Meet Amelia: A biomedical engineering student sharpening her technical skills at CDME

The vision of The Ohio State University's Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) is to prepare the next generation of workers, offering undergraduate students the hands-on experience they need to make an immediate impact after graduation. While employed at CDME, students work on real projects alongside industry-hardened experts also employed by the center. These experts execute projects while supervising and mentoring student employees.

One of the students benefiting from CDME's student program is Amelia Gingras, a fourth-year in biomedical engineering from Shaker Heights, Ohio. With her passion for problem-solving and determination to have a career where she is "truly helping people and improving quality of life," Gingras is working towards a career in the medical field and hopes to do so through graduate coursework in the future. 

Sharpening her technical skills at CDME comes naturally for Gingras, who realized she wanted to become an engineer even before becoming a Buckeye.

"My senior year of high school, I took an engineering course that helped me fall in love with problem-solving and realize that I wanted to pursue engineering in my undergraduate career," Gingras shared. 

Gingras' work at CDME was also featured by the Big Ten Network (BTN) as part of their #LiveB1G series. The profile ran as a BTN commercial during Ohio State sporting events. 

Continue reading to learn more about Amelia:

What are some projects you've worked on at CDME?
“Last year, I was working on a really cool bioprinting project where we modified a 3D printer to extrude biomaterials, and I was working towards printing a cornea. Currently, I am working on a project to design and modify a medical model for medical students, residents, or fellows to practice a specific type of surgical repair in the skull. Additionally, it has been exciting this semester to work with a surgeon in setting up a lab where patient-specific 3D models will be printed for use in surgeries here at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.”

What does a typical work day at CDME look like for you?
 “Things have adjusted with the pandemic; however, daily tasks also change based on the project as well. Lately, for me, a day of work at CDME has been arriving, logging onto the computer to work on my model or watching tutorial videos on how to perform certain actions in the modeling software I’m using. Last semester, we were also setting up the new Medical Modeling, Materials and Manufacturing Laboratory, so I am looking forward to having more time to practice using the different 3D printers in the lab next semester.”

What have you learned at CDME that you can take with you into the workforce?
“My position at CDME has grown my ability to function as part of a team and listen to others’ input, as well as formulate and offer up my own ideas towards the advancement of my research and projects. I have learned how to jump right into a project and learn technical skills as I go, rather than wait until I am ready and drag my feet. I have gained a lot of technical knowledge and problem solving that I can apply to any career I find myself in.”

Where is the best place you've traveled to?
“In high school, I traveled to Greece on a school trip, and we learned all about the history and mythology of Athens, Delphi, and other incredible cities while experiencing the culture.”

Who is your favorite musical artist, and what was the first concert you've attended?
“My all-time favorite has to be Fleetwood Mac. My first truly memorable, big concert was seeing One Direction when I was 14. My friend’s parents drove us to Chicago, and I got to see them in the football arena there. It was spectacular.”

Where is your favorite place to be?
“I love the beach, the ocean in particular. I have family in Maine and love spending a whole day at the beach when we visit them.”

What is your favorite quote?
“The world is big, and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” – John Muir

This post was created by Cassie Crisp, CDME undergraduate marketing assistant