Awards

Six biomedical engineering students earn graduating student awards

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:02:03 +0000

Six biomedical engineering students earn graduating student awards Alexander Jame… Wed, 04/23/2025 - 14:02

Alexander Servantez

Six students from the Biomedical Engineering program (BME) have earned graduating student awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2025.

These awards honor seniors who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions.

Each of the seven award winners will be recognized and celebrated at the department's Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, May 8.

Read below to learn more about these students and their amazing achievements.

Creighton Tisdale

Tisdale has received the Academic Engagement Award for his exemplary commitment to the college ecosystem. He has served as a course assistant for numerous classes, providing an enriching educational experience for his peers. In many cases, he even went above-and-beyond to learn new material in order to make sure he could assist effectively.

He's also excelled tremendously in the classroom and as an undergraduate researcher. Tisdale has maintained a 3.93 GPA and is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��. In the lab, he has displayed the ability to quickly pick up complex concepts, even becoming a second author on a recently accepted research paper after working in the Shields Lab under Assistant Professor C. Wyatt Shields IV for only six months. Outside of academics, Tisdale coaches youth sports, focusing on making the game accessible and inclusive for anyone. His nominator says Tisdale is a competitive nominee for any awards offered this spring, but academic engagement is where he shines the most.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I came to ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� hoping I could find my way towards designing and improving surgical and medical devices—my undergraduate experience prepared me more than I would've ever imagined. I was lucky enough to work on a senior design project fully focused on electrosurgery and device design, as well as gaining experience with unorthodox diagnostic techniques in my research. CEAS and the BME program allowed me to find the career direction I was seeking from the start by giving me loads of hands-on academic and professional exposure.

Fishion Yohannes

Yohannes is being tapped as a recipient of the Community Engagement Award for her unwavering commitment to community service through her involvement in mentorship, student support programs and advocacy initiatives. As a Lattice Scholars mentor, she is constantly providing guidance and encouragement to ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s first-generation scholars. She has also served as a lead mentor in the Engineering GoldShirt program, advocating for student success and cultivating an environment built on support, leadership and resilience. Her nominator says her impact is so profound, that many students have come back to become mentors themselves, "hoping to give back even a fraction of what she gave to them. The culture she has built will have a lasting legacy far beyond her time on campus."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

After graduation, I will be pursuing an industry role where I can apply all of the technical, collaborative, and problem-solving skills I’ve developed during my time at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��. CEAS not only provided me with rigorous academic preparation, but also offered mentorship, resources, and opportunities that shaped my confidence and career direction. Without the support of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� and CEAS, I truly don't know where I'd be today. I’ve found an irreplaceable community that made me feel supported, empowered, and seen as an engineer. This experience has not only prepared me for industry but has instilled a deep sense of purpose and belonging that I will carry with me into every future endeavor.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

My best advice for current students and future students has to be to know that you belong. Engineering is challenging, but you are not alone. Seek out mentors, seek community, and most importantly seek help. It’s OK not to know everything. Imposter syndrome is very real, but please remember that your perspective and contributions are beyond valuable. Your journey will have obstacles, but perseverance, resilience, and a strong support system will guide you. More than anything, never let self-doubt dictate your potential because you are capable, you are worthy, and you have the power to make a difference.

Cassidy Allen

Allen is receiving a Research Award from the college for her outstanding and impactful contributions to the biomedical industry. During her time at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, she has helped create a more efficient method for treating Raynaud's Disease using an adaptive device. Currently, treatment for the disease is done using a broad approach where whole extremities (hands, feet, etc.) are treated using a glove or sock-like device. The device's power consumption and design limited the treatment's effectiveness.

But Allen had other ideas. She introduced sensor-targeted treatment that greatly increased effectiveness and reduced the device's power consumption by nearly 66%. Her novel thinking, as well as her collaboration with other entities in the BME program, have fueled her early research success, and positioned her for a future patent for her technology.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

Next, I will be joining the Cardiac Electrophysiology division at Abbott Laboratories as a software systems engineer in St. Paul, Minnesota. There, I’ll be contributing to the research and development of cutting-edge cardiac ablation systems to treat various arrhythmias with combined radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and pulsed field ablation (PFA) techniques. My experience at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� and CEAS prepared me incredibly well for this opportunity. Through hands-on research and course projects, I developed practical and problem-solving skills that I feel confident bringing into this next chapter.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Don’t be afraid to fail! Some of the most valuable experiences come from mistakes and unexpected outcomes. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow, so embrace those moments and use them to become a better thinker and creator.

Shannon Blanco

Blanco is graduating with a dual major in mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering. She is receiving the Research Award for her work as a member of Neu Lab under Professor Corey Neu. Since joining this group in 2022, Blanco has contributed greatly to impact in the fields of biofabrication, 3D bioprinting, and the advancement of knowledge of osteoarthritis. Current solutions for younger patients with osteoarthritis who do not qualify for total knee replacements are primarily anti-inflammatory drugs that don’t restore the afflicted cartilage or bone tissue. There is a need for new treatment options, and her work will help bring these options to life.

She is also being recognized as a key member of an interdisciplinary team. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications and worked with multiple stakeholders throughout her time at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, including doctors, surgeons and PhD-level scientists. Her nominator says her contributions have been "trusted by all members of the laboratory."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

After graduating this spring, I will be continuing at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� to pursue my master’s in mechanical engineering through the BAM program. In the future, I hope to work in medical device design or prosthetics. ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� has helped prepare me beyond an educational standpoint by providing opportunities to get involved outside of class and make valuable connections.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Take advantage of the opportunities CU has to offer, whether it's research, clubs, internships, or design projects. Explore different areas, even if you're unsure at first, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Julia Keefe

Keefe's research ownership and tenacious attitude has earned her a Research Award this spring. During her time in the Rationally Designed Immunotherapeutics & Interfaces Research Group under Assistant Professor Kayla Sprenger, Keefe has evolved her learning and skills into novel thinking and questions. In fact, she even found a gap in literature, and her innovative work will one day provide mechanistic insight into the biomedical field.

Her project, funded by the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program (DLA), identifies protein-ligand conformations to propose druggable targets and aid future immunotherapeutic design. The diligent attention to detail and awareness will advance efforts toward immune regulation in inflammatory and immune-resolution disease states, improving translatability of rationally designed therapeutics that will directly benefit women’s health research. Keefe is also a former dancer. Her nominator says her research prowess is defined by her ability to "combine art and medicine, design and engineering." She presented her research at this year's DLA symposium and is currently working on submitting her research to a peer-reviewed journal.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

After graduation, I am looking to continue working in the field of cancer research and technologies with a focus on women's health. CEAS helped me prepare by allowing me to explore so many different areas of engineering to truly find where my passions lie.

Hayden Tomazin

Tomazin is receiving a Research Award for his exceptional ability to complex scientific concepts and apply them to challenging research problems. His research primarily focuses on magnetically responsive microstructures. Using precise magnetic control to create lock-and-key microassemblies, Tomazin has been developing new fabrication techniques that can open doors for innovative applications in microsurgery and targeted drug delivery. His work could one day pave the way for a new class of noninvasive medical interventions.

Tomazin's contributions will also make their way into two publications out of the Shields Lab, led by Assistant Professor C. Wyatt Shields IV. He will be the second and third author in these publications, showcasing his outstanding dedication and curiosity to research. Beyond the lab, Tomazin has effectively shared his research and knowledge with a broader audience, presenting posters at conferences and through collaborations with other universities. His nominator says this level of undergraduate research achievement is rare, and that Tomazin is "one of the most capable undergraduate researchers I have mentored in my career."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I'm hoping to find a job where I can use my research experience to help make medical treatment more accessible and less invasive.

Seven students from the Biomedical Engineering program (BME) have earned graduating student awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2025. These awards honor seniors who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions to the college and campus community.

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Borden, Rentschler inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:13:09 +0000

Borden, Rentschler inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows Alexander Jame… Mon, 03/31/2025 - 10:13

Alexander Servantez

Two faculty members in the Biomedical Engineering Program (BME) at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� have etched their names amongst some of the most successful medical and biological engineers in the world.

Professors Mark Borden and Mark Rentschler have been inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows. The program is among the highest professional distinctions given to medical and biological engineers, representing the top 2% of these engineers around the world.

Professor Mark Borden (right) talking to a student in his lab.

“I am honored to be selected into the AIMBE College of Fellows,” said Borden, also a faculty member in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. “It’s an exciting achievement and a great opportunity to promote the important research we do here at the university.”

AIMBE College of Fellows membership honors engineers who have made significant advancements in the field of medical and biological engineering. But it also recognizes engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the future of bioengineering education.

Borden has done both. His novel research focuses on developing microbubbles and nano droplets for use in ultrasound imaging.

These little particles are safe to inject into the body and can be used as contrast agents to indicate or predict diseases. They can also be used as a non-invasive technique for drug or oxygen delivery, targeting rare pediatric brain tumors and helping hypoxemic patients struggling to get oxygen through normal respiration.

“It’s quite an interdisciplinary field,” Borden said. “We have to pull knowledge from many different domains—acoustics, ultrasonics, biology. But the main core of our research is the development of new microbubbles and nano droplets. That’s what we are known for.”

Borden has also left his mark in the classroom. He played a key role in the creation of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� BME program, even serving as its inaugural director in 2018. He stayed in the position for five years, during which time the undergraduate program grew significantly and earned ABET accreditation.

Rentschler’s impact transcends both research and education, as well. In 2018, he helped launch Aspero Medical, a startup company that develops micro-textured balloon overtubes used to enable more efficient and less invasive surgical procedures in the small bowel region.

Professor Mark Rentschler showcasing current and upcoming Aspero Medical devices.

These devices have proven to be successful, receiving clearance from the Food and Drug Administration in 2023. Since then, Rentscher and his team have been working to expand on their vision, announcing the development of two new surgical products powerful enough to transform endoscopy procedures even further.

“The first product was an improvement to the tools currently available to physicians,” said Rentschler, who is also a faculty member in mechanical engineering. “The next generation of devices we’re introducing are poised to make significant contributions to physicians and completely shift how they can treat aggressive cancers and precancerous lesions within the gastrointestinal tract.”

Rentschler also helped kickstart a mechanical engineering graduate design program back in 2010. Under his guidance, the program led to dozens of patents on graduate students’ design projects—some of them later going on to be used on patients or implemented by companies across the nation.

AIMBE inductees are also expected to serve as advocates for research by engaging with legislators and promoting public policies that foster continued advancement in medical and biological engineering fields.

It’s a hallmark of the AIMBE College of Fellows program, and both Borden and Rentschler believe they have the experience and expertise to be strong advocates for the future.

“I think we bring some interesting perspectives to these conversations, considering we’ve been in the academic research arena as well as the industry side of things,” Rentschler said. “I am honored to receive this distinction, and I am excited for these new opportunities to make a strong impact going forward.”

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CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:43:19 +0000

CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows Alexander Jame… Fri, 02/14/2025 - 09:43

CU Engineering has named the inaugural recipients of its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows program, which supports faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in bringing research to market. The fellows, selected for their work in fields like robotics, biomedical devices and advanced materials, receive funding, mentorship and entrepreneurial support to accelerate commercialization.

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Rentschler, Aspero Medical awarded $4.5M for endoscopy advancement

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 21:36:21 +0000

Rentschler, Aspero Medical awarded $4.5M for endoscopy advancement Alexander Jame… Tue, 02/11/2025 - 14:36

Six years ago, Professor Mark Rentschler helped launch startup company Aspero Medical to develop a medical device used during endoscopy procedures. Today, with the help of a $4.5 million grant through the Anschutz Acceleration Initiative, Rentschler and his team are bringing two new medical devices to the market that have the potential to transform surgeries in the gastrointestinal region even further.

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Jerome Fox receives Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:59:56 +0000

Jerome Fox receives Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers Alexander Jame… Mon, 02/03/2025 - 11:59

Associate Professor Jerome Fox has received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). The award celebrates nearly 400 recipients for their exceptional contributions to advancing science and engineering, and is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government.

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Graduating undergraduate student Gabriella Erich receives the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Research Award

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:20:41 +0000

Graduating undergraduate student Gabriella Erich receives the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Research Award Alexander Jame… Mon, 12/16/2024 - 10:20

Alexander Servantez

Gabriella Erich, a biomedical engineering (BME) student graduating this fall, has been selected to receive the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science 2024 Outstanding Research Award.

This award is given to undergraduate students who demonstrate research excellence that is both interdisciplinary and impactful. Erich is the fourth BME student to win the award since the young program’s conception in 2018. But her journey to this award was a little different.

The unique, early journey

Gabriella Erich, a graduating BME student and winner of the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Research Award.

Growing up in both Boulder and Los Angeles, Erich had two passions: space and medicine.

“When I was a kid, I had a NASA astronaut suit in my room,” Erich said. “But I also loved my chemistry classes, my biology classes and I always wanted to be a doctor.”

As college inched closer, Erich was unsure what degree path to pursue. The decision was difficult but she eventually chose the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Erich enjoyed aerospace engineering. But she quickly discovered that she wasn’t feeling passion and she needed a change. She had also been dealing with some bad news from back home: Two of her uncles had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurological disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

“Their diagnosis really sparked my passion again. I knew I wanted to switch over to biomedical engineering and assist in the research to help treat the disease and save lives in the future,” Erich said. “It was a tough transition, but it was incredibly worth it.”

Erich began taking BME courses during her fourth semester at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��. One of them was an introductory course with Professor Mark Borden, where she first carved out her niche in the world of biomedical research.

“I remember when Dr. Borden talked about the microbubbles that he and his students worked with in his lab,” she said. “I really had no clue what they were, but I realized his research was something I was interested in. When I saw his graduate students present it again in a different class, I decided it was something I was going to pursue.”

In the next year, Erich applied to the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) and was accepted into the Borden Research Lab.

“It was daunting at first,” Erich said. “I really wanted to make sure I impressed them. Once I got into the lab, I showed that I can ask questions and learn quickly. It became a pretty seamless transition after that.”

The award-winning research

Erich conducted multiple independent studies during her time in the Borden lab. Each of them analyzed endoskeletal droplets, exoskeletal droplets and their response to a phase transition phenomenon called acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV).

Erich (right) and another student collaborating in the Borden lab.

ADV occurs when liquid droplets are vaporized under ultrasound. This technique is often used to explore more precise imaging and drug delivery solutions. But endoskeletal droplets are more complex; they contain an internal solid hydrocarbon structure that allows researchers to control their stability and vaporizability.

Using ultrasound, Erich developed a testing setup using a research ultrasound transducer to study the endoskeletal droplets and their behavior under ADV. This novel research yielded results that mark the first formal characterization of endoskeletal droplets with this phenomenon.

With more analysis and improvement to the test setup, Erich believes this work can possibly help engineers and scientists discover a safer, more cost-effective method of drug delivery and treating brain-related diseases.

“There are cures for cancer like radiation and chemotherapy,” she said. “But there are problems with those. Ultrasound is noninvasive, so using these droplets could be a safer and cheaper way to deliver this type of care.”

In October, Erich was invited to present her findings at the Biomedical Engineering Society annual meeting. She is currently working on another independent study, this time analyzing the effects of ADV on exoskeletal droplets that have external solid structures. For this research, Erich is developing an electronic setup to alter more parameters using both a transmit and a receive transducer.

“It’s a similar principle as my past studies,” Erich said. “We want to see when this droplet vaporizes under ultrasound. But we want to alter a few more parameters such as pulse length, pulse repetition frequency, and mechanical index to see the effect of those on the droplets as well.”

The lasting impact

Erich during her time as an Engineering Ambassador, sharing her knowledge and love for research with prospective students and families.

Erich has proved her worth as a researcher and community member in other areas, too. This past summer, she worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developing magnetic nanoparticles for use as contrast agents in a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI). She has also served as an Engineering Ambassador, sharing her path and passion for research with prospective students and families.

Most of all, Erich hopes her college journey will inspire future undergraduates to find their passion in research. Especially those who come from a unique path, just as she did.

“I come from a non-STEM family, and I started in aerospace. I never thought I would ever have this opportunity,” she said. “I’m grateful to have been a part of this program, and I am honored to be given this award.”

The achievement of the Outstanding Research Award will be recognized at the College of Engineering and Applied Science Graduation Ceremony on Dec. 19, 2024. Erich hopes to return to ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� as a graduate student in fall 2025 or use her research knowledge to work in medical imaging.

Gabriella Erich, a graduating student in biomedical engineering has been selected to receive the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science 2024 Outstanding Research Award. Her novel research marks the first formal characterization of endoskeletal droplets under acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV).

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Recent PhD graduate Payton Martinez receives the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Dissertation Award

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:47:29 +0000

Recent PhD graduate Payton Martinez receives the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Dissertation Award Alexander Jame… Mon, 12/16/2024 - 09:47

Alexander Servantez

Payton Martinez, a recent biomedical engineering (BME) PhD graduate, has been selected to receive the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science 2024 Outstanding Dissertation Award.

This award is given annually to a doctoral research student completing their PhD degree requirements whose written dissertation demonstrates outstanding quality, research excellence and topical importance.

Growing up in the Denver area, Martinez would often take apart electronic devices to study their mechanisms and understand how they worked. He said he loved math, science and working with his hands.

Payton Martinez, recent PhD graduate in biomedical engineering and winner of the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Dissertation Award.

As Martinez became older, he took a sharp interest in medical technology and neuroscience. He began to notice family members going in and out of the hospital for various illnesses, and he wondered about the risks associated with the treatments they were being given.

“I realized that I wanted to use engineering to focus on something valuable,” Martinez said. “Not an item or a product like a television. Something valuable like the lives of humans or even animals.”

Martinez attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering. He was then introduced to the Borden Research Lab, led by Professor Mark A. Borden at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Here, he was able to continue his studies in ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� BME graduate program and quench the thirst for all his curiosities at once: medicine, technology and neuroscience.

Martinez’ dissertation is titled “Improving the Treatment of DMG Using Focused Ultrasound and Microbubbles Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening.” The research explores how ultrasound and microbubbles can potentially work in tandem to effectively deliver drugs to the brain and treat neurological diseases in the future.

According to Martinez, neurological disorders were the second leading cause of death in 2016. This is not because our drugs and therapeutic treatments are ineffective. Instead, Martinez argues we need to improve drug delivery methods in order to reach these brain-related illnesses.

“Many pharmaceutical companies have developed drugs over the years that work super well when you have the drug and cell right next to each other,” Martinez said. “But our brains have a blood-brain barrier that prevents these effective drugs from getting past and attacking the cell.

“The big issue when it comes to neurological diseases and brain cancer is taking the drugs and figuring out a way to deliver them to humans.”

During his time in the Borden lab, Martinez focused specifically on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a brain tumor located in the pons region of the brain that primarily affects children.

This rare form of cancer is unique. While some cancerous tumors have a slightly leaky or porous blood-brain barrier, allowing certain drug treatments to pass, the DIPG blood-brain barrier is fully intact. This makes the cancer almost impossible to treat in any way that is both safe and cost-effective.

“Using the technology we developed in the Borden lab, we were able to pass through the blood-brain barrier and reduce the tumor size in mice,” Martinez said. “Of course, this is on a much smaller scale than treating humans. But overall, we were able to increase the survival of these tumor-bearing mice.”

Martinez looks to expand on this research even further in the future. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University using ultrasound and microbubbles to possibly treat other neurological ailments as well. His goal is to remain in academia and eventually start his own lab where he can continue to push the limits of his research and discoveries.

The achievement of this award will be recognized at the College of Engineering and Applied Science Graduation Ceremony on December 19, 2024.

More than anything, Martinez wants to give thanks.

“I’m extremely grateful to receive this award, and I am thankful for my advisor, Mark Borden, for nominating me,” Martinez said. “Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way. A lot of my journey was learning from experts and mentors and it’s extremely impacted what I know and have done today.”

Payton Martinez, a recent PhD graduate in biomedical engineering has been selected to receive the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science 2024 Outstanding Dissertation Award. His research explores how ultrasound and microbubbles can potentially work in tandem to effectively deliver drugs to the brain and treat neurological diseases in the future.

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