MS-MPE Student Feature: Erica Taylor

I am currently completing my Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering (Cellular Track) at the University of Pittsburgh. This December, I will be graduating with a minor in Chemistry and a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. Throughout my undergraduate experience, I have focused on medical device innovation, tissue repair, and translational research through roles at a UPMC Mechanobiology Lab, Johnson & Johnson’s Cell and Gene Therapy R&D group, and Pitt’s Camp BioE program. I also served as an undergraduate TA for BioTransport Phenomena and BioThermodynamics, and have been a volunteer firefighter with the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department since 2017. During this experience I gained firsthand insight into emergency medical equipment challenges. My senior design project also strengthened my interest in user-centered engineering and medical technology development. My team and I developed an improved bag valve mask (BVM) that allowed effective ventilation by a single operator. 

I chose to pursue my MS-MPE through Pitt’s 4+1 program because I value Pitt’s strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and clinically informed engineering. The program aligns directly with my goal of contributing to the development, testing, and translation of safer and more effective medical technologies. After completing my master’s degree, I plan to pursue a career in medical device R&D within the cardiac field, where I hope to continue bridging engineering innovation with real-world clinical needs. 

-Erica Taylor