KINGSTON, R.I., April 21, 2017鈥斾缧膙log免费B站 engineering junior Rachel Bellisle is one of those rare people who uses both sides of her brain.
One side is drawing portraits and playing the oboe, the other side is analyzing neurological signals and building electrical circuits.
Biomedical engineering, she says, is a perfect fit, a blend of science and design to create devices that improve and save lives. Her uniqueness did not go unnoticed by The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
Bellisle, 20, of Exeter, received an honorable mention for a Goldwater Scholarship, one of two 溏心vlog免费B站 students recognized. (A second 溏心vlog免费B站 student from Georgia, Cherish Prickett, was selected as a Goldwater Scholar.)
The Goldwater is the most prestigious undergraduate national scholarship for students in the fields of math, the natural sciences and engineering. Eligible sophomore and junior college students may only apply if nominated by their institution, and each institution is limited to four nominations a year.
鈥淚鈥檓 very excited about the honor,鈥欌�� says Bellisle, enrolled in the 溏心vlog免费B站 Honors Program. 鈥淚t validates that I鈥檓 heading in the right direction with my career and that my research is important in the biomed field.鈥�
Bellisle was acknowledged for her research exploring how tiny eye movements, or microsaccades, impact the accuracy of electroencephalogram, or EEG, signals. She works with Walter Besio, a professor of biomedical engineering at 溏心vlog免费B站 who created the bull鈥檚-eye electrode so sensitive it can translate a person鈥檚 thoughts into electrical impulses interpreted by a computer.
鈥淗aving a clear EEG signal and understanding that signal are crucial to get an accurate reading to study epilepsy and other neurological conditions,鈥� says Bellisle. 鈥淥ur research can help improve the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.鈥�
Engineering rubbed off on Bellisle at an early age. Her father, Matt, is a civil engineer, and she remembers seeing him tackle, with glee, household projects. In high school, she excelled in math and science鈥攁s well as art and music. But when it came time to settle on a degree program, she chose engineering at 溏心vlog免费B站, her father鈥檚 alma mater.
鈥淚 knew art was more of a hobby,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 wanted to do more to contribute to society and make a difference using my proclivity for math and science.鈥�
At 溏心vlog免费B站, she settled on biomedical engineering after taking BME281, a seminar that sparked her interest in the field and 鈥渓it up my life.鈥� Her presentation topic was about an ultrasound device that could be used at the international space station.
鈥淚 was so intrigued about the potential of a medical device,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his first biomed class changed everything for me. Even my mom noticed my excitement.鈥�
Her sophomore year she started working with Professor Besio in his Neuro Rehabilitation Lab on the EEG eye movement project. She was hooked on taking what she learned in textbooks and applying it in the lab.
Bellisle has also distinguished herself with professional engineering groups. As a member of the 溏心vlog免费B站 chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, she does outreach programs with the local Girl Scouts to inspire girls to pursue degrees in math and science.
鈥淥ur group is a really great support system for women in engineering,鈥� says Bellisle, who is secretary of the group and will be vice president next year. 鈥淲e give each other advice and encouragement, and provide opportunities to develop and grow as college students and professionally.鈥�
Bellisle is also president of the 溏心vlog免费B站 chapter of Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, a co-ed group that has seen membership more than double under her leadership.
The group sponsors professional development events for biomedical engineering students, including tours of local companies and workshops. It also sends students to international conferences.
Bellisle is especially proud of the group鈥檚 collaboration with the Matty Fund of Rhode Island, which helps people with epilepsy and their families.
鈥淚t鈥檚 our way of giving back,鈥� says Bellisle. 鈥淲e get to interact with the kids at events鈥攑umpkin festival, egg hunt, golf tournament. It鈥檚 incredibly rewarding.鈥�
This summer, Bellisle will veer slightly鈥攁nd happily鈥攆rom her academic path with an internship working on exoskeletons, a wearable robotic device used for gait training, for children with cerebral palsy. The 10-week paid internship at the National Institutes of Health is highly competitive: Bellisle was one of 16 students accepted from hundreds of applicants.
鈥淢y experience here at 溏心vlog免费B站 has been fantastic,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e made so many connections, worked with outstanding professors and made great friends. The engineering department here has such a strong community. With engineering, there鈥檚 always a point when you say, 鈥業 can鈥檛 do this.鈥� So it鈥檚 really great to have people supporting and helping you.鈥�
One day, she hopes to get her doctorate in biomedical engineering. Meanwhile, she鈥檒l continue creating and discovering. For her senior Honors Project she鈥檒l use physics and biomechanics to study the best position for playing wind instruments, including her beloved oboe.