sMIT

- Massachusetts Institute of Technologymassachusetts institute of

technologyof technology

Project list:
1. Mimicking the brain, in silicon 2. novel ultracapacitor 3. Laser beam 'fire hose' used to sort cells 4. Mirror fibers could create photonic fabrics 5. uilding a better radio

Post-graduate project:

Mimicking the brain, in silicon

!he goal b" designing a computer chip that mimics ho# the brain$s neurons adapt in response to ne# information. !his phenomenon, kno#n as plasticit", is believed to underlie man" brain functions, including learning and memor". !he computer chip is designed so that the transistors could mimic the activit" of different ion channels. %hile most chips operate in a binar", on&off mode, current flo#s through the transistors on the ne# brain chip in analog, not digital, fashion. ' gradient of electrical potential drives current to flo# through the transistors (ust as ions flo# through ion channels in a cell.

'pplications) 1.!he researchers anticipate this chip #ill help neuroscientists learn much more about ho# the brain #orks, 2.*t could also be used in neural prosthetic devices such as artificial retinas

Under graduate project: Mirror fibers could create photonic fabrics

+reate a high,performance mirrors in the shape of hair,like fle-ible fibers that could be #oven into cloth or incorporated in paper. 'pplications ma" include fabrics #ith embedded .bar codes. that identif" the #earer, potentiall" useful in the battle suits of future soldiers/ or a light#eight cloth that reflects radiation, protecting from blasts of heat. !hese mirrors could also be used as filters for telecommunications applications. 0eason for selecting the pro(ect) 1. ecause of the applications of the pro(ects. 2. !hese involves implementation of concepts #hat #e have learnt theoreticall". 3. *ts future enhancement #ill ma" have much more demand #hich lead to prosperit" of an industr"