News & Events

G. HAROLD HOOK PRIZE

Annika Deans

The G. Harold Hook Prize is presented to a student who has demonstrated a strong affinity for engineering.

Annika Deans participated in a multi-lab collaboration between the labs of Dr. James McGrath and Dr. Craig Morrell, where she studied protein release from murine and engineered platelets across an in vitro vascular barrier model in both static and fluidic conditions. She also served as President of the Biomedical Engineering Society Student Chapter from May 2024 to May 2025. After graduation Annika plans to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University in Dr. Wilbur A. Lam's Lab. 

DONALD M. BARNARD PRIZE

Kai Hua Liu, Weronika Kierzenka, Brayden Hirotsu, Charlotte Cook

The Donald M. Barnard Prize is awarded to junior or senior engineering students who have been accepted to a UR M.S. program on the basis of personal qualification and achievement.

Kai Hua Liu conducted research in the Lerner and Hill labs and has distinguished himself through a detail-oriented and interdisciplinary approach to his work.  Liu combinies a strong background in computer science with advanced skills in medical device design, data analysis, and computational modeling. He has demonstrated technical proficiency in MATLAB, Python, and machine learning tools, applying these skills to real-world biomedical datasets and imaging challenges.  Liu also served as a BME tutor at the Learning Center and as a teaching assistant for Mark Buckley, where his role expanded seemingly without limit over multiple semesters. 

Weronika Kierzenka has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence in biomedical engineering, with a concentration in cell and tissue engineering. She was the hardware manager on a gold medal-winning iGEM project and is recognized for her enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented approach. Kierzenka consistently seeks opportunities to expand her experience while contributing meaningfully to team objectives. Her independent study in the University of Rochester Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Research & Engineering Lab highlights her initiative and hands-on engagement in advanced research.

Brayden Hirotsu exemplifies innovation and technical skill in biomedical engineering, particularly within the field of medical optics. As a member of the Choe Lab, he has developed strong expertise in noninvasive imaging techniques, particularly using diffuse optics and tomography. Hirotsu is also proficient in MATLAB, applying his technical skills to complex research challenges. He has taken initiative in expanding a project that leverages accessible integrated circuits, sensors, and detectors to develop a diffuse optical spectroscopy system, demonstrating both innovation and practical problem-solving.

Charlotte Cook is recognized for her strong integration of engineering principles and scientific curiosity in the field of biomedical engineering. As a research assistant in the Carney Lab and a teaching assistant for BME 230 and 210, she has demonstrated both technical expertise and a commitment to supporting others’ learning. Cook is experienced in circuit design and proficient in tools such as LTSpice, SOLIDWORKS, and MATLAB, applying these skills to innovative projects. Notably, she designed a circuit for epilepsy detection that analyzes simulated EEG signals and modeled its performance using LTSpice to evaluate input and output behavior.

TAU BETA PI PRIZE

Kyra McCracken

The Tau Beta Pi Prizeis awarded each year to a senior who has excelled and inspired fellow students through academic achievement, proven leadership, and sterling character

Kyra McCracken embodies the ideals of Tau Beta Pi through her outstanding distinguished scholarship and exemplary character, reflected in her exceptional academic performance and consistent placement on the Dean’s List for all eligible semesters. A recipient of the Robert L. Wells Prize, as well as the Continuing Student Scholarship, she demonstrates both intellectual excellence and a well-rounded academic commitment. Kyra is skilled in MATLAB, SOLIDWORKS, and PTC Creo, and has built a strong foundation in problem-solving, prototyping, FDA regulations, and coding. She is eager to apply her passion for research and design to advance innovation in the medical device industry. Her academic excellence and interdisciplinary skill set position her to make meaningful and lasting contributions to biomedical engineering and healthcare innovation.

HONOR SOCIETIES

Several of our undergrads became members of prestigious honor societies:  

^{Alpha Eta Mu Beta (AEMB)  Established in 1979, Alpha Eta Mu Beta was formed to recognize and encourage excellence in the field of Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering. Membership into Alpha Eta Mu Beta consists of those individuals in the field of Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering who through their attainments in college or in practice have manifested a deep interest and marked ability in their chosen life work.}

^{Phi Beta Kappa Iota of New York is the University of Rochester’s chapter of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors organization, the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa invites for induction the most outstanding students at America’s leading colleges and universities. The society champions the liberal arts—the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences—in higher education and in society at large.}

^{Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society  Founded in 1885 at Lehigh University by Edward Higginson Williams Jr. and is the second oldest honor society in the United States. The primary goal of Tau Beta Pi is to acknowledge the work done by students and members of the engineering community and their contributions to the growth of the engineering fields.}

BME Departmental Awards, 2025 - 2026

BME FACULTY AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE SERVICE

Annika Deans

This award recognizes an outstanding student for service to the Department of Biomedical Engineering.  These efforts may include leadership in undergraduate organizations, engineering activities, or teaching activities.

In addition to working in the labs of Dr. James McGrath and Dr. Craig Morrell, Annika Deans served as President of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Student Chapter from May 2024 to May 2025. Here, she organized 15+ events spanning professional development, mentorship, outreach, and community-building initiatives. Through all of Annika’s leadership, she has strengthened engagement within the department and created many inclusive opportunities for students to explore academic and career pathways in biomedical engineering. Deans has also recently been awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP).

BME FACULTY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Nidhi Patel, Kade Kaufmann

This award recognizes an outstanding student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering for research excellence. The criterion for eligibility is authorship on a published manuscript or abstract; or presenting author of a public presentation or poster (internal or external).

Nidhi Patel has demonstrated a strong commitment to biomedical engineering research and education. Nidhi became one of the few sophomores selected to work in a lab affiliated with the Center for Musculoskeletal Research (CMSR), spent time abroad in Australia pursuing radiology research, and pursued clinical research with the URMC Motion Laboratories. She has led several independent projects during her time at the CMSR, presenting her findings at the annual CMSR and Medical-Scientist Research symposiums with first-author posters. She later co-authored a review manuscript, and her work identifying molecular adiposity and reduced lean mass earned her co-authorship on the publication “Ablation of Tumor-Derived IGFBP-3 Attenuates Cancer-Associated Skeletal Muscle Wasting in Murine Pancreatic Cancer.” Professors describe her as having a strong work ethic and an innate ability to grasp concepts quickly while maintaining technical skills in animal handling, histology, imaging techniques, and cell culture.' 

Kade Kaufmann worked in UR Medicine Motion Analysis Laboratories for 2 years, where he demonstrated outstanding intellectual curiosity, technical skill, and research productivity. He has presented at the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS) annual meeting and will present additional research this year at the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) annual meeting this year. Kaufmann was a co-author on a recently published manuscript in The Spine Journal and is currently involved in several additional manuscripts in preparation, reflecting the breadth and continuity of his research engagement.

BME FACULTY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

Christina Kyriacou

This award recognizes an outstanding student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering for excellence in helping in the classroom, labs, and recitations.

Christina Kyriacou  worked as a teaching assistant for Human Movement Analysis (BME 203/403), Biomechanics (BME 201), and BME Signals, Systems, and Imaging (BME 230). For each of those, Kyriacou aided in the creation of the syllabi, overlooked final projects, formed meaningful relationships with students, and went out of her way to give 1-on-1 tutoring sessions and career advice. Kyriacou was also an active member of the Hill Biomechanics Lab where she assisted in research, directed her own project evaluating the feasibility of different methods to predict joint kinetics, presented her findings at the annual ASB conference, and submitted a first-author manuscript. Always an active member of her community, Kyriacou participated in National Biomechanics Day where she led high school students through lab tours at the University, and was later voted in to be the BMES 2026 Class Representative.

BME OUTSTANDING SENIOR

Kade Kaufmann, Kyra McCracken

In recognition of the student’s academic excellence and achievement in Biomedical Engineering.

Kade Kaufmann is a prominent example of academic excellence, intellectual rigor, and dedication within the biomedical engineering community. After receiving the Schwartz Research Grant, Kaufmann led a project focused on the development and validation of spine-specific wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) systems for assessing spinal motion and functional biomechanics. Kaufmann conducted research in the Haddas lab, co-authored publications both published and under review, and presented posters at national meetings. Faculty noted Kaufmann’s extraordinary ability to integrate engineering principles with clinical biomechanics questions and consistently approach problems with analytical rigor, thoughtful experimental design, and a collaborative attitude.

Kyra McCracken has distinguished herself in her senior year as a model of academic excellence, integrity, and interdisciplinary engagement. She has been repeatedly recognized on the Dean’s List and awarded the Robert L. Wells Prize for her exceptional academic performance and meaningful engagement in the humanities, along with the Continuing Student Scholarship. Beyond her coursework, Kyra has built a solid foundation in problem-solving, prototyping, FDA regulatory understanding, and programming, applying these skills thoughtfully in engineering contexts. She is especially driven by the intersection of research and design, with a strong interest in developing solutions that advance the medical device industry. As she nears the completion of her undergraduate studies, Kyra McCracken exemplifies the qualities of a dedicated and capable senior prepared to contribute to biomedical engineering in a meaningful way.

BME OUTSTANDING JUNIOR

Yiduo Liu, Stefanie Valent-Musleh

In recognition of the student’s academic excellence and achievement in Biomedical Engineering.

Yiduo Liu is an outstanding junior pursuing a double degree in biomedical engineering and mathematics, with a strong focus on analysis and dynamical systems. She demonstrates a deep interdisciplinary interest in signals and systems, particularly in exploring how the human brain processes and generates sequential signals through a reverse engineering approach. Liu is skilled in confocal microscopy, MATLAB, and embedded systems, blending computational and experimental methods in her work. In addition to her academic pursuits, she has served as an International Services Office (ISO) mentor, supporting international students within the university community.

Stefanie Valent-Musleh is an accomplished junior with a strong commitment to technical excellence and community impact. As a member of the Engineers Without Borders, she has developed a passion for service-driven engineering through work with underserved communities. She is an Undergraduate Research Scholar at Oregon Health & Science University, where she worked on improving multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging using nanobody technology and oligo-fluorophore conjugation. She also recently joined the Basdogan Lab at the University of Rochester, where she is using molecular dynamics simulations to model transmembrane transport. Valent-Musleh has served as a teaching assistant for Chem 131, Chem 132, and BME 201, and currently leads the EWB Dominican Republic Project. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi and Alpha Eta Mu Beta and is skilled in MATLAB.

NATIONAL AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

In addition to the awards listed on this page, some of our outstanding biomedical engineering majors have also earned prestigious national awards and scholarships. We are proud of their academic excellence, leadership, and research achievements. Explore the BME news feed and follow our social media channels to stay up to date on student accomplishments and program news. 

The Department extends heartfelt congratulations to all awardees and looks forward to their continued success in the years to come!