Students share their fondest memories and top lessons as they finish their degrees
More than 120 new biomedical engineers will head out into the world Dec. 17 and 18 when the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering celebrates Commencement at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Most of those students — roughly 100 — will complete their bachelor’s degree. The rest are earning a master’s degree in biomedical engineering or one of our doctorates: a joint Ph.D. from Emory University and Georgia Tech, an interdisciplinary Ph.D. from Georgia Tech, and a joint Ph.D. from Emory, Tech, and Peking University.
We asked graduates to share memories of their years in the Coulter Department and a lesson that has stuck with them. Here’s what some of them said:
Fondest Memory: “My fondest memory is working in a team on a Parkinson's disease problem in BMED 2250. We worked to develop a solution for the gait issues and named our project ‘Trunk'D.’ We all became good friends after that class, and it really taught me how to become a better team player.”
One Thing You’ve Learned: “Celebrate every accomplishment, no matter how small.”
Up Next: Job at BW Design Group
Parting Thought: “I really enjoyed having Ms. Luppino as my advisor. She was so helpful!”
Fondest Memory: “I am so incredibly thankful for the interactions with Shannon Sullivan and Kyla Ross, which resulted in the revival of the Graduate Student Advocacy Board. I will fondly remember the first annual BME Holiday Party that we hosted — I really felt like a part of the community, and it was so fun seeing the graduate students come together for both fun and advocacy of student needs.”
One Thing You’ve Learned: “Each of our stories is important — recognizing my own story and others’ stories allows me to be a more empathetic and inclusive engineer.”
Up Next: Postdoctoral Researcher Position
Parting Thought: “Thank you so much for caring for students and their experiences in our Department!”
Fondest Memory: “My fondest memory is from the first project I worked on in BME, where we designed and built a pair of smart shoes to measure one's gait. It wasn't the most stylish shoe, but I remember walking around the BioQuad with the shoes connected to several wires to test out our prototype. It was exciting to finally get the device to work and see our hard work coming together.”
One Thing You’ve Learned: “One thing I have learned through BME at Georgia Tech is how to work collaboratively with others. With so many courses that implement problem-based learning and group work, I have learned to work in groups of all sizes — with both friends and strangers (who later become friends) and who all have different skills and backgrounds. It has definitely prepared me to enter the medical device industry following graduation.”
Up Next: Working in advanced operations at Stryker and pursuing M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University
Fondest Memory: “One of my fondest memories during my time in BME was when I was taking BMED 2310. It was the night before our crusher project was due, and half of the class was in the 2310 room working. Even though we were all stressed about the project and getting things to work, there was a real sense of camaraderie and collaboration. As I've gone through the curriculum, I have realized that feeling was a microcosm of what BME represents: hardworking students promoting and fostering learning environments.”
One Thing You’ve Learned: “One molecule of Julius Caesar's last breath remains in the atmosphere.”
Up Next: Johnson & Johnson GOLD Program Associate
Parting Thought: “Keep your users at the focus of everything. It is so easy to get lost in the nitty gritty, but realizing the impact your work will have makes it all worth it!”
Fondest Memory: “Finishing my BMED 2310 class with my group members. Since 2310 is a semester-long project, essentially, it was really rewarding when we were finished and could look at all the work we did.”
One Thing You’ve Learned: “I've learned so much! Definitely a lot of technical knowledge, but I think I'll always remember that no matter how daunting the problem might seem, not to be intimidated. I may not know how to solve a problem off the bat, but that doesn't mean I'll never know how to solve it. I can always figure it out.”
Up Next: Industry
Parting Thought: “BME really does stand for Best Major Ever.”
