Three biomedical engineering students, Blayne Roeder, James Blanchette and Janice McKenzie, placed
in the top five research poster presentations in the engineering sciences division of the campus-wide
Sigma Xi competition. Sigma Xi, an international honor society of scientific and engineering research,
sponsored the graduate student research competition. Students prepared an abstract and presented a
poster at the competition in February.

Blayne Roeder won the top award in the engineering sciences division with his poster
"Micro-Biomechanical Aspects of Cell-ECM Interactions." In addition to having his abstract published
in a booklet, he also received a cash award.

The Purdue chapter of Sigma Xi was established in 1909 with a mission to foster and recognize
outstanding research on the Purdue campus. There are currently over 400 active members who
sponsor activities at all levels from high school through post-graduate and faculty.