Two Flinn Scholars find meaning in BME
Flinn Scholars (from left) Roselyn Dorell, Oliver Hoerth and Jeanette Mendoza enroll at the College of Engineering with the goal of doing meaningful work.
Two of Arizona's most promising students have their eyes set on biomedical engineering at the University of Arizona. Every year, the Flinn Scholarship recognizes Arizona's brightest high school seniors with full tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meals and more covered, a value of more than $135,000.
Flinn Scholars Oliver Hoerth and Jeanette Mendoza are joining the Department of Biomedical Engineering to design medical instruments and improve quality of life.
'Since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be an engineer because I loved the idea of critical thinking, problem solving and being creative,' says Flinn Scholar Jeannette Mendoza.
Mendoza plans to leverage her biomedical degree to help people contending with diseases like those that have afflicted family members.
“For me, it's always been important to connect what you do to who you are and what you've experienced. My goal is to find ways to help people with cancer, both for prevention and during treatments,” she said.
The Sunnyside High School graduate watched her friends and family members navigate lupus and cancer throughout her childhood.
Department resources make dream reality
In the Peter and Nancy Salter Medical Device Design Lab, students build and test wearable medical devices and sensors. And in a lab run by Shang Song, assistant professor of BME, students are encouraged to conduct research as part of the Cancer Engineering Initiative.
When Hoerth toured the U of A’s biomedical engineering program and the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab, he saw unlimited possibilities.
“It was really just an eye-opening experience, and I saw where I could do the research and make a tangible impact,” said Hoerth.
He was particularly impressed with the wearable health monitors being developed in the lab of Philipp Gutruf, associate department head of BME. As a BME major, Hoerth plans to study and explore computer engineering in the Gutruf Lab as it relates to biological systems.
He is also excited to get involved in student clubs like the Biomedical Engineering Society.
“I was drawn to BMES because it would not only teach me essential soft skills such as resume writing, interviewing, leadership and networking,” he said. “But it would also allow me to get further connected with other undergraduates.”