Office Hours

In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz talks with Craig Goergen, PhD, a member of the BMES Board of Directors and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University and Associate Head for Clinical Engagement in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and an Adjunct Professor of Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine.The conversation focuses on how biomedical imaging can help researchers better understand disease, track changes in the body, and move new technol...

In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz talks with Stacey Finley, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Quantitative and Computational Biology and the Nicole A. and Thuan Q. Pham Professor at the University of Southern California, about how computational and mathematical modeling helps researchers understand complex biological systems, predict treatment outcomes, and explore new approaches to cancer research. Finley breaks down agent-based modeling and shares how her lab us...

In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz chats with Amal Shabazz, Ph.D. candidate and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. Amal discusses her research using 3D printing to develop nipple tissue for breast reconstruction, her journey to graduate school, and the mentorship that shaped her path. She also shares advice on balancing research, leadership, and advocacy, setting boundaries, working with advisors...

In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz chats with Dr. Conrad Zapanta ("Dr. Z"), Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of Engineering and Teaching Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, to explore the evolving role of higher education. They discuss what universities offer beyond the classroom, how engineering programs are adapting to AI and changing workforce needs, and why community, mentorship, and hands-on learning remain essential in bio...

What does “women’s health” really mean and who gets to define it? In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz chats with Dr. Erika Moore, Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Dr. Shreya Raghavan, Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, to unpack how biomedical engineers are reshaping the future of women’s health research. From uterine mechanics and cancer mechanobiology to wearable technologies and FDA-cleared health apps, the conversation expl...

In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, she chats with Dr. Jenny Amos, Teaching Professor in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, about what it really means to build a career centered on teaching in academia. From her transition away from a traditional research path to her passion for student engagement, Dr. Amos breaks down the role of teaching faculty and how they shape the classroom experience for future biomedical engineers. They explore topics like activ...

What does life really look like after earning a biomedical engineering degree? In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, she chats with Dr. Jose Rios Lizarraga, Director of Formulation Sciences at Nuvalent, to unpack the realities of building a career in the biopharmaceutical industry, from graduate school uncertainty to landing that first job and beyond. Dr. Lizarraga shares how a single undergraduate course sparked his passion for drug delivery, leading him from research at MIT to a P...

In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz sits down with longtime BMES member and leader Michael King, E.D. Butcher Professor of Bioengineering at Rice University, to explore the evolving role of professional societies in biomedical engineering. From his first BMES Annual Meeting in 2000 to serving in major leadership roles, King reflects on how conferences, mentorship, networking, and community have shaped his career and why these spaces remain essential for students, researchers, ...

In this episode of Office Hours, Liz Wayne talks with Shelly Sakiyama‑Elbert, Vice Dean, Research and Graduate Education, Professor of Bioengineering at University of Washington, and President of the Biomedical Engineering Society. From nerve regeneration and stem cell biology to academic leadership and professional service, Sakiyama-Elbert shares how she balances research, mentorship, and administration while helping shape the future of biomedical engineering. Together, Wayne and Sakiy...

Dr. Liz Wayne, host of the Office Hours podcast, is joined by Dr. Michelle Oyen, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Wayne State University, for an in-depth discussion on pregnancy through an engineering lens. Oyen shares how biomechanics, materials science, and data analysis are transforming our understanding of pregnancy, from placental development to preterm birth—the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. Together, they explore the mechanical properties of the amnioti...

Dr. Liz Wayne, host of the Office Hours podcast, is joined by Dr. Ayokunle Olanrewaju, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington, for a conversation on how microfluidics is transforming the landscape of accessible diagnostics. Dr. Olanrewaju explains the potential of microfluidic technologies in creating user-friendly diagnostic tests and discusses the fabrication challenges that often hinder progress. Drawing from his upbringing in Niger...

Dr. Liz Wayne, host of the Office Hours Host podcast, is joined by Dr. Collin Bowersock, Principal Scientist at Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute at Oklahoma State University, to discuss the mechanics of human movement and the future of rehabilitation engineering. Bowersock dives into his research on motor control, spinal cord injury recovery, and adaptive devices designed to support individuals with cerebral palsy and other movement disorders. They explore how personalized r...

Dr. Liz Wayne, Office Hours Host, is joined by Dr. Jessica Winter, Distinguished Professor of Engineering at The Ohio State University, as they explore how technology becomes life-changing diagnostics. Winter shares how quantum dot “tighter and brighter” labels are making leukemia and lymphoma testing faster and more sensitive, why earlier detection saves lives, and how her own breast cancer diagnosis sharpened her mission. They discuss teaming up with clinicians, and training the next genera...

Dr. Liz Wayne, Office Hours Host, is joined by Dr. Mete Civelek, Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he breaks down how our genes shape health. From DNA stability and protein coding to genetic variants linked to cardiometabolic disease, they explore the science driving precision medicine. The conversation dives into the power of genetic testing, the need for diverse datasets, and the ethical challenges of protecting data, showcasing how biomedic...

Dr. Liz Wayne taps in on her wide network of friends and contacts to discuss some of the most important, and often controversial, topics surrounding biomedical engineering, and related areas shaping healthcare. Wayne, an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington and host of our monthly webinar, unpacks today’s most pressing scientific topics and explores how biomedical engineers are building a healthier, more equitable world, one discovery at a time. In our first episode, Wayne spea...

Welcome to the Office Hours podcast, brought to you by the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)! In this special preview episode, host Dr. Liz Wayne gives listeners a glimpse into what’s to come—from candid conversations with BME leaders to unexpected insights about life in and out of the lab. Hear about the vision behind the show, what kinds of guests and topics you can expect, and why now is the perfect time for these kinds of conversations in biomedical engineering. Follow along and...