About Me

Name: Anushka Mitbander

Major: Biomedical Engineering (Biomedical Devices)

Minor: Data Science

Certificate: Cross-Sector Leadership

University: Arizona State University | Barrett, The Honors College

Graduation: Spring 2026

Grand Challenges Theme: Health

Portfolio Submission: Spring 2026

Introduction

My name is Anushka Mitbander, and I am a Biomedical Engineering student at Arizona State University pursuing a minor in Data Science, a Certificate in Cross-Sector Leadership, and an accelerated 4+1 Master’s degree. As a scholar in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP), I have intentionally shaped my academic, research, and professional experiences around the Grand Challenge theme of Health.

The Health theme focuses on advancing human well-being through innovative engineering solutions that improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and accessibility of care. As a biomedical engineer, this theme aligns directly with my passion for medical device innovation, clinical problem-solving, and patient-centered design. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have pursued opportunities that integrate engineering design, regulatory science, entrepreneurship, service, and global awareness to address real-world healthcare challenges.

About the NAE Grand Challenges Scholars Program

The Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP), founded in 2009 in response to the National Academy of Engineering’s 14 Grand Challenges, prepares engineers to address the world’s most pressing issues through interdisciplinary innovation. Now spanning more than 100 institutions globally, the program emphasizes solutions in sustainability, health, security, and quality of life.

As a GCSP participant, I developed key competencies across five core mindsets: research and technical expertise, entrepreneurship, multidisciplinary collaboration, multicultural awareness, and social responsibility. Through a combination of academic and co-curricular experiences, I’ve built a holistic approach to engineering that integrates technical skill with global perspective and real-world impact.

About This Portfolio

This digital portfolio serves as a comprehensive representation of my Grand Challenges Scholars experience under the Health theme. It documents how I have developed the five GCSP competencies:

Together, these experiences demonstrate my development as an engineer who understands that advancing health requires more than technical expertise. It requires interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural awareness, ethical responsibility, and entrepreneurial action.

Through the Grand Challenges Scholars Program, I have not only strengthened my engineering skills but also developed a holistic understanding of how to design solutions that improve patient outcomes and contribute meaningfully to the future of healthcare.