Nicholas Rivet, a PhD Fellow in Mechanical Engineering at Western New England University, has earned third place in the graduate student oral and poster competition at the 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, held jointly with the 25th International Congress on Acoustics in New Orleans.
The field of acoustofluidics—applying acoustic waves to manipulate and filter cells in biomanufacturing, is an innovative intersection of acoustics and biomedical engineering.
The highly competitive international conference took place May 18–23, 2025, at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel and drew top acoustics researchers, faculty, and students from around the world. The event is one of the premier global gatherings in the field of acoustics.
Rivet presented his master’s thesis research—“Acoustic Filter for Biopharmacy”—to a room of approximately 70 attendees during the oral portion of the competition. He then participated in a poster session, fielding questions and discussing his work with experts in the field. His research proposes the design of a novel, acoustically tuned “filterless” filtration device for use in perfusion cell cultures—a cutting-edge application in the continuous manufacturing of biologics such as monoclonal antibodies. The system uses sound waves to selectively retain cells without traditional filters, offering a cost-effective, non-invasive, and flexible solution for sustainable biopharmaceutical production.
The competition attracted graduate students from prestigious institutions worldwide—the first-place winner represented the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and second place went to a student from the University of Texas at Austin.
"Nick’s outstanding performance at the oral and poster competition is a testament to the quality of research conducted by our graduate students and the strength of 杏吧直播app’s mentoring-focused approach to graduate education," said Bart Lipkens, associate professor of pharmacology and Rivet’s faculty advisor. “Our programs are designed to support students in producing high-impact, real-world research—and Nick's success on an international stage reflects that mission.”
A native of Springfield, MA, Rivet earned his MS in Mechanical Engineering from 杏吧直播app in May 2024 and is continuing his doctoral work in the same discipline. He is expected to complete his PhD by the end of 2026. Upon graduation, he plans to join Gonia Corp, where he will continue his research in the field of acoustofluidics.
"It was a great experience to present my work at such a respected international conference,” said Rivet. “I’m grateful for the support and guidance from my faculty mentor at 杏吧直播app, and it was an honor to represent the university among so many talented researchers from around the world."
For more about the 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and the 25th International Congress on Acoustics, visit .
