Spring 2016: Undergraduate and Alumni Edition



Media Mentions

Mary Elizabeth McCulloch, a BME senior, is working to help people with disabilities communicate better through Project Vive

Gymnast Schuller balances demands of sports and biomedical engineering studies




Recognitions and Awards
 
Lian to work as co-investigator on Multidisciplinary Research Seed Grant project


Yang named American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering fellow

Alumni News
This issue features Jian Cao, a bioengineering alumnus who has achieved career success in industry and continues to serve Penn State by inspiring young engineers.

Have news items to share?
We would love to hear about your recent milestones and accomplishments including job changes, promotions, awards, marriages, and births. Please email submissions to  Mindy Krause.
Upcoming Events
 
AIMBE Annual Event
April 3-4, 2016
Washington, DC
College of Engineering Design Showcase
The Bryce Jordan Center
April 28, 2016

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Your gift to the Department of Biomedical Engineering ensures  the long-term sustainability of the department and helps us to  maintain a storied tradition of excellence.  Click the "Give now" button to make a gift online through Penn State's secure giving portal. Thank you for your continued support.

 
coverheaderCover Photo
Maggie Slattery, director of the Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory, examines a 3-D printed component with BME senior Joe Roberto. Roberto, along with other students in senior capstone design, will present at the College of Engineering Design Showcase April 28 at the Bryce Jordan Center .



Lucy's Story: How Penn State engineering students are helping one child move forward

Like many children her age, three-year-old Lucy Reed is eager to explore the world. She's a magnetic people-person, both friendly and outgoing, and is described as a regular chatterbox in her preschool classes. Lucy enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling with her family, and has perfected the quintessential little sister role when it comes to her relationship with older brother, Eli.
 
Her exuberance and positivity seem limitless; however, she is conflicted with one limitation. Lucy, who was born with spina bifida, experiences mobility restrictions when using her current gait assist device. The device, which provides her with the support and assistance needed to walk independently, is designed to operate on smooth terrain only and does not fully accommodate for all of the bumps, obstacles, and surface changes a busy three-year-old encounters on a day-to-day basis. Playing on the playground, walking down the sidewalk, and even crossing doorway thresholds can all be challenging situations for Lucy.
 
In order to solve these challenges, and to provide their daughter with the best solution possible, the Reed family has chosen to partner with The Learning Factory and senior engineering students during the spring 2016 semester to come up with a device that will meet Lucy's ever-changing needs.
Slattery embraces new challenges and opportunities as director of the Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory   

When it comes to pushing the envelope on undergraduate education, few faculty members are as active as Maggie Slattery, assistant professor of biomedical engineering.
 
A Penn State faculty member since 2007, Slattery has been heavily involved in the undergraduate arena, serving in a variety of capacities and contributing to a number of new ideas and discoveries.
 
Currently, she serves as the undergraduate program coordinator for the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and is a member of the Penn State Faculty Senate's Special Committee on Implementation of the General Education Reform. She has served as co-chair for the Penn State General Education Task Force, and most recently, has added the title, director of the Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory, to the list.
Department announces BEACON: The Biomedical Engineering Committee for Outreach and Nurture
A number of BEACON committee members visited campus during the department's Industrial and Professional Advisory Council annual meeting March 23-25. Pictured from left to right are: Jian Cao, Jay Lenker, Luke Gao, Mike Ferko, Steve Spadt, and Marjorie Rawhouser. 

The Department of Biomedical Engineering is proud to announce the formation of BEACON: the Biomedical Engineering Alumni Committee for Outreach and Nurture, an Affiliate Program Group which aims to grow Penn State Biomedical Engineering to world-class status.
 
The group will work to promote outreach, fundraising, and correspondence among alumni networks to foster a renewed sense of community and secure vital financial resources that will be used to create new graduate fellowships.
 
Penn State Biomedical Engineering is a small department but continues to grow in size and stature. Engaging support through alumni groups is critical in providing new student opportunities and attracting top-level graduate candidates. Support from BEACON will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of the department for many years to come. 
 
Inaugural committee members include: Jian Cao, Mike Ferko, Luke Gao, Jay Lenker,  Marjorie  Rawhouser, Gregory Riggins, Steve Spadt, Tim Baldwin, and Ted Lamson. A number of members recently returned to the University Park campus to discuss future committee actions during the department's Industrial and Professional Advisory Council annual meeting March 23-25.
 
For more information on alumni affairs within the department including giving opportunities and ways to get involved, please visit  bme.psu.edu/alumni/ .

BME to host two summer research programs for undergraduate students

The Department of Biomedical Engineering will host two summer research programs for undergraduate students in effort with The Department of Kinesiology and with support from the National Science Foundation and the American Heart Association. The programs will provide hands-on learning experiences for students in laboratory settings and teach a number of critical skills for new engineers. 

The programs will run concurrently for ten-week cycles from May 30 to August 5, 2016.

Students will have an opportunity to join a number of cutting-edge research teams that focus on furthering the understanding of cardiovascular disease and developing medical interventions to treat related conditions. Research projects will emphasize the development of implantable devices, artificial gene therapy, and drug delivery systems.

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