For five Endicott College students, a recent trip to Orlando, Fla., offered more than a glimpse into the latest advances in biomedical engineering. It was an opportunity to share their own research, connect with leading scientists and industry professionals, and discover how the work happening in Endicott’s classrooms and laboratories contributes to a rapidly evolving field.
Thanks to generous donor support from Endicott’s 2026 Giving Day, bioengineering majors Kate Linde ’27 and Aedan Carey ’27, biology/biotechnology majors Siena Corrigan ’27 and Vanessa Hurley ’27, and engineering major Gregory Noroian ’28 attended the Biomedical Engineering Society’s (BMES) Annual Meeting, one of the field’s premier gatherings of researchers, educators, students, and industry leaders.
“It was exciting to see people I know and work alongside have the opportunity to share their work with professionals, researchers, and students from across the country,” said Carey. “I’m proud to be part of Endicott’s engineering program and excited to see what our students will continue to accomplish.”
As leaders of Endicott’s Biomedical Engineering Society, Corrigan, Carey, and Hurley brought fresh perspectives back to campus for fellow members, including ideas for guest speakers and ways for students to get involved in work beyond the Nest.
“I’ve done a lot of learning in my core courses about the scientific method and research, but being able to see that applied on such a wide scale was incredibly fascinating,” said Corrigan. “The conference acted as an intersection between science, engineering, and medicine, where attendees had the opportunity to learn about new emerging research in the field, as well as hear from professionals, which is incredibly valuable, especially as an undergraduate student.”
Linde and Noroian, who have been working in the lab of Jason Nichol, a professor in the School of Science and Technology, were also chosen to present their research at the event. Their poster focused on hydrogels, a common tool used in tissue engineering.
Nichol has conducted extensive research on gelatin methacrylate hydrogels, with his published work receiving thousands of citations. Building on this foundation, his research group is now exploring a new type of hydrogel made with casein, a protein found in milk, rather than gelatin.
“Presenting our own research, as well as seeing what others in the field are working on, is pretty remarkable to see come together. Seeing so many smart people in the same field working to improve humans and technology is inspiring,” said Noroian.
Learn more about Endicott College’s bioengineering program and how students gain hands-on experience through research, internships, and opportunities beyond the classroom.