Mary Seifu
Mary received her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT) in Ethiopia. Prior to joining the Rice360 team, Mary was a student leader at the AAiT Design Studio, as well as a student engineering intern at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MinT) and St. Paul’s Hospital in Ethiopia. Mary’s work with MinT resulted in the redesign of both pulse oximeters and suction pump devices to better suit Ethiopian hospitals. As a Rice360 Global Health Fellow, Mary will support the development of a continuous, low-cost neonatal gastric suction pump to treat newborns with excessive fluid collection in the abdomen from causes such as gastroschisis and necrotizing enterocolitis.
Joseph Peterson
Joseph received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University (BYU). During his undergraduate career, Joseph contributed to the research and design of a wearable spinal diagnostic device at the BYU Applied Biomechanics Laboratory. Joseph also participated in various medical technology internships where he prototyped and tested a non-invasive glucose measurement device as well as a non-invasive blood pressure measurement device. As a Global Health Fellow at Rice360, Joseph will focus on design modifications required to reduce the cost of the consumable cassette component of BiliDx, Rice360’s low-cost, point-of-care bilirubinometer used to diagnose jaundice in newborns.
Noelle Nelson
Noelle received her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and her Bachelor’s degree in both Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. Noelle joined the Global Health Design Collaborative as an undergraduate student, where she worked on a reusable pediatric pulse oximeter device with Ugandan clinicians. During her Master’s degree, Noelle’s research was concentrated on surgical robotics.
At Rice360, Noelle will contribute to the development of BreathAlert, Rice360’s newborn respiratory rate monitor, as well as focus her efforts at on the innovation of a video-based respiratory rate monitor to identify respiratory distress syndrome as well as other respiratory illnesses in newborns.
Breanna Kilgore
Breanna received her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Arkansas. During her time at the University of Arkansas, Breanna was a tutor and peer mentor, Vice President of the National Society for Black Engineers, and involved with a study abroad program in Geneva, Switzerland for global health policy. As a Rice360 Global Health Fellow, Breanna will lead the continued the development of the Colostomates project, a low-cost and reusable ostomy appliance for uninsured and underinsured populations. Breanna will also work on the Low-cost Cervical Cancer Instructional Apparatus (LUCIA), a clinical training model for screening and diagnosis of cervical cancer. Finally, Breanna will participate in Clinical Needs Finding as part of the biodesign process, working with local and international clinicians to understand health needs that can be addressed through innovative, low-cost technical solutions.
Busirat Azeez
Busirat received her Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria and her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Prior to Rice360, Busirat worked as a graduate intern at UI Design Studio where she helped students with 3D printing, coding, and electronics prototyping. As a Rice360 Global Health Fellow, Busirat will focus on the development of a low-cost oxygen analyzer that can help ensure appropriate delivery of therapeutic oxygen to patients.
Busirat will also support the validation of Rice360’s Celsi Warmer device, a low-cost warming mattress to treat hypothermic newborns, through ongoing clinical studies at Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria and future studies at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania.