School:	University of Pittsburgh
Email:	fmbst4+@pitt.edu
Major:	Bioengineering
Year:	Junior
Advisor:	Dr. Kenneth Fischer
Mentors:	Jamie Pfaeffle, Kitty Stabile, Mary Gabriel
Hometown:	Allison Park, PA
Birthdate:	November 2, 1979
Honors:	Member of the Phi Eta Sigma honor society National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Pitt or Penn State? Where to spend my next four (or more) years weighed on my mind. My dad, a civil engineering professor at Pitt, told me about the new Bioengineering department and encouraged me to think about becoming a Pitt Bioengineer. I have always been very interested in biology and health-related subjects, so I decided to give it a try. Now I proudly call myself a Panther! I was born and have lived my whole life in a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, however I have gotten plenty of foreign culture from my parents who are native ŌKiwisÕ (from New Zealand). I am the baby of the family, with an older brother and sister who thoroughly enjoyed beating me up (all unprovoked, of course!). To round out the family, I have an orange tabby cat named ŌTiggerÕ. While at school I like to swim, go running, and play intramural soccer. I have always enjoyed being outside. I have been a lifeguard and swimming instructor for the past 5 years, so it has been a big adjustment missing out on the sun! However I have had a wonderful summer at the MSRC and am very grateful for this experience. I want to thank Dr. Woo and Dr. Debski for inviting me to work in such a distinguished research lab. Thanks to Dr. Fischer for advising me and helping me out with my project. I am very grateful to the Upper Extremity group, Jamie, Kitty, Mary, and Damion for generously giving their time and effort to help me accomplish my project, and more importantly to help me learn! I appreciate everyoneÕs help in the MSRC and especially am thankful for the great summer student friends I have made. It wouldnÕt have been half as much fun without you!