innovation and her commitment to impactful research, Katelin Fung is set to make significant strides in the field. Her success at the 3MT competition is just the beginning of her journey toward creating medical solutions that are accessible and affordable for all.