Senior Design Awards Spotlight Part 3

2025 Team PRIME – Engineering a Smarter Response to Sepsis

From left to right: Sophie Gu; Shriya Boyapati; Sophie Klessel; McKenzie Davis; Majd Ayyad.

The final feature in the 2025 Senior Design Awards Spotlight highlights Team PRIME, who earned Second Place at the Minnesota Design of Medical Devices Competition

Team Members: Majd Ayyad, Shriya Boyapati, McKenzie Davis, Sophie Gu, Sophie Klessel

Senior design in Penn Bioengineering is a yearlong capstone experience in which bioengineering seniors identify an unmet bioengineering need, design a solution to address the need, and create a high quality prototype that demonstrates their design. The course consists of BE4950 and BE4960, and was most recently taught by Dr. Erin Berlew, Dr. David Meaney, and Dr. Michael Siedlik.

For Team PRIME, the mission was clear: create a tool that could help detect sepsis earlier—when timing can mean the difference between life and death. Their project centers around a device that automatically measures capillary refill time, a simple but powerful indicator of blood perfusion and circulation quality. By providing continuous, automated monitoring, PRIME aims to improve clinical decision-making in intensive care units and emergency settings.

PRIME as an idea; the first prototype of PRIME with all the wires.

The team’s inspiration came from their clinical mentor, Dr. John Greenwood, whose passion for improving sepsis detection was contagious.

Sophie Klessel shared, “We had a great clinical mentor (Dr. John Greenwood) who was really passionate about creating a device for earlier detection of sepsis, and we knew we wanted to work with him. Additionally, sepsis was an issue that resonated with our group and an issue that we were excited about.”

Team PRIME approached the work with a strong sense of collaboration, blending individual strengths across software, hardware, and systems integration. One member led the development of the user interface and application logic, while another focused on designing and assembling the physical and electrical components.

Working on PRIME revealed to the team just how demanding and rewarding bioengineering can be.

“Bioengineers need to understand it all from interviewing clinicians for needs findings, to studying the physiology of the human body, to designing all the technical components including hardware and software and finally towards producing a medical device. It is such a difficult job to be all the engineers at once but the final results are rewarding!” Majd Ayyad explained. 

As the project concluded, their work was already gaining traction. Dr.  Michael Siedlik, one of the bioengineering senior design instructors, shares, “This technology could greatly surpass the current standard of care, as it provides much needed automation, reproducibility, and clinician-free measurements in hectic medical environments where quick and reliable measurements are critical for preventing the negative outcomes of sepsis.”

PRIME device.

PRIME earned Second Place at the Minnesota Design of Medical Devices Competition, a national recognition of the team’s thoughtful engineering and strong clinical relevance. Development of the device will continue in partnership with their clinical mentor—bringing them one step closer to impacting real patient care.

Senior Design Awards Spotlight Part 2

2025 Team Prism Optics – Bringing Vision Care Within Reach

Photo Credit: Penn Engineering
From left to right: Lyle Brunhofer, Senior Design Project Competition Chairman; Dr. Robert Ghrist, Andrea Mitchell University Professor; Daniel Botros; Fady Fahmy; Daniel Serebrinic Jacobsohn; Danish Mahmood; and Aarush Sahni.

In Part 2 of the 2025 Senior Design Awards Spotlight, we turn to Team Prism Optics, winners of the Leadership Prize at Penn Engineering’s Senior Design Competition.

Team Members: Daniel Botros, Fady Fahmy, Daniel Jacobsohn Serebrinic, Danish Mahmood, Aarush Sahni

Senior design in Penn Bioengineering is a yearlong capstone experience in which bioengineering seniors identify an unmet bioengineering need, design a solution to address the need, and create a high quality prototype that demonstrates their design. The course consists of BE4950 and BE4960, and was most recently taught by Dr. Erin Berlew, Dr. David Meaney, and Dr. Michael Siedlik.

Across the globe, more than a billion people lack access to basic vision care, often simply because there aren’t enough optometrists to perform eye exams (Staff, One billion have preventable vision impairment 2019). Team Prism Optics took on this challenge by building a device that automates the process of determining an eyeglass prescription, offering a low-cost, portable solution that can be used without the need for a trained clinician.

The result is a self-administered vision screening platform that mimics the clinical process of subjective refraction. A user looks through a lens system and responds to a tumbling E eye chart using a joystick, indicating the direction of the letter. This interface, designed to be intuitive for users regardless of literacy, language, or age, was a major innovation in the team’s design. As Danish Mahmood explained, “Realizing the joystick input to indicate the direction of the tumbling E’s is functional for illiterate, non native English speaking, young and old people was our biggest logistical challenge.”

Danish Mahmood is using Prismatic to find his eye prescription by looking through the viewport of the device at a tumbling E’s eye chart located 20 ft away. He uses a joystick to input the direction of the E on the eye chart in response to audio feedback from the device.

The device was designed and built through a deeply collaborative process. Mahmood developed the control software and mechanical precision of the lens adjustment system, while Fady Fahmy handled the acrylic housing and gears. Aarush Sahni envisioned the LCD interface and helped lead algorithm development alongside Daniel Jacobsohn Serebrinic and Daniel Botros, working closely with clinical mentors at Penn Medicine. The system is already being tested with classmates and is set to begin clinical trials with patients this summer.

Throughout the process, the team remained focused on their goal: to make vision care accessible in underserved communities. Their mentor noted that clinical trials beginning just months after graduation are almost unheard of for senior design teams—underscoring just how effectively Prism Optics aligned their design to a global need.

Dr. Michael Siedlik,  one of the bioengineering senior design instructors,  highlighted just how exceptional this trajectory is for a student team:

“Not many senior design teams are able to start clinical trials a few months after graduation… This is a testament to their ability to identify a bioengineering need that is very well suited to their expertise and to the resources available to them, as well as their ability to execute at a high level as a team.”

“We have prototyped a working self-administered eye exam that mimics the process of subjective refraction with an automated device… Our next step is to ensure many patients can use it successfully and achieve accurate results,” Mahmood shared. 

Team Prism Optics earned the Leadership Prize at Penn Engineering’s 2025 Senior Design Competition, a recognition of both their technical achievement and their clear path to real-world deployment.

References:
Staff, RO. (2019, October 8). One billion have preventable vision impairment. Review of Optometry. https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/one-billion-have-preventable-vision-impairment 

Senior Design Awards Spotlight Part 1 

2025 Team ReFlex – Rewiring Stroke Rehabilitation

From left to right: Christopher Wun, William Qi,  Ryann Joseph, Aditya Gowd, and Udit Garg

This series profiles three Penn Bioengineering senior design teams whose work received recognition at major competitions in 2025. In Part 1, we feature Team ReFlex, recipients of the Judge’s Choice Award at Penn Engineering’s Senior Design Competition

Team Members: William Qi, Ryann Joseph, Christopher Wun, Udit Garg, Aditya Gowd

Senior design in Penn Bioengineering is a yearlong capstone experience in which bioengineering seniors identify an unmet bioengineering need, design a solution to address the need, and create a high quality prototype that demonstrates their design. The course consists of BE4950 and BE4960, and was most recently taught by Dr. Erin Berlew, Dr. David Meaney, and Dr. Michael Siedlik.

From the beginning, Team ReFlex set out to do something ambitious: create a system that could help stroke patients regain motor function by aligning therapy with the brain’s intent to move. The idea emerged from a shared interest in neurotechnology, combined with a diverse set of technical backgrounds—bioengineering, robotics, computer science, electrical engineering, and data science. After months of conversations with professors, clinicians, and researchers, the concept took shape: an integrated platform that uses EEG signals and artificial intelligence to detect motor intent and trigger functional electrical stimulation (FES).

William Qi, Building and testing the first prototype of ReFlex. Here, the full circuitry of the device is on a breadboard – this image was taken before the team finalized a PCB.

The team’s collaborative spirit was central to their progress. Each member brought complementary skills—some focused on the machine learning algorithms, others on signal processing, printed circuit board (PCB) design, or mechanical fabrication. Together, they built a noninvasive system designed for versatility, comfort, and real-world applicability.

“We knew from the start that we wanted to work on something in neurotechnology, as it was a space where all of our interests came together,” said William Qi. “With teammates in bioengineering, robotics, computer science, electrical engineering, and data science, we felt like we had a unique mix of skills to build something meaningful.”

The path wasn’t without challenges. The interdisciplinary nature of the project meant constantly stepping beyond individual comfort zones. Signal processing became a particular hurdle once the team moved to printed circuit boards—troubleshooting became more complex, but they leaned on strong communication and trust to navigate the setbacks.

As they developed the system, the team connected with a manufacturer of FDA-approved FES devices and successfully integrated one into their prototype—something that Dr. Michael Siedlik, one of the bioengineering senior design instructors, described it as a powerful example of vision meeting execution.

“They are a shining example of how our students can turn a plan that initially seems a little like science fiction into a high-quality biomedical device with the potential to address an important need,” Siedlik noted.

From left to right: Aditya Gowd, William Qi, Udit Garg, Ryann Joseph, and Christopher Wun
ReFlex team picture picture after their successful BE demo day.

The result is a modular, user-friendly platform that allows patients to participate in their own rehabilitation more directly and independently. Designed to be compatible with existing clinical tools, ReFlex introduces a new level of personalization and responsiveness to therapy—advancing the potential of brain-computer interfaces in a field that clinicians themselves acknowledge as outdated.

ReFlex received the Judge’s Choice Award at Penn Engineering’s 2025 Senior Design Competition, a recognition not only of their technical achievement, but of their commitment to reshaping what recovery can look like for stroke survivors.

From Posters to Podiums: Recognizing Emerging Leaders in Immunology

Each year, the American Association of Immunologists hosts its flagship meeting, IMMUNOLOGY, bringing together thousands of scientists from across the globe. Far from being a routine conference, this gathering serves as a critical convergence point for the most current research and thought leadership in the field. IMMUNOLOGY2025, held in Honolulu this year, highlighted the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of immunology, with topics ranging from tissue-resident memory T cells and systems immunology to the brain-immune interface and cancer immunotherapy.

What sets IMMUNOLOGY2025 apart is its commitment to both scientific excellence and community building. Recognition at this meeting, whether through invited talks, abstract selection, or awards, is not just a personal milestone, but a broader signal of impactful, peer-recognized work. These honors are the result of competitive review and speak to both the scientific rigor and relevance of the selected projects. Oral presentations in block or major symposia place researchers on a global stage, while poster and trainee awards highlight emerging scientists making meaningful contributions to the field.

Reflecting the high regard for his research, Shahab (Shawn) Chizari was selected to present in a Major Symposium, one of the most prestigious forums at the meeting. Xiangcheng (Ison) Chen earned a 2025 AAI Trainee Abstract Award and was chosen for an oral presentation in a Block Symposium. Lingyang (Steven) Kong received a 2025 AAI Trainee Poster Award. Their achievements not only mark personal accomplishments, but also reflect the strength and promise of the next generation of immunologists.

2025 Graduate Awards for Bioengineering Students

Congratulations to the Penn Bioengineering graduate students who have received awards in the past year.

2025 Schmidt Science Fellow

Serena Omo-Lamai

As a 2025 Schmidt Science Fellow, Serena aims to create gene editing tools that activate only in targeted cells or disease contexts, improving precision and minimizing unintended effects. Her research focuses on safely removing harmful cells in autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes, with broader potential for diagnostics and treating other diseases.

Solomon R. Pollack Award for Excellence in Graduate Bioengineering Research

The Solomon R. Pollack Award for Excellence in Graduate Bioengineering Research is given annually to the most deserving Bioengineering graduate students who have successfully completed research that is original and recognized as being at the forefront of their field.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Winner

Emily Huynh
Emily Jacobs

“I would like to thank Dr Noor Momin and all of my lab mates in the Momin Lab. I would not be able to put in the dedication I do without all of their support, mentorship, and friendship!”
-Emily Jacobs

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention

American Heart Association (AHA) Award

Tuan Anh Nguyen

Awarded a Predoctoral Fellowship for his project, “Neuromodulatory Effects of Social Robot-Assisted Action Observation and Execution Therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation.”

Outstanding Teaching – SEAS Graduate Awards

Alex Hamilton
Nat Thurlow

“I would like to thank Dr. LeAnn Dourte and Dr. Joel Boerckel for their incredible mentorship and support. It has been inspiring to work and teach with mentors who care deeply about students and fostering their growth beyond the curriculum.”
-Nat Thurlow

“Many thanks to Dr. Kevin Johnson for being an incredible mentor and teacher! Extremely privileged to have been able to work with him and learn how to be a better educator. A big thank you as well to my co-advisors, Jim Gee and Osbert Bastani, for being fantastic mentors and sources of support!”
-Michael Yao

Michael Yao

Outstanding Research – SEAS Graduate Awards

Lysia Cardilla

Outstanding Service – SEAS Graduate Awards

Ludwig Zhao

“I would like to thank Drs. Detre, Gottfried, and Tisdall for their nomination and their invaluable support as my mentors. It has been a great privilege to work with them – not only for their academic guidance, but also for their support in enabling me to serve our engineering students.”
-Ludwig Zhao

Penn Prize for Excellence in Teaching by Graduate Students

Lasya Sreepada

“Thanks to all my students – high schoolers, undergraduates, and graduates – for engaging so thoughtfully in and out of class. I learned so much from you that has shaped my teaching style and inspired me to strive towards being an even better educator. A special thank you to Professor Paul Yushkevich, who welcomed me on board the teaching team for his Biomedical Image Analysis class and has been an outstanding mentor for me, as an aspiring scientist and professor.”
-Lasya Sreepada

“A sincere thank you to Drs. Michael Mitchell, Riccardo Gottardi, Daniel Hammer and Jenny Jiang for giving me the opportunity to TA for them! This award would not have been possible without all of their guidance and support. And a big thank you to all the wonderful students I have had the privilege of teaching for the past 3 years!”
-Ajay Thatte

Ajay Thatte

Celebrating Innovation and Community at the 2025 Bioengineering Graduate Research Symposium

The 2025 Bioengineering Graduate Research Symposium, held on May 9 at the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, was a dynamic showcase of cutting-edge student research and a powerful example of scientific community in action. Organized by the Penn Bioengineering Graduate Group, the event featured a full afternoon of oral and poster presentations highlighting advances in immunotherapy, neuroengineering, regenerative medicine, and more. From engineering CAR-T therapies to decoding brain circuitry in depression and obesity, the symposium demonstrated the ingenuity and collaborative spirit of Penn’s graduate students.

A standout moment of the day was the keynote address by Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, a 2023 Nobel Laureate in Medicine and Director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation. Dr. Weissman traced the trajectory of mRNA science, from its early hurdles to its pivotal role in developing life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. He also shared where the field is headed—toward applications in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and beyond. His talk connected fundamental research with global impact, echoing the values at the heart of Penn Bioengineering.

Beyond the research, the symposium fostered a sense of community—welcoming faculty, students, and staff to connect over science and shared curiosity. With two lively poster sessions accompanied by refreshments, attendees had ample opportunity to exchange ideas and forge new collaborations. The event culminated in a reception that reflected the collegial, interdisciplinary ethos that defines Penn Bioengineering.

Whether through high-throughput diagnostic platforms, innovative biomaterials, or neuroimaging technologies, the work presented at the symposium exemplified how research at Penn is not only advancing science but also addressing critical challenges in health and society. The 2025 Symposium was not just a showcase, it was a celebration of a thriving research community, united in its pursuit of innovation and impact.

2025 Undergraduate Awards for Bioengineering Students

Each spring, awards are given to undergraduate students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science in recognition of outstanding scholarly achievements and service to the School and University community.

Read the full list of Bioengineering undergraduate award winners below.

The Hugo Otto Wolf Memorial Prize

Christopher Wun

This prize is awarded to one or more members of each department’s senior class, distinguishing students who meet with great approval of the professors at large through “thoroughness and originality” in their work.

“Thanks to my BE professors (and lab instructors especially) that made it possible for me to explore just about every facet of engineering!”
-Christopher Wun

“I’d like to express my gratitude to the bioengineering professor that supported my work and always believed in me: Dr. LeAnn Dourte. Dr. Dourte has been a personal mentor, academic influence, and professional advisor that has shaped the way I approach the world. She is an incredible teacher, patient mentor, and wonderful friend. Thank you for all that she does!”
-Joey Wu

Joey Wu

The Herman P. Schwan Award

This department award honors a graduating senior who demonstrates the “highest standards of scholarship and academic achievement.”

Hana Bader

The Bioengineering Student Leadership Award

This award is given annually to a student in Bioengineering who has demonstrated, through a combination of academic performance, service, leadership, and personal qualities, that they will be a credit to the Department, the School, and the University.

Albert Giandomenico Award

Taken at the Penn Engineering Award Ceremony. From left to right: Gregory Datto (The Bioengineering Student Leadership Award), Jacqueline Li, Hana Bader, Hana Matsuda, and Rudy Whitney—all recipients of the Albert Giandomenico Award.

The Bioengineering Department also presents a single lab group with the Albert Giandomenico Award which reflects their “teamwork, leadership, creativity, and knowledge applied to discovery-based learning in the laboratory.”

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my incredible teammates—Hana Bader, Hana Matsuda, and Rudy Whitney—whose collaboration, dedication, and clear communication made this award possible. I am equally grateful to our instructors, Professors David Meaney, David Issadore, and Michael Patterson, for their unwavering support throughout the Bioengineering MADLAB courses. Their technical guidance and encouragement were instrumental to our success and growth as a team.”
-Jacqueline Li

Rose Undergraduate Research Award

Awarded by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF). Ryann’s project was titled, “Cas9 protein outperforms Cas9 mRNA in CRISPR/Cas9 editing for lipid nanoparticle mediated recovery of CFTR functionality,” and was completed with the assistance of Professor Michael J. Mitchell.

Penn Engineering Exceptional Service Award

This award recognize students for their outstanding service to the University and their larger communities.

“I have loved working to serve my engineering community as a TA and mentor!”
-Ryann Joseph

Ryann Joseph
Ethan Eisenberg

“Thank you very much to my professors and the faculty of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. I am very thankful and appreciative for this recognition.”
-Ethan Eisenberg

Ben and Bertha Gomberg Kirsch Award

This competitive award is decided by the SEAS faculty from among the Engineering undergraduate body and distinguishes a member of the B.A.S. senior class who “in applying the flexibility of the program, has created a personal academic experience involving the most creative use of the resources of the University.”

The Wolf-Hallac Award

Kaitlin Mrksich

This award was established in October 2000 to recognize the graduating female senior from across Penn Engineering’s departments who is seen as a role model, has achieved a high GPA (in the top 10% of their class), and who has demonstrated a commitment to school and/or community.