Spring 2021

Biomedical Engineering

Graduates

The Pennsylvania State University

A Message from the Department Head

On behalf of the Pennsylvania State University Biomedical Engineering Department, I would like to extend sincere congratulations to you on your graduation! Your years of hard work have finally paid off. Today, in your eyes, you are graduating with a biomedical engineering degree. But, in our eyes, we witnessed your intellectual and personal growth. Remember the first day you joined the University? I believe you will agree that you have matured both socially and academically.

The uniqueness in graduating from the Biomedical Engineering Department, no matter which option you have chosen, is your adaptability to rigorous and multi-disciplinary training. We all share one common goal-- to improve human medicine and healthcare. Even though our paths may be different, I sincerely wish all of you will continue your future journey in completing this goal. No matter where you are or what you do, never stop believing in the genius that is within you.

I would also like to extend gratitude to the parents, spouses/partners, children and friends of our graduates. Our graduating students’ success is a reflection of support, love and sacrifices that you provided for them. Your continued guidance and encouragement have shaped each of them into the great individual they are today.

In the future, I ask that you please not forget your roots and remain connected to the Biomedical Engineering Department. I encourage you to provide updates on the many achievements you will experience in your careers and personal lives, while continuing to give back to the college/department by supporting our activities, programs and scholarships.

Congratulations to our newest alumni and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

Distinguished Professor & Department Head Department of Biomedical Engineering

BME Student Marshal

Elizabeth Trautman has been selected as the student marshal for the biomedical engineering baccalaureate degree program for Penn State’s spring commencement, to be held both in-person and virtually on May 7. Trautman will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering. A Schreyer Honors Scholar, Trautman completed an undergraduate honors thesis entitled “Characterization of cold sintered metals using immersion ultrasound.” Trautman’s academic awards include the President’s Freshman Award, the President Sparks Award, the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, and the WEP Outstanding Academic Facilitator Award. In addition, she has received the Penn State Academic Excellence Scholarship and the William J. Feingold Scholarship ASQ Scholarship. Trautman completed several internships, the first as a Medical Device Engineering Process Development Intern for Boston Scientific, and another as a Medical Device Quality Assurance Document Reviewer for Pentax Medical. She was also a Manufacturing Engineering Intern for GE Aviation as well as a Medical Device Quality Consulting Intern for NSF International. Trautman’s extracurricular activities included serving as an Envoy, a Mentor, and a Lead for WEPO in 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively. She was also the WEP Facilitated Study Group Leader from 2019 through 2021. For THON, she was an entertainment committee member in 2018 and 2019 and then served as the Technology Captain in 2021. Finally, Trautman was a PSU Engineering Ambassadors member from 2018 through 2021. Trautman is the daughter of Stephen and Kimberly Trautman of Reston, Virginia, and is a 2017 graduate of South Lakes High School. Following graduation, Trautman will attend Penn State University in fall 2021 to pursue a Master of Science in Engineering Science and Mechanics.

Spring 2021 Graduates Julio Aira, Biomechanics Ouniol Aklilu, Biochemical Schreyer Honors College Honors Thesis Title: Experimental and Computational Investigation of Correlates of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Changes and Mechanical Strain Engineering Leadership & Development Minor Capstone Project Title: Analysis of Filter Location and

Assessment of Novel Filtration Technologies for Face Masks After Graduation Plans: Accepted position with Qualtrics

Yasmin Ali, Biochemical Schreyer Honors College Honors Thesis Title: Commensal Biocapsules as a Bacterial Delivery System to Reengineer the Microbiome Capstone Project Title: Walk This Way: Measuring Walking Speed for Medical Purposes using the iPhone 12 After Graduation Plans: National Institutes of Health

Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow

Casey Barnes, Biomaterials Capstone Project Title: Biomechanical Avatars After Graduation Plans: Villanova University, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Aaron Belkin-Rosen, Medical Imaging & Devices Mechatronics Minor Capstone Project Title: Flow Rate Tester After Graduation Plans: Penn State University, Electrical Engineering Graduate Degree

Denver Bradley, Medical Imaging & Devices Capstone Project Title: Early Intervention Group Therapy Solution for Children during COVID-19 After Graduation Plans: Duke University, MEng in BME

Sayer Breisch, Biomaterials John Burns, Biochemical Rhys Butler, Biochemical

Ali Butt, Biomechanics

Ally Bythell, Biomechanics Mechanical Engineering Major Capstone Project Title: Exploring the Possibilities to Change the Environment by Creating Zero Waste Sustainable Textiles After Graduation Plans: Lockheed Martin Space, Systems Engineer

Zhangtao Chen, Mechanical Engineering Major

Jiaru Chen, Medical Imaging & Devices Mathematics Major Capstone Project Title: 3D printing Silicone After Graduation Plans: Not yet known

Allison Coffey, Biochemical

Danielle Crawford, Biochemical Capstone Project Title: Human Powered Vehicle Design After Graduation Plans: Philips Ultrasound, Product Industrialization Engineer

Jacob Danko, Biochemical

Melody Davis, Medical Imaging & Devices

Justin DePhillipo, Medical Imaging & Devices Engineering Sciences Major Jiaxuan Diao, Biochemical

Sabrina Dobron, Biomechanics Mechanical Engineering Major

Casey Dornin, Biomechanics Engineering Mechanics Minor Capstone Project Title: Analysis of Filter Location and Assessment of Novel Filtration Technologies for Face Masks After Graduation Plans: Industry

Ian Eder, Biochemical Nanotechnology Minor Capstone Project Title: Advanced Accelerometry in Safety Applications After Graduation Plans: University of Pittsburgh, PhD in Bioengineering

Samantha Elduff, Biomechanics Mechanical Engineering Major Italian Major Capstone Project Title: Unbiased Blood Oxygen Meter After Graduation Plans: Industry

Ahmed Eltonsy, Biomechanics

Jena Everett, Biochemical

Lily Farmerie, Biomaterials Engineering Leadership & Development Minor Capstone Project Title: 3D Printing Silicone After Graduation Plans: University of Pittsburgh, PhD in Bioengineering

Caroline Ferrara, Biochemical

Jasmine Ferrence, Biomechanics Mechanical Engineering Major Capstone Project Title: Rotation Device After Graduation: Northrop Grumman - Mechanical Engineer, Pathways Rotational Program

Britney Forsyth, Biochemical Capstone Project Title: One Meter Head Height Digital Flow Rate Tester After Graduation Plans: Columbia University, BME

Katherine George, Biochemical Capstone Project Title: Analysis of Filter Location and Assessment of Novel Filtration Technologies for Face Masks After Graduation Plans: Project Engineer for ABEC Biotechnology

Ashtyn Gibson, Biomaterials Capstone Project Title: Flexible Acoustic Contact Lens for Human Eye After Graduation Plans: Medtronic, Associate Clinical Specialist

Robert Gillen, Biomaterials

Tarrin Goldberg, Biomechanics

Natalie Gruver, Medical Imaging & Devices

Yuetong Hao, Biomechanics Mechanical Engineering Major

Shuyu Jin, Biochemical

Nicholas Kitko, Biomechanics

Brendan Knouse, Biochemical

Mark Latuska, Biochemical

Madison Lee, Biomaterials

Yihao Lin, Biomaterials Capstone Project Title: Rotation Device After Graduation Plans: University of Maryland, Bioengineering PhD

Diana Lowther, Biomechanics

Ninad Mahajan, Biomechanics Schreyer Honors College Honors Thesis Title: Simulating the Effects of Anthropometry on the Contralateral Limb of Transtibial Amputees Leadership Academy Certificate

Capstone Project Title: Wearable Functional Chest Patch for Detecting Critical Conditions from Coronavirus After Graduation Plan: Johnson & Johnson (DePuy Mitek Sports Medicine) - Engineer, Medical Device Engineering Development Program (MD EDP)

John Marez, Biomechanics Capstone Project Title: After Graduation Plan:

John Mascaro, Biochemical Smeal Business Certificate

Olivia Mattessich, Biomechanics

Elaina McCormick, Biomaterials

Connor Moore, Biochemical Capstone Project Title: Non-invasive Neurostimulatory Device to Improve Mobility in Parkinson’s Disease After Graduation Plans: University of Virginia, Biomedical Engineering PhD

Megan Morandi, Biochemical Capstone Project Title: Analysis of Filter Location & Assessment of Novel Filtration Technologies After Graduation Plans: Industry

Ashley Nguyen, Biomechanics Mechanical Engineering Major Capstone Project Title: Early Intervention Group Therapy Solution for Children during COVID-19 After Graduation Plans: Northrop Grumman, Mechanical Engineer in Pathways Rotational Program

Aaron O’Donnell, Biomaterials

Megan Perillo, Biomechanics

Sarah Peters, Biomaterials Capstone Project Title: Development of Improved Face Mask Fixation Method to Attach Mask to Head After Graduation Plans: Champions Oncology, Lab Technician I in Formulation Services

Zuzana Pribulova, Biochemical

Daniel Pritko, Biochemical Capstone Project Title: Analysis of Filter Location and Assessment of Novel Filtration Technologies for Face Masks After Graduation Plans: Industry

Ethan Riegel, Biomechanics

Abby Riggio, Biochemical Schreyer Honors College Honors Thesis Title: The Effect of Nanofiber Size and Orientation on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Nuclear Lamina Composition Capstone Project Title: Simple Prototype Grid Application

After Graduation Plan: Not yet known

Emily Robinson, Biomaterials Capstone Project Title: Mobile, user-friendly plasma decontamination device to reduce hospital-acquired infections After Graduation Plan: Catalent, Associate Manufacturing Technology Specialist

Manuel Roshardt, Medical Imaging & Devices Physics Minor Capstone Project Title: Lab in a Box After Graduation Plan:

Nicholas Schneider, Biochemical

Adam Schultz, Biomaterials Economics Major

Jonathan Shelly, Biomechanics Capstone Project Title: Mobile plasma decontamination device to reduce hospital acquired infections After Graduation Plans:

Brian Siroka, Biomechanics Mechanical Engineering Major

Lucy Spicher, Biomechanics Schreyer Honors College Honors Thesis Title: Human Centered Design of 3D Printed Occupational Therapy Tools for Rural Hospitals in Kisumu County Kenya: Applying Key Desirability Factors to the Design Mechanical Engineering Major Capstone Project Title: Early Intervention Group Therapy Solution for Children During COVID-19 After Graduation Plans: University of Michigan, PhD

in Mechanical Engineering

Meixian Tang, Biochemical

Alexandra Valentin-Vargas, Biochemical Capstone Project Title: Wearable multimodal optical and acoustic sensing of physiological parameters After Graduation Plans: Industry

Luke Vaughters, Biomechanics

Ares Vega, Biomaterials

Patrick Vega, Biomechanics Capstone Project Title: One Meter Head Height Digital Flow Rate Tester After Graduation Plans: Industry

Shane Ward, Biomechanics Schreyer Honors College Honors Thesis Title: Shear Effects on Blood-Protein Adhesion in Microfluidic Devices Capstone Project Title: Walk This Way: Measuring Walking Speed for Medical Purposes using the iPhone 12 After Graduation Plans: Drexel University, MS Biomedical Engineering

Sara Heidari Zadi, Biomaterials Planetary Science & Astronomy Minor Capstone Project Title: Early intervention group therapy solution for children during COVID-19 After Graduation Plans: University of Maryland School of Dentistry

Mason Zerbe, Biomechanics

Yalin Zhu, Biochemical

Congratulations from the faculty and staff in Biomedical Engineering!