2025 Otto Schmitt Lecture with Dr. Stephen Quake
This year, IEM had the honor of having Dr. Stephen Quake from Stanford University to speak on "Understanding the mysteries of the cell: How many cell types arise from one genome" at its 2025 Otto Schmitt Lecture. The lecture was attended by nearly 100 faculty, staff, and students from the Medical School, College of Science and Engineering, and other UMN schools.
Quake began his visit with tours of labs of IEM Members in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Visible Heart® Laboratories, and the Bakken Medical Devices Center. At the lecture, he spoke about his team's research on understanding basic cell biology and developing novel diagnostic tools for various conditions, from pre-term birth to organ transplant rejection.
John Bischof, IEM Director, presenting certificate to Stephen Quake.
With over 40 posters spanning digital and paper formats, this year’s competition showcased the depth and diversity of the University’s biomedical research community. Congratulations to all 2025 Otto Schmitt poster presenters for their outstanding work, curiosity, and commitment to advancing human health.
2025 Winners
Cardiovascular Engineering
1st: “Renal Nerve Stimulation: Frequency-Dependent Effects on Renal Blood Flow”, Dzifa Kwaku, Biomedical Engineering
2nd: “Cryopreservation of Engineered Heart Tissue Using a Formamide-Free Vitrification Solution”, Casey Kraft, Biomedical Engineering
3rd: “Biomechanics of Cerebral Aneurysm: Investigating Mechanical Heterogeneity and Its Role in Rupture”, Yashar Ebadi, Biomedical Engineering
Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering
1st: “Scaffold-Guided Discovery of Protein Binders for Small Molecule Targets”, Claudia Beaudry, Biomedical Engineering
2nd: “Engineering Isoform-Specific Miniprotein Binders to the Fetal Form of the Insulin Receptor”, Melissa Walsh, Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
3rd (tie): “DiSBey: A Controlled Sleeping Beauty Mutagenesis Mouse Model Identifies BACH2 to Enhance CAR-T Cell Performance Under Exhaustion”, Chang-Jung Lee, Masonic Cancer Center
3rd (tie): “Vitrification and Rapid Rewarming of Precision-Cut Liver Slices for Pharmacological and Biomedical Research”, Srivasupradha Ramesh, Mechanical Engineering
Data Science & New Frontiers in Biomedical Engineering
1st: “Multi-Parameter Optimization of Amplitude and Pulse Width for VCVS Deep Brain Stimulation Using Objective Cognitive Control”, Sumedh S. Nagrale, Biomedical Engineering
2nd: “Developing a Novel VR-Based Visual Perception Experiment Using PTVR”, Sarah Cleveland Langlois, Biomedical Engineering
3rd: “Characterization of Phase Coexistence and Limiting Behavior of a Clinical Replacement Lung Surfactant”, Zachary McAllister, Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
Medical Devices
1st: “Tiny Bubble, Big Impact – A New Way to Deliver Life”, Abdullah Al Mehedi, Mechanical Engineering
2nd: “Combining Virtual Reality and 3D Printing to Create the Simulated Transesophageal Echocardiography Reality (STEER) Platform: Preliminary Development and Feedback from Cardiology Trainees”, Madeline Wethington, Department of Medicine
3rd: “Semi-Analytical Model for Force Generating Shape Memory Polymer Few Filament Yarns”, Michaela Andrews, Mechanical Engineering
Neuroengineering
1st: “Utilizing Bayesian Optimization to Identify Optimal Parameters for On-Demand Electrical Stimulation of the Fastigial Nucleus of the Cerebellum to Attenuate Hippocampal Seizures”, Shayne Hastings, Neuroscience
2nd (tie): “ Sleep Stage Decoding in Parkinson’s Disease Using Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation Leads”, Justin Bueno, Biomedical Engineering
2nd (tie): “Design of Pathway-Specific Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Gait and Balance Impairment in Parkinson's Disease”, Mehrta Farsad, Biomedical Engineering
Postdoctoral Research
1st: “Engineering TDP-43 Molecular Biosensors to Accelerate Drug Discovery in ALS/FTD”, Noah Nathan Kochen, Biomedical Engineering
2nd: “Pathway Activation Differences in Treating Kinetic Versus Postural Tremor with Deep Brain Stimulation”, Mattea Allert, Biomedical Engineering
3rd (tie): “Vessel Wall Thickening Leads to Decreased Umbilical Coiling in Finite Element Model”, Kara Peak, Biomedical Engineering
3rd (tie): “Distinct Electrophysiological Effects of Targeting Prefrontal Theta Phases Using Closed-Loop TMS-iEEG in Non-Human Primates”, Malte Güth, Biomedical Engineering
