Meet BE STAR Scholar Ashauntee! Ashauntee was a BE STARS scholar visiting from the University of Texas at Austin. This summer, Ashauntee worked in the Biomechanics of Growth and Remodeling (BG&R) Lab under the guidance of Dr. Kristin Miller, where she was studying and investigating uterine smooth muscle cell mechanosensitivity using polyacrylamide hydrogels. The goal is to understand how extracellular matrix stiffness influences contractility, particularly in the context of postpartum hemorrhage and advanced maternal age. She had the opportunity to present her findings at the Summer Platform for Undergraduate Research (SPUR), highlighting the significant progress she made throughout the summer!
