Madison Balgeman Applies Classroom Knowledge to Real-World Testing During Co-Op at Cook Research

This summer, MS BME student Madison Balgeman wrapped up her co-op experience at Cook Research Incorporated where she worked as an R&D intern on the Bench Testing team. The experience gave her firsthand insight into how biomedical engineers connect innovation, regulatory strategy and patient-centered design.

In her role, Balgeman tackled challenges that required persistence, creativity and a strong foundation in experimental design. She designed custom test setups, simulated real-world device use and troubleshooted unexpected results while refining her ability to adapt and think critically.

Through the co-op, Balgeman strengthened her technical and professional skills and experienced the direct impact biomedical engineering can have on patient outcomes. She credits the mentorship of her team—especially her manager Brad Hansen PhD and mentor Siddarth Sridharan—for making the experience both meaningful and mission-driven.

We’re proud of Madison for representing Purdue BME and grateful to partners like Cook Research Incorporated who invest in the growth and development of future biomedical engineers.