Tarafder Lab congratulates Jacob York, a junior in mechanical engineering and an undergraduate researcher in our lab, on receiving a 2026–27 Future Innovators of America (FIA) Fellowship. Jacob is one of six students selected by South Dakota State University’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering. The $5,000 fellowship includes a $4,500 stipend and $500 for research supplies or travel to share project results.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Solaiman Tarafder, Jacob will investigate how calcium carbonate–rich eggshell particles affect the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of 3D-printed collagen scaffolds. The project aims to develop scaffolds that mimic the mineralized structure of bone and can carry stem cells to bone defects.
Congratulations, Jacob! We look forward to seeing how this work advances in the lab.
