Current Activities: I've incorporated two Co-op experiences
within my undergraduate studies.
During my first Co-op at Kensey Nash Corporation (Exton, PA), I worked on a vascular
graft project for seven months as part of Collagen Biomaterials R&D. Vascular
grafts are medical devices used to replace or bypass diseased portions of blood vessels
(i.e., coronary bypass surgery). The search for new materials and methods for developing
synthetic vascular grafts continues, and I got to see firsthand how the things I learned
in my classes applied in a real and life-saving technology.
My second Co-op with the Urology and Lithotripsy Devices Branch (ULDB) at the Food and
Drug Administration (Rockville, MD) involved the regulation of medical devices in industry.
Any medical device that a company wants to sell must undergo an application approval
process, and in my job, I was able to evaluate the latest devices that biomedical
companies are trying to get to market. In addition, this was a great exposure to
working for the government!
Why Case? I love the fact that the opportunities within
the department are endless – we have excellent professors from a wide variety of backgrounds,
so the sky is the limit in terms of research possibilities. If you are interested in
industrial internships/co-ops, we have a wonderful Director of Employer Student Relations who
has helped us to secure numerous contacts with BME-specific companies.
Advice for Applicants: First of all, get excited!
College is just the beginning of great things to come in your life, and this is the time
to find out more about what interests you. Go to any and all meetings that you find
intriguing, such as a special academic lecture given by a renowned faculty member,
a meeting for an extracurricular group, an intramural sporting event, or a company
information session. Whatever it may be, take advantage of the opportunity and
learn more! Keep your eyes and ears open!
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