Four BME Students Honored with 2024-25 College of Engineering Fellowships
By Karina Shevchenko
The Department of Biomedical Engineering extends its congratulations to four of its graduate students who have been awarded fellowships from the College of Engineering for the 2024-25 academic year. Joel Disu from Sossena Wood’s lab has been honored with the Neil and Jo Bushnell Fellowship. Yuhyun Lee from Pulkit Grover’s lab has received the Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship in Engineering. Mengrou (Lucia) Lu from Siyang Zheng’s lab has been awarded the Liang Ji-Dian Graduate Fellowship. Additionally, Barbie Varghese from Charlie Ren’s lab has been granted the Presidential Fellowship in the College of Engineering. These fellowships, generously supported by donors, enable the college to attract and support students who exemplify excellence and contribute diverse talents, experiences, and perspectives to the Carnegie Mellon University community.
Joel Disu
Neil and Jo Bushnell Fellowship
Joel began his journey with CMU’s biomedical engineering as a PhD student in the fall of 2022 under the mentorship of Sossena Wood, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, in the Wood Neuro Research Group. His research focuses on developing an inclusive multi-modal, noninvasive hemodynamic imaging technique and data analysis. This work aims to visualize and quantify the management and treatment of vascular diseases with neural effects and neural disorders, particularly sickle cell disease (SCD). Currently, Joel delves into investigating the underlying brain mechanisms of chronic pain in individuals with SCD by integrating various neuroimaging techniques. The overarching goal of his research is to monitor brain responses and neural activity during functional tests, providing insights into the neural mechanisms underlying pain and sensory processing associated with the disease. Joel plans to continue this research in an industrial setting, where he can translate his findings into practical applications, bringing tangible improvements and treatment protocols to the lives of those affected by SCD.
"It is a great honor to receive this award, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Neil and Jo Bushnell for their generosity. Their support has fueled my determination to make meaningful contributions to the scientific community," said Joel. "I am also very grateful to Dr. Sossena Wood for her unwavering support and encouragement, which have been instrumental in guiding me through my graduate school experience. Additionally, I deeply appreciate the teamwork, collaboration, and dedication of my lab mates in the Wood Neuro Research Group."
Furthermore, Joel expressed his appreciation for the sense of community and belonging fostered by the biomedical engineering department, which accommodates diversity and promotes collaboration.
Yuhyun Lee
Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship in Engineering
Yuhyun embarked on her journey at CMU’s biomedical engineering in the fall of 2021, working closely with Pulkit Grover, the Angel Jordan Professor of biomedical engineering and electrical & computer engineering, in the ∀ (For All) Lab. She is studying electrical brain stimulation with the ultimate goal of utilizing the brain in novel applications. Yuhyun is developing a safer and more efficient platform to stimulate deep brain areas, aiming to enhance accessibility while minimizing surgical damage and reducing pain induced by the stimulation process. These approaches hold promise for modulating neural activities and treating neural-based disorders that are often challenging to cure. Yuhyun’s future plan is to leverage the knowledge and techniques gained through her studies at the biomedical engineering department to develop applications that enhance sensory functions for individuals with disabilities. In pursuit of this goal, she plans to remain in academia to advance technological capabilities and then transition to industry to ensure widespread distribution of the application to those in need.
“I feel honored to be a recipient of the Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship. I am deeply grateful to my advisors, Pulkit Grover and Mats Forssell, whose support and guidance have inspired me to pursue research in a new field. Their encouragement, bolstered by the Fellowship, keeps me motivated in my endeavors,” added Yuhyun.
Yuhyun chose CMU’s biomedical engineering for its high-quality multidisciplinary research and education. She appreciates the environment that supports experiments, clinical trials, and computational tools essential for neural engineering.
Mengrou (Lucia) Lu
Liang Ji-Dian Graduate Fellowship
Lucia joined biomedical engineering in the fall of 2019. She is working with Siyang Zheng, professor of biomedical and electrical & computer engineering, in the Micro & Nano Integrated Biosystem Laboratory. Her research includes three major projects. Developing an AND-gate dual-targeting system with a split prodrug converter enzyme for targeted cancer therapy. Exploring direct delivery of plasma membrane protein using mechanical extracellular vesicles for cystic fibrosis treatment. Designing a surfactant-infused space-domain RT-qPCR system for the rapid detection of viral pathogens. Lucia aims to transition into industry, aspiring to translate laboratory technologies into tangible patient benefits.
“Receiving the Liang Ji-Dian Fellowship fills me with confidence, reminding me that my work in biomedical engineering is valued and impactful. This recognition strengthens my belief in the importance of what I do. With this boost in confidence, I feel even more determined to contribute to the advancement of biomedical engineering,” stated Lucia.
Lucia believes that CMU’s College of Engineering is the ideal place for any engineer.
Barbie Varghese
Presidential Fellowship in the College of Engineering
Barbie embarked on her journey with biomedical engineering in the fall of 2019, initially as a master’s student and later transitioning to a Ph.D. program. She works with Charlie Ren, associate professor of biomedical engineering, within his Engineered Morphogenesis Group. Her research aims to address the limitations of current lung tissue engineering methods by integrating advances in lung stem cell engineering with bioprinting techniques. The lab's intent is to fabricate airway and alveolar tissues with more realistic morphology and accessible lumens for dynamic culture. Ultimately, the hope is that this platform will enhance the ability to understand developmental lung tissue morphogenesis and probe respiratory disease mechanisms.
At the moment, she is considering both options, staying in academia and moving to industry, as they both have their appeal. Her strategy is to cast a wide network and apply to various opportunities and only then decide which path aligns best with her goals and interests.
“I'm really thankful and honored to have been awarded this fellowship,” noted Barbie.
Barbie was drawn to CMU’s biomedical engineering department because of its emphasis on conducting groundbreaking research to advance the field of tissue engineering.