Undergrad's Research Journey from Colombia to NJIT Sparks Goldwater Success

Danna Valentina Sanchez Hernandez '25 took a big leap leaving her home country of Colombia to pursue her undergrad studies in the U.S., but that journey is paying off at NJIT - her research exploring the fluid dynamics and locomotion of marine life has recently led to a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.

This year's Goldwater class is comprised of just 438 scholars from across the U.S.

"It's exciting to receive such recognition because I see it as an acknowledgment of my work as a young researcher," said Hernandez, a biomedical engineering major originally from Ibagué, Colombia. "I'm appreciative because the scholarship will support me as I complete my studies at NJIT, and it's reaffirmed my passion for scientific research."

Hernandez's interest in the biomedical field began from an early age through encouragement from her parents who are both physicians. She'd later discovered a passion for engineering and animal rehabilitation research at the Universidad CES's Biomedical Engineering Department in Medellin, which allowed her to enroll in college-level courses while in high school.

"These experiences inspired me to pursue biomedical engineering with a focus on animal biomechanical devices. Knowing that the field of biomedical science is applied to animals was a huge motivation for me, and something my mother encouraged by pushing me to learn more," said Hernandez. "Ever since I was young, I've dreamt about pursuing studies in the U.S. because of the cutting-edge progress in research and development, and I decided on NJIT because its Biomedical Engineering Program is ABET-accredited."

When the opportunity finally came, she was ready to take it. She'd already traveled to the U.K. for immersive English studies and completed Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth's zoology program ahead of arriving at NJIT. Though, there were challenges adapting to life abroad.

"Living abroad is difficult. I encountered cultural shocks and language barriers being misinterpreted by peers," recalled Hernandez. "My upbringing taught me about being resilient and staying true to my roots … utilizing the resources that are available to me and empowering those around me helped me overcome these everyday challenges."

By her sophomore year, Hernandez settled in her new surroundings and started to see her research goals realized at the Fluid Locomotion Laboratory of Associate Biology Professor Brooke Flammang - a place she now fondly describes as a "research home."

"While looking for research opportunities that focused on animal biomechanics in the biomedical field, I soon found professor Flammang's lab. … After my first interactions with her, I felt I'd found an inspiring mentor and my research home."

There, Hernandez began several research projects developing novel devices inspired by nature - including helping to develop electronic marine animal tags used in conservation efforts that mimic the suction capabilities of remora disks, which enable the fish to hitchhike on whales and other larger hosts at great speeds.

Her latest research exploring shark hydrodynamics is now also earning plaudits. While the apex predators are famed for living and hunting by themselves, Hernandez has been investigating the complex dynamics involved in an understudied aspect of shark life - their schooling behavior.

"Danna is a brilliant member of our team," said Flammang. "She has not only been successful in accomplishing a tremendous amount of research in the short time since she joined the lab, she was able to present it at a national meeting for the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology this past January. Danna truly sets the bar for undergraduate researchers."

Hernandez has applied computational modeling of the fluid interactions that occur among blacktip shark schools (Carcharhinus limbatus) - quantifying factors such as drag reduction, velocity and pressure gradients - to learn more about the hydrodynamic advantage they gain while traveling together.

"Sharks have a streamlined body and show remarkable agility and force, and some species like the blacktip shark have schooling behavior that may help them swim more energy efficiently while they migrate long distances to warmer waters," said Hernandez, whose research backed by the NSF-funded Garden State LSAMP program and co-advised by biomedical engineering professor Max Roman, recently captured NJIT's Dana Knox Research Showcase competition's first prize for undergraduates.

"Swimming in schools increases the velocity of the sharks by 30%, which in turn decreases the pressure drag that is experienced," added Hernandez. "This study will be followed up by analyzing the different formations of schooling sharks to learn which may give them the greatest swimming efficiency."

Ultimately, the research could lead to bioinspired underwater technologies that emulate the efficient swimming strategies Hernandez has discovered in blacktip shark schools.

For now, the incredible success Hernandez has achieved is momentum she plans to build upon as she completes her undergraduate degree and pursues her Ph.D., studying animal biomechanics with applications in veterinary medicine.

"It's reinforced my belief that you can always create your path," said Hernandez. "Migrating here with English as a second language, making the most of the opportunity to study in a renowned biomedical engineering program and becoming a novel researcher is something I'll draw from. … It motivates me to continue thinking and acting in such a way that every day can be a great day."

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