Post by Brianna Leung

So much of the last year has been positively surreal. I cannot overstate the honor it is to share that I will be attending Stanford University in the fall for my PhD in Bioengineering as part of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, as well as a National Science Foundation (NSF) GRFP Fellow! I plan to use this opportunity to explore accessible healthcare design in neuroengineering, as well as to further my work in grassroots assistive technology development and biomedical engineering education. None of this would be possible without the incredible support of my mentors– Lauren Hammer, Brian Litt, Katie Reuther, LeAnn Dourte Segan, Cynthia Sung, and Kristin McKeown. I have been forever changed by my time at Penn and in Philadelphia, and I look forward to bringing the principles I’ve fostered here to new horizons. I’d also like to thank my wonderful friends and family, who were my guiding lights through many late nights. I am so abundantly grateful for the kindness and consideration of everyone I’ve met throughout the PhD application process, as I truly feel that I’ve made new friends and mentors that I hope to keep for life. Nevertheless, my heart glows with excitement for this next chapter of my career, and I promise to do good with the resources I’ve been afforded.