Biomedical engineering is driving the future of health care by merging engineering innovation with medical science to improve patient outcomes and advance human health. Highlighting this impact, The University of Akron’s (UA) Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) hosted its 5th Annual Biomedical Engineering Research Day on Friday, March 6, 2026, at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field.

The interdisciplinary event brought together students, faculty, health care professionals and industry partners for a full day of research, collaboration and discovery. Attendees began the morning with light refreshments before engaging in an extended poster session that featured student-led research and class projects. The session created a dynamic environment for sharing ideas, exploring emerging technologies and fostering meaningful conversations across disciplines.

New to this year’s event was the addition of industry tabling, which provided attendees with direct access to companies and professionals working in the biomedical and health care sectors. The event also welcomed high school students for a dedicated session, offering an early introduction to biomedical engineering and opportunities to explore potential academic and career pathways in the field.

Following a midday break, Dr. Hossein Tavana, professor and chair of UA's Department of Biomedical Engineering, delivered introductory remarks to open the afternoon program and sponsor presentations. “Biomedical Engineering Research Day brings together students, faculty and industry partners to foster collaboration, highlight innovative research and provide students with meaningful opportunities to share their work and engage with the broader biomedical community,” Tavana said. “We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors for their continued support, which helps make this event possible and strengthens the connections between our academic programs and industry partners.”

A centerpiece of the event was the keynote address by Dr. Arnon Chait, president and CEO of Cleveland Diagnostics. An entrepreneur, scientist and educator, Chait brings extensive experience commercializing innovative science across academia, government and industry. As co-founder of Cleveland Diagnostics, he has helped advance early cancer detection through accessible, blood-based diagnostic technologies developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic. Drawing on a multidisciplinary background spanning physics, engineering and biosciences, as well as a career that includes work with NASA and leadership in multiple successful ventures, Chait shared insights on translating research into real-world impact. His remarks highlighted the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship and cross-sector collaboration in advancing health care technologies and improving patient outcomes.

The afternoon featured a showcase of the University's Medical Device Design Team (MDDT), an organization dedicated to engineering innovative solutions to address unmet clinical needs. Through this hands-on initiative, students gain real-world experience in the medical device design process while developing technologies that respond to challenges in the health care industry.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding poster presentations (see below for a listing of award winners) followed by brief oral presentations from select award recipients and closing remarks.

Biomedical Engineering Research Day continues to serve as a platform for student scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration and industry engagement. By connecting academic research with real-world applications, the event reflects UA’s commitment to preparing students to lead and innovate in the rapidly evolving field of biomedical engineering.

Sponsors

The Department of Biomedical Engineering extends its sincere appreciation to the generous sponsors who made this year’s event possible.

Gebauer Company

Founded in 1898, Gebauer Company is an internationally recognized medical device manufacturer dedicated to improving the patient experience through its Patient Comfort Solutions™. The company develops affordable, easy-to-use products for health care professionals worldwide and operates a state-of-the-art facility in Cleveland, Ohio supporting advanced manufacturing and research.

Dr. Andrew Ditto, director of research and development and chief research scientist at Gebauer Company, as well as a University of Akron alumnus, delivered a presentation ahead of the keynote address. The department thanks Gebauer Company for its continued support of Biomedical Engineering Research Day.

The Margaret F. Donovan Endowment

The Margaret F. Donovan Endowment supports educational opportunities and advances the success of students in engineering. Through her philanthropic efforts, Margaret F. Donovan has helped promote access to education and strengthen opportunities for future generations, including support through the Robert E. Donovan Scholarship Fund at The University of Akron.

Dr. Buket Barkana, the Margaret F. Donovan Endowed Chair in Biomedical Engineering and chair of the BME Research Day Committee, provided remarks during the sponsor presentation portion of the program. The department gratefully acknowledges the Margaret F. Donovan Endowment for its generous support.

Award Winners

Congratulations to the following students recognized for their outstanding research contributions:

Outstanding High School Presenter

• Ben Lang, Bio-Med Science Academy, Rootstown, Ohio; mentored by Dr. Hossein Ravanbakhsh
  Title: Design of a Custom Resin-Based Bioprinter with a Miniaturized Heated Vat for Low-Volume Bioprinting
  Authors: B. Lang, E. Tajik, H. Ravanbakhsh

Outstanding High School Presenter

• Aryan Patel, University School, Hunting Valley, Ohio
  Title: Evaluating the Effects of Dataset Imbalance on Fairness and Explainability in CNN-Based Melanoma Detection Across Skin Tones

Outstanding Undergraduate Poster – 1st place

• Emma Barna, senior undergraduate researcher, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron; mentored by Dr. Ge Zhang and Dr. Buket Barkana
  Title: Enhanced Automatic In Vitro Angiogenesis Analysis
  Authors: E. Barna, M. Leyba, G. Zhang, B. Barkana

Outstanding Undergraduate Poster – 2nd place

• Minuthi Cooray, senior undergraduate researcher, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron; mentored by Dr. Hossein Ravanbakhsh
  Title: Kirigami-Inspired Shape-Memory Nerve Conduits
  Authors: M. Cooray, P. Poudel, H. Ravanbakhsh

Outstanding Undergraduate Poster – 3rd place

• Lyndsey Corrigan, senior undergraduate researcher, Cleveland Diagnostics, Inc., and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron
  Title: Viscosity Reduction Dynamics in Aqueous Dextran Solutions as a Function of Dextranase Concentration and Reaction Time
  Authors: L. Corrigan, A. Titus, L. Ferreira, E. Podoly

Outstanding Graduate Poster – 1st place

• Andrea Zuccaro, Ph.D. student, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University; mentored by Dr. Metin Uz
  Title: A Biodegradable, Piezoelectric Implant for Electrical Stimulation of the Pudendal Nerve for Stress Urinary Incontinence in a Rat Model
  Authors: A. Zuccaro, T. Doğruel, S. Kelebeyev, L. Wang, M. Damaser, M. Uz

Outstanding Graduate Poster – 2nd place

• Ebrahim Tajik, Ph.D. student, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron; mentored by Dr. Hossein Ravanbakhsh
  Title: Thermoresponsive Polymeric Scaffolds Enabling Minimally Invasive Implant Delivery
  Authors: E. Tajik, P. Poudel, H. Ravanbakhsh

Outstanding Graduate Poster – 3rd place

• Jacob Brown, Ph.D. student, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron; mentored by Dr. Ge Zhang
  Title: Investigating Factors Limiting MSC Efficacy in Cell Therapy
  Authors: J. Brown, E. Barna, R. Laminchhane, J. Ketchum, F. Campbell, G. Zhang

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RELATED CONTENT:

• Learn more about our Biomedical Engineering programs
• Check out the BME Research Day website

Media contact: media@uakron.edu