For students in the University of Washington Bothell’s School of STEM, the capstone project often marks the end of their undergraduate experience — a milestone achievement. Each quarter, the school showcases student work in an Undergraduate Capstone & Symposium event where students studying biological and physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computing and software systems share their research and projects through oral and poster presentations.
Students at the autumn quarter 2024 event on Dec. 13 presented on a range of projects, from app development and internships with tech companies to research into the most pressing issues affecting the climate and human health.
“This is pretty much the culmination of their undergraduate experience,” said Dr. Mike Stiber, professor and chair of the school’s Division of Computing & Software Systems. “All these wonderful projects are thanks to our students — but also to the sponsors who support these projects, the faculty who lead students in this work and, of course, the family and loved ones who support all of our students during the trials of their undergraduate studies.”
Safeguarding an endangered language
In her capstone project, senior Fangxia Ding put her Computer Science & Software Engineering major skills to use supporting the development of an app for the language spoken by the Blackfoot tribe in North America.
“The Blackfoot language is endangered, and we really want to help preserve it and make it accessible to more learners,” Ding said. “This project holds significant value as it merges modern technology with cultural preservation, creating a tool that promotes both language learning and cultural engagement.”
Under the mentorship of Dr. Min Chen, a professor in the School of STEM and the project lead, Ding supported development work for the app called I’poyit. As it already had the basic learning modules in place when Ding joined the team, her role included comprehensive cross-platform testing. She also designed and implemented a “commitment time” feature.
“The goal of the ‘Commitment Time’ feature is to allow users to customize their goals, track their progress and share their achievements, thereby enhancing motivation and providing a sense of accomplishment,” Ding said. “My contributions improved the app’s usability and personalization. On a personal level, I gained valuable experience in full-stack development, and I also developed skills in collaborative teamwork, which will benefit me in my future career.”
Building tools for business professionals
Faizan Dhankwala saw his capstone project as an opportunity to devise a useful tool for his peers as they prepare to embark on their professional lives. As the senior majoring in Applied Computing looked around at website-building sites and resources available on the market, he saw a need for an online portfolio builder that was geared for users with minimal technical expertise but that still could create a sophisticated, dynamic portfolio.
“There are a lot of resources for making websites but not really any tailored toward business students and professionals,” he said. “I like to get creative with development, and I wanted to make something that helps other students as well.”
For his project, called crea8folio, Dhankwala connected with UW Bothell Career Services and several business students for input on what was lacking in existing tools. While professionals in other professions may rely mostly on resumes or curricula vitae, he noted that those in business also need a place to put testimonials, blogs and product or service information.
Dhankwala gathered roughly 20 business students in a series of usability tests to provide feedback on what worked and what didn’t work, as well as additional features they’d like to see. Once he has a final version, he said he plans to make the portfolio builder open source and freely available.
Doing genetic lab research
Capstone events are typically for seniors in their final quarter, but other students, such as junior Sophia Gillis, can also participate. A double major in Biology and Psychology, she said her interests in the field of medicine are broad, noting that she views her college education as a time to explore new things and gain hands-on experience.
In 2024, Gillis served as a fellow at the UW’s Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, where she completed a 10-week summer research program. Under the mentorship of Dr. Thelma Escobar, assistant professor in the UW’s Department of Biochemistry in Seattle and a principal investigator at ISCRM, Gillis’ research centered on CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), a cutting-edge technique for gene editing.
Gillis was particularly interested in CRISPR’s applications in cancer research and in exploring other diseases and disorders. Her research focused on peptide-assisted gene editing, which she said is less toxic and thus doesn’t result in high cell deaths as compared with other techniques.
“It was a very good experience for me,” Gillis said. “I’ve never been in a proper professional lab, and it wasn’t really my comfort zone. I learned so much about all the intricacies and all the steps that go into actual lab work. It really helps me reorient my college career.”
“This collaborative work provides our students the chance to participate in supportive partnerships as they engage in faculty-led research and industry initiatives — while preparing to join the regional workforce upon graduation.”
Dr. Jennifer McLoud-Mann, dean of the School of STEM
Applying computer science to preservation
Drew Rigby is a senior majoring in Applied Computing — and he is passionate about oceanography. For his capstone project, Rigby was looking for a challenge when he had the idea of combining both his interests by creating a pH sensor for the ocean.
His goal, he clarified, wasn’t to develop the most advanced sensor but rather one that was basic and accurate. He aimed for a sensor that could be replicated by high school students and used as a hands-on learning tool for teachers to add to their curriculum.
“It was something that I could do in 10 weeks, but it was also challenging and something I knew other students have tried and failed to do,” Rigby said. “I was really determined to get it working.”
Through a great deal of trial and error — and soldering — Rigby said he met his goal and finished the project with a working sensor. This project also solidified his interest in finding a career that blends computer science and oceanography.
“I initially got into computer science because it was something that challenged me, and I really want to do something in my life that will continue to challenge me,” Rigby said. “Along the way, I also realized I want to do something that’s going to have a tangible effect beyond software, and I’m really interested in the preservation of the ocean and the environment.”
Taking the next step forward
Capstone projects are both a culmination of a student’s education and a taste for what’s possible after graduation when they move on to pursue graduate studies or enter the workforce. From participating in groundbreaking research into cures for diseases such as cancer to developing the latest digital tools, UW Bothell students begin to make their mark on the world before they’ve even left the campus, said Dr. Jennifer McLoud-Mann, dean of the School of STEM.
“This quarterly event celebrates the accomplishments of our STEM students, highlighting the significance of student-faculty relationships in project-based experiential learning opportunities and recognizing the contributions of our industry collaborators in cultivating real-world problem-solving skills.
“This collaborative work provides our students the chance to participate in supportive partnerships as they engage in faculty-led research and industry initiatives — while preparing them to join the regional workforce upon graduation,” she said. “I look forward to seeing where our graduates go next.”
A complete list of the autumn 2024 presentations can be found on this 2024 Undergraduate Capstone & Symposium webpage. These quarterly presentations are open to the public and can be found on the UW Bothell events calendar.
