Current Title and Department: PhD Candidate, Bioengineering

Current Employer: University of Pennsylvania

Undergraduate Degree, University: Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering, Bucknell University

Graduate Degree, University: PhD Candidate, Bioengineering

Mentors: Dr. Robert Mauck and Dr. Sarah Gullbrand

Could you describe the path you’ve taken in meniscus research? How did it evolve?
My undergraduate research career was focused on materials science, and when applying to graduate school I was looking for ways to bridge my interests and experience with developing biomaterials with my curiosities about tissue repair and regeneration. I entered graduate school knowing I wanted to participate in tissue engineering, but not having a particular tissue of interest. My rotations gave me the opportunity to explore different types of tissue engineering, and I naturally found myself gravitating towards orthopaedic tissue engineering, which was initially unexpected but ultimately was a great fit for my interests. My research with the meniscus began after completing my rotation, focusing on biomaterial development to enable complex drug delivery with the aim of engaging endogenous healing following meniscus tears. This research has evolved greatly since I first started, and continues to take me in new, interesting directions, such as diving deeper into the impact of tissue injury on mechanobiology and gaining a better understanding of the inflammatory response following injury.

When you started in meniscus research, what was your biggest question? Do you think it was answered?
Considering my very limited background knowledge of the meniscus, and orthopaedics broadly, when I first started, I had what felt like a never-ending list of “big” questions. As I sorted through what is known and unknown in the field through reading papers, attending conferences, and having conversations, I was (and still am) continuously drawn back to questions about correlations between the inflammatory response to injury and functional outcomes. I’m particularly excited by the opportunity to develop novel therapeutic interventions as we continue to learn about these correlations (or lack thereof).

What collaboration was the most unexpected of your career? How did it impact your work today?
If you had told me before starting my PhD that I would be conducting orthopaedics research, I likely would not have believed you. I definitely had misconceptions about what orthopaedics research looked like, and it wasn’t until I really got to experience it hands-on that I quickly knew that I could see myself continuing in this field. The enthusiasm of my mentors, both my research advisors and the post-docs and graduate student mentors I’ve worked with, for their research and their willingness to share their knowledge, time, and support undoubtedly contributes to my excitement to continuing in this field.

When you’re not in the lab, what do you like to do for fun?
When I’m not in the lab, I spend most of my time reading, baking, and running. The McKay Orthopaedics Research Laboratory’s weekly run club is a particular highlight of my week. I also love to travel as much as possible and am fortunate that my work with The Perry Initiative which allows me to travel all over the country while promoting women in orthopaedics!

What is the most unusual/unexpected item sitting on your desk right now?
When I joined the lab, I “inherited” a bunch of random items from former graduate students, with my favorite being the abundance of unicorn stickers that now have a permanent place on my desk for anyone to grab when they want/need. The Mauck Lab mascot is a unicorn, exemplifying our motto, “You’re a little weird, but I like it!” When experiments don’t go to plan or it’s just a tough day in lab, the stickers are a nice reminder of the community we have and the unique ways we contribute to this field.