Greater Boston
I am passionate about developing innovative solutions to challenging problems. Currently, I work as a software engineer at Medtronic, focusing on kinematics development for our surgical robotic system. I received my PhD from Vanderbilt University with a focus on development of both robotic and non-robotic medical devices. During this time l I helped move a medical device from initial idea/sketch all the way to the operating room with FDA investigational device exemption approval.
As a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering, my dissertation work focused on making cochlear-implant electrode array insertion less invasive, safer, and more effective through design, magnetic steering, and impedance sensing. Toward this goal, I designed, fabricated, and evaluated a new cochlear implant insertion tool and helped obtain FDA investigational device exemption approval for its clinical use (as well as helped restart clinical trials). Throughout my PhD, I also worked on a variety of other projects focusing on developing innovative dexterous robotic and non-robotic devices to improve the accessibility and capabilities of minimally invasive surgery. All of this work required exciting interdisciplinary collaboration between clinicians, engineers, and computer scientists on a regular basis, as well as communication of complex technical information across disciplines. My PhD work resulted in 9 journal articles so far (5 first author) and a variety of conference publications and presentations.
In May of 2015, we created Magpie Products LLC, a startup company dedicated to designing and fabricating affordable devices for persons with disabilities. At Magpie, I was challenged to develop devices that not only function well, but are able to be manufactured quickly and affordably.
At Zeeco, I gained practical industry experience and was responsible for the design and execution of tests to evaluate equipment efficacy. I performed a computational heat transfer study to investigate optimal induced air velocity to prevent heat deformation. Throughout the internship, I traveled to North Carolina, New Mexico, and Germany for meetings and device testing. I was one of the few females in my intern group, and I had to work to earn the respect of my colleagues. I eventually succeeded and my team projects produced great results that helped the company develop more effective products.
At the University of Pittsburgh, I was the only student responsible for the user-centered design and fabrication of a robotic wheelchair user interface for the MEBotv2.0. The MEBotv2.0 is a novel robotic wheelchair that allows users to increase their independence and mobility by selecting from a series of driving modes such as curb-climbing or traction control. I designed and printed the hardware of the interface using 3D modeling and 3D printing. In addition, I designed, wrote the code for, and then implemented a graphical user interface that allows a user to personalize the robotic wheelchair to his or her needs and preferences. I assembled and tested the resulting hardware and software, and obtained user feedback from three focus groups. This experience increased my knowledge of device design, particularly in the area of electronics development, a key aspect of biomechanical and medical device innovation. I am first author on a paper describing this research for the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). I presented this work at the 2015 RESNA conference in Denver. I also gave a national presentation in Washington DC as my REU program representative, selected from a pool of 30 interns.