Manage day to day operations of the Plakous Therapeutics R&D laboratory. Conceptualizing strategies, developing techniques and technologies needed to create clinical or research products, while investigating the feasibility of the potential inventions and products.Designing, drafting, and executing research development plans with adherence to design control policies.Provide scientific support for technical staff, and execute quality documentation and laboratory compliance. Interface with external CROs to complete VC/VI activities, sterilization validations, and CMC method qualifications.Provide knowledge compilation and distribution through applicable grant writing and scientific technical reports and regulatory submissions.

Biomedical Instrumentation Lab Instructor20 students per lab3 labs per week I had the opportunity to teach circuit design and troubleshooting principals for biological sensors and biomedical devices. My favorite part was the opportunity to interact with students in a small group setting and see the various ways groups would solve a similar problem. Intro to Engineering Teaching Assistance & Clinical Round Coordinator5-15 clinical rounds per weekMy role involved Interacting with doctors on the Medical Campus of Virginia Health System to schedule clinical rounds for 50 biomedical engineering freshmen each week throughout the semester, as well as provide advice for freshmen as they figure out college. Statics and Mechanics of Materials Teaching AssistantStudent tutoring and weekly course recitationsClassroom lecturesAs a teaching assistant for this course I worked with students twice a week working on practical engineering problems and teaching different approaches to solve said problems. I developed the homework assignments and created practice problems to help students better prepare for quizzes and tests. I also had the opportunity to give a course lecture on methodologies to solve for moments and forces in 3-dimensions.

My research focuses on examining the effects of manufacturing by powder bed laser fusion of titanium-based implants on the cellular response of osteoblasts and stem cells. Through my research, I have had the opportunity to examine the effects of surface modifications, post-processing techniques, and complex architectural changes on stem cell differentiation into bone-forming osteoblasts. I hope to translate these manufacturing design principles into personalized on-the-spot manufacturing of implants for patients with compromised clinical conditions. My overall goal is to combine additive manufacturing design considerations and biomedical engineering, as an astronaut, to research emergency medicine applications in space exploration. Titanium Implants | Surface Modifications | Additive Manufacturing | Powder Bed Laser Fusion | Osseointegration | Surface Characterization | Stem Cell Differentiation

My role as the graduate and professional student representative is to represent the student body at VCU to the VCU Board of Visitors. In my role, I have had the opportunity to meet and engage with student leaders from both the Monroe Park Campus and the Medical Campus of Virginia. My goal is to help connect the two diverse student populations by working with the student organization on both campuses and to advocate for resources and planning to help with student retention and success.

I got into rocking climbing because nothing beats climbing through the tree line to witness the view from the top of a 100-foot rock face!As a rock wall manager at VCU, my responsibilities included monitoring and maintaining a safe environment for climbers and staff, development of new routes to climb, and teaching courses on proper belaying techniques for top rope and sport climbing, in addition to climbing techniques. I loved teaching these course because there was so much cross-over with engineering principles in an accessible environment for non-STEM majors.

The DURI program has had the most influence on my academic career. Throughout the fellowship, I had hands-on experience, under the guidance of a graduate student mentor, learning vital laboratory techniques for surface characterization, cell response and culture, and experimental design. I fell in love with research due to this program and it has by far provided me with one of the best foundations to succeed in graduate school.