ISE student Julia Griffin presents her haptic feedback research at State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research Symposium

Retinal disease is the leading cause of new onset blindness that affects 180 million people worldwide. To combat this problem, retinal surgeons are looking for the next generation of surgical devices to help make retinal microsurgery safer and more accurate. ISE senior Julia Griffin, under the guidance of ISE professor CS Nam, is working on that next generation haptic device today.

Recently, Griffin presented her research at the State of North Carolina’s Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS). High Point University hosted the event which featured selected undergraduate students from across North Carolina.”It was exciting to talk to people about the research I had been doing for eight months,” confided Griffin. “Everyone provided insight and new ideas. They also raised other questions for exploration in the future.”

Griffin’s entry entitled, The Roles of Haptic Feedback in Retinal Microsurgery Systems: A Meta Analysis, demonstrated how haptic devices will provide more information to the surgeon during the procedure. Instead of just visual information, the haptic device will give tactile feedback as well. “It will make retinal microsurgery safer and more accurate,” stressed Griffin.

Griffin’s research is part of Dr. Nam’s grant funded by the National Science Foundation. To her credit, she has submitted her paper for publication.

What is the SNCURCS?

The colleges and universities in North Carolina gather each year to host a research and creative works symposium. SNCURCS showcases NC undergraduate student research in all fields. It’s a forum to share their work through posters, presentations, performances and works of art. Sophomores are eligible for the Barthalmus Research Grant to support ongoing undergraduate research.

SNCURCS allows students to meet their fellow artists and researchers from across the state. Students also have the ability to browse their graduate school options at a Recruiters’ Fair.