The

George

Washington

University

​SUPER Internship

​Summer 2016

                During the summer leading into my senior year of college, I got the opportunity to work along with                Dr. Michael Plesniak, Department Chair of GW’s Mechanical Engineering Department. I conducted research that summer on fluid mechanics as it pertains to blood flow through human vasculature.  Solidworks was used to design a model of the carotid artery.  
                In our first project we worked with a small piece of polyvenyl alcohol (PVA) that would soon be inserted into the Aorta of the heart. This tiny scaffold was filled with pores that would be laced with medicine. As the blood flows through the Aorta and into the rest of the body, the PVA scaffold slowly disintegrates and the medication is released throughout the blood stream. Our main objective in this experiment was to measure the different pressure drops across the scaffold and around the 180 degree curve of the acrylic pipe. Scaffolds with different porocities gave us different pressure differentials. The pressure values were found using calibrated catheters. These results were graphed on lab chart and further analyzed using Matlab.   
                My personal project during this internship experience was to conduct a series of Venturi experiments to test Bernoulli’s equation. In the Venturi experiments, the pressure differentials were found based on manometer readings giving different static head values. With these numbers we found pressure differentials, flow velocities as the pipe changed in shape, and calculated flow rates. We then used the catheters from our first experiment and ran similar flow rates of fluid across them, thus measuring the pressure differentials through different sections of the acrylic pipe. These results were compared to those found in the Venturi experiment to ensure that the catheters were reading properly.   

 Veterans Affairs Medical Center

(Philadelphia), Summer 2015

           While at the VA, I tested infusion pumps, ensuring the proper dosage of liquid medicine and the absence of air bubbles. There was a series of steps needed to test infusion pumps before patients used them. Infusion pumps are devices that deliver fluid medicine into the body. The first step was to calibrate the infusion pump and ensure that all of the settings worked on the device. Next, water flowed through the pump and landed in a beaker where the amount of fluid was measured over a set time and compared to what was expected. This is how the dosage was tested. It is extremely important to make sure that patients receive the right dosage and that there are no air bubbles in the tube that could enter the bloodstream.
         Also while at the VA, I measured the output energy of AED’s ensuring that the energy output was no more than 10% higher or lower than what was expected. It’s important that the proper amount of joules are emitted from the device. This was measured and compared to the given specs of the equipment. 
        I helped repair several centrifuge machines and irrigation pumps. The main task here was to change the lids of centrifuges as well as replacing the rotor piece.
        I also measured the O2 percentage output for oxygen concentrators. Oxygen concentrators with low O2 percentage outputs needed to be replaced. The closer the percentage is to 100%, the more concentrated and efficient the equipment was.
        My last task was to help our supervisor communicate with outside private companies that provided the equipment and technology for the hospital. I sorted paper work in chronological order and kept a tally of what parts were bought and what still needed to be bought. 
        Throughout the summer of 2015 I performed these tasks under the direct supervision of several biomedical engineers. This valuable  experience illuminated the importance of the management of medical equipment within the hospital setting. 

LEIDOS - Test Engineer, Gaithersburg, MD                

August 2017- Present 

In my position of Test Engineer, I work with the Justice Technology and Information Center which is contracted with the Department of Justice to execute the DOJ’s National Institute of Justice Compliance Testing Program.  ::In the performance of my duties, I :
    -  communicate with Research and Development Engineers on the proper documentation of design information to           comply with the current NIJ Standard and scheme documents;
    -  oversee laboratory technicians ensuring that all ballistic and stab armor tests meet the requirements of NIJ                   Standard-0101.06 and that all model design information is documented correctly; 
    -  used AutoCAD software to design a hard armor stand that would enable our team to inspect ballistic resistant               materials more feasibly;
    -  under the direction of Material Science Engineers, utilize AutoCAD to draw/redraw products used by laboratory             technicians in the testing of body armor; 
    -  review model design applications submitted by manufacturers;
    -  review CAD (Computer Aided Design) model drawings to ensure that all design features comply with the current           NIJ Standard
    -  am responsible for the preparation of all memorandums and letters sent to the National Institute of Justice for             further approval in the initial type testing of body armor