Amplifying Black Voices/Inspiring Change

AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES Celebrating black excellence INSPIRING CHANGE

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING at the UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA

AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES | 1

This living document is dedicated to amplifying Black voices in the UF BME community. Students, alumni, faculty, affiliate faculty, and board members who identify as Black were invited to write about what makes them most proud, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. These narratives of achievement are emblematic of the commitment to rigorous scholarship and innovation for which UF BME is known. More importantly, they underscore the central role of diversity, equity and inclusion in a successful community of academic inquiry.

The commitment to broad diversity in the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCOE) is longstanding and multifaceted, including a commitment to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty. HWCOE now has more Black women tenured and tenure-track faculty members in engineering than any other college or university in the country. The college’s leadership in valuing a faculty that more closely reflects the diversity of the nation seeks to make HWCOE and, within it, the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, a scholarly home in which faculty need not choose between their career aspirations and a culture of colleagues with whom they identify.

Black faculty at UF BME are among the most expert in their fields. They deserve a thriving academic hub that mitigates the experience of isolation so commonly faced by those under-represented in STEM. BME’s faculty is currently 22% URM and 52% women. Studies show that a representatively diverse faculty invites diverse students, underscoring the necessity of enabling our student engineers to see themselves in the top scientists leading our labs and classrooms. Currently, UF BME’s graduate program consists of 14% URM and 47% women, and the undergraduate program is 24% URM and 58% women. The department will continue to recruit top faculty and student candidates with the philosophy that diversity and difference strengthen our empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking.

A publication of the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida

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The Black voices featured here come from all backgrounds and points of view and demonstrate the rich and varied experiences that drive success and innovation at UF BME. This issue is a celebration of their leadership, talents, and triumphs, both within and beyond our academic home at UF BME. Let these pages speak loudly and inspire immense pride.

FEATURED VOICES

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42 LEADERSHIP Dr. Curtis Taylor

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FACULTY

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AFFILIATE FACULTY

Dr. Ivana Parker, Dr. Brittany Taylor & Dr. Lakiesha Williams

Dr. Josephine Allen & Dr. Erika Moore

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STUDENTS Tolulope Ajayi, Markia Bowe, Arin Lampejo, Oluwabusayo Oni, Samuel Oyeleye, Jasmine Smith & Gianna Sweeting

ALUMNI Dr. Isaac Adjei, Dr. Obiora Azie, Danielle Miller, Indrias Ayele Bekerie, Dr. Jamal Lewis & Dr. Olajompo Moloye-Olabisi

BOARD MEMBERS

Dr. Gilda Barabino, Dr. Anthony Guiseppi-Elie & Ivan Howard

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COLLEGE LEADERSHIP RESEARCH

advanced manufacturing; mechanical behavior of materials; engineering education Dr. Taylor directs the Soft Matter Manufacturing and Nanomechanics research lab at UF. The application of this research seeks to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities and new technologies that utilize the unique properties of nanomaterials (i.e., lightweight, durable nano coatings, multifunctional nanocomposites, etc.) and soft materials for healthcare.

Curtis Taylor, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Associate Professor of Engineering Education, University of Florida

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I am so proud of my mentors who took the time to help and guide me.

I grew up about twenty minutes from downtown Washington, DC. Crime and drugs were so rampant that in the early 90s (when I started high school), the city was known as the nation’s “murder capital.” It was easy for young black youth to get caught up in selling drugs and the associated violence. Thanks to my parents and my mentors, I was able to keep on track.

I am most proud of two special mentors: U.S. Air Force Colonel Steve Suddarth and Dr. Ajay Malshe. While I was in high school, Colonel Suddarth and his wife Deborah tutored my twin brother and me each week. They accelerated our studies by teaching us physics, calculus, and advanced math such as differential equations. They provided us hands-on engineering design and research projects. At the time, Colonel Suddarth was in charge of overseeing Air Force research projects with universities. During our junior year, he allowed us to accompany him to visit Princeton, Yale, and several other universities. This experience opened our eyes to the possibilities of college. I’m a graduate today, in large part, because of the Suddarths. Dr. Ajay Malshe served as my doctoral advisor. I will always be grateful to him for sharing his gift of imagination. Every time I met with him, I would leave with a new idea. He trusted me and gave me confidence in carrying out my research.

Just like these special mentors, we as leaders have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the next generation of engineers. By mentoring, we can lead by example in championing excellence through inclusion and diversity, thereby creating a better society for us all.

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I challenge our readers to mentor others, especially those who are underrepresented in engineering, who in turn could become mentors and keep the reproductive cycle going.

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Lastly, I am proud of the steps that the college is taking to bring our engineering community together and make it more inclusive; especially in light of the turmoil and tragedies of summer 2020. The departmental forums, speaker series, web resources, and educational activities are all examples of positive actions. When we seek to care about others, stand for justice, and create a safe environment for dialogue, then we have the ingredients to cultivate a learning and work environment that supports everyone to be their best and do their best work.

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FACULTY RESEARCH

HIV prevention, systems biology, chronic inflammation, applied proteomics, epigenetics Dr. Parker’s lab will use applied proteomics and systems biology approaches to elucidate phenotypic changes in innate immune cells when exposed to bacterial pathogens; data that will be used to predict individual risk factors for HIV transmission. As an overarching goal, her lab aims to better understand the role of chronic inflammation in infectious disease to improve prevention and treatment strategies.

Ivana Parker, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida

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Honorable Veteran, Lee Kennedy

I am proud to know that I give my ancestors joy that their struggles were not in vain. They refused to give up in the face of adversity.

On my maternal side, my grandfather, who received a college degree in mathematics, was discriminated against when he applied for jobs because he was Black, even though he was a qualified applicant. The only place that would hire him was the pipe manufacturing foundry, which required hard manual labor.

On my paternal side, my grandfather was one of the only Black platoon leaders in the Army during the Korean War. There he saw how Black and white people could work together and refused to settle for less. When he returned home to Montgomery, Alabama, he was in the thick of the Montgomery bus boycott. To support his family, he courageously applied to be a bus driver after desegregation laws were passed. In his recently published memoir, he details his experience of having to perform at the highest standard to prove himself amid threats (with even undercover FBI agents on his route).

My grandmother refinanced her family home so my dad could attend the Georgia Institute of Technology. This was a few years after integration, and he faced many obstacles. He eventually graduated, and taught me everything he knew so I could learn from his struggles. Because of this, I had foundational knowledge that helped me navigate the engineering space (including its lack of diversity) more adeptly. My mother taught me tenacity, to hustle, and the power of using my written words to advocate for myself. These are major contributors to what I have achieved today and I hope to pass them to my own children.

I am honored to have the opportunity to teach and perform research within the field of biomedical engineering. In the context of my history, it is something I am very proud of. As a Black woman, with knowledge of the struggles of those who came before me – including great civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and John Lewis – I know they would be proud.

Their tenacity and perseverance propelled not only me, but a generation of young leaders forward.

I am proud that I have the privilege to continue to inspire others while they are on their journey. This does not apply only to Black students, but to anyone who has had to overcome obstacles to achieve their life goals. An essential thread that unites humanity is our ability to understand and empathize with individual elements of human struggle. I am proud to be able to facilitate this not only through research, but through my presence in STEM as a diverse voice.

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FACULTY RESEARCH

Musculoskeletal tissue engineering, bioactive biomaterials, tendon injury and repair Dr. Taylor’s research program will focus on tailored cell-free combinatorial strategies to complement and improve native musculoskeletal tissue healing. Her group will seek to better understand the temporal and structural reparative processes and use this information to develop biomimetic matrices, bioactive materials, tunable delivery systems, and modified extracellular vesicles for orthopaedic regenerative engineering.

Brittany Taylor, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida

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I can identify a few aspects of life that I am proud of as I look back over my journey.

First, I am proud of my grit and resilience. These attributes have been critical in helping me to overcome adversity and obstacles throughout my life. I heavily relied on these characteristics to persevere through the leakages in the academic pipeline which caused many scholars to transition out of academia; yet I am still here.

I am also proud of the contributions I made to science through my publications, research talks, and patents.

I did not know any scientists or engineers growing up, so I had no idea what scientific research was until I was a college student. As a young undergraduate working in a research lab, the idea of reaching the level of success I witnessed in the graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members I interfaced with seemed unobtainable. Now I look back over my CV and am proud (and sometimes amazed) at what I have accomplished as a first-generation college graduate, engineering scientist, and rising professor.

My former mentees and their accomplishments also bring me immense pride that is unmatched by other facets of my life. Although I do not measure my quality of mentoring by the quantity of successes, I find joy in witnessing mentees reach goals they may not have envisioned for themselves. I mentor to motivate, encourage, and empower, so when I see the growth in a mentees’ confidence or their ‘aha moment’, I know I made a difference in their lives and am fulfilling my purpose as a dedicated mentor.

Lastly, I am proud of myself for not losing who I am and what I stand for along this journey. I suppressed features of my identity as a minoritized

Black woman in academia in the past, but I have reached a level of confidence and comfort where I feel I can bring my full identity to any present and future room I enter; and for that I am proud!

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FACULTY RESEARCH

Traumatic brain injury, soft tissue mechanics, bio-inspired design and materials characterization Dr. Williams directs the Tissue Mechanics, Microstructure, and Modeling Laboratory (TM3) where they use modern imaging techniques, advanced mechanical characterization tools, and computational modeling to study the structure and function relationships of soft tissues with a special emphasis on the brain.

Dr. Williams and her research team use this information to (1) better understand injury mechanisms, (2) optimize computational simulations of human tissues and organs, and (3) develop systems for injury protection.

Lakiesha Williams, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida

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I am most proud of pioneering, as a first, through many of my academic experiences.

• I was the first Black Master of Science student to finish in Biological Engineering from Louisiana State University (LSU), • I was the first Black Ph.D. student to graduate in Biomedical Engineering from Mississippi State University (MSU), • and the first female and first Black tenure-track faculty member in that respective department.

There are inherent pressures associated with taking the road less traveled, even more so as a woman in engineering. I still reflect on aspects of these forming experiences during difficult times in my life and career. While pursuing these opportunities, my support system (mentors, family, friends, and peers) helped me to establish values and ideals as a life-long learner and an academician. I am immensely proud to have this community, affectionately called “my people,” who encouraged me in my failures and celebrated my successes. Some taught me when it was appropriate to be proactive and apologize later, while others showed me systematic approaches for making progress. When I felt defeated, as if I was an imposter, my community helped me change my perspective and reminded me that my presence mattered in these spaces.

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Most importantly, when the odds were stacked against me, they fueled me with wisdom and reminders of those who have trailblazed paths unknown.

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They listened and offered support as I reasoned through difficulties and sometimes held my hands when situations appeared out of control. Many of my experiences were humbling and led me to consider quitting, but with their support I learned that there is a bigger purpose to all of this -- it’s to be a beacon for those coming behind me. Through encouraging words and prayers, my people helped me learn how to embrace the unknown with confidence. They talked me through the disappointments that are synced with a life of discovery, which brought the reality that oftentimes, the stakes are only as high as I perceive them in my mind. They taught me to “chill!” I am unsure if I would have made it through these firsts if it weren’t for my people. I am incredibly proud of these people who continue to support me as I trailblaze, and I am proud of my ability to “chill” amid chaos—especially in 2020!

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AFFILIATE FACULTY RESEARCH

Stem Cell Engineering; Directed Stem Cell differentiation, Cell Materials Interactions; Tissue Engineering; Regenerative Medicine The Allen Lab was selected for the Space Research Initiative and the Florida Space Institute to conduct research aboard the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory. The award is supported by the joint UF-CASIS (Center for the Advancement of Science in Space) initiative to support space-related research.

Josephine B. Allen, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Genzyme Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida

I am most proud for the opportunity to lead by example. I consider it my responsibility to pave

the way for the next generation of women in STEM. It is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. I am proud of the women scientists who came before me and demonstrate that “greatness comes from someone who looks like me”.

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Dr. Allen is motivated by data that has shown a link between space flight and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). With the underlying contributing factor in CVD being dysfunctional vascular cells, it becomes important to study these cells under altered growth conditions. The goal of the work proposed is to elucidate the mechanism of vascular cell damage in the space environment by exposing vascular cells to space flight.

AFFILIATE FACULTY RESEARCH

Biomaterials, Cell-material Interactions, Immune Engineering, Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine​​

Erika Moore, Ph.D. Rhines Rising Star Larry Hench Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida

I am most proud of my community of mentors and fellows. This community has encouraged me when in

need of encouragement, helped me reach my highest heights, and helped when I was low. Comprised of dear friends, loved ones, and even the people I do not know as well, this community makes my world go round and I am so proud that I get the opportunity to be a part it.

The Moore Lab leverages biomaterial design for immune cell tuning. The group focuses on 4 major projects: 1) evaluating how biomaterials already in clinical use influence immune cells, 2) designing an immune-informed biomaterial to direct immune cell function, 3) assessing how immune cells are skewed in diseased states and 4) developing an immune-endothelial model of cardiovascular disease.

Their projects are supported by the N.I.H. National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and the Space Research Initiative. From microgravity to clinically relevant health disparity diseases, they investigate how interactions between immune cells influence blood vessel formation. One particular emphasis of the lab is on the development of in vitro models that consider ethnicity/ ancestry. They have begun work in the autoimmune disease of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as African American women are 3X as likely to develop SLE than Caucasian peers.

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STUDENTS Black Excellence|| Student Article By: Markia Bowe and Jessica Aldrich UF BME Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Committee

Being the ‘BME Family’ means that we, as a department, including students, faculty, and staff, are committed to creating a culture that embraces the unique perspectives of every individual. We are building a space that is both diverse and inclusive, and we are committed to understanding the differences that each person brings to the department.

The UF BME Student IDEA Committee, formerly known as the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, is putting student voices at the forefront of nurturing this community. As students, it can often feel like the impact we can make is minimal; however, in this family, we are catalysts for creating a space representing the world around us.

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Throughout the year, the UF BME Student IDEA Committee leads to diversity and inclusion efforts to educate further and celebrate the BME community. We are proud to be a part of the department’s commitment to diversity. We have watched students engage in challenging topics, unafraid to ask difficult questions to learn more about their peers.

These conversations have led to everything from integrating diversity initiatives within individual labs to efforts to provide diversity and bias training to students across the department.

As we do not all share the same lived experiences, listening to and amplifying the voices of Black students within the department not only sheds light on how we can build more inclusive spaces but also celebrates the work already being done. We have highlighted a few of the many talented Black students within the department as they share what they are most proud of and what they believe it takes to create a truly inclusive space.

These students aspire to be physicians, surgeons, researchers, political activists, and role models who can break down barriers for others to follow in their footsteps in the future.

When asked about what they are most proud of, students cited their research successes, overcoming adversity to succeed in their education, and their mentors and community.

Creating a community that reflects the student body is something that is often taken for granted but sets the UF BME department apart from others across the University and the country. Many of the students we highlighted discussed a distinct lack of diversity within their teachers and professors before starting at UF. However, they have been encouraged by the genuinely diverse community being created in the department and recognize the commitment that is being made to create inclusive spaces.

While no two stories are the same, we hope that by amplifying a few of the Black student voices within the UF BME Family, we can continue to build on the inclusive community that we are all proud to be a part of.

Markia Bowe (L) Jessica Aldrich (R) Markia and Jessica interviewed BME students Tolulope Ajayi, Arin Lampejo, AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES | 25 Samuel Oyeleye, Oluwabusayo Oni and Gianna Sweeting for the initial magazine.

STUDENTS

Tolulope Ajayi

Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Blanka Sharma/Dr. Kyle Allen lab

The goal is progress, not perfection!

Research: Engineering nanoparticles with targeting capabilities to joint cartilage to serve as drug delivery platforms to treat osteoarthritis Modeling and characterization of a non-invasive animal model to serve as a tool to understand osteoarthritis progression.

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My journey so far within the BME field and career, and the mentors, connections, and friends I have made along the way.

The opportunities that aid in my growth as a scientist, engineer, and STEM advocate. Understanding the importance of representation and growing in a community that lacks representation of females in STEM roles.

With my Ph.D. I hope to serve as a STEM advocate for the next generation of engineers and scientists and use the skills I have gained to help advance the medical community.

After completing her bachelor’s degree in Indiana, Tolulope Ajayi moved to UF to start her Ph.D. She chose Florida for the sense of camaraderie and community that she saw in the graduate students here and the diversity within the program.

She chose to pursue her Ph.D. after an experience presenting research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. “I felt like I was in a community, for the first time, with people who were like-minded and had a similar diverse background as me. I saw these amazing professors and students and was excited about being a part of that group.”

While she always knew she wanted to do something in science or medicine, attending this conference solidified her decision.

There are not many opportunities for Tolu to find the same kind of community in this field. “It is a two-sided coined. On one end, it empowers me to know that in being here, I could inspire and serve as an example for others who aim to pursue a career in the field. On the other end, every time I walk into a room, I become aware of the different experiences, mindset, and cultural background I have, and I wonder if “this space” is willing to accept all the differences I have and bring to the table.” Leading up to and through grad school, Tolu has built a community of other Black Ph.D. students whose experiences in graduate school closely resemble hers.

Having had only one female engineering professor before attending UF and not having a Black female professor until well into her degree, Tolu has become passionate about volunteering in programs that expose girls to STEM. She mentors undergraduate students in the Sharma Lab to increase the number of girls and minorities in the field.

Her current plans are to pursue a career in industry and to continue to represent Black women in STEM. She wants to be able to translate her ideas into actual products in a hospital or biotech setting. Tolu wants to expand the understanding of BME in her home country of Nigeria and hopes to find these kinds of teaching opportunities there.

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STUDENTS

Markia Bowe

Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Kyle Allen lab

Be for others all the things you wish others had been for you.

Research: Understanding the relationships between subchondral bone remodeling, gait changes and pain in osteoarthritis.

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I grew up in the Bahamas, a country where tourism is the main industry. As a high school student who hadn’t seen the world beyond life on an island, I would look around and not see one person whose job I wanted. My earliest description of an engineer looked nothing like me. The career path felt out of reach for me, and at the time, I wasn’t even sure what engineers did. When I decided to attend college and major in engineering, it was based purely on the fact that I scored top marks in science and math examinations in high school.

A few weeks ago, I helped my niece with her college applications when she told me about her plans to become an engineer. I realized that contrary to my experience, in her world, the first description of an engineer wasn’t some strange man from a strange country whom she could not identify with. It was me.

This made me think back to when I left home for America in 2012. At the time, I felt like I was selfishly leaving home in the name of following dreams that no one understood. Now, because of my decisions, she would never have to feel alone in the pursuit of her dreams. This is what I’m most proud of.

I am proud that because I was the first person in my family to move away from home, go to college, and become an engineer, she knows that her dreams are possible, regardless of what life looks like around her.

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STUDENTS

Arin Lampejo

Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Walter Lee Murfee lab

Your happiness does not have to come at the expense of those around you.

Research: Developing New Approaches for Exploring Vessel Growth and Remodeling in Microvascular Networks.

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I am most proud of the mentors and the people I’ve met who’ve given me amazing experiences and advice that I now do my best to share with others.

Arin’s path to a career in engineering was encouraged by her early desires to figure out how to fix things that were broken around her. She has always had a passion for helping those in need and naturally gravitated towards using science as a vehicle to do so. She grew up in a multicultural home with a mom who is a doctor, so her love for science was cultivated around the people she loves most. When choosing a university to pursue her Ph.D., the department culture was an essential factor for Arin to consider. She wanted to attend a school where she could feel comfortable and interact with others as her authentic self. After choosing UF, she appreciated other factors that have further emphasized she made the right choice. In particular, she admires the department for doing a “noticeably good job at addressing complex issues”. In the climate of everything going on in the world, it has been valuable to feel the support that the BME department has for all its students.

Arin feels that her multicultural background, in some ways, sheltered her from a portion of the harmful realities many other Black Americans face. This sentiment is also shared with many students from international backgrounds. Compared to many of her friends, she is from a more “racially ambiguous” background, and she has always desired to use the privilege that comes with this to stand and speak up for others. More than anything, she wants people to see her for who she is - approachable and capable, and someone that others can count on.

Her former lab environment influences Arin’s ideas of an inclusive space as an undergraduate researcher. She worked with a postdoctoral researcher who was an excellent mentor, teaching her that it is okay to ask questions and make mistakes. She tries to mentor other students to create an accepting and encouraging environment that helped her thrive as a budding scientist. She desires to be a part of environments where people can be themselves and do what makes them happy. She strongly believes that our happiness doesn’t have to come at the expense of those around us.

Finally, with strong Nigerian roots in her background, I asked Arin what she would like people to know about her culture considering the stereotypes she’s often had to endure. To this, she responded that she wishes people had a better idea of what it truly means to be African, and from a continent that is filled with countries with rich cultures and histories of their own. She would like others to be aware of just how much life exists outside of Western culture, and in doing so, be exposed to the innovation, intelligence, and creativity of African people and people all over AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES | 31 the world.

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Oluwabusayo Oni Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida

Undergraduate student, Dr. Chelsey Simmons lab

For me, representation coupled with activism is so important because it fosters spaces that hold a deeper understanding, gives voice to and validates those who are often not heard.

Research: My main focus this semester has been with Dream Team Engineering where we use CAD to 3D print models for the UF Health General Surgery Department. Currently we are working on a cholecystectomy surgery and laparoscopic kidney transplant model for the residents to practice on.

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I am most proud of being a STEPUP mentor, getting to partake in the Summer Health Professions Education Program, and making it onto Dream Team engineering’s surgical team this year.

Using her time to facilitate student activism and being a part of the UF Dream Team Engineering Surgical Team, Oluwabusayo Oni is already impacting UF as a second-year student.

After spending a year as a senator with the student government, she is now pushing for change beyond the constructs of organized student government. She hopes to leave a legacy where “if someone were to look at all the things I did, they would see I used all my privilege and opportunity and did something to benefit my community.”

The Institute of Black Culture (IBC), run by Black Affairs, is a space where Oluwabusayo spent a lot of time during her first year at UF. In addition to study space, the IBC offers student events and the opportunity for Black students to find a community of “people who understand.” After spending time in classes where she may be the only Black student in the room, this community is always a welcome change.

One thing that she wished people would realize is that “people don’t think Africans are scholarly, but that’s a huge part of the culture.” Her parents moved from Nigeria to the United States before she was born but have instilled that part of their culture into Oluwabusayo. She cited that for many students with similar backgrounds to her, there is an expectation of being a doctor or an engineer. With a laugh, she recounted, “I definitely fit that box.”

Unsure of her future plans, she hopes to use her degree to connect her interests in medicine, science, and engineering. “I want to be able to specialize in any field and then know how the technology in that field works.” Toying with ideas ranging from an anesthesiologist or an OBGYN to the engineer who develops the technology that those medical professionals use, it is clear that she will have plenty of options to pursue after finishing her degree.

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STUDENTS

Samuel Oyeleye

Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida M.S. student, Dr. Daniel Ferris lab

the world is going to know my name.

Research: I AM currently workING on a new study that investigates the efficacy of sensory perturbations on balance training.

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STUDENTS I am most proud of my journey towards achieving my master’s degree

by God’s grace here at UF.

As a first-year master’s student from Nigeria, Samuel didn’t know many people when he started at UF in 2020. However, he knew that UF was doing its best to become the best in the country: “It’s a really good time to be a student here,” he said, “and the better that we get, the harder it will be to get in.”

Commenting on why he chose to come to Florida.

Samuel was exposed to the vast amount of equipment in doctors’ offices and hospitals through his medical field experiences. This was when he realized that medicine was more than pure biological science. Instead, it was engineering, too.

It was this realization that sealed his decision to pursue biomedical engineering. “I didn’t want just to be an engineer; I want to help people,” he said.

Currently, his main interest area is in biomechanics, specifically working with prosthetics and limb function. He hopes to work with a company specializing in biomechanics upon completing his degree. With an overall goal of improving the human body’s mechanics, he knows there are many different ways to do that, from focusing on limb repair to improving spinal cord injury treatment. With his background in mechanical engineering, Samuel can bring a unique perspective to many of these questions.

Completing his bachelor’s degree at a small school in Texas, Samuel was no stranger to being one of the few Black students in the classroom and across the campus as a whole. “I tried my best to bring the ‘work hard culture,’” he explained, but that didn’t always stop the comparison or feelings of being different than his classmates. There was an unspoken pressure of having to do well to prove that he deserved to be there and to break down assumptions that other people held about Black students.

“People assume Africa is one big country,” Samuel shared when asked about what other assumptions he’s heard from people. “They think I’ll know someone they met one time in Kenya, just because I’m from Nigeria. I’ll tell them; I’m just as Kenyan as you are; I don’t know everyone who lives on the other side of the continent.” Breaking down these kinds of stereotypes and building a more accurate image of what other parts of the world look like is just one step that we can take to make spaces more inclusive and better serve students.

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STUDENTS

Jasmine Smith

Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Lakiesha Williams lab

Research: MY focus IS on pre-clinical models of repetitive mild traumatic brain impact. I study morphological and biochemical changes resulting from repetitive head trauma. These findings will be supported with blood biomarker assays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Particle Imaging. I HOPE to provide insight into the connections between repetitive head trauma and later life neurodegenerative diseases.

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I am most proud of my ability to face hardship and overcome those adversities, while continuing to advance through my Ph.D. program despite the odds.

I moved to Gainesville shortly after graduating from my undergraduate institution and began my program in fall 2018. I was also pregnant while doing all of this, but with the support of my husband and the faculty and staff from my department, I was able to persevere. Everyone was extremely supportive, and even now, over 1-year later, I am very proud to say that I overcame all the adversity that I have faced and am still thriving within the BME program and as a first-time mom.

Currently, I am in my second semester of my second year as a Ph.D. student. I recently begun active experimentation for the first phase of my study, which has me learning how to operate the 4.7T MRI device in AMRIS. I feel very accomplished for the progress that we have made during this time despite the slow startup.

I will also be learning how to operate Magnetic Particle Imaging technology later this year.

I enjoy learning new skills that will make me stand out when it comes to my abilities. I will be taking my qualifying exam later this Spring for Candidacy. This will be the second major milestone I reach, placing me closer to my goal of obtaining my Ph.D. I honestly do not think I would have made it this far without the support of my husband, PI, my department, and the graduate school staff. The path I have walked has not been easy in the slightest, but I am continuously pushing forward.

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STUDENTS STUDENTS

Gianna Sweeting

Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida Undergraduate student, Dr. Ruogu Fang lab

i want to help and change the world as much as i can.

Research: My previous research focused on CT perfusion analysis through the generation of perfusion maps and AIF/VOF graphs from reconstructed low dose CT scans. I’m currently aiding a graduate student in annotating notes on Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).

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I’m proud of my work in the SMILE Lab under Dr. Fang. I’ve learned not only MATLAB applications but how to communicate with medical professionals that would help me in my future career.

A previous project I was involved in was brain CT perfusion and I generated perfusion maps based on low dose and reconstructed CT scans.

Gianna Sweeting, an undergraduate BME student, is setting herself up to advocate for others in the medical field and help bridge the gap in healthcare disparities. Her goal as a future physician is to be a source of representation in the field, helping and serving people whom the medical field has historically discriminated against.

After completing the STEP-UP program, an engineering student success program for students entering the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Gianna was exposed to coding classes that taught her the fundamentals of writing and working with code.

After realizing that coding brought her enjoyment while challenging, she reached out and joined the SMILE lab with Dr. Ruogu Fang. In one particular project, she generated brain perfusion maps based on low dose and reconstructed CT scans using MATLAB. As an aspiring physician, Gianna has also valued the opportunities she’s had to interact with medical professionals.

Gianna’s experiences with being a minority inside and out of the classroom have influenced her academic goals. Her desire to get a minor in Health Disparities was influenced by what she has seen in the World: “I want to help people who look like me because they aren’t getting the help that they need.” In combination with her biomedical engineering degree, she is preparing for a role where she can bridge the communication gap between medical professionals who use medical technology and the engineers who develop these tools.

Living at the intersection of representation for Black women in medicine, science, and engineering is no small feat; but Gianna hopes to leave a legacy of being the person who was there when someone needed help and changing the world as much as she can in her space.

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ALUMNI

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER, biomedical engineering, University of florida, 2014-2019

RESEARCH

Biomaterials, micro/ nanotechnology, tissue engineering, drug delivery, cancer immunotherapy Dr. Isaac Adjei’s goals are to advance translatable strategies to understand, treat and diagnose cancer, and in the process educate the next generation of scientists.

Isaac Adjei, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University

One of the proudest moments in my life was one I almost did not notice. I never realized how important graduating

from college was until I saw the pride on my family’s faces at my college graduation ceremony; I did not want to go but was forced to by my mom. It was another boring ceremony to me; but to them, being the first in the family to graduate was something to celebrate.

I came to understand that it was also hope and a realization by the family we could all achieve our goals.

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His research focuses on developing drug delivery systems that improve outcomes for advanced-stage cancer.

He also studies the mechanisms of tumor immune evasion using three-dimensional tumor models, with the goal of developing novel strategies to reactivate the immune system against tumors.

Ph.D., Materials Science Engineering, University of florida, 2019 Minor in Biomedical Engineering

ALUMNI RESEARCH

Activation of latent biomolecules via conjugation to magnetic nanoparticles

Obiora Azie, Ph.D.

Senior Research Associate, 42Bio, Inc.

By far I would have to say that my two proudest moments came at the completion of my dissertation, and at the defense of my dissertation. When you do a Ph.D. you

pour out your heart and soul into your work, and it can very easily seem like an insurmountable task to keep going, even in the midst of multiple failures. However, as long as you never quit, never give in, never surrender, then slowly but surely, you’ll wind up where you want to be. More than anything else, having a Ph.D. is a testament to your own grit and tenacity in the face of adversity. That experience, alongside the knowledge of how much you can push yourself to the limits and beyond them, will stay with you forever more.

The general focus of my research was on conjugating magnetic nanoparticles to latent transforming growth factor-beta.

Transforming growth factor-beta, or TGF-ß, does a lot of good things for the body, including wound healing, extracellular matrix creation, and stem cell differentiation. TGF-ß, generally exists within the body sequestered by a “latency associated peptide” or a LAP molecule. It can be removed in a number of different ways, including via mechanical motion or via thermal shock. By conjugating magnetic nanoparticles to this LAP molecule, we can use magnetic fields to generate either the necessary heat or mechanical motion needed to deform the LAP molecule and release an active form of TGF-ß. By doing so, we can non-invasively control the spatial and temporal release of TGF-ß, thereby reducing deleterious off-target effects (such as bone growth where there should be no bone growth, or cell apoptosis, or even advanced tumor progression in certain cases).

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ALUMNI

Indrias Ayele Bekerie Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy

I am most proud of my life journey.

I was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. Athens is a small college town which is known to most UF students and alumni for two reasons: the University of Georgia and its football team, the Georgia Bulldogs. But this story isn’t about the rivalry between the Bulldogs and the Gators, as I ultimately decided to become a Gator.

The four achievements that have given me the deepest satisfaction in my life are: the years I served on two different submarines, commissioning as a US Naval Officer, earning a bachelors’ degree in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University and a Masters’ in the same field from the University of Florida. These events stand out because they were by far the most challenging and, at the same time, I was able to succeed against the odds. I particularly remember supervisors who expressed doubt about my ability and determination to overcome challenges.

I traveled far from home to study Biomedical Engineering in New York City. Looking back, my engineering education tested every ounce of my inner strength. In the end, the experience enabled me to build a foundation for decision making and professionalism that I deploy in my work on a daily basis. The education also helped me to acquire an appreciation of project management. After researching the Navy, I found it to be a perfect place to build on my management experience. It also offered the opportunity to get an MBA to assist with my career goals.

Joining the Navy was a yearlong process that included an adaptive test, providing multiple letters of recommendation, preparing a motivational statement, a physical exam, a medical record review and going through selection boards. UF was involved in this lengthy process. I am grateful for the letters of recommendation I received from my major academic advisor, Dr. Aysegul Gunduz and Dr. Eric Ortigoza, who I worked with at UF Health.

I arrived at Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, Rhode Island in late October. I admit that I was not prepared for the weather. The class of candidates had three weeks of relatively warmer weather. The temperature then dropped below freezing and the continual ocean winds dropped temperatures even further. I vividly remember the constant cold feeling throughout training. In fact, the winter time period at OCS has the smallest class size and the highest failure rate as a result of the tough weather.

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M.S., biomedical engineering, University of Florida, 2014

OCS is divided into three phases: indoctrination, academic, and applied leadership. In order to transition from one phase to another, one has to pass a culminating event. In order to enter the first phase you must pass two initial strength tests, one of which involves a fully packed seabag. These initial events had the most failures by far. RLP the second event requires every item in your room to match a strict set of instructions and you must recite naval knowledge verbatim while ordered to do various exercises. The second phase ends with 5 exams, a uniform inspection and a drill competition over the course of two days. The final event is a capstone event, which I won’t spoil here.

On the last day I commissioned as Supply Officer, the commissioning is a landmark in my life; afterwards I continued with my training pipeline.

After six months of supply and logistics training, I was given the green light by a competitive selection board to serve on a submarine as the only supply officer. Passing this board resulted in three additional months of intense submarine focused training. After successful completion of my training I arrived in Kings Bay, Georgia. During my first deployment on the submarine USS RHODE ISLAND GOLD, I had six major inspections that thoroughly tested every system on the submarine as well as an inspection dedicated to supply management. The objective of the inspection is to determine if your supply program can maintain operations indefinitely on the submarine. I was responsible for maintaining an inventory of repair parts worth over $200 million with an annual budget of over $4 million. I managed a food service program responsible for feeding over 150 sailors three meals a day, 365 days per year. I was also expected to maintain an accurate inventory for provisions worth over $300,000 while in-port and deployed. Further, I maintained the submarine’s hazardous material program. I passed my inspection with a grade of “above average,” which ended a recent trend of inspection failures on submarines.

My underway days were busy starting from the moment I woke up. Once finished with my eight-hour work day, I spent the remaining time standing watch and studying for qualifications. When you first get to the submarine, you are greeted with an extensive list of knowledge, skills, exams and oral boards. The list must be completed in a year in order to avoid premature send off from the submarine. Due to the small number of sailors on a submarine, it is essential that everyone onboard understands every system onboard and knows how to react in case of an emergency. After 18 months I was hand selected to join the USS ALASKA BLUE, as they did not have a supply officer for their upcoming deployment.

My first underway with the ALASKA took me to Faslane, Scotland, which was the first port visit for the submarine in over five years. Once we arrived in Scotland, I was responsible for receiving all food and essential parts for the ALASKA’s return to the US. While in Scotland, I procured rooms for 150+ sailors, arranged transportation to the nearest town, weighed all luggage and ensured all personnel returning to the US via flight complied with all US Customs regulations, with no prior knowledge and training on how to do so. My final evolution with the Alaska was to offload all food, hazardous material, fuel and repair parts prior to an extended maintenance period. I was able to accomplish these offloads in record time and with little experience offloading fuel and parts, thereby allowing the ALASKA to enter the maintenance period on schedule. During a rigorous inventory process of the offloaded parts, I was able to increase inventory accuracy from 91.4% to 99.2%.

Today, I have been in the Navy for four years and I currently lead an aviation support department of over 35 sailors and civilians that supplies multiple aviation squadrons and repair facilities with repair parts. African Americans make up 19% of enlisted sailors, but only 7.8% of Naval Officers. I imagine that by succeeding as a supply officer, I may be able to inspire more enlisted sailors of color to obtain college degrees and get commissioned as officers in the US Navy. I believe that diversity in thought and experience will produce a better Navy.

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ALUMNI

Jamal Lewis, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis

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Ph.D., biomedical engineering, University of Florida, 2012

I’m most proud of graduating the first two doctoral students from my lab and becoming an ‘Academic Father.’

As a young, Black male in academe, the level of impostor syndrome you feel at the start of your career is unfathomable.

There is much uncertainty and self-doubt about your ability to excel in your new role, especially when you are tasked with shepherding the next generation of biomedical engineering scholars. It is an indomitable task if you pause to think about it. Now that I have managed to navigate the first voyage of that ship and transported the first cohort to a new stage in their lives, there is a sense of relief. I am also joyful and incredibly proud to see them applying the lessons they learned from me and contributing positively to society.

RESEARCH

Biomaterials, drug delivery, immuno-engineering Dr. Lewis’ Immuno-modulatory Biomaterials Laboratory focuses on the development of biomaterial systems that can manipulate the immune system. The group plans to design the next generation of immunotherapeutics for applications in immune-related diseases.

This multidisciplinary work incorporates aspects of biomaterials engineering, drug delivery and immunology.

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ALUMNI

B.S., biomedical engineering, University of florida, 2019

RESEARCH

Utilizing proteolytic networks to predict breast cancer metastasis for personalized diagnoses

Danielle Miller Graduate Research Assistant,

Dr. Manu O. Platt lab, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University

I am proud of my friends who continue to pursue their unique career paths boldly and resiliently in the face of misogyny and racism in STEM.

I am proud of the current cohort of students who have tackled the tremendous challenge of pursuing a BME Ph.D. during a worldwide epidemic and national upheaval surrounding race relations in the U.S. I am also proud I chose a Ph.D. program that has helped me embrace my identities while simultaneously challenging me intellectually and personally.

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Breast cancer comprised about 25% of all cancers and was the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women globally in 2012. In the U.S., breast cancer is responsible for the 2nd highest cancer death rate, primarily due to metastasis. Though the development of imaging technologies and hormone therapies have improved breast cancer survival through the detection and treatment of the primary tumor, breast cancer tumors are no longer treatable once they have metastasized. My research aims to address this issue using patient-derived macrophage (MØ) breast cancer interaction to provide a personalized, predictive method to generate a metastasis risk score. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a notable tumorassociated immune cell population attributed to poor breast cancer prognosis. I plan to analyze the influence of MØ-derived cathepsins on specific ECM proteins found within the breast cancer tumor microenvironment to build a breast metastasis risk assessment model.

Ph.D., biomedical engineering, University of florida, 2006

ALUMNI RESEARCH

Biomaterials, Polymer Extrusion and Suture manufacturing, Wound Healing Dr. Jompo Moloye-Olabisi’s goal is to advance the manufacturing of wound closure materials such as non- absorbable and absorbable sutures, surgical glues and hemostats to improve the quality of life of our patients around the world.

Olajompo Moloye-Olabisi, Ph.D.

Her research interests include polymers and polymer extrusion, textile engineering, wound healing and hemostats including biologics to reduce/ eliminate surgical bleeding.

Principal Engineer, Ethicon, Inc.

I am most proud of the increase of minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing (STEM) fields.

In addition, I am proud of seeing women leaders around the world leading biotech, pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies.

We are LEANING IN. I am honored that companies such as Johnson & Johnson are reaching minorities, especially girls and young women, early to increase the awareness and love of STEM fields.

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BOARD MEMBERS

Gilda A. Barabino, Ph.D. President, Olin College of Engineering

I am most proud of overcoming structural and social impediments in a system that was not meant for me or people like me –

and doing so in a manner that allowed me to thrive and to touch and impact lives. Honoring the legacy of the strong Black women and men who preceded me, I dedicated my career to opening doors for others and ensuring that their path was less rocky than mine. I am most proud of those whom I have touched and their ability to shape a better future.

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Gilda A. Barabino became the second president of Olin College of Engineering, and Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, on July 1, 2020. Previously she served as Dean of The Grove School of Engineering at the City College of New York (CCNY). She also served as Daniel and Frances Berg Professor, with appointments in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, as well as the City University of New York School of Medicine.

A biomedical engineer trained in chemical engineering, with a broad interest in global health, systems, and interdisciplinary engineering education, Dr. Barabino is a noted investigator in the areas of sickle cell disease, cellular and tissue engineering. She is an internationally recognized thought leader and highly sought speaker and consultant on race/ethnicity and gender in science and engineering, with a particular focus on creating cultures and climates that support a sense of belonging. She has led a number of initiatives in these areas, including serving as the founder and Executive Director of the National Institute for Faculty Equity.

Before joining CCNY, she served as Associate Chair for Graduate Studies and Professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. She also served as Georgia Tech’s inaugural Vice Provost for Academic Diversity. Prior to that, she spent 18 years at Northeastern University, rising to the rank of Full Professor of Chemical Engineering and serving as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

Dr. Barabino is an active member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine and serves on numerous committees of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, including the Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in Science, Engineering and Medicine; the Health and Medicine Division Committee; and the Committee on Women in Science Engineering and Medicine which she chairs.

Dr. Barabino also serves as a member of the National Institutes of Health’s National Advisory Council for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; National Science Foundation’s Advisory Committee for Engineering; the congressionally mandated Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering; and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Engineering and Public Policy.

Her many honors include the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Award for Service to Society (2019); the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (2018); the Pierre Galetti Award (2017), the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s highest honor; and an honorary degree from Xavier University of Louisiana (2016).

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BOARD MEMBERS

Anthony Guiseppi-Elie, Sc.D.

Vice President and Dean, College of Engineering, Anderson University

I am most proud of the many who have risen above the systemic peer pressure to become; students, friends, colleagues, collaborators and advocates, in a system where the privileged alternative is so easy… and often richly rewarded.

It is because of their shared sense of equity that I have kept faith with my contract to pursue excellence with civility and grace, to do so to the best of my ability and with a parallel commitment to inspire all with whom I am in contact. My Black colleagues who persevered amidst smaller numbers of “woke” 54 |I UF BME whites, take pride in your accomplishments and thank you for your strong coattails.

Dr. Anthony Guiseppi-Elie was named founding Dean of the Anderson University College of Engineering in August, 2020. He also serves as Vice President of Industry Relations and as University Distinguished Professor.

Dr. Guiseppi-Elie joined Anderson University following his service as the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Professor of Engineering in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University.

At Texas A&M, Dr. Guiseppi-Elie was most recently head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and associate dean of engineering innovation. He holds degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and the University of the West Indies. His previous honors include being named a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), where he served AIMBE as VP of the Industry Council and as Chair-elect and Chair of the College of Fellows. He is also a Fellow of IEEE and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. As a leader in medical bioanalytics, Dr. Guiseppi-Elie was elected to participate in the National Academy of Engineering’s review of the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His teaching and research interests include bionanotechnology, BioMEMS, interfacing of biology and engineering from the molecular to the tissue scale, and applications of semiconductor fabrication techniques to biomedical engineering and academic entrepreneurship, all applied to solving health problems such as neurostimulation, neuroregeneration, chronic wound healing, and hemorrhaging trauma management. He has been involved in three separate startups that have licensed his technologies, most recently ABTECH Scientific, Inc.

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BOARD MEMBERS

Ivan Howard, M.B.A. Head of Alternative Investment Risk Management, Banco Santander

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I am most proud of the legacy of touchpoints and the influence that my mother left on her community. I often hear stories of the impact that she had on individuals, and

recently I learned of the importance of her touch on one family in particular. I was speaking with a local banker last month; and when I told him that Mrs. Dorcas Howard was my mom, he shared a brief story. His wife worked as a substitute teacher under the administration of my mom, and she did not hold a degree. Her family evidently did not emphasize the importance of an education but my mom would always say to her, “Do not waste your talent, earn your degree.” Long story short, my banker told me the reason why his wife earned her degree in education was because of the constant encouragement from my mom.

When I think about the accomplishments of my siblings and I, it was due to her relentless emphasis on the value of an education. My brother and sister both hold Ph.D.’s in Engineering and my brother also holds a law degree.

“

Her influence motivates me to continue her legacy of positive touch points on the lives of others.

“

mrs. dorcas Howard along with family members

In the current turbulent environment, I feel this is ever more important for African Americans. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to create touchpoints that hopefully will positively influence the future of someone that needs help with that road map to their dreams.

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Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCOE) J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida Biomedical Sciences Building JG56 1275 Center Drive, P.O. Box 116131 Gainesville, FL 32611-6131

UF surpasses two historically black universities in most African American female engineering faculty nationwide HERBERT WERTHEIM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING: American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Exemplar of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - 2019 ASEE Diversity Recognition Program

UF is the only institution in 2019 that is on the list of top 10 baccalaureate origin institutions both for Black and Hispanic Ph.D.s in the natural sciences and engineering.

ASEE 2018 HWCOE DIVERSITY RANKINGS:

#3

#7

#13

BLACK FACULTY

HISPANIC FACULTY

FEMALE FACULTY

#6 #10

MASTER’S DEGREES FOR GRADUATING FEMALE ENGINEERING CANDIDATES - 2014 Engineering Workforce Commission

DOCTORAL DEGREES FOR GRADUATING FEMALE ENGINEERING CANDIDATES - 2014 Engineering Workforce Commission

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#1 employing Black Female Engineering Faculty members in tenure or tenure-track positions - 2019 American Society for Engineering Education PRISM

#14 50 BEST COLLEGES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS - 2016 Money Magazine

#2 PRODUCER OF DOCTORAL ENGINEERING DEGREES TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS - 2018 Diverse Issues in Higher Education