STEM STORIES
Student Profile
October 2015
today’s dreams, tomorrow’s reality
Derek Bradley, a senior biology major with a minor in chemistry,
has his mind set on the future. With many of college students
still trying to figure out what classes they will be taking next semester, Bradley is thinking far ahead of his peers, having already
been accepted to medical school for the fall 2016 semester at
Des Moines University. He is waiting on decisions from the University of Iowa, Creighton University and Mayo Medical School
before making his final decision as to where to further his education next fall. For Bradley, thinking big and thinking about
the future are nothing new, which is what attracted him to his
undergraduate research several years ago.
“I have been conducting my research with the physics department for almost three years now with Dr. Tim Kidd,” stated Bradley. “I sought out the opportunity to work with Dr. Kidd and owe
Derek Bradley, a senior biology major with a minor in
chemistry, will graduate in May and attend med school
this fall to puruse a career as a doctor.
him a lot for the opportunity to do research as an undergrad.
We have been researching how to turn cellulose into a microscopic scaffold, which is a new type of material consisting of a bunch
of tiny fibers bound together.” Cellulose is a long linked chain of sugar molecules naturlaly found in plants. In nature, cellulose
provides plant cell walls with their structure. The microscopic scaffolds are extremely lightweight, consisting of nearly 90-95% air
making them very versatile; so what Bradley and Dr. Kidd are researching is the applications that this new material, created from
cellulose, has in the world around us.
“There is very little research on this so we are figuring out how the process works and discovering new applications for it,” said
Bradley. “It’s a relatively new discovery so we’re trying different ways of altering the scaffolding to create desired properties.” Almost any chemical or material can be added to the composition of the microscopic scaffold and the scaffold remains lightweight,
allowing for a wide vareity of applications for this new material.
“Magnetic properties could be added to the scaffolding so that the new material could be used in sensors in magnetic fields,” described Bradley. “Or the scaffolding could be treated to be able to soak up oil without soaking up water, making the new material
extremely useful in cleaning up oil spills in the ocean.” These are just a handful of the uses that
this new material could be used for. However, Bradley is most excited for its potential uses in
“My research professor
taught me how to think
scientifically and to get
outside of what’s known
in a textbook in order to
be on the front edge
of research.”
the medical field.
The scaffolding can be treated with a chemical to give the new material antibacterial properties, so theoretically, it could be used as a gauze to soak up blood but also kill bacteria and
prevent infection. In addition, the scaffolding is renewable because it is made from cellulose,
so again, theoretically, the gauze could be treated with properties to allow it to be biodegradable. Other professors and researchers have also found that the scaffolding can be given
properties to allow tissue and skin to grow on it.
“My research professor and
I have thought, theoretically, that because all three of
these uses are possible: the
scaffold can be given antibacterial properties, biodegradable properties and can allow
tissue and skin growth on top
of it, that why can’t all of these
properties be given to the
same scaffolding and the new
Derek (back row, fourth from the right) and 15
other students from across the country worked
in Costa Rica in March 2015, where they provided free healthcare to local refugees
material be used to improve
the success of skin grafts?”
Questioned Bradley. Combining these three properties into
one microscopic scaffold could allow doctors performing a skin graft to place the material underneath the new skin. The material, being antibacterial in nature, would prevent infection, eventually biodegrade and would give the new skin something to grab
onto and attach to.
“Our hope in theorizing this application is that this method would increase the success
rate of skin graft procedures.” Stated Bradley. As he finished explaining the microscopic
scaffolding and all of its applications, Bradley was quick to interject thanks to one of
his professors.
Story by Daniel Vorwerk
UNI STEM Graduate Assistant,
Communications
vorwerkd@uni.edu
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“My research professor has been the most influential instructor at UNI,” declared Bradley. “He taught me how to think scientifically and to get outside of what’s known in a
textbook in order to be on the front edge of research and coming up with new ideas.
That’s a big part in discovering new things for the future and progressing in what we
know about medicine.”
Even though Bradley is excited for the future, both as a medical student next fall and
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for the advancements to come in the medical sciences, he is still quick to give credit
where credit is due; thanking his professors for the opportunities he has been afforded
along the way.
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Today’s Dreams, Tomorrow’s Reality