Shail Mehta Email & Phone Number

Manchester, New Hampshire, United States

I work with the Organ Manufacturing Group at United Therapeutics on their effort to develop bio-compatible 3D-printed scaffolds for whole organ bio-printing. Specifically, I:• Design and develop mechanical characterization techniques for our candidate biomaterials• Test native tissue to develop our understanding of native biomechanics and inform our mechanical testing targets• Work with a range of internal teams to help develop formulation and print parameters leading to more physiological mechanics of candidate biomaterialsThus far, I have:• Incorporated native lung dissection and testing strongly into our goal-setting approach so that mechanical testing targets are obtained in a data-driven manner that is sensitive to the vast mechanical heterogeneity of the native organ• Personally performed dissection and testing of native porcine lungs to extract and test branching sections of native airway and vasculature. These test results were used to develop a localized map of mechanical properties of the different constituent tissues of the lung• Redesigned the organizations' mechanical testing protocols to comply with testing standards (specifically, ASTM D638 and ISO7198) where applicable, while adding extra layers of rigor such as fluid bath testing and specimen visual analysis to ensure physiological relevance• Developed and incorporated dynamic testing capabilities via viscoelasticity and fatigue testing protocols, with custom-designed fixtures for multi-specimen testing to increase throughput• Collaborated with multiple working groups at the company to a) disseminate information about mechanical testing and native biomechanics, b) perform personnel training on mechanical testing protocols, and c) organize goal-setting discussions to obtain perspective and buy-in from these groups.

Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States

I worked on supporting the use of ElectroForce mechanical testing systems for a wide range of applications in both academia and industry, ranging from medical devices to aerospace-grade materials. I provided support through a couple of avenues:• I performed mechanical testing on a wide range of customer-supplied samples as per their application requirements using instruments most suited to this application in our product line, and report on the results. • I provided instrument demonstrations customized to the testing needs of a range of customers to illustrate the suitability of a particular instrument to their application.• I work with customers and sales representatives to configure instrument quotes and provide information on instruments' capabilities. • I advised on how to adapt an instrument and its accessories to a customer's needs for more specialized and/or non-standard applications.• I helped troubleshoot systems and coordinate as necessary with different internal departments to ensure that system operations continues accurately and smoothly.• I provided hands-on training for all ElectroForce systems in our product line.• I helped create a range of different technical content (videos, webinars etc.) providing potential and current customers with an easily-accessible and visually concise material demonstrating the capabilities of our instruments and how to best use them.

Houston, Texas, United States

I worked on incorporating carbon nanotubes in biomaterials in order to enhance their mechanical and electrical properties for application towards stretchable electronics, soft actuators, and prosthetic tissue.• I independently wrote a successful grant for this project, earning $50,000 in funding.• I assembled an experimental setup wherein I could perform simultaneous illumination and alignment of carbon nanotubes in our biomaterial, in order to lock them into configurations advantageous to bulk mechanical and electrical behavior.

Houston, Texas, United States

I designed and built a low-cost (< $600) open source mechanical testing device capable of performing simultaneous mechanical testing and microscopy on a sample. • I measured the deflection of 3D-printed plastic posts using a video processing script I wrote in MATLAB to measure sample forces. • This device allows for the study of the relationships between sample micro-structure and bulk mechanical behavior.• Such studies are of particular interest to the field of study of genetically modified mouse tissue. This device could thus assist in making connections between genetic makeup and observed physiological behavior. Check out the images below to learn more!

Houston, Texas Area

I developed a novel approach to fabricate biomaterials with mechanical properties more similar to those of biological tissue. • I designed and built a laser beam expansion setup to perform precision patterning of our light-sensitive material. • My approach allows for this material to be formed into highly precise patterns without sacrificing material strength.• This research works towards making this biomaterial more suitable for replacing damaged or diseased tissue. Check out the images below if you'd like to learn more!

Houston, Texas, United States

I assisted a class of 20 students with building biologically relevant electronics projects for a biomedical instrumentation course.

Northfield, Minnesota

I acted as a liaison between students and professors, provided advice regarding research and classwork to students, and provided feedback to professors regarding changes to syllabus and department requirements.

Northfield, Minnesota

• I acted as the director and co-director of a program called the Young Astronomer Summer Experience, wherein we instructed a group of 12 middle-school students in telescope use with CCD imaging cameras.• I assisted with monthly observatory open house sessions, astronomy programs and special events for local students ranging from boy/girl scout troops to undergraduates, hosting up to 200 participants at a given time.• I maintained and tested observation equipment (6 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector telescopes, 16-inch refractor telescope, CCD cameras) to ensure optimal operation.

Northfield, Minnesota

I held tutoring sessions for homework assistance and general concept review for classes up to 40 students in size, and provided feedback on student assignments.

Northfield, Minnesota

I worked to determine the chemical distribution and luminosity properties of 2 spiral and 6 dwarf galaxies in the Local Group, a collection of galaxies in our immediate neighborhood.• I generated catalogs of dead star remnants based on their shapes and chemical compositions. These catalogs allowed us to determine which of these galaxies were actively forming stars, and which of them were slowly dying away.• I linked reduced detection of a certain element in the Andromeda galaxy to possible interference effects caused by dust belts. This work helped provide a clear visual explanation of this measurement aberration.

Northfield, Minnesota

I worked to generalize common physics problems (such as the block-on-plane and Bernoulli's Brachistochrone problems) using concepts of special relativity in order to explore possible applications to outstanding problems in the field of theoretical physics.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Engineering Physics/Applied Physics

Activities and Societies: Certificate in Teaching and Learning from Rice Center of Teaching Excellence

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Physics

Activities and Societies: Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society Member. Karate Club, Treasurer and President. Astronomy Club.