Biomedical Engineering Newsletter
Edited by Vijay Vaidyanathan
Welcome to the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Texas! The department of Biomedical Engineering has scaled new heights in fall 2023. Our enrollment is at its highest ever, with 330 students. Our M.S. program has grown by leaps and bounds to reach its highest enrollment since inception in 2017. In two years, our innovative Ph.D. program has grown to 29 students. I am very proud to say that all Ph.D. students are fully funded. Thanks to all the hard work put in by our faculty, we are in a position where all faculty members are funded and are able to sustain their research laboratories. In fall 2023, five out of nine capstone projects are industry sponsored, three are sponsored by faculty and one is the students’ own idea. We have added much needed space to build three new teaching laboratories for our students - a biomedical modeling laboratory, a wet laboratory and a virtual reality laboratory. As we get closer to our 10 year anniversary, the department is now venturing into more exciting areas healthcare startups. Four of our faculty have created startups originating from their research. Dr. Moo-Yeal Lee has been successful in obtaining venture capital funding for his startup. May 2023 saw our first Biomedical Engineering, Ph.D. graduates walking the stage. We have now graduated 340 students, with all three degrees since our first graduates walked the stage in May 2018. February 2024 will be exactly 10 years since my proposal was approved by the state to start a Biomedical Engineering at UNT. Time flies when you are having fun! Go BMEN! Go Mean Green! Sincerely, Vijay Vaidyanathan, Ph.D. Founding Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering
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Our Curriculum Our Undergraduate Program
Our Graduate Program
8 Degree Tracks
Biomedical Engineering, M.S.
Biomedical Instrumentation
30 hours with Thesis option
Biomechanics
33 hours with Non-thesis option
Biocomputing
Electives from Engineering, Management, Health Services Administration, Performance Arts Health, or Speech and Hearing
Biomaterials Biotechnology Pre-med* Business Comprehensive BMEN
3-in-1 Degree: Major in BMEN Minor in MATH Minor in one of the following: EENG/MEEN/ CSCE/MTSE/BIOL
M.S. - MBA in 2 Years: Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering / MBA in Business Management The UNT G. Brint Ryan College of Business and the College of Engineering offer a joint degree program which confers an MBA in Business Management from the College of Business and a Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering.
Ph.D. in BMEN Our New Business Track:
Two tracks:
Starting Fall 2021, students opting for this track 1. Academia track can choose four approved electives from the G. 2. Startup Track with electives from Brint Ryan College of Business at UNT. Students have the option of getting a business College of Business minor by choosing two more approved electives.
Semester Credit Hours: A minimum of 120 semester credit hours, of which 36 must be advanced courses, is required for the baccalaureate degree in Biomedical Engineering. A minimum of 137 semester credit hours is required for the pre-med* degree track. 02
UNT Biomedical Engineering By the Numbers: Fall 2023
Undergraduate Program
Graduate Program
Year Started:
Year Started: MS
Fall 2014
Fall 2017
Students Enrolled:
Year Started: Ph.D.
222
Fall 2021
55.4% Female
Students Enrolled: 79 (MS), 54.4% female
Total Graduates:
29 (Ph.D.), 65.5% female
253
Total MS Graduates: Employed by:
85
Abbott Alcon
Graduate Assistants:
Biomerics
Teaching: 11
Boston Scientific
Research: 20
Medtronic Smith & Nephew
Average Research
Stryker
Expenditure (FY23):
TI
$1.85M
GE Medical
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UNT Biomedical Engineering Student Demographics: Fall 2023
African-American:
8.18%
Hispanic:
22.4%
Asian and Pacific Islander:
10.9%
White:
36.12%
Non-resident:
21.8%
American-Indian:
0.3%
Other:
0.3%
Men:
44%
Women:
56%
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Research Awards and Faculty Recognition Dr. Moo-Yeal Lee Grant title: Modeling diabetes using an integrated plate system Funding agency: NIH UG3/UH3 DK119982 Amount: $1,954,936 Duration of award: 09/20/18 – 07/31/23
Dr. Clement Chan Grant title: Development of Genetic Sensors and Circuits for Creating Novel Cellular Behaviors Funding agency: NIH/NIGMS (R35GM142421)
Amount: $1,525,588 Duration of award: 9/15/2021 – 8/31/2026
Dr. Amir Jafari Grant title: CAREER: A Prosthetic Elbow with Network of Soft and Modular Thermo-Active Actuators for Mobility Impaired Patients Funding agency: NSF Amount: $525,046 Duration of award: 05/01/2021-04/30/2026
Dr. Brian Meckes Grant title: Mechanoregulators of nanoparticle-cell interactions at tissue interfaces Funding agency: NIH/NIGMS R35GM150577 Amount: $1.798M Duration of award: 09/01/213– 06/30/28 Ralph E. Powe Research Award
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Research Awards and Faculty Recognition Dr. Neda Habibi Grant title: New approach based on enzyme stimulating of peptides for targeting drug resistant breast cancers Funding agency: NIH Amount: Total budget $549,900 Duration of award: 2023-2025
Dr. Lin Li Grant title: New approach for identification pHFO networks to predict epileptogenesis
Funding agency: NIH/NINDS (R16NS131108) Amount: $720,100 Duration of award: 07/15/2022-06/30/2026
Dr. Huaxiao Yang Grant title: NOTCH signaling on the underdeveloped cardiac vascularization of hypoplastic left heart syndrome Funding agency: NIH/NICHHD (R15HD108720) Amount: $438,157 Duration of award: 09/08/2022-08/31/2025
Dr. Yong Yang Grant title: ONH Chips for Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration Funding agency: NIH/NEI (R15EY033967) Amount: $463,167 Duration of award: 09/30/2022-05/31/2025
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Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research Areas Dr. Yong Yang: Micro and nanotechnology innovations in medicine; tumor on chip, biomimetic environments.
Dr. Lin Li: Multi-modality approaches in biomarker study of post-traumatic epilepsy, development of data driven Dr. Moo-Yeal Lee: 3D bioprinting of approach for automatic pattern recognition in neurointensive care human tissues for disease unit. modeling and predictive drug screening. Dr. Amir Jafari: Soft robotics and artificial muscles, exoskeletons, rehabilitation robotics. Dr. Clement Chan: Protein design and engineering for creating biosensors, genetic circuit approach to develop cellular devices for health. Dr. Brian Meckes: Modulating stem cell differentiation for bone cartilage interface regeneration; nanoparticle delivery systems for improved delivery and decreased off-target effects. Dr. Fateme Esmailie: Cardiovascular fluid dynamics, Thermal Fluid Assisted Medicine, Computational modeling. 07
Dr. Huaxiao ‘Adam’ Yang: Stem cell bioengineering for cardiovascular disease modeling and regenerative medicine. Dr. Neda Habibi: New drug delivery systems for cancer treatments using nanotechnology Dr. Melanie Ecker: Polymers for biomedical applications, biomaterials, flexible bioelectronics and neural interfaces. Dr. Youngwook Won: Immunoengineering, effectorfunction maximized NK cells, surface-engineered immune cells, hybrid-allosteric receptor stem cells Dr. Vijay Vaidyanathan: Biomedical engineering for the elderly, vital sign monitoring.
Research Spotlight: Dr. Neda Habibi Dr. Habibi has a Ph.D. in Nano-biotechnology specializing in Bionanomaterials and drug delivery. She received her PhD degree from the University of Genova, Italy in 2012. She is an alumna of the Division of Engineering in Medicine and Renal Division of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard University where she was visiting Assistant Professor at Dr. Shafiee’s Laboratory. From 2016, she has been a research assistance professor with Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Prior to join UNT, she was coordinating a Nano-engineering program at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio. Habibi’s research is focused on integrating nanotechnology and biomaterials to develop new nanotherapeutics with higher efficiency compared to conventional therapeutic systems. The research approach of Habibi’s laboratory involves studying the interaction of selfassembling biomaterials such as peptide and proteins with cells specifically cancer cells and mesenchymal stem cells to develop new nanomedicine and regenerative medicine.
Habibi and her team focus on design and synthesis of new sequences of short peptides with enzyme triggered self-assembling capability and screen the extracellular and intracellular interactions of these molecules in cancer cells. Her lab examines the cellular target of these molecules and potential enzymatic triggered interactions. Habibi’s lab is expected to evaluate the preclinical potential of these peptides for inhibiting drug resistance breast cancers and boosting efficiency of anticancer drug delivery. Her lab is also working on developing soft peptide hydrogel to encapsulate, align and differentiate mesenchymal stem cells. Habibi has received grants from federal agencies such as National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF).
Nanomedicine provides benefits such as improving biodistribution, controlling delivery of drug molecules, targeting to cells, reduced systemic toxicity and overall improving the drug’s efficacy. Nanoparticles, liposomes and polymers were the first generation of therapeutic drug delivery systems that entered the market over the past two decades. Despite the lack of controlled release and molecular targeting properties in these products, they were able to enhance drug tolerability and/or efficacy. The introduction of controlled-release properties and targeting ligands in developing next-generation carriers is a promising approach in further facilitating their application in theranostic nanomedicine. Habibi’s research in drug delivery intends to take advantage of bio-inspired selfassembled nanostructures for efficient, safe, targeted and controlled drug delivery. 08
Teaching Assistant Spotlight Camrie Johnson
Camrie Johnson is a graduate (M.S.) student at UNT in Biomedical Engineering. She has been working as a teaching assistant in the department. She has taught labs for the following courses: Discover Biomedical Engineering; Software for Biomedical Engineers; Biomedical Signal Analysis, and Senior Design 1. Johnson loves interacting with students and creating engaging lesson plans like decellularizing spinach leaves, designing an organ on a chip system on SolidWorks, analyzing EEG signals, and creating an app on MATLAB. In addition to teaching, she conducts research in Dr. Brian Meckes’ lab. Her primary research interest is optimizing lipid nanoparticle formulations for transcytosis within lung tissue for fibrosis. She also assists in Dr. Yong Yang’s laboratory with a focus in manufacturing lung-on-a-chip systems.
laboratory with a focus in manufacturing lung-on-a-chip systems.
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Student Spotlight Allesandra Palladino Biomedical Engineering Senior Palladino is a senior in Biomedical Engineering, pursuing the Biotechnology track. She is passionate about Biomedical Engineering because it can help solve healthcare problems using an interdisciplinary approach. She is conducting research at Dr. Ecker’s lab, where she is studying new bioactive glasses and their biocompatibility. Palladino’s research allows her to apply and grow her skills in biology, chemistry, engineering, and materials science. She would like to continue her education by pursuing a Master’s Degree. Ultimately, she would like to find an industry position where she can research new treatments or develop biomedical devices that can help many patients.
Victoria Gnenema Biomedical Engineering Senior Comenin Victoria Lynda Gnenema, originally hails from the city of Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire. She is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with a dual minor in Mathematics and Biology. Since 2020, she has been dedicated to her academic journey at the University of North Texas, where she has embraced the unique opportunity to explore the dynamic intersection of healthcare and technology. In addition to her coursework, she is the Treasurer of the Alpha Eta Mu Beta Biomedical Engineering Honor Society at UNT, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence and leadership within the field. She is also an active and engaged member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, fostering a network of like-minded individuals who share her passion for advancing healthcare through engineering. Beyond the classroom and her academic affiliations, she serves as an Assistive Technology Intern with a medical equipment company, contributing to the development of innovative solutions that enhance the lives of individuals with medical needs. Upon the completion of her undergraduate journey, Victoria aspires to further her education by pursuing a doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering. 18
Student Spotlight Chandler Cook M.S. in Biomedical Engineering and MBA Cook is a graduate student pursuing a dual masters in Biomedical Engineering and M.B.A. in Management, set to conclude in May 2024. Chandler's passion lies in Biomedical Engineering, with a keen focus on medical devices, prosthetics, and research and development. Cook possesses a solid academic background with coursework covering a diverse range of subjects including cellular systems, medical imaging, and 3D bioprinting. They demonstrate extensive technical proficiency in programming languages, software applications, and essential hardware components. Additionally, Cook holds certifications in areas such as Scrum Master and lab safety. In addition to their academic pursuits, Cook has excelled in various roles such as Graduate Eagle Ambassador and during their tenure in a Co-Op Program at Abbott Diagnostics, showcasing leadership in New Product Development and Community Service Events. Active involvement in professional organizations like Toastmasters and engagement in extracurricular activities like 3D printing and circuit designing reflect Cook's dedication to personal growth and community engagement.
Allyson Tesky M.S. in Biomedical Engineering Tesky graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Department of Biomedical Engineering in May 2023, with minors in math, computer science, and electrical engineering. During that time, she was accepted into the accelerated B.S.-M.S. Grad Track program. She is an active member of Alpha Eta Mu Beta (AEMB), honor society for biomedical engineers, where she served as an officer, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN)—an invite-only honor society. In the summer of her junior year, Tesky lived abroad in Ireland for 2 months while she worked under Prodigyo SRL as a project-based intern with several other students. Tesky is a graduate Research Assistant in Dr. Anupama Kaul’s Nanoscale Materials and Devices Laboratory where she researches bio-compatible solution processed graphene. Tesky and her senior design team earned first place for their shoe for hallux valgus, a design that they are now working together to file a patent for. program. Tesky is a published research author. She is also training to become a Texas Master Naturalist. 19
Student Spotlight Chandani Chitrakar Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering Chitrakar, just defended her dissertation successfully in November, completing her Ph.D. journey in Biomedical Engineering. Prior to this, she earned her master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from UNT, building upon her bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University. Her unwavering passion for Biomedical Engineering revolves around advancing healthcare technology. Upon joining UNT, she was introduced to the exciting realm of soft, flexible, and stretchable bioelectronic devices, which piqued her curiosity about their fabrication and applications. The concept of miniaturized devices, yet more powerful and effective, captivated her interest. Currently, she is working as a Research Engineer in Regulife Medical, a start-up company centered on fabricating devices for neuromodulation and neurostimulation for Gastrointestinal disorders.
Trevor Exley Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering Exley obtained his B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at UNT. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of North Texas, and works within the Advanced Robotics Manipulators (ARM) Lab under the guidance of Dr. Amir Jafari. His research focuses on innovative advancements in soft robotics and compliant actuation techniques, targeting their integration into rehabilitative devices like prosthetics. Impressively, Exley has authored 8 peer-reviewed papers and presented three papers at major conferences, including BMES. Furthermore, his exceptional contributions have been recognized with an NIH G-RISE Fellowship, which provides essential funding and support for his groundbreaking research.
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Alumni Spotlight Sarah Stutsman B.S. (May 2023) Quality Engineer Abbott
Anne Rowland B.S. (May 2023) Regulatory Affairs Engineer Epimed
Alex Torrado B.S. (May 2023) Validation Engineer Barry-Wehmiller Design Group
Laurence Blake M.S. (May 2022)
Quality Engineer Tissue Regenix Group
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Alumni Spotlight Ashmita KC M.S. (May 2021) Manufacturing Engineer Acumed
Gnana Kushal Adidam M.S. (May 2023) Biomedical Engineer Abbott
Sean Fitzgerald M.S. (May 2021) Product Development Engineer Smith & Nephew
Jiafeng Liu Ph.D. (May 2023)
Research Scientist Moderna
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Capstone Spotlight
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Our Graduates are at: Abbott
Moderna
Agiliti
Orthofix
Alcon
PathAdvantage
Arcellx
Powell Industries
Astanza Laser
QRS Solutions
Barry-Wehmiller Design Group
Realtime Group
Biomerics
Smith & Nephew
Bristol Myers Squibb
Samsung
BSNF
Stryker
Diligent Robotics
Steris
DUALAMS, Inc.
TI
Duke University
Texas Health Resources
Emerson
Wpromote
Emory University
Washington University
Epimed
Zimmer Biomet
Fotona
UCLA
GE Medical
UNT Biomedical Engineering
HealthTrackRx
UTSA Health Science Center
Hiossen Implants
UTMB Galveston
Lockheed Martin
UTSW Medical Center
MedPace
UT El Paso
Medtronic
UTA 24
Website: biomedical.engineering.unt.edu Phone: (940) 565-3338