Preston Butler |
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Preston Butler is a current freshman pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at UT Dallas. He graduated as Salutatorian of his class from Maryville High School in Maryville, Tennessee, before coming to UT Dallas as a 2014 McDermott Scholar. In the Vascular Mechanobiology Lab, Preston is studying the behavior of macrophage cells on substrates of varying stiffness. This is Preston’s first experience in a research lab, and he is eager to dive into his work. Upon graduation from UT Dallas in 2018, Preston plans to obtain a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering. In his free time, he enjoys playing his trumpet, reading, and playing a game of volleyball or tennis with his friends. |
John Hamati |
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John graduated valedictorian of his class at Garland High School with an International Baccalaureate diploma and is currently a B.S. Biology and Business Administration student and National Merit Finalist in his senior year at the University of Texas at Dallas. In the past at UTD, he has been a teaching assistant for Biochemistry I, and seeks to apply his love for science to help others. Upon graduation, he hopes to continue his education by attending medical school and ultimately wishes to practice medicine in the state of Texas. Outside of school, he is a math instructor for students from pre-K to high school, a middle child, a car fanatic, a soccer aficionado, and a traveler who has spent time across the United States, Europe and the Middle East. |
Joey McFarland |
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I am currently pursuing a B.S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. Upon graduation in 2015, I intend to advance into the biomedical applications of electrical engineering, whether that is through a graduate program or working in the industry. I hope to one day use my knowledge and experience to make advances in the fields of medical devices and imaging. My current research project involves the development of an animal model and imaging techniques for the mechanical characterization of atherosclerotic plaques with elastography. I found my passion for the medical field while working as an Emergency Medical Technician. Through my participation and leadership in extracurricular organizations, I have received opportunities to serve local communities as well as abroad communities through medical missions to Peru. Additionally, I gained international experience while studying abroad in Germany and Poland. Outside of education and research, I enjoy working as a math instructor, playing the guitar and piano, staying active through sports, and traveling. |
Melanie Maurer |
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Melanie Maurer is a junior pursuing a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, IL, in 2012 before coming to UTD as a part of the McDermott Scholars Program. For the past two years, she has researched at UTD, Georgia Tech, and the University of Tübingen in Germany, and has gained experience in materials science, stem cell engineering, and cancer technologies, among other areas. She presented posters at two Biomedical Engineering conferences in 2013, received a Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention in April of 2014, and will give an oral presentation at the BMES Annual Meeting in October of 2014. Upon graduation from UTD, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. Melanie is currently studying macrophage proliferation as a function of substrate stiffness. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, running, volunteering, and watching Grey’s Anatomy. |
Stephanie Kubecka |
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Hello, my name is Stephanie Kubecka and I'm from Cypress, Texas, just Northwest of Houston, where I graduated with honors and distinction from Cypress Woods High School in 2012. I'm currently in my Sophomore year at UTD studying for a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science planning to graduate in the spring of 2016. I plan to also obtain a Masters in Biomedical Engineering after undergad. For me, the deciding factor in choosing a degree in biomed, is that I love all types of biology and also solving puzzles so this path seemed like the best of both worlds, in my opinion. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies, solving puzzles (I'm especially hooked on rubric's cubes right now), running, and hanging out with friends. |
Sanyukta Bihari |
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My name is Sanyukta Bihari and I am a freshman Biomedical Engineering Major at UT Dallas. I am also leaning towards pre-med with a deep interest in Cardiac Surgery. I am from Plano and I attended Plano West Senior High School, graduating in the top 10% of my class. I was involved in several clubs and organizations during my high school career, the most important being French Club and Orchestra. I began taking French in 6th grade and instantly fell in love with the language as well as the culture. I participated in the National French Exam in my freshman, sophomore, and junior years of high school and was placed in the top 10% in the nation. I plan to extend my interests in the French culture by minoring in French Language. I was also a violinist in my middle school and high school orchestras. Apart from being concertmaster of the 9th grade Philharmonic Orchestra and being part of the prestigious Chamber Orchestra, I was also involved in organizing events for Orchestra by holding the title of Junior Orchestra Officer. Playing the violin is a mode of relaxation for me and I continue to practice in my free time. Currently at UTD, I am involved on campus by being a part of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) as well as HOSA.
I am very glad to be a part of the research team led by Dr. Hayenga. I learned about her Vascular Mechanobiology Lab in the SWE meeting and instantly became interested in becoming a part of the lab. I will be contributing to the research process by reading and providing analysis on literature related to Vascular Mechanobiology and vascular diseases. |
Arri Morris |
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Arri is currently pursuing his bachelors in biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. Arri is developing a multiscale computational model to predict arterial remodeling under diseased conditions. Specifically, Arri is determining “rules” or programmable functions to dictate how agents or cells will respond to mechanical and chemical stimulus. He is also involved in various organizations at UTD and is a passionate writer. He recently published a book titled, “As Close to a Love Story as I’ll Ever Get.” Arri aspires to start a company after graduating from UTD. |