Darien Birks’ summer research in machine learning and maternal health reflects Hampton’s growing research enterprise and its commitment to advancing scientific discovery.
HAMPTON, Va. — Darien Birks ‘28, a third-year mathematics major from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, earned recognition as a Top Presenter at the GENESIS Summer Student Research Symposium following his participation in the Amgen Scholars Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he conducted research exploring the use of machine learning to identify potential protein biomarkers associated with postpartum hemorrhage.
Birks’ achievement reflects Hampton University’s commitment to expanding undergraduate research opportunities as the institution advances toward R1 status, the classification reserved for doctoral universities with very high research activity. Through the work of students and faculty across disciplines, Hampton continues to strengthen its research capacity, pursue solutions to pressing societal challenges and prepare the next generation of scientists, scholars and innovators.
“Research is essential to Hampton University’s mission and to our responsibility to prepare students to lead, discover and serve,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams ’83. “As we advance toward R1 status, the scholarly work of our students and faculty demonstrates how Hampton continues to push the needle forward. Darien’s experience illustrates what can happen when students are equipped to apply their academic training to meaningful research questions. Across our campus, we are advancing work that addresses critical needs, and we are continually building worl-ready leaders of character and consequence”
During his summer experience in the Leiderman Lab at UNC-Chapel Hill, Birks analyzed a dataset containing more than 1,100 proteomic biomarkers to investigate whether differences in protein expression could help distinguish patients who experienced postpartum hemorrhage from those who did not. The condition involves significant blood loss after childbirth and can be life-threatening.
Using his mathematical background, Birks identified relevant features in the data and developed predictive models using logistic regression and random forests. His analysis examined how effectively patterns in protein expression could differentiate between the two patient groups.
Among the proteins that emerged as notable in his analysis were prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS) and hemoglobin, which presented potential avenues for further investigation. Birks subsequently presented his findings at the GENESIS Summer Student Research Symposium, where he received a perfect score on his poster presentation and was recognized as a Top Presenter.
The experience also helped Birks define his future direction. Although he valued the opportunity to study biological patterns that could eventually inform clinical decisions, the research prompted him to consider how he could contribute more directly to the development of medical technologies.
“I realized that I want to work on developing medical technologies that can make a more direct difference in patients’ lives, particularly in underserved communities that may not have access to the latest treatments,” Birks said.
That interest has led him toward medical research and development, particularly medical accelerator physics, where mathematics and physics can be applied to the design of technologies used in cancer treatment.
While Birks’ summer project focused on maternal health, his experience demonstrated how mathematical modeling and computational methods can be applied to biomedical questions. His recognition as a Top Presenter highlighted the value of undergraduate research in developing analytical skills, communicating scientific findings and preparing students for future contributions to discovery.
As Hampton continues to build its research enterprise on the road to R1 status, the scholarship of students such as Birks represents an important part of that progress. Across mathematics, engineering, health sciences and other fields, research creates opportunities for students to apply classroom learning to real-world questions while contributing to a broader culture of inquiry and innovation.
For Birks, the summer experience provided both recognition for his work and a clearer sense of the role he hopes to play in the future of medical technology. For Hampton, his achievement reflects the University’s continued investment in developing scholars whose knowledge and discoveries can serve communities and advance the public good.
About Hampton University
Founded in 1868, Hampton University is one of the nation’s strongest Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a prestigious Carnegie R2-designated research institution. For more than 150 years, Hampton has prepared world-ready leaders of character and consequence through a distinctive educational experience grounded in academic excellence, leadership, innovation, and service.
Home to students from 44 states and 32 countries and territories, the University is nationally recognized for groundbreaking research in atmospheric science, cancer research, cybersecurity, marine and environmental science, and other disciplines that address society’s most pressing challenges. With an annual economic impact of $515 million across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Hampton continues to advance discovery, strengthen communities, and prepare graduates to lead with purpose in an increasingly interconnected world. Learn more at www.hamptonu.edu.
