Katherine Lin
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Class of: 2017
E-mail: lin394@purdue.edu
Why I chose Purdue?
I chose Purdue because of an incredible scholarship I received to study here. Although I am far from home, I appreciate the independence I have gained in carving my own path, especially being a twin and not going to school with my sister. Moreover, Purdue has a great reputation as an engineering school and a large campus with ample opportunities to get involved. I knew I was going to get a great education that would prepare me well for my future goals.
Why I chose Engineering and BME?
I have always been very inquisitive and fascinated with solving problems. My passion for medicine and desire to advance the field of medicine also motivated me to pursue biomedical engineering. I am excited by the possibilities for innovation in BME and the impact it will have on the future of medicine. Although BME is challenging, I am confident I will have an interesting future. I never would have chosen a different major!
Extra-curricular activities:
• Timmy Global Health (2014 Domestic Trip Participant, 2015 Ecuador Medical Brigade Member)
• Emergency Department Volunteer at IU Arnett Hospital
• Club Tennis
Engineering-related experience/CO-OP/Intern/Research:
Since Fall 2014, I have worked in the lab of Dr. Riyi Shi investigating bioadhesives for neurorepair. My work focuses on the functional repair of severed nerves and spinal cords using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and azidobenzoic acid zwitterionic chitosan (Az-ZWC) for treatment of acute traumatic neural tissue injury. Through in-vitro testing using cell culture, I hope to establish effective bioadhesive scaffolds, used in conjunction with PEG, to achieve optimal results in CNS and PNS nerve repair. I also received the opportunity to conduct clinical research in the Cardiovascular Division of Internal Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine during the summer of 2015. By working with my mentor, Dr. Brian Lindman, I investigated patient-centered assessments of life after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for treatment of aortic stenosis through a cross-sectional study and a retrospective chart review. Through my work, I gained experience in interacting with patients to obtain critical data for my study by administering post-TAVR questionnaires. Moreover, I had indelible opportunities to observe numerous catheterization and surgical procedures including TAVR and mitral valve repair, visit a cardiac rehab facility, and attend the 43rd Annual Ferguson-Burford Lectureship in Cardiothoracic Surgery. I also participated in BME study abroad during the 2015 Maymester through the program, Global Perspective on Medical Device Design – Ireland.
Post-graduation plans:
Following graduation, I am looking for an opportunity to utilize my skills and talents.