Graduate School Newsblog

Tag: Biomedical Engineering

Finishing Fellowship Award – Spring 2026 – Jacob Jackson

Published
By
Jackson, Jacob
Jacob Jackson, PhD in Biomedical Engineering, 2026

I’m grateful and honored to be awarded a Doctoral Finishing Fellowship. I would like to thank the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel and the Graduate School for their recognition and support as I approach the end of my PhD studies. Their support will let me dedicate my time to completing my dissertation.

I joined Dr. Yu’s Neural Engineering lab as an undergraduate research assistant in 2021 and quickly became fascinated by the brain and developing treatments for neurological conditions. Knowing that our research could improve people’s lives gave me great purpose and drove me to continue onto my PhD.
My research focuses on optimizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) to improve the quality of life of individuals undergoing this treatment. Specifically, I look at optogenetics and adaptive DBS (aDBS). Current clinically used DBS treatment involves delivering high-frequency electrical pulses to target structures in the brain. While effective at treating PD symptoms, adverse effects and limited battery life can limit the quality of life of those implanted. Optogenetics aims to improve on the spatial specificity of DBS by using genetic modification to allow for cells to activate using light. Electrical stimulation is non-specific and can spread to nearby structures whereas using optogenetics, only the specific brain structure is stimulated. aDBS improves the temporal specificity of DBS by using biomarkers found in the neural activity of the brain to deliver stimulation only when the brain needs it. This avoids unnecessary activation to reduce adverse effects and improve battery life of the implanted device. Combining these two powerful optimization strategies creates a more efficient and targeted treatment for PD.

I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Traci Yu for her mentorship throughout this long journey. Her support and guidance helped foster my passion for neural engineering research. I am also grateful for the support of the Biomedical Engineering department and the Michigan Tech community throughout this stage of my journey. As I look forwards to the next chapter, I am thankful for everything I’ve learned and experienced during my time at Michigan Tech.

Continue Reading →

DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship – Summer 2025 – Jacob Jackson

Published
By
Jacob Jackson, PhD in Biomedical Engineering, 2025

My name is Jacob Jackson and I’m a second year PhD candidate in the Biomedical Engineering department focusing on optimizing deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). I am a part of Dr. Traci Yu’s lab where I combine optogenetics and adaptive deep brain stimulation to improve effectiveness and reduce adverse effects of PD treatment.

Current deep brain stimulation treatment uses continuous, high-frequency electrical stimulation in individuals living with PD. While effective in reducing motor symptoms, it is often accompanied by neurological and psychiatric adverse effects that limit improvements in quality of life. To reduce adverse effects, we can combine optogenetics with adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) to spatially and temporally optimize treatment. Optogenetics involves genetically modifying the target neurons to receive light as a stimulus. This allows for only the target structure to be stimulated rather than a large area with electrical stimulation. aDBS uses abnormal neural activity in the brain to act as a controller for stimulation. Stimulation will then be delivered only when the brain needs it to reduce unnecessary activation. By combining these two techniques, we aim to develop a more targeted and efficient treatment for improving PD.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue my research this summer, made possible by the support of the DeVlieg Foundation. This funding will enable me to fully dedicate my time to designing, testing, and verifying optogenetic aDBS algorithms to reduce motor symptoms and pathological neural activity in PD.

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship – Summer 2025 – Kan Wang

Published
By
Kan Wang, PhD in Biomedical Engineering, 2025

I began my PhD program in Fall 2020 in the Biomedical Engineering (BME) department under the guidance of Dr. Bruce Lee. Over the past five years, my research has focused on developing smart adhesives whose adhesion can be reversibly controlled through electrochemical approaches. With a background in biomedical engineering and materials science, I was excited to expand my knowledge in the development of novel materials.

From the moment I arrived in Houghton, I knew this was the place where I wanted to pursue my PhD. Over the last five years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant students and principal investigators from multiple universities, present my work at conferences, and co-author cutting-edge journal articles. I was also captivated by the vibrant outdoor life here, which helped me develop a strong sense of work-life balance.

Through this journey, I’ve gained valuable skills and experiences that I will carry forward in my future career. I am deeply grateful to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for awarding me this Finishing Fellowship, which provides crucial support as I complete my dissertation. I would like to sincerely thank my advisor, Dr. Bruce Lee, for his mentorship and for helping me grow as a researcher. I’m also thankful to my lab mates, the staff, and the faculty of the BME department for their continued support throughout my PhD program.

I look forward to making further contributions to the development of innovative materials in the years to come.

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Brennan Vogl

Published
By
Brennan Vogl, PhD in Biomedical Engineering

My journey at Michigan Technological University (MTU) began in 2015 when I attended the Summer Youth Programs Engineering Scholars Program. This transformative experience introduced me to the many engineering disciplines available at MTU and started my fascination with Biomedical Engineering. I vividly recall how excited I was to learn about the many ways biomedical engineers can make a meaningful impact in the world.

In 2016, I officially joined MTU as an undergraduate student in the Biomedical Engineering department. During my first year, I became a research assistant in Dr. Smitha Rao-Hatti’s lab, a role I held until my graduation in 2020. This early start in research motivated my passion for discovery and inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. in 2021 in the lab of Dr. Hoda Hatoum.

My doctoral research focuses on in vitro and in silico assessments of cardiovascular fluid dynamics, with the goal of understanding how cardiovascular diseases start and progress, and how effective some therapies are from a flow dynamics perspective. My work has primarily examined the performance of bioprosthetic aortic valves under various blood pressure states and the effects of atrial fibrillation and its treatments on left atrial flow dynamics. These experiences, especially leveraging a continuous interaction with collaborating cardiologists from all over the world, have solidified my commitment to advancing cardiovascular health through innovative engineering solutions.

I sincerely thank the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for awarding me the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship. I am also deeply grateful to my advisor, Dr. Hoda Hatoum, for her guidance and support, which helped me grow as a researcher. I would also like to thank my lab members, collaborators, and the faculty and staff of the Biomedical Engineering Department for their continued support during my Ph.D. With this fellowship, I look forward to advancing my work and making a positive impact in the healthcare field.

Continue Reading →

Doctoral Finishing Fellowship – Fall 2024 – Fatemeh Razaviamri

Published

My journey at Michigan Technological University began in the summer of 2021 when I joined the Ph.D. program in the Biomedical Engineering department. My research focuses on biomimetic chemistry inspired by the strong underwater adhesion mechanisms utilized by mussels. Specifically, I have been developing biomimetic materials for infection prevention and hemostasis applications. This includes creating self-disinfecting coatings to limit the spread of infections and introducing a portable, powder-form hemostatic agent designed to control hemorrhage in prehospital settings while also preventing infection.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship. A special acknowledgement goes to my advisor, Dr. Bruce Lee, for his motivation, guidance, and support throughout my journey. His mentorship has helped me not only succeed in my projects but also grow as an independent researcher. I would also like to express my appreciation to my committee members, collaborators, lab members, and the faculty and staff of the Department of Biomedical Engineering for their support and assistance during my Ph.D. journey.

I am excited to apply the technical and leadership skills I have gained during this degree to further research in the healthcare industry.

Continue Reading →

Doctoral Finishing Fellowship – Summer 2024 Recipient – Seyedmostafa Rezaeitaleshmahalleh

Published
Mostafa Rezaeitaleshmahalleh standing outdoors under a tree
Mostafa Rezaeitaleshmahalleh – Biomedical Engineering

As a final-year PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Michigan Tech, my research revolves around understanding complex blood flow patterns and their implications for aneurysm development and rupture. Specifically, I focus on two types: intracranial aneurysms and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

In my dissertation, I utilize computational fluid dynamics to simulate blood flow within 3D vascular models extracted from medical imaging data of patients with aneurysms. By applying innovative computational methods, I analyze velocity and wall shear stress characteristics within the aneurysm. This approach has led to the development of new metrics that enhance our ability to distinguish between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, shedding light on flow conditions indicative of potential rupture. Moreover, I’ve devised a systematic method for assessing the composition of intraluminal thrombosis (ILT). Using deep learning algorithms, I identify the ILT region within the vascular model and employ radiomics to analyze its structural properties. This analytical framework provides novel insights into the ILT region, thereby enhancing our ability to identify abdominal aortic aneurysms at heightened risk of rupture. The final aspect of my doctoral research is to develop a nearly automated pipeline to run CFD simulations with minimal user interaction. This automated workflow aims to eliminate time-consuming and labor-intensive steps, making the process more efficient and user-friendly.

My hope is that this work will one day eliminate the current barrier to integrating CFD simulation into clinicians’ workflow and help doctors leverage CFD simulation in their decision-making process. The quantified measures of flow characteristics and ILT composition may be utilized in the clinical setting to better identify which aneurysms are at high risk of rupture. This could guide clinical decision-making to determine if aneurysm surgery prior to rupture is worth the risk, or if an aneurysm is likely to remain stable, posing minimal risk to the patient’s health.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Graduate Dean Award Advisory Panel for granting me this award. I also want to thank my advisors, Dr. Jingfeng Jiang, and my committee members, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, Dr. Hoda Hatoum, and Dr. Weihua Zhou, for their invaluable guidance and expertise throughout my time at Michigan Tech. Their mentorship has been crucial in shaping my research and academic journey.

Continue Reading →

DeVlieg Graduate Research Recipient – Summer 2024 – Fatemeh Razaviamri

Published
Fatemeh Razaviamri standing outside with body of water, trees, and cityscape behind
Fatemeh Razaviamri – Biomedical Engineering

I am a third-year PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering department. My research focuses on designing polymeric biomaterials for antimicrobial, hemostatic, and wound healing applications under the supervision of Dr. Bruce Lee. Currently, I am working on a project aimed at developing a novel, antimicrobial hemostatic agent inspired by the strong adhesive properties of mussel adhesive proteins.

Hemorrhage is one of the leading preventable causes of death associated with trauma. Additionally, trauma patients are at a higher risk for developing infection, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. I aim to develop a novel and portable hemostatic agent that could achieve hemorrhage control in a prehospital setting and prevent infection. This powder-form hemostatic agent can be activated by hydration through the patient’s bodily fluid or blood, which greatly simplifies the criteria for packaging and storage. The proposed hemostatic agent provides multiple mechanisms to prevent infection, including the ability to kill drug-resistant bacteria. The ability to disinfect the wound site in a prehospital setting will limit complications associated with infection and will greatly improve the rate of recovery.

I am immensely grateful for the support provided by the DeVlieg Foundation and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel. With their support, I will spend the summer conducting in vivo hemostatic and infected wound healing tests using a mouse model to evaluate the rapid and effective hemostatic properties of the designed hemostatic agent, as well as its ability to promote the infected-wound healing.

Continue Reading →

Doctoral Finishing Fellowship – Summer 2024 Recipient – Mohanish Kishor Chandurkar

Published
Mohanish Chandurkar standing outdoors with wooded mountain view behind
Mohanish Kishor Chandurkar – Biomedical Engineering

As I approach the culmination of my graduate studies, I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for being selected as a recipient of the Graduate Finishing Fellowship. This award not only signifies a recognition of my academic achievements but also serves as a testament to the invaluable support and encouragement I have received throughout my journey.

Being inspired by the healthcare researchers and professionals and my background in engineering motivated me to pursue my career in Biomedical engineering to contribute to healthcare innovation. My PhD work focuses on the fundamentals of mechanobiology to understand cardiovascular health and disease conditions. Specifically, it focuses on the role of blood flow profiles in tuning the vascular function on cell level to better understand cardiovascular diseases.

Throughout my time in graduate school, I have been fortunate to work alongside my mentor Dr. Sangyoon Han, my committee and colleagues who played an important role in shaping my academic and professional development. The continued support from Biomedical engineering department, graduate school and HRI played a significant role in pursuit of my educational experience.

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the selection committee for their confidence in my ability and for their investment in my future. Thank you for believing in me and for empowering me to pursue my dreams.

Continue Reading →

Doctoral Finishing Fellowship – Spring 2023 Recipient – Nikhil Mittal

Published
By

My passion for research developed early on in my life as I saw my father going to the laboratory, doing research using cool equipment. He inspired me to ask intriguing questions in life and find answers to them. My journey in biomedical research began during my undergraduate in biotechnology where I was introduced to the concepts of cell and molecular biology research and its application. In my undergrad, I got firsthand experience of working in a research lab where I learned to independently run PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and electrophoresis gels. This sparked my curiosity to further develop my career in research. That’s when I joined Michigan Tech as a master’s student in the biomedical engineering department. At Michigan Tech, I learned about the development of biomaterials and their physiological applications. During this time, I also got the opportunity to do an internship at a Biotech company.

My research experience during my master’s and internship motivated me in advancing my professional career and join PhD. In 2018, I got the opportunity to join Dr. Sangyoon Han’s Mechanobiology laboratory. My research focus is to understand the mechanism of how cells sense the stiffness of their surrounding environment. Specifically, I am investigating how and when exactly the mechanical link between a cell and its extracellular matrix (ECM), known as focal adhesions, sense different stiffness and molecules involved in the process. For this purpose, I use soft elastic gels (biomaterials), live-cell imaging microscopy, and machine learning-based image analysis to study how different ECM stiffness can affect the force transfer through these connections. Mechanical stiffness of the matrix has been known to dictate cell behavior such as their survival, proliferation, migration, altered drug response and even tumor progression. With my research, I aim to provide new insights in physiology and pathophysiology for developmental disorders, cancer progression and metastasis and designs of tissue transplantation. This is critical in determining treatment strategies for these diseases. Along with research, I was fortunate to mentor and supervise many undergraduate and masters’ students for their respective projects. I also got the opportunity to present my work at different conferences and win grants for my research.

I am grateful to my advisor Dr. Sangyoon J. Han for his continued support and guidance over my PhD years at Michigan Tech. I am also grateful to my committee and biomedical engineering department for supporting me with my PhD journey. I am thankful to the Graduate school and Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for granting me this fellowship. This fellowship will help me dedicate all of my time to complete my dissertation.

Continue Reading →