Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center Fellows 2023 – 2024
Paris Bazemore
Paris Bazemore is a freshman majoring in biomedical engineering. Currently, she is a member of iGem, UConn’s American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics club, and the National Society of Black Engineers. Additionally, she is a member of the Emerge team. Paris Bazemore have experience using CNC machines, 3D printers, and computer-aided design(CAD) software such as Fusion 360 to design various prototypes including partial hand prosthetics.
Meijin Hsiao
Meijin is a sophomore Nursing student with a strong background in healthcare and innovation. She has been in Hartford Healthcare’s Nursing Pipeline program since freshman year and has been working on the surgical floor of the Hospital of Central Connecticut as a Patient Experience Assistant transitioning into Student Nurse Tech.
Outside of the NursEng Innovation Program, Meijin is Student Development Professional Development Advocacy Coordinator in the Undergraduate Student Government and Vice Chair of Event Management of Major Weekends in Student Union Board of Governors.
Noor Issa
Noor is a third year Computer Science student specializing in Software design & development. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her
friends, going to the gym, and baking. She has a drive to create technological solutions to healthcare problems and is passionate in fostering change to advance technology and healthcare.
Cynthia Mutua
Cynthia Mutua is a third-year student at the University of Connecticut where she is pursuing a degree in Nursing (B.S). She is an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, where she also serves as the Treasurer of both organizations. She is driven through her passion of helping and serving others, in ways that positively impact the community. Specifically, in using her voice to bring awareness towards underrepresented communities, in a strive to find solutions regarding the healthcare disparities they face. The NursEng Innovation Fellowship has been and will continue to be a learning opportunity to strengthen her collaboration, creativity, and research skills within an interdisciplinary team.
Sanjana Nistala
Sanjana Nistala is from Avon, CT is a senior biomedical engineering major with minors in computer science and materials science and engineering. As an aspiring researcher, Sanjana has completed multiple research projects in drug delivery and tissue engineering throughout her undergraduate career. Sanjana is especially interested in developing translational solutions aimed at tackling critical medical challenges. She first became interested in entrepreneurship after talking to a research mentor who started their own company to facilitate bringing lab-developed treatments to the patient. Outside of class and the lab, Sanjana is involved with UConn’s Formula SAE team and tutors with the Student Athlete Success Program. In the future, she hopes to pursue a PhD and start her own company that addresses an unmet need in medicine.
Arav Parikh
Arav is a third year Honors Computer Science student with a passion for applying AI, data science, and entrepreneurship for the social good. It is this drive to utilize exciting technologies to help others that led him to consider a career in healthcare and, ultimately, apply to the NursEng Innovation Fellowship. Building off his experiences working as a data scientist in industry and for UConn startup PatentPlus, Arav hopes to be able to bring a unique technical and business perspective to his NursEng group's project. He is excited by the prospect of finally pursuing his entrepreneurial ambitions and collaborating with his peers to develop a new healthcare technology-related solution. In his free time, Arav enjoys playing and watching sports, running, cooking, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
Adeline Richard
Adeline Richard is a biomedical engineering student at UConn. She has previous experience in research for potential prototype solutions for medical equipment, specifically geared towards creating more affordable and accessible methods of care for both healthcare professionals and caretakers alike. Adeline has had the wonderful opportunity of exploring both wet-lab and mechanical research, and furthermore, have prior experience in patient care and interaction through Hartford Hospital and Hanger Clinic! She is excited to be a part of the NursEng Fellowship and hope to use this opportunity to assist the world in its journey to better healthcare for all.