Six BioE Graduate Students Receive Internal Fellowships
Six PhD students in the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Bioengineering were awarded internal fellowships this year to pursue research in tissue engineering, brain-computer interfaces, cardiovascular medical device development and more throughout their doctoral studies.
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowships
The University of Pittsburgh established the K. Leroy Irvis Fellowships in 1994 to enhance the academic excellence and diversity of the University of Pittsburgh's graduate student body, attract the most outstanding and diverse graduate students to Pitt’s doctoral programs, and prepare students for academic and research careers.
Each year, schools select distinguished doctoral applicants who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement to participate in this prestigious program, which offers academic guidance and cohort-based mentoring alongside financial support. First-year PhD students Hanna Armstrong, Jackie Avila, Alison Buck, and Edgar Canario are the Department of Bioengineering’s 2024 K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship recipients.
Hanna Armstrong
Armstrong works in the Cardiovascular Health Tech Laboratory with Professor of Bioengineering Ramakrishna Mukkamala to develop non-invasive methods and tools that observe cardiovascular health. She hopes that this fellowship will help develop pathways to making STEM education more accessible for herself and future students.
“Despite the initiatives taken in the last 10 to 20 years, STEM still seems to be an unattainable field to engage with for many communities,” Armstrong said. ”I hope with this fellowship, I will learn how to develop structures to support students looking to enter STEM and attain higher education.
Jackie Avila
Avila works in the Soft Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory (STBL) under the guidance of Jonathan Vande Geest, professor of bioengineering. Avila is interested in investigating and applying computational and experimental approaches to understand and solve cardiovascular and vascular health problems. In the STBL, she is working on the computational optimization of a compliance matched tissue engineered vascular graft (TEVG). For Avila, the Irvis fellowship has provided support and opportunities to interact and connect with other diverse fellows in various departments at the University.
“As a first-generation Latina PhD student, having this support system at Pitt has made the transition from undergraduate studies to graduate studies smoother for me,” Avila said. “I am extremely honored to have received the K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship, and I look forward to trying, failing, and succeeding as a PhD student.”
Alison Buck
Working with Assistant Professor of Pathology David Gau, her research interests include cancer biology, tissue engineering, microbiology, regenerative medicine, and nephrology.
“As a first-gen college student, I’ve faced obstacles throughout my academic career,” Buck said. “The academic guidance and mentoring I will gain through this fellowship will offer support and direction through my graduate degree and in life.”
Edgar Canario
Canario works with Jennifer L. Collinger, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Pitt’s School of Medicine, on the development of brain-computer interfaces, aiming to improve robotic upper-limb control and to study neural motor activity during brain-computer interface use. Canario is an alumnus of the MS to PhD BRIDGE program, and is looking forward to the academic guidance and mentoring throughout his graduate career provided by this fellowship.
Wesley C. Pickard Fellowship
Keerthana Manikandan
As the 2024 Wesley C. Pickard Fellow, Manikandan will receive research funding and meet Mr. Pickard, a Pitt alumnus and former CFO of Synergy Inc. Manikandan is advised by Assistant Professor of Neurobiology Omar Gharbawie and is interested in understanding the neurobiological principles of spontaneous activity or resting state in the brain. Her research aims to uncover underlying architecture and neurophysiological properties of the brain using optical imaging and in-vivo electrophysiology in non-human primates.
Leonard H. Berenfield Graduate Fellowship in Cardiovascular Bioengineering
Recipients of the Leonard H. Berenfield Graduate Fellowship in Cardiovascular Bioengineering receive one year of funding for cardiovascular research performed at the Swanson School and retain the title of Berenfield Fellow throughout their PhD studies.
Rugveda Thanneeru
Thanneeru is a third-year PhD student advised by Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering Harvey Borovetz and James Ataki, adjunct professor in the department of bioengineering. He’s interested in developing medical devices such as Artificial Hearts/ Ventricular assist devices (VADs) which can save thousands of lives of small children and adults suffering from advanced heart failure. His research focuses on the VAD cannula, which connects the human heart with the device.
“Dr. Borovetz and Dr. Antaki have made significant contributions to the development of the HeartMate 2 VAD, which has been implanted in over 27,000 patients.” Thanneeru said. “Now, they are developing a much smaller VAD that can be implanted in small children born with heart defects, potentially saving their lives, and this fellowship gives me the opportunity to be part of this noble cause and learn from their wisdom.”
About Leonard H. Berenfield (1943-2021)
Leonard H. Berenfield received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1964. In 1965, after one year at Westinghouse, he moved to Warren, Pa. to use his engineering knowledge to help grow Berenfield Steel Drum Co. – the family steel drum manufacturing business. The firm’s continued growth led to reorganization as Berenfield Containers, Inc. in 1985 with Mr. Berenfield assuming the role of President. Further expansions of existing plants over the years and the acquisition of plants in Harrisburg, N.C. and Pine Bluff, Ark. as well as new factories to diversify the product line into fiber drums established the company’s legacy. Mauser USA purchased Berenfield Containers in 2016. Mr. Berenfield was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area and was an active volunteer. He held posts in several nonprofit and industry boards including the American Heart Association, the United Way, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Hebrew Union College, the Steel Shipping Container Institute, the International Fibre Drum Institute, and the Industrial Steel Drum Institute. In 2018, he was named Distinguished Alumnus of the Swanson School’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science.