A Multi-Disciplinary Education

Ben Frey '22 has a passion for bridging science with entrepreneurship. As a research intern at Johns Hopkins University, he trained AI to detect COVID-19 on lung ultrasound images.

All of my undergraduate research experiences were enabled by the Schulze Innovation Scholarship.

What drew you to the entrepreneurship program at St. Thomas?

"I was certain that I'd be going to the University of Wisconsin - Madison to major in computer engineering. This all changed after touring the St. Thomas campus and interacting with faculty at High School Innovation Day in 2017.

My first entrepreneurship course, the legendary Lemonade Stand Class, was incredibly impactful. It taught me a process of entrepreneurship based on problem identification, solution, and execution of delivery. My perception of entrepreneurship has been significantly advanced through courses that emphasize this thought process.

I've also been able to be a part of some amazing business-related opportunities. In 2020, I competed in the Fowler Business Concept Challenge with my new startup, Compusim. It's a computational simulation startup that animates scientific data for more engaging user interaction.

What kind of research projects are you involved in?

Aside from business ventures, I've spent most of my time on projects related to science and engineering research. Pursuing three majors at St. Thomas has given me opportunities to collaborate with professors on multiple research projects.

My first project was in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at St. Thomas. I researched safety protocols for vehicle communication networks to prepare for the future of autonomous cars.

At the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, I researched the application and simulation of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors. These can be used in mechanical stress sensing applications - such as predicting if a bridge is at risk of collapsing.

My most recent research internship was at Johns Hopkins University. We trained AI to look for COVID-19 on lung ultrasound images of patients. These results are promising for the future use of AI as a technique to aid in the diagnosis of COVID-19.

How do you plan to bridge your multi-disciplinary studies in science and entrepreneurship?

In the future, I'd like to start an educational company that reimagines the way we interface with data to improve learning quality, accessibility, and interactivity. My greatest interest is in promoting the common good through responsible entrepreneurship.

My education at St. Thomas has enabled me to be investigative and optimistic about the future. I'm excited to apply what I've learned in my future endeavors."