Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
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Analysis of The Charged Track Multiplicity of Neutrinos in The ProtoDUNE-ND Experiment
No full textThe ProtoDUNE-ND (aka “2x2”) experiment is a prototype of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) that is designed to study properties of neutrinos and their interactions. The goal of DUNE is to uncover the properties of neutrinos to understand the mystery of matter-dominance of the universe. The ProtoDUNE-ND experiment is a smaller scale prototype of the DUNE near detector. We are working on finding the charged track multiplicity of the neutrinos in ProtoDUNE-ND. Through data produced in Monte Carlo simulations, we aim to determine the nature of the data produced by the ProtoDUNE-ND
Determining the Effect of Obesity on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) in a Mouse Model
No full textPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a sex-biased disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling, increased resistance to blood flow through vasculature, and right heart failure. This project aimed to determine the relationship between PAH and obesity, a comorbidity of PAH, on the lung phenotype of a murine model. This model displays both stages of PAH: pulmonary arterial thickening, and obliteration of small to medium pulmonary vessels, recapitulating the human disease. To generate the mouse model of PAH and obesity, genotypically selected intersectin-1 knockdown (KOITSN+/-) mice were subjected to a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, with weights being measured once every week. Additionally, lipoplexes/EHITSN- DNA (100μg EHITSN-DNA per injection), 8 nmoles liposomes/1 μg myc-EHITSN DNA were delivered to murine lungs through retro-orbital injections every 48 hours for 21 days. The lungs were excised, set in 4% paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned 5 μm thick. I have analyzed 3 obese and 3 non-obese male mice with PAH, looking for lung tissue differences. Micrographs were taken using 20x and 40x objectives to visualize PAH-affected lesions and vessels. The data found shows that obesity worsens the outcome of PAH by increasing the thickness of muscularized vessels and the frequency of pulmonary lesions
Finite Element Analysis of Groove Depth and Failure Risk in Climbing Carabiners
No full textClimbing carabiners are critical safety tools in mountaineering, yet their failure due to wear and fatigue over time remains a fatal cause of climbing-related accidents. Manufacturer ratings are based on uniaxial tensile tests of new carabiners to failure, yet carabiners may develop grooves over time that cause failure under repeated loading in real-world scenarios. The structural integrity of grooved carabiners is difficult to assess and current safety standards do not account for this wear, leaving climbers to subjectively determine the threshold for equipment retirement. This study investigates the relationship between groove depth and carabiner strength using Finite Element Modeling (FEM), simulating stress-strain behavior under forces equivalent to realistic lead-climbing falls. Detailed carabiner models with varying groove depths identify the critical groove depths beyond which structural integrity is in jeopardy. We find that beyond a groove depth of xxx, carabiners are unable to withstand typical fall forces. This study aims to establish guidelines for retiring worn carabiners, providing climbers and manufacturers with actionable data and failure points to enhance safety standards. Bridging this gap between laboratory testing and real-world usage will contribute to reducing climbing- related accidents caused by equipment failure
Save the Bees
No full textArt Illustration by Naomi Nakajima 2017https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/homepage/1072/thumbnail.jp
ICML 2025 winners
No full textIMSA seniors Neel Shanbhag ’26 and Laksh Patel ’26 presented their AI research at the ICML 2025 conference in Vancouver, Canada, earning the Best Poster for Data in Generative Models Award. They stood out as some of the youngest presenters at the international event.https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/homepage/1077/thumbnail.jp
Race Talks
No full textRace Talks Series Overview
Origins & Goal: Launched in the second semester of FY 23–24 in response to student protests, the Race Talks series aimed to bring together students, staff, and faculty to discuss racial bias at IMSA and develop concrete tools for addressing it. Facilitated by Marcus Sibley—a nationally recognized speaker, activist, and spoken-word artist—the initial two-part series drew over 35 attendees per session (students, peers, and staff), with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Expanded Series & Participation: Building on this success, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, invited Marcus Sibley back for a four-part series tailored to deepen the conversation. Held in IN2 from 7–9 PM on school days, each session included dinner and typically drew 60–75 students, many of whom returned for multiple meetings—creating a sense of continuity and trust. Attendance occasionally included students required to attend through the bias reporting process.https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/racetalks/1000/thumbnail.jp
Recipient of the 2025 Alumni Trailblazer Award
No full textKatlyn Gao is the Co-Founder and CEO of League One Volleyball (LOVB), the largest youth volleyball brand in the U.S. and home to a new professional league led by Olympic medalists from Team USA. Under her leadership, LOVB is redefining the sport across youth, college, and professional levels—expanding opportunities for women and pioneering one of the most innovative models in professional athletics. She brings deep consumer brand and strategy expertise from leadership roles at Lululemon, Sephora, and Coach, as well as Bain and Harvard Business School. Recognized as a trailblazer in modern sports leagues, Katlyn has attracted support from investors such as Atwater Capital, Left Lane, Ares Management, Billie Jean King, Kevin Durant, and Chelsea Handler. Her story has been featured by NPR, Sports Illustrated, Bloomberg, and Northwestern Magazine, and she has spoken at leading forums including the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Her work offers a blueprint for integrating sports, business, and community to drive opportunity, representation, and innovation
Creating a Culture of Philanthropy with the IMSA Community
No full textWhat motivates someone to donate to a cause? Why is philanthropy important at IMSA? What *is* the IMSA Fund, anyway?
Join us for a brief overview of the IMSA Fund and what we do, then share your experience and expertise to brainstorm new ways to engage students, faculty & staff, alumni, and the community around us. Share how IMSA inspires you and inspire others to support IMSA’s mission