Grace Rhinehart Email & Phone Number

Facilitate development of medical and consumer products. Working in a team environment to transform client ideas into tangible and manufacturable products. Experience with SolidWorks, FEA, design controls and documentation, as well as V&V.

Rtp

Aided in the development of microfluidic electrochemical sensors to improve sepsis diagnosis for at-risk patients. Automated experimental data analysis using Excel Visual Basic for multiple projects. Simulated fluid flow within sensors using FEA in SolidWorks. Designed and validated parts to be 3D printed via SolidWorks Static Analysis. Designed and fabricated a novel microfluidic sensor using gas permeable membranes.Designed photomasks via AutoCAD/DraftSight and fabricated sensors through photolithography. Executed various experiments and maintained a lab notebook following good documentation practices (GDP). Contributions to device development generated new intellectual property, patent pending. Gained experience in photolithography, GDP, and medical device/sensor design. Expanded VBA and SolidWorks FEA knowledge. Lab equipment experience: soldering, potentiostat, mask aligner, e-beam evaporator, profilometer, clean room class 100 and class 1000

Raleigh, North Carolina

Worked on microneedle fabrication for the extraction of interstitial fluid. Microneedles will be used in conjunction with electrochemical analysis to determine the concentration of analytes in interstitial fluid (e.g. electrolytes, glucose).Enhanced technical writing skills, data analysis skills, presentation skills.Participated in Abrams Scholar program - presented research at end of the year presentation and completed final report of findings.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Selected by the College of Textiles to tutor peers in subjects including; physics, calculus, chemistry, and VBA programming in Microsoft Excel. Strengthened problem-solving and interpersonal relationship skills.

Funded by ASSIST at NCSU (Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies). Collaborated with an Electrical and Computer Engineering team to develop a comfortable garment capable of measuring an individual's full EKG signal via integration of wearable electrodes and electronics. An Android application was developed to wirelessly transmit the EKG signal sensed by the garment. The project won best overall among 15 ISE projects, 16 TE/TT projects, and 31 ECE projects during NCSU Design Day. In the future, the signal will be wirelessly transmitted to a physician that will use the garment for routine monitoring or the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias.Enhanced project planning, product design and fabrication, and product verification and validation skills.

Worked in both Textile and R&D departments. Completed research for product innovation and assisted in the design of new products for patient gowns within the Textile department. Facilitated QA testing of Medline products within the R&D laboratory which conforms to FDA QSR. Executed testing via ASTM standards. Trained in ASTM D6545 and ASTM D412.Gained experience in ASTM testing, product development, and quality.

Worked in 1st Generation Biofuels. Revised ethanol yield equation through the application of Six Sigma Methodology. Standardized the process for measuring solids and decreased the error associated with the equation by 77%. The new process will be used by Novozymes' customers to consistently measure ethanol yield. Received a Six Sigma Green Belt Certification for the project.Enhanced JMP skills, expanded applications of Six Sigma, demonstrated analytical skills.Lab equipment experience: NIR, Moisture Balance, Labomat for Liquefaction, Pycnometer

Collaboration with Penn State University. Worked with body-worn antennas that respond to chemical, photo, and mechanical environmental changes. Devised a method for fabrication of silicone samples for body-worn antenna research sponsored by the ASSIST (Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies) Program. Explored the relationship between sample curing time and conductive paste resistance.In the future, the antennas will become part of an integrated system that will transmit information to a physician about an individual's internal and environmental conditions. Data will be used to assess the possible risk for diseases such as asthma.Improved communication skills, designed a research poster, presented at the 23rd Annual Undergraduate Research SymposiumLab equipment experience: Multi-meter, Microscope Camera, PDMS fabrication, screen printing

Programmed a database in Excel for all headliner products. Collaborated with a team of engineers and designers to improve marketing presentations to international customers. The database will be updated as product portfolio changes.Diversified communication skills, improved VBA programming abilities, enhanced presentation skills