I am a biomedical engineer and clinical scientist. I am passionate about the development and validation of in vitro diagnostics, especially in rheumatology and oncology. During the TechMed Event I will present some work from my PhD thesis, which I will defend November 28th at the UT.
I am originally from a small town in Germany called Arnsberg. I started my professional career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (USA) with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration while competing in Division I collegiate tennis. During this time, I developed a keen interest in combining the study of cardiovascular diseases and organ-on-a-chip technology. This interest brought me to the University of Twente where I recently received my Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with a specialization in Bioengineering Technologies. Now, I am a PhD candidate at the UT in the group Applied Stem Cell Technologies working on engineered cardiac in-vitro models, especially, on the next generation of miniature cardiac pumping chambers. In my free time, I still play as much Tennis as possible. On more quiet days, I like reading novels and cooking.
My background is in materials engineering with a research focus on polymers for biomedical applications. My PhD project at the Developmental Bioengineering group of the University of Twente evolves around the development & characterization of hydrogels for 3D cell encapsulation. The aim of the project is to develop hydrogels that can mimic native cell environments, to create models relevant for tissue engineering. To better mimic the natural dynamicity and viscoelasticity of the cell niche, we focus on using dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) to create strong, yet dynamic, bonds. Additionally, the novel hydrogels offer interesting properties such as self-healing behaviour and stress relaxation. In this way we aim to expand the toolbox of dynamic hydrogels and improve artificial matrices to better resemble the natural (viscoelastic) environment of cells.
I have always had an interest in both technology and the complexities of the human body. During my studies in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, I developed a special interest in image acquisition and image processing for imaging the human body, and for ultrasound imaging in particular.
I’m a Master student in Applied Mathematics and Science Education with a strong interest in Data Science and Deep Learning. My passion for impactful research in healthcare led me to an internship at Stryker. There, I focused on data-driven optimization of implant positioning in total knee replacements. This research sparked my interest in medical data science, and I’m now continuing this work in my graduate thesis, aiming to advance personalized and effective surgical solutions.
I am a PhD student working at the department of Biomedical Signals and Systems. I focus on researching Deep Brain Stimulation, particularly in the context of Parkinson's Disease. Using volume conduction models and finite element methods I aim to investigate the distribution and characteristics of electric fields during Deep Brain Stimulation, not just in the direct vicinity of the electrodes, but throughout the entire head.
