Hometown: New City, New York
Major: Bioengineering
Hobbies as an incoming Clark Scholar: I thoroughly enjoy traveling, spending time with my family and friends and listening to music. I also try to volunteer whenever I can.
Future Goals as an incoming Clark Scholar: My love of math and science, along with my desire to make an impact on people’s lives, leads me to pursue bioengineering. I know that my Penn education, as well as all the resources available to me, will allow me to achieve my career goals and become a successful and productive individual.
Current Employer: Johnson & Johnson
Position: Research & Development Engineer
Area of focus: Breast tissue expanders used for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy
Philly has so many great restaurants that it’s hard to pick just one! Some of my favorites, both near campus and around the city, are JJ Thai Cuisine, Tuna Bar, Terakawa Ramen, Sabrina’s Cafe, and Green Eggs Cafe. Each offered something different, whether I was looking for a quick meal, a weekend brunch spot, or a place to treat myself after an exam. I also have to recommend Beiler’s Doughnuts. I briefly worked at their location near campus when it was open and it remains one of my favorite spots for a sweet treat. Their doughnuts are definitely worth trying if you find yourself at Reading Terminal Market!
My favorite class was Biomechatronics with Dr. Dourte. I really enjoyed how hands-on the course was, and I learned a lot by applying the concepts from lectures to the various projects we completed throughout the semester. Working on these projects was definitely the highlight of the class, especially the final project, where we had to design a gripper capable of picking up a water bead without crushing it while also incorporating a biological interface. Seeing all the components of the design come together was incredibly rewarding. This class inspired me to further explore the field by taking additional courses in mechatronics and robotics as part of my Master’s program.
An honorable mention would be Introduction to Film Photography with Gabriel Martinez. As an engineering student, it was refreshing to take a class that was very different from my usual coursework and pushed me outside of my comfort zone. The course involved developing my own film and creating prints in the darkroom, which gave me a deeper appreciation for both the technical and artistic aspects of film photography. It ultimately sparked a new hobby for me, although now I leave the film development to the professionals and stick to taking the pictures!
One of my favorite parts of being at Penn was having the opportunity to explore Philadelphia. I would encourage every student to take time to venture off campus, even if it’s just to take a walk through the city or along the Schuylkill River. I found this to be a great way to recharge, take a break from schoolwork, and experience all that Philly has to offer. In particular, I enjoyed visiting the farmers markets at Clark Park and Rittenhouse Square on weekends. And, of course, I think every Penn student should experience a Philly sports game at least once!
A mindset that I developed at Penn and still rely on today is embracing problem-solving. Whether it was tackling a challenging problem set or learning a new set of skills for a group project, Penn consistently challenged me to work through complex problems. This experience taught me to approach challenges head-on and view them as opportunities for growth, a mindset that is foundational to engineering. In my career today, research and development comes with its own unique set of challenges. However, I feel prepared and confident navigating them because of the problem-solving mindset I developed at Penn.
One of my fondest memories from the Clark Scholars Program was participating in the pre-orientation program at the start of my sophomore year. It provided a great opportunity to strengthen relationships with fellow scholars in my cohort while also getting to know members of the incoming class. We participated in a variety of fun team-building activities, including a scavenger hunt around Philadelphia!
One opportunity I’m especially excited about right now is my recent acceptance into Johnson & Johnson’s Changemakers program. Through this program, I will have the opportunity to use the skills I have developed in R&D and product development to work on a social impact project in collaboration with community-based organizations alongside other early-career professionals. I’m really looking forward to having an opportunity outside of my day-to-day project work to make a positive impact on others, and I can’t wait to get started in a couple of months!
One piece of advice I would give to current Clark Scholars and Penn Engineering students is to take full advantage of all the resources available at Penn. Whether it’s attending office hours to gain a deeper understanding of course material, participating in career fairs to explore opportunities within engineering, or leveraging the network provided through the Clark Scholars Program, these resources can have a significant impact on both your academic and professional journey. In fact, I secured my role at Johnson & Johnson through a connection I made at a Penn-hosted career fair! Therefore, I would not be in the position I am today without taking advantage of that opportunity and other resources at Penn.
A future goal that motivates me each day is seeing a product that I have helped develop successfully reach the market and make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. My decision to major in Bioengineering was driven by a passion for helping others, and I look forward to the day when I can see that passion realized through my work. As I continue to grow in my career, I am excited to further develop my technical and leadership skills while contributing to innovative healthcare solutions. Knowing that the work I do today has the potential to improve patient outcomes in the future is incredibly rewarding and continues to inspire me to learn, grow, and take on new challenges.
