This week was filled with meaningful preparation, collaboration, and exciting previews of what’s ahead. Although the Internship Showcase is officially happening next week, we had a pre-showcase poster session that allowed us to present our work, engage with visitors, and receive insightful feedback. I enjoyed explaining our project, especially the goals and impact of our Autoclave Water Conservation & Heat Mitigation system. It was a valuable rehearsal that boosted our confidence ahead of the big day.

To mark this milestone, we received our official 2025 SEED Intern t-shirts, which made the entire experience feel even more real and united. A professional photographer visited us for a group photo session, capturing both the full intern cohort and our individual project teams. It was a joyful moment and a reminder of the strong community we’re building here.

On the technical side, our autoclave group worked on improving thermal efficiency by gluing the fins onto the pipes, strengthening our design’s ability to dissipate heat more effectively. It was hands-on, precise, and deeply satisfying to see the progress up close.

We also finalized and printed our project posters ahead of the upcoming showcase. The entire process summarizing our goals, methods, and findings visually helped us reflect on our journey and the challenges we’ve overcome.

To end the week, we had the privilege of meeting Chevron, one of the major sponsors of this program. We shared our project ideas and received encouraging feedback. It was inspiring to connect with interns from other institutions and see how widespread the impact of this internship truly is.

I’m looking forward to the full showcase next week, and I’m proud of the work our team has done so far!

---

---

This week brought steady progress and new experiences in both of my internship projects: Eggcellent Imposter and Drain Saver. Our focus shifted toward shaping physical components and integrating them into functional systems.

Eggcellent Imposter: Client Visit and Live Testing

This week, our team had the opportunity to present our progress to our client during a classroom visit. It was a valuable moment to receive direct feedback and discuss the direction of the project.

After our presentation, we regrouped to reflect on the feedback and brainstorm next steps for improving the design.

Later in the week, we went to the Houston Zoo to conduct live testing of the egg prototype with chickens. We also gathered behavioral data and environmental insights relevant to our design.

The testing experience gave us a clearer picture of how the chickens respond to the egg device in a real-world setting.

Drain Saver: High-Fidelity Prototype and Performance Data

Our team made major strides on the Drain Saver project by installing a high-fidelity prototype on the condensate pipe. This setup allowed us to gather realistic data and observe system behavior in near-final conditions.

With the setup in place, we began running tests to measure the system’s effectiveness in reducing pipe temperature.

The data validated our design choices and guided us on fine-tuning the setup for better performance.

Weekend Wonders: Museum and Henna Time

To unwind after a productive week, we visited the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, where we explored art, culture, and history together. The vibrant exhibits and shared stories made for a fun and inspiring experience.

Another highlight was when I got to draw henna tattoos for my friends, a personal skill I enjoy sharing. It was a great way to bond and showcase part of my creative background.

My friends loved the henna designs, and I was proud to bring a bit of my culture to the group.

Weekly Reflection

This week emphasized the value of external feedback, real-world testing, and team coordination. From client visits and chicken coop experiments to data collection and museum adventures, every moment added depth to my internship journey. Sharing my henna art reminded me how creativity connects us. Looking forward to more discoveries ahead!

This week brought steady progress and new experiences in both of my internship projects: Eggcellent Imposter and Drain Saver. Our focus shifted toward building physical components and testing them in realistic conditions.

Eggcellent Imposter: Shaping, Polishing, and Housing the System

In our egg project, I continued polishing the 3D-printed egg shells to improve their finish and fit. Making sure the shells look realistic and smooth enough to resemble actual eggs has been both fun and challenging.

Alongside polishing, I designed and 3D-printed a compact case to hold multiple eggs in place securely. This structure will help in organizing and stabilizing our system during field testing.

To improve internal hardware fit, I also milled a custom PCB based on our final circuit design. This allowed the circuit to sit neatly inside the egg a critical step in making our device both compact and functional.

After completing the integration of the internal electronics we moved on to egg shell polishing and designing the protective case.

Drain Saver: Medium-Fidelity Prototype in Action

For the Drain Saver project, our team created a medium-fidelity prototype that reflects the updated design for cooling autoclave condensate. We tested it by attaching it directly to a hot condensate pipe, and began monitoring its behavior in real conditions.

After days of hands-on building and testing in the lab, we wrapped up the week with a fun and colorful celebration outside the workspace.

A Sparkling Break: Fireworks Experience

After a full week of prototyping and testing, we had a chance to relax and attend a fireworks show — a bright and colorful end to a productive week. It was a great moment of bonding with fellow interns and a reminder to celebrate progress both big and small.

This week reminded me how hands-on work brings design ideas to life. Whether it was polishing egg shells, milling PCBs, building cases, or testing prototypes, each activity taught me something new about engineering in action. I’m excited to continue refining and testing these systems next week!

It’s hard to believe that two weeks have already passed in the SEED internship program here at Rice University. While the first week was about settling in and getting introduced to our projects, the second week dove deep into hands-on engineering, real-world problem-solving, and lots of trial and error the kind that truly sharpens our skills.

Egg Project: Designing, Debugging, and Progressing

My team and I have been focused on designing the Egg Brooding & Monitoring System a conservation device meant to mimic and monitor the conditions of endangered Attwater Prairie Chicken eggs. This week, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work on designing the internal circuit that goes inside the egg.

 

One of the major blockers we faced was getting the Nicla Sense ME board to run the code properly. The libraries weren’t working at first, which slowed us down. We explored other libraries, tested different combinations, and finally managed to fix the code .

 

We also ran into Bluetooth connectivity issues between the egg and our substation. Initially, we were using an ESP32, but the signal was unreliable. After much testing, we decided to switch to a Raspberry Pi, which significantly improved our Wi-Fi stability between the substation and the client dashboard.

Each step this week required persistence, adaptability, and collaboration. We now have a functioning internal circuit, improved communication, and a refined architecture ready for testing.

Autoclave Project: Diagnosing and Ideating

We also made significant strides on our Autoclave Water Conservation and Heat Mitigation project. Early in the week, we met with our project client who brought a team of plumbers to help us understand the complex piping system around the autoclave. Some of the layouts remained unclear, so we invited Dr. Kevin, who joined us for an on-site walk-through.

Together, we examined the working autoclave system and sketched out the full piping diagram, giving us insight into how steam exits and where cooling is needed. Our goal is to bring the temperature of exhaust steam below 130°F, ideally without relying on continuous water use.

We brainstormed several concepts for our low-fidelity prototype, including:

• Using a wider outlet pipe to reduce pressure buildup
• Installing a thermostatic valve that only releases water when temperature exceeds a certain threshold
• Exploring cooling jackets or wraps around the condensate pipe to reduce heat externally

These ideas are now being refined and tested as we move toward creating a working prototype.

Fusion 360 Training: Gaining CAD Skills

Another highlight of my week was participating in a Fusion 360 training session led by Jason, a rising senior at Rice University. During this CAD workshop, I learned the basics of digital modeling  from sketching 2D components to extruding and assembling 3D models.

This training gave me a whole new appreciation for the design process and equipped me with tools that will be essential for creating parts of our final prototypes in both projects.

Beyond the Lab: Wellness and Culture

Outside the lab, we enjoyed a Friday cooking session with fellow SEED interns. It was refreshing to unwind and bond over food, culture, and shared laughter.

I also visited the recreation center and was thrilled to see the swimming pool, which felt like a little slice of home. I attended a yoga session at the gym too  something new for me, but surprisingly relaxing and a perfect mental reset after a long week.

As I reflect on Week Two, I’m energized by the skills I’ve gained, the teamwork I’ve experienced, and the real progress we’ve made. From debugging Bluetooth to sketching out full steam systems and learning CAD this week has been full of growth and discovery.

A big thank you to Ms. Heidi Carson for making this journey possible. I can’t wait to see what Week Three brings!

Two weeks down. Five to go — and the momentum is just building.

As the summer came to a close, our team reached an exciting milestone presenting our projects at the Summer Showcase. It was a week full of final testing, fabrication, poster preparation, and reflecting on the progress we’ve made throughout the internship. Both our teams Kangaroo Care Cable Management and Cheetos Extrusion wrapped up with key achievements and valuable lessons.

---

Kangaroo Care Cable Management

Sixth week, we proudly completed our first functional component using mold fabrication techniques. To create the part, we started by 3D-printing positive molds one for the tube clip and another for the garment-side clip housing. Using these, we poured silicone rubber to make precise negative molds. Then, using polyurethane and urethane resins, we cast our final components.

Seeing our part take shape from materials we mixed and poured ourselves was a powerful moment. This was no longer just an idea or a 3D model, this was a real, wearable component that could someday support improved care for newborns receiving iKMC. The part turned out sturdy, lightweight, and had the ergonomic design we aimed for. Each step from alignment to pouring and curing taught us hands-on manufacturing skills we’ll carry beyond this project.

---

Cheetos Extrusion

The Cheetos team also reached a huge moment when we produced edible extruded Cheetos, and people ate them! After extensive cleaning of all machine parts to ensure food safety, we began testing grits with different moisture contents 15%, 10%, 7%, 5%, 2%, and 0%. The improved torque, though still not perfect, helped deliver better extrusion performance with more consistent puffing and texture.

Through these tests, we found that 0% moisture gave us the best results. The extruded product was light, crispy, and had the classic puffed shape we were aiming for. Alongside testing, we researched and explored ideas for improving the feeding mechanism and belt tensioner to optimize consistency and minimize wheel burn or jamming.

---

Sharing Our Journey with the Community

To present our work, both teams prepared and printed detailed project posters, which we displayed at the Summer Showcase. We shared our ideas, challenges, and results with guests, mentors, and fellow teams. People were able to interact with our prototypes, view our testing setups, and even taste the results of our food extrusion trials.

Standing beside our posters, explaining the evolution from our earliest sketches to the final components, was a proud and fulfilling experience. This wasn’t just a technical project, it was a summer of learning, building, and collaborating across disciplines.

As part of the event, we were also treated to a special lunch organized by Chevron, one of the generous partners of Rice360. It was a great opportunity to relax, connect with other teams and mentors, and celebrate the culmination of our hard work in a more informal and joyful setting.

---

Growth Through Innovation and Collaboration

Participating in the Summer Showcase allowed me to reflect on the journey from brainstorming and prototyping to final presentations. It was rewarding to see how initial ideas grew into tangible, testable solutions. Sharing our work with a broader audience pushed me to communicate clearly and confidently a skill as essential as technical expertise. I also realized how collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on problem-solving shaped my growth not just as an engineer, but as a team player and global health innovator.