MSAL Student Featured on ECE News for Bridging Research Innovation and Education Advocacy

University of Maryland (UMD) Clark School of Engineering PhD student Sydney Overton is helping advance the university’s research while supporting her fellow graduate students.

A fourth-year electrical engineering PhD student, Overton also works as a research graduate assistant. She contributes to the work being done in the Clark School’s MEMS Sensors and Actuators Laboratory (MSAL), a space dedicated to creating miniaturized biomedical devices. Currently, the team is focused on developing ingestible capsules to address a myriad of gastrointestinal (GI) tract issues.

Overton is currently working toward a device that can autonomously monitor levels of serotonin in the GI tract so clinicians can better understand the connections between brain health and gut health. The chemical plays a key role in body functions such as mood, sleep, and digestion. Too much can lead to symptoms like confusion, restlessness, and diarrhea; too little can lead to mood disorders as well as sleep and digestive problems.

The Clark School MATRIX Lab has many of the key technologies Overton uses in her work. She’s used the 3D printing capabilities to create the individual components in my device, including some of the serotonin sensors.

As she moves her device toward autonomous operation, the MATRIX Lab will provide the tools and processes she needs to create testing rigs and perform characterizations. The lab’s Director of Remote Sensing and Microsystems, Dr. Justin Stine, provides mentorship and guidance for the microelectronics part of her research. Overton also supports the lab by helping Stine develop the Advanced Manufacturing Lab course that will be offered at the MATRIX Lab in Spring 2026.

Outside of work, Overton volunteers as a student advocate within UMD and the University System of Maryland as a whole. Through her work with the ECE Graduate Student Association, she hosts social events and brings in alumni panelists with the goal of enhancing the experience of ECE grads. She is also involved with the Engineering Senate, focusing on how to best serve all engineering graduate students throughout their programs. She also serves as the Vice President of Financial Affairs for UMD’s Graduate Student Government.

While Overton finishes her PhD and wraps up her time at UMD, she is exploring her options for opportunities after graduation.

More information can be found on the UMD ECE News (21 - Oct / 2025)