Kennesaw, Georgia | December 10, 2024
From U.S. Army combat medic to student researcher, Vanessa Young's journey at Kennesaw State University set her on a path to reinventing healthcare technology through human-centered design.
Young, who will graduate this week with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, has enjoyed great success since arriving at Kennesaw State's Marietta campus. Notably, she won second place at the 2024 ASME IMECE Undergraduate Expo in Portland, Oregon. Her presentation focused on innovative approaches that integrate human-centered design principles and technology to create safer and more efficient healthcare environments.
Young also works in the lab of Aise Tekes, associate professor of engineering at Southern Polytechnic Institute, where she is developing compliant joints and soft robots and affordable 3D printed laboratory equipment for undergraduate engineering courses. We focus on the design of Engineering accessible to faculty and students.
“We feel lucky to work with Vanessa, who has a deep passion for research and an ambitious vision to develop biomimetic exoskeleton designs inspired by nature,” Tekes said. Ta.
Young grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and after high school, his desire to help others led him to join the Army as a medic. After completing her training at Fort Sam Houston, she deployed to Afghanistan in 2019, providing medical support in a high-pressure environment.
“Afghanistan was very tough,” Young said. “But it taught me how to think on my feet and manage a team under stress.”
After returning home, Young worked as a paramedic and continued his medical training. During this time, she discovered her passion for problem solving and systems thinking. She saw how engineering could provide solutions to challenges in the medical field and began exploring this field. A visit to Kennesaw State University confirmed her decision.
“I walked around campus and the more I thought about it, the more I knew engineering was my next step,” Young said.
Young soon turned to mechanical engineering, where he developed a passion for problem-solving. That's when she met Tekes, a dynamics and control expert, who introduced her to 3D printing research. This experience was a turning point in Young's academic journey.
Young joined Tekes' lab on a project aimed at making engineering more accessible through affordable 3D printed laboratory equipment. This project allowed her to combine her passion for helping others with her interest in innovation. Young credits much of her success to Tekes.
“She has been a great mentor and has shaped my career in ways I never imagined,” Young said.
Through her work in the lab, Young has used her medical background to develop biomimetic joints and assistive devices such as exoskeletons and orthotics aimed at improving mobility for people with disabilities. . Recently, their research team has been collaborating with Georgia Tech on exoskeletal biomimetic knee joints.
“We are designing soft, flexible devices that better support natural movement, moving away from rigid joints to adaptive, personalized assistive technologies,” Young said. Ta. We also use compliant mechanisms to create these biometric designs. This is a rapidly emerging field that offers a fundamentally new approach to engineering design. ”
Young presented at the ASME iMechE International Engineering Conference in Portland, Oregon, where he received valuable feedback on his research. She received a second place award at the conference's Undergraduate Expo.
“Winning second place in such a prestigious competition was an incredible event. It showed that all the hard work we had put into this project had paid off. In front of such a global audience. I was excited to be able to present it. It motivated me,” Young said. I was passionate and it gave me even more motivation to keep going. ”
Young says one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is the unexpected opportunities that come her way, including travel, access to labs, and working with passionate colleagues.
“It's a great feeling to work with colleagues who share the same passion,” Young said. “It's great to be able to collaborate with lab members and present at conferences. I never expected this before coming to KSU.”
After graduation, Young plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Engineering. She plans to continue to focus on developing soft and flexible designs for assistive technologies.
“My long-term goal is to expand the field of biomimetic design, especially in the creation of adaptive, human-centered healthcare devices,” Young said. “When you graduate, it won't feel like it's done. You'll feel like you've only just begun.”
– Story by Raynard Churchwell
Photo by Darnell Wilburn
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State University is a member of the University System of Georgia, which has 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong international connections, and entrepreneurial spirit attracts students from across the country and around the world. Kennesaw State University is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), one of an elite group of only 7% of U.S. universities with R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
