In 2022, Deepthi Suresh had a vision to bring graduate students and post-docs of the Biomedical Engineering Education Community together. With a similar mindset, Marla, Antarjot, and Deepthi were connected through Dr. Alexis Ortiz-Rosario’s mentorship to join forces and create BE NSPIRE.
Our Mission: BE NSPIRE is an organization that aims to create a platform for the future scholars and practitioners of tomorrow in Biomedical Engineering/Biomedical Engineering to connect and create community. We value and strive to create a space that is collaborative, creative, and inclusive of anyone who wishes to participate in and improve Biomedical Engineering Education. We intend to share current research and practices, create networking opportunities, and highlight the different accomplishments of our members, field scholars, and practitioners.
Become a part of BE NSPIRE: We as a community of both graduate students and post-doc across multiple fields to come together and connect over their love towards progressing the field of Biomedical Engineering Education. Our online forums, workshops, seminars, and collaborative initiatives will unite the next generation of Biomedical Engineering educators. Please join the slack group using this link to connect with the community and stay updated on the latest activities and news!
For Questions: Please email be.nspire0@gmail.com
Deepthi Suresh (she/her) earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She began her research in 2018, working on integrating robotic systems into lab workflow. She is now at the University of Michigan working towards her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with a research focus in engineering education. She has been a teaching assistant for four years in an introductory lab course and a brand-new Master’s program which, along with her own undergraduate experience, influenced her research interests: undergraduate career outcome expectations for bioengineering, currently with respect to the field of quality engineering. She also conducts research on mentoring, career paths in artificial intelligence, and community-building. In her free time, she loves playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, and spending time with her two cats, Percy and Apollo.
Marla Hilderbrand-Chae entered the field of education developing an after-school Biology-centered STEM Program in 2015. In 2017, Hilderbrand-Chae became a founding member of the STEAM Innovation Program at Greater Lawrence Technical School and taught Biology, Chemistry, and Career Tech Ed Biotechnology under the Mass Vocational Technical frameworks. She received the 2019 New England Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Teacher of the Year Award and coached 7 students to win the 2019 Air and Climate Lexus Eco Challenge for their original work in algae biofuel production. Hilderbrand-Chae consults and presents at conferences sponsored by J-WEL, the World Education Lab at MIT. Hilderbrand-Chae has an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Tufts University, and a Masters’ Degree in Genetics from Tufts University Medical School. Hilderbrand-Chae is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the UMASS Lowell Biomedical Engineering Program, focusing on stem cell mechanobiology and on STEM identity development in engineering education.
Antarjot has earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Bioengineering from George Mason University with a focus in Biomedical imaging and devices. During her time at GMU, she actively engaged as the President of Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and distinguished herself as a dedicated graduate teaching assistant. Throughout her roles, she prioritized the enhancement of communication between students and faculty, facilitated valuable networking opportunities, contributed to educational material development, and addressed student concerns with empathy and proficiency. Antarjot’s unwavering commitment to improving accessibility and expanding opportunities in the realm of Biomedical Engineering education propelled her towards pursuing a Ph.D. in Engineering Education at Virginia Tech, where she continues to make strides in creating a more inclusive and enriching educational environment for future engineers.