Impact Award, Spring 2021
Lucianne Morin
Lucianne Morin chose to attend Arizona State University because it allowed her to remain close to her father, who was suffering from a terminal illness. So, when Morin joined the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, she focused her studies on biomedical engineering because it combined her academic interests with the field of medicine — something that was personally important.
“Biomedical engineering called out to me because it was the intersection of math and physics with the life sciences,” she says. “I wanted a major that combined the rigor of my physics classes with the medical world that I was exposed to through my dad.”
One of Morin’s most important experiences as an undergraduate was learning from fellow student Abbie Peters, her E2 counselor. As a first-year student, every incoming engineering major has the opportunity to attend a three-day camp in Prescott, Arizona, where students work on team-building activities and get to meet peers. She says that Peters immediately helped everyone in their cabin to come out of their shells, and she created a group chat for all of them.
“Abbie also showed me how critical a supporter is to success,” says Morin. “She encouraged me to apply to Fulton Ambassadors and even wrote me a letter of recommendation. By chance, we both took BIO 181 together, and we studied differential equations together as well. Through my experience as a teaching assistant, I have tried to emulate Abbie in every interaction with my own students.”
During her time at ASU, Morin had the opportunity to work with the Robotics and Intelligent SystEms Laboratory, or RISE Lab, as part of an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates. She says it was a unique opportunity to learn hands-on about robotics and sensor design.
“I learned how to solder, hand stitch and fabricate silicon on the fly because it was necessary to succeed,” Morin says. “The team was able to implement our sensor system bi-weekly during regular physical therapy sessions, and used the data to train a robotic sleeve to administer these basic therapies.”
After graduation, Morin will work in research and development in New England. Ultimately, she wants to work with integrated biosensor design. As technology continues to expand, she wants to ensure that innovations are applied in the biosensing field, specifically through implantable sensors.
“My capstone project focused on a way to recharge a pacemaker using the pulse pressure gradient,” she says, “and I hope to develop the knowledge to create more sustainable, long-lasting implanted devices that are comfortable for the patient.”
Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ Spring 2021 class here.