Celebrating Coulter BME Fall 2025 Biomedical Engineering Graduates
From MRI Research to Game Design: Jin Zhecheng
Jin Zhecheng entered Georgia Tech’s Biomedical Engineering master’s program as a researcher passionate about MRI technology. Drawn by the department’s strong engineering faculty and collaborative culture, Zhecheng joined Emory’s Deep Biomedical Imaging Lab, co‑authoring several papers on advanced imaging techniques.
Graduate Experience
An unexpected internship with a game development team sparked a new passion, leading Zhecheng to redirect his career toward the game industry—applying analytical rigor and systems thinking from BME to interactive design.
Next Steps
Switching careers to join the game industry, blending creativity with engineering problem‑solving.
“Do what you love. As a human being, all you need is 2,000 calories a day and a safe place to stay. Everything else is just a side quest in your life.”
Engineering Change in Women’s Health: Natasha Kodgi
After three years in biotech, Natasha Kodgi came to Georgia Tech to deepen her technical expertise and build tools that make care more accessible—especially in women’s health. The BME master’s program offered the interdisciplinary freedom to combine engineering, data science, and clinical perspective.
Graduate Experience
Kodgi’s portfolio ranged from clinical trial bias detection in TNBC to bacterial computational genomics pipelines, and women’s health device design. Her defining project, PresSure, is a breast health monitoring tool developed in Dr. Alexander T Adams’ Uncommon Sense Lab.
Accomplishments
PresSure earned 3rd place among Genesis Projects, highlighting Kodgi’s ability to translate research into meaningful, patient‑centered solutions.
Next Steps
Pursuing roles as an analyst or engineer in women’s health, with a long‑term goal of driving equitable, data‑driven innovation.
“Be curious and try everything until something clicks! The projects you take on will shape you more than any single class, so choose work that excites you and teaches you something real about yourself. Find mentors and teammates who challenge you to think in new ways. Most importantly, trust that your path can evolve and that every experience, even the hard ones, will help you grow into the kind of engineer you want to be.”
Innovator and Future Physician: William Grote
For William Grote, BME was “the best major ever”—and his senior year delivered on that promise.
College Experience
Grote’s highlights included a BME capstone project as part of Team Storks where he helped developed a device for safe neonatal transport, entrepreneurial momentum through Create‑X, and service via BME HealthReach, each strengthening his technical skills and patient‑first mindset.
Next Steps
Grote would like to continue his path toward medical school, and he’s still deciding where he wants to attend.
“Get involved and stay involved! GT goes by so quickly… study hard, but also take time to plug into what is happening here because the time you have here won’t come back!”
Bridging Art, Design, and Biomedical Engineering: Ishita Raghuvanshi
Drawn to the intersection of art, biology, and hands‑on experimentation, Ishita Raghuvanshi chose BME at one of the nation’s best programs and augmented it with an Operations & Supply Chain Management certificate and an Industrial Design minor.
College Experience
Raghuvanshi worked in the Fleischer Spectroscopy Lab at Emory University, deepening her interests across imaging modalities and non‑invasive health assessments. She also interned with OXOS, the handheld X‑ray company founded by a GT alum, and now advances to the BS/MS program, focusing on neuro‑engineering and medical imaging while pursuing a thesis.
Accomplishments
Earning the PURA research salary award that allowed her to release a first‑author publication assessing how non‑medical factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, insurance type) influence brain MRI findings; PURA travel award; presentation at ISMRM 2025.
Next Steps
Completing her Master’s at Georgia Tech. Raghuvanshi hopes to eventually work in Product Management in the medical device industry.
“BME is one of the most interdisciplinary coursework that Georgia Tech has to offer with classes looking at the biological mechanisms, the A to Z of prototyping, electronics, problem centric design, the business aspects of creating and marketing medical products, and regulatory affairs. Take the opportunity to explore from the wide range of offerings to find your niche!”
Engineering for Human Health and Sustainability: Jiarong (Jenny) Li
Inspired by grandparents who farmed rice in rural China, Jiarong “Jenny” Li transformed early curiosity in biotechnology into a BME path focused on human health and neuroscience. She remembered running around their rice paddies and working with plants which spurred her interest in biotechnology.
College Experience
In Dr. Annabelle Singer’s Lab, Jenny investigated the effects of a Flicker device on stress‑induced regeneration. Leading her undergraduate thesis in Dr. Younan Xia’s Lab, she fabricated nanomaterials for tendon repair for injuries like the Achilles heel and rotator cuff. Her course projects spanned an ergonomic backboard for Grady EMTs, a toothbrush for Parkinson’s detection, and MoNa+or for a rare endocrine disease. Industry internships included working on orthopedic foot/ankle plates at Enovis and contributed to the world’s smallest arterial pressure sensing system at Abbott CardioMEMS.
Accomplishments
Her undergraduate research thesis on musculoskeletal tissue engineering was accepted to five local and national symposia. As a result, she earned PURA‑funded travel to the Bioemdical Engineering Society annual meeting to present. She also was named 1 of 10 international finalists at the annual Society of Women Engineers Conference; selected as a SWE Conference international finalist; Silver Achieving Award at Abbott; represented Tech in the UN Millennium Fellowship; spearheaded sustainability initiatives that won SDG awards as part of Georgia Tech Global Leadership.
Next Steps
Joining Abbott Cardiac Rhythm Management in Los Angeles, CA, engineering next‑generation dual‑chamber pacemakers the size of a battery. Li also has PhD aspirations ahead.
“Be not afraid of unconventional ideas or research proposals. Just because it’s been done before doesn’t mean you have to do it the same way – Georgia Tech is the perfect incubator for ambitious, exciting, and radical projects. Soak in every opportunity. Nowhere else in the world will you find a group of people more willing to take on moonshot ideas while still having immense fun and making memories of a lifetime in the process.”
Resilience and Leadership in Biomedical Engineering: Simone McGowan
A spontaneous campus tour—and her dad’s encouragement—put Simone McGowan on a BME journey in a new city with big‑school spirit.
College Experience
McGowan started in OMED Challenge (Summer 2017) and found mentorship through OMED and NSBE. With faith, family, and campus resources—including her advisor Paul Fincannon, TAs like Kate Genty, providers at STAMPS psychiatry, and supportive faculty—she navigated mental‑health challenges, pandemic isolation, and returned stronger. In industry, McGowan interned with GT BME alum Christine Hang at FlowMed Tech, learning patents and left atrial appendage devices—insights she brought to the BME capstone project as a member of Team Milky Way.
Accomplishments
Returned to Tech after a two‑year medical leave and completed her degree—a testament to persistence and community support.
Next Steps
Continuing interviews for full‑time roles; taking time to recharge with family, bake with her sister and best friend, hike with her mom, and re‑establish an exercise routine—prioritizing health while launching her career.
“Be kind to yourself, let your teammates help you with group projects, and remember that you are worth much more than your grades or job.”
Driving Innovation in Medical Devices: Priyal Sarda
Impressed by Georgia Tech’s research excellence and standout senior design, Priyal Sarda wanted to be part of that community—and she dove in.
College Experience
Sarda worked on six biomedical device projects, completed three internships and two co‑ops, all in medical technology—applying classroom knowledge while mastering industry‑specific skills.
Accomplishments
A robust portfolio of device development experiences across multiple teams and companies, demonstrating versatility and execution.
Next Steps
Starting a full‑time role at a San Francisco Bay Area medical device company in January.
“Plan out your schedule in advance. Apply to as many internships/co‑ops as early as possible. And ask as many questions as you can!”
Innovating for Maternal and Patient Care: Catherine (Cathy) Zhou
With roots in New Haven, Connecticut and Wuhan, China, Catherine “Cathy” Zhou chose BME for its fusion of engineering principles and medical innovation—and its emphasis on interdisciplinary research with tangible outcomes.
College Experience
Zhou worked on several hands‑on projects including designing a uterus massager to reduce maternal morbidity, improving colostomy bag designs for patients with Crohn’s disease, and developing a gliding shield syringe for EMS as part of capstone. She interned at Pfizer with the DNA‑Encoded Library team and supported peers as a Learning Assistant for COE 2001 and a math drop‑in tutor.
Accomplishments
Earned a PURA Award and a Golden Ticket for the InVenture Prize, underscoring her creativity and user‑centered design approach.
Next Steps
Continuing in Georgia Tech’s BS/MS in BME, advancing expertise in imaging, devices, and translational impact.
“Make sure to not forget to enjoy and have fun!”