Teaching and Capstone Design

Courses

BME 1001: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering – Course for first-year undergraduates that provides a broad overview of the biomedical engineering field through lectures, hands-on activities, discussions, and faculty guest speakers. Students are also introduced to engineering design basics to solve biomedical engineering and clinical problems, as well as how diversity, equity, inclusion and biomedical ethics factor into decision-making and the design process.

BME 4701: Cell and Molecular Bioengineering – Course for junior/senior-level undergraduates that examines the principles of molecular and cell biology applied to the design of engineered molecules (e.g., therapeutic antibodies, nucleic acids, recombinant molecules), cells (e.g., CAR T cells, stem cells, etc.), and tissues. Topics address how engineered biomolecules and cells are used for therapeutics and diagnostics, in addition to how various cellular and molecular tools are employed to analyze engineered systems and evaluate efficacy.

BME 595: Engineered Model of Human Disease – Course for graduate students and senior undergraduates focused on developing experimental models of human disease (primarily in vitro). Existing model systems are critically assessed to determine their utility and limitations, as well as identify opportunities for how engineers and physical scientists can better “engineer” models of human disease. Topics are studied within the context of current advances in science and technology (research, industry, clinic), clinical case studies, etc. through lecture, discussion, student-led micro-teaching, proposal development, and mock grant review.

Major Qualifying Projects Advised (Senior Capstone)

2018 –2019

  • Heinle, E., Morra, E., Mossman, E., Paul, A. (2019). Design of a Standardized in vitro Model of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration for Implantable Fibrin Microthread Scaffolds (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-042519-100122). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
        • Co-Advised with Dr. George Pins (WPI BME)
  • Frare, M., Manning, J., Oguntolu, T., Sharma, A. (2019). Protein Releasing Microspheres for an In Vitro Intimal Hyperplasia Model (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-042519-122450). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
        • Co-Advised with Dr. Marsha Rolle (WPI BME at time of project)

2019-2020

  • Callahan, E., Ferguson, C., Steigerwald, L., Waskowicz, C. (2020). Perfused Tumor-Tissue Model for ​In Vitro ​Invasion Analysis (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-051420-160343). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
  • Chen, D., Chen, Y., D’Agostino, K., Nguyen, V. (2020). Engineered Fibrotic Microenvironments with Heterogeneous Spatial Organization for In Vitro Disease Modeling (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-051820-175657). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

2020-2021

  • Berry, C., Hoglund, K., Lopes, A., O’Gorman, P. (2021). Bioreactor for In Vitro Evaluation of Tumor Cell Invasion Potential (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-051820-175657). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
  • Chambers, E., Lenihan, E., Enis, V. (2021). Development of Novel and Standardized Cytotoxicity Tests for Additively Manufactured Biomedical Devices (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-051021-130936). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
        • Co-Advised with Dr. Sneha Narra (WPI Mechanical and Materials Engineering at time of project) for MechE student on the project (V. Enis).

2021-2022

  • Hanemann, B., Losh, S., Nieto, A., Santos-Heiman, T. (2022). Perfused Tumor-Tissue Model for Invasion Analysis (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-042822-161218). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
        • Co-Advised with Dr. Robert Daniello (WPI Mechanical and Materials Engineering at time of project) for student double majoring in BME and MechE (S. Losh).
  • Baldwin, A., Chau, L., Maltais, M., Whitney, A. (2022). 3D Engineered Microenvironment for In Vitro Fibrosis Modeling (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-042822-102120). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

2022-2023

  • Aklaff, Z., Hicks, E., Wilde, M. (2023). Designing an In-Vitro Model of Uterine Myometrium to Study Intramural Uterine Fibroids (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-042623-212025). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
  • Cleo Caldwell, C., Drapeau, A., Baeza Gonzalez, A., Rivera, G. (2023). Microfluidic Chip Design for Studying Ultrafiltration Failure in the Fibrotic Peritoneum (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-042723-095326). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

2023-2024

  • Finberg, E., Foote, T., Hernon, L., Kelly, A., Strojny, E. (2024). Developing an In Vitro Model to Modulate Molecular Transport in Uterine Myometrial Tissue (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-PENDING). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
        • Brendon Faber (WPI BME, Humanities) served as a co-advisor for T. Foote to fulfil double-major requirements in Professional Writing.
  • Breen, S., Bolshakov, R., Mastriani, I., Mello, A. (2024). Microfluidic Chip for Modeling Peritoneal Dialysis Ultrafiltration Failure (Undergraduate Major Qualifying Project No. E-project-PENDING). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.