March 19, 2026

Shamudra Dey, a doctoral candidate at Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, has received the Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Fellowship from Marquette University. This competitive award recognizes not only academic excellence, but also a commitment to leadership, service, and creating meaningful change. Administered by the Marquette University Graduate School, the award accepts applicants from across the university, awarding only eight to ten fellowships per academic year. Historically, only a small percentage of fellows have come from Biomedical Engineering, and Dey states that he is honored to represent the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering this year. 

As a doctoral candidate in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dey keeps the drive to make healthcare more accessible at the center of his work. Dey’s research uses advanced computational modeling to improve targeted drug delivery of nasal sprays and inhalers. His methods also have broader implications, including improving bioequivalence testing, the assessment of the differing effects of generic and brand-name drugs in the body.  According to Dey, this new modeling approach for nasal sprays and inhalers has the potential to lower the cost of developing critical generic medicines. In addition, his work may reduce the need of animal testing for toxicological assessments.

Dey is no stranger to hard work and success. In 2025, Dey received a research and development co-op at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, where he contributed to bioprocess development, a practice which seeks to optimize the cultivation of living cells for the production of pharmaceuticals. With this co-op, Dey was able to expand the real-world application of his computational modeling expertise. He has shown continuous research excellence and leadership through publishing peer‑reviewed work, presenting at major conferences, and receiving the 2024 Outstanding Research Assistant of the Year award from the Marquette Opus College of Engineering.

Shamudra consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication and professionalism. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his hard work and outstanding productivity.

~ Dr. Guilherme Garcia, BME Assistant Professor & Mentor

Beyond the lab, Dey demonstrates a strong commitment to leadership and advocacy. As Communications Officer for the Marquette University Graduate Student Organization, he worked to advance graduate student support, promoting improvements to stipends, health benefits, and wellness programming. He has also taken on leadership roles within the scientific community, serving as a peer reviewer, judging national engineering competitions, and earning recognition through honor societies such as Sigma Xi and Alpha Sigma Nu.

Looking ahead, Dey plans to use the fellowship to help bridge academia and industry through collaborative initiatives in the joint department, while continuing his long-term goal of advancing drug delivery systems and regulatory science. He is also committed to mentoring underrepresented students in STEM and expanding access to scientific training. “I’m excited that our work has the potential to make an immediate positive difference,” Dey said. “This support allows me to focus deeply on my dissertation research while also engaging in leadership activities that benefit the community.”

 

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