Supporting this course allowed me to deepen my technical expertise in cardiovascular biomechanics while also mentoring students in applying engineering mechanics to medical challenges. The course combined fundamental science, such as constitutive modeling of cardiac and vascular tissues, with applied device-focused content on grafts, valves, catheters, stents, and other minimally invasive interventions. My role reinforced my knowledge of solid mechanics in the cardiovascular system and gave me experience guiding students through computational simulations and problem-solving relevant to device design.
As a teaching assistant, I not only reinforced my own understanding of biomaterials and orthopaedic device design but also honed my ability to communicate complex engineering concepts clearly. The course focused on the structure-property relationships of biomaterials and their responses to physiological environments, such as corrosion, fracture, and fatigue. Guiding students through implant design principles and device failure analysis sharpened my skills in critical evaluation of medical device performance, and teaching in this space strengthened my leadership, mentorship, and technical communication abilities.
This advanced course emphasised continuum mechanics and computational modeling of soft tissues and biomaterials. I gained experience applying constitutive models to complex biological materials, interpreting tissue responses under mechanical loading, and developing computational simulations to predict performance. These skills are directly translatable to evaluating device-tissue interactions, designing implants, and ensuring device durability within biological environments.
This course trained me in the principles and applications of finite element modeling (FEM) for solid biomechanics. I learned to construct, verify, and validate models, use appropriate parameters, and communicate simulation results effectively. By working through pre- and post-processing workflows, anatomic modelling, and convergence testing, I built technical proficiency in applying FEM to biomedical problems. These skills are directly relevant to evaluating stress distributions, failure points & methods, and design performance in medical devices.
In this course, I explored advanced fabrication strategies for regenerative medicine, including additive manufacturing and bioinspired processing approaches. I gained insights into how biomaterials and cells can be engineered to create functional tissue constructs, as well as how micro-physiological systems can be developed to model tissue-level behavior. These experiences sharpened my perspective on how device development intersects with emerging fields of tissue engineering, particularly in designing next-generation therapies and biointegrated devices.
This capstone design studio provided intensive, hands-on experience in advanced prototyping and testing medical devices to industry standards. Working within a team environment, I gained proficiency in advanced prototyping techniques, design controls, verification and validation (V&V) processes, and quality and safety requirements that mirror regulatory expectations. Additionally, I strengthened my project management, technical documentation, and interdisciplinary communication skills, which are critical capabilities for driving device concepts from ideation to functional prototypes in R&D environments.
Through this course, I gained a strong foundation in the physics, instrumentation, and computational methods underlying major medical imaging modalities, including X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and nuclear imaging. I developed practical skills in MATLAB programming to model imaging data acquisition and reconstruction, as well as an appreciation for how imaging parameters influence image quality. This technical background enhances my ability to understand imaging-based diagnostics, which is critical for designing devices and interventions that integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows.
This course deepened my ability to model and analyse how energy, mass, and momentum are transported within biological systems across multiple scales. By studying fluid mechanics, mass transport, bioheat transfer, and biochemical kinetics in the context of physiology, I developed a strong foundation in applying conservation laws to real biological processes. These skills directly strengthen my capacity to evaluate device-tissue interactions and design solutions that align with fundamental physiological transport phenomena.