Diana-Andra Borca-Tasciuc is a professor in the Department of
Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer. We
ask Diana about her work: Q. Much of your research involves heat
transfer, particularly in nanoparticles. Why is heat transfer
important? A: Knowing how to produce and control heat is
important to a countless number of applications, from
manufacturing and electronics industry to medicine and space
applications. Part of my research looks at how nanoparticles
generate heat in alternating magnetic fields, which has
applications in cancer hyperthermia treatment. Cancer cells die
more easily from heat than healthy cells. Magnetic
nanoparticles, such as iron oxide, can be dispersed through the
tumors and remotely heated with alternating magnetic fields at
intensities that are not harmful to the body. Some of your work
has biomedical applications. Is that an exciting space to work
in? This is certainly an area where one can make a real impact.
Cancer can be a devastating disease even for sur