Hannah Morgan: Exploring bioengineering

When Hannah Morgan, third-year bioengineering student at the University of Maine, was in 8th grade, she attended an event at UMaine that introduced her to the field of engineering.

She was hooked.

When she came to tour UMaine’s bioengineering department the summer before her senior year of high school, she knew her decision was made.

“I met with Dr. David Neivandt and after viewing the labs and learning about the program I knew I had found what I wanted to study,” said Morgan. “I particularly liked that UMaine’s bioengineering program was broader than biomedical engineering at other schools.”

Morgan is currently participating in an 8-month co-op at Instrumentation Laboratory — a company that makes diagnostic instruments for critical care and hemostasis — located in Bedford, Massachusetts. She is working in the Systems Engineering department, doing development work on a new diagnostic instrument.

“I am enjoying my co-op and it has opened my eyes to a path in systems engineering that I knew very little about. I still am unsure exactly what I want to do, but I know that my co-op is the first step in determining my career goals.”

Bioengineering students at UMaine have the opportunity to participate in a “Co-Op” program during their third year, which involves two fourteen-week sessions of paid, supervised professional experience working as a junior engineer.

“This experience will give me the opportunity to see what it’s like to work as an engineer and to find out where my interests and passions lie,” said Morgan.

Morgan is actively involved in the university’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and served as the co-chair of the Outreach and Formal committee last year. She helped plan events within the community to spread knowledge about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines to students of all ages, with an emphasis on educating young girls.

SWE hosts fundraisers to raise money to send members of the club to development conferences each year.

Morgan is also a member of the Bioengineering Club at UMaine, which gives students the opportunity to explore the discipline and participate in career development conferences, lectures, job fairs and events.

“Choosing UMaine has positively influenced my life by providing me with an environment where I can grow into a professional and develop my interests,” said Morgan.

Hailing from Gardiner, Maine, Morgan is expected to graduate in spring 2017. After graduation, she plans to enter the workforce to develop medical technology.