Upcoming Speakers | Seminar Archive
Every semester, the Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering brings together biomedical engineers from across the United States for a series of speaking engagements describing ongoing research and novel contributions to this dynamic and engaging field.
Seminars will be held at alternating Marquette and MCW campus locations and are open to students, faculty, and staff from both institutions.
This spring semester, the seminar series will welcome back alumni of the Marquette-MCW Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering to share insights on their experiences and career paths after graduate school. These talks will highlight the variety of opportunities available in biomedical engineering and provide students with practical insight into life beyond a BME degree.
Zachary Dooley, MS January 23, 2026
Zachary Dooley, MS, ’05, is a Senior Manager of Research & Testing at Orthofix Medical, a global medical technology company that develops solutions for musculoskeletal care, including spinal hardware, bone growth therapies, and limb reconstruction technologies.
Learn more about Zachary Dooley
Title: There and Back Again: An Engineer's Tale
Chris Hilker, MS February 6, 2026
Chris Hilker, MS, ’02, is Senior Director of Medical Affairs—Neuromodulation at Boston Scientific and serves on the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering’s Industry Advisory Board. Boston Scientific is a global medical technology leader that develops innovative devices and therapies to help physicians treat a wide range of complex diseases and improve patient health worldwide.
Wes Richerson, PhD March 6, 2026
Wes Richerson, PhD, ’22, is a postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Department of Neurology. His research focuses on using quantitative MRI techniques to better understand cerebrovascular disease—including projects on sickle cell anemia and moyamoya disease—to support improved clinical decision-making.
Arash Ghorbannia, PhD March 20, 2026
Arash Ghorbannia, PhD, ’22, is a Research Assistant Professor of Medical Modeling and Simulation at the Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences and the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center at Old Dominion University. His work focuses on developing advanced computational and AI-based modeling tools, including digital twins, to support personalized healthcare, treatment planning, and education.
Shima Sadri, PhD March 27, 2026
Shima Sadri, PhD, ’23, is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Arizona, where she focuses on metabolism and mathematical modeling in Dr. Mingyu Liang’s lab. The Liang group studies molecular systems medicine, with current research centered on genomics and precision medicine, regulatory RNA, and cellular metabolism as they relate to cardiovascular, kidney, and hypertensive diseases.
Samhita Rhodes, PhD April 10, 2026 - Moved to Fall
Samhita Rhodes, PhD, ’03, is a Professor of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and Graduate Program Director at Grand Valley State University. Her research focuses on biomedical signal and image processing, with applications spanning neuroscience, cardiovascular health, biomechanics, and medical imaging, alongside extensive leadership in biomedical engineering education and program development.
Joseph Avila, PhD April 17, 2026
Joseph Avila, PhD, ’21, is a Senior Analysis Engineer in Occupant Protection at Tesla, Inc., a global technology and automotive company focused on accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy through electric vehicles, solar power, and battery storage solutions.
Learn more about Dr. Joseph Avila
Title: Crash Course - Foundations, Flexibility, and Finding Your Path
Engineering students often believe career success requires a rigid blueprint and highly specialized skills, but the transition from graduate research to industry reveals a very different reality. In this keynote, Joey Avila shares his unexpected journey into automotive crash safety—a path that defied his own plans but aligned perfectly with a greater one—to dismantle the myth of the "perfect skill set." Drawing from his experience working with diverse, high-performing teams and interviewing engineering candidates, he will explore why the true value of an education isn't in mastering niche software but in cultivating the ability to learn hard things independently. Attendees will learn why an unshakable grasp of bedrock fundamentals is the non-negotiable trait for exceptional engineers, leaving with practical advice on preparing for dynamic roles and the encouragement to embrace unexpected opportunities.
Jayne Wolfe, PhD April 24, 2026
Jayne Wolfe, PhD, ’23, is a Clinical Specialist in Aortic Therapies at Cook Medical, a global medical technology company that develops innovative devices and solutions to improve patient outcomes and support clinicians worldwide.
Learn more about Dr. Jayne Wolfe
Title: Benchtop to OR: Journey from PhD to Aortic Clinical Specialist
For more information regarding attending a specific event, contact BME Education Coordinator Denise Perea.
View recently past speakers of the Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Seminar Series.
