Above: Rhyland presents at the Project ENGAGES Summer Symposium.

Purpose of Internship Site: Project ENGAGES' focus is to expose minority students to undergraduate and professional research opportunities in STEM to provide an in-depth exposure to science. The Georgia Tech Biomedical Engineering Department exists to advance healthcare solutions through engineering principles, focusing on medical devices, cellular therapies, and disease modeling. The BotchweyLab aims to develop innovative approaches to regenerative engineering of damaged tissues and organs.

Type of Work Done: The lab conducts experimental research involving immune cell therapies, lipid-based biomaterials, and bioactive lipidomics. Projects explore the intersections between biology, engineering, and computational methods.

Mission/Goals of Department/Team: Our team’s goal is to blend the power of the immune system, the versatility of advanced materials, and the intricacy of lipid signaling to pioneer new frontiers in biomaterials and regenerative medicine.

Tools, Software, and Equipment:

The tools that I use while in the lab are:

• Laboratory Equipment: Ultracentrifuge, nanoparticle tracking analyzer (NTA), pipettes, biosafety cabinet

• Software: ImageJ for microscopy analysis, Excel for data logging, GraphPad Prism for statistical analysis

Techniques: EV isolation, size characterization, miRNA loading

1. What was the most important thing you learned from your internship?
The most important thing I learned was how critical it is to be able to present your work to others clearly and confidently. In research and engineering, doing great work is only part of the equation; you also need to communicate your findings so others can understand and build on them. During my internship, I had opportunities to share results in lab meetings, poster sessions, and science fairs, and explain complex concepts to people who weren’t familiar with the details. This taught me how to simplify technical language without losing accuracy, which is a valuable skill for any engineer. I realized that strong presentation skills can influence how your work is perceived and even open doors for collaboration. Being able to present effectively is just as important as running experiments because it ensures your contributions have impact beyond the lab.

2. What engineering practices or mindsets did you see professionals using?
I observed professionals using the engineering design process extensively, even in a research setting. They approached problems systematically: defining the issue, brainstorming solutions, testing hypotheses, and refining methods based on data. Another mindset I noticed was adaptability. Experiments rarely go exactly as planned, so being flexible and creative in troubleshooting is key. Professionals also have a huge emphasis on documentation and reproducibility, ensuring that every step is recorded for future reference and credibility. Collaboration is another major practice; team members regularly share updates and seek feedback to improve outcomes. Finally, I saw a strong commitment to ethical responsibility, especially when working with biological samples, which highlighted the importance of integrity in engineering work.

3. What surprised you about the engineering workplace?
I was surprised by how interdisciplinary the engineering workplace is. I expected to work mostly with engineers, but I interact with biologists, chemists, and doctors daily. This showed me that solving complex problems often requires expertise from multiple fields. Another surprise was the level of creativity involved in research. Engineering isn’t just technical; it requires innovative thinking to design experiments and interpret results, which takes a lot of background knowledge. I also didn’t expect how much time is spent troubleshooting and refining processes compared to running actual tests. The collaborative culture was another pleasant surprise; everyone is willing to help and share knowledge even in other laboratories, which makes the environment feel supportive. Overall, the workplace is dynamic and intellectually stimulating, which has challenged me to think beyond traditional engineering concepts.

4. How did this internship influence your future goals?
Project ENGAGES has solidified my interest in biomedical engineering, sports medicine, and global health. Before, I was considering several STEM fields, but now I feel confident that I want to pursue research that directly impacts patient care. Seeing how engineering can improve treatments for diseases like sickle cell disease has inspired me to focus on health equity and innovation. It has also motivated me to seek opportunities that combine engineering with biology and data science, as these intersections are where breakthroughs happen. Additionally, the experience has taught me the importance of graduate-level research, so I plan to consider pursuing advanced degrees to deepen my expertise. Ultimately, this internship has given me clarity and direction for my academic and career path.

5. What advice would you give a future student in this internship?

My biggest advice is to be proactive and curious. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even small ones, because understanding the “why” behind each step will make your experience have purpose and meaning. Take detailed notes during experiments; documentation is critical in research and will help you track progress. Also, be prepared for challenges and setbacks. Experiments often fail before they succeed, so persistence is key. Build relationships with your mentors and peers; networking and collaboration can open doors to future opportunities. Finally, approach the internship with an open mind and a willingness to learn, because the skills and insights you gain will go far beyond the lab.