Engineering Engineer

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

THE VERMONT LUNG CENTER

July 27, 2010

To Whom It May Concern

RE: Kara A Grant

Kara Grant has just obtained her degree in biological engineering from

Cornell University. She worked in my laboratory in The Vermont Lung Center

as a research assistant during the summers of 2009 and 2010. During that

time, Kara learned how to generate mouse models of ventilator-induced lung

injury and measure their lung mechanical function using a computer-

controlled ventilator system.

She was also intimately involved in the design of experimental protocols to

determine the conditions under which ventilator-induced lung injury arises.

In the process, she became very proficient in a number of experimental

methodologies as well as in the manipulation of data. This work resulted in

two abstracts being presented at the Annual Meeting of the American

Thoracic Society in New Orleans in May of this year, one of which Kara

presented herself. Kara is also co-author on a manuscript that we have just

submitted to a major journal.

Kara is an extremely intelligent and personable individual who is a joy to

work with. She made a major contribution to my research program and, given

the opportunity, I would employ her or take on as a graduate student in the

future without the slightest hesitation. She has my highest recommendation.

[pic]

Jason H.T. Bates, PhD, DSc

Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary/Critical Care Division

Interim Director, School of Engineering

Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

Health Science Research Facility, 149 Beaumont Ave., Room 226,

Burlington, VT 05405-0075 Telephone: 802-***-**** . Fax: (802)

656-8926

Kara A. Grant

22 FRENCH ST . BARRE, VT 05641

802-***-**** . ****.*.*****@*****.***

Education

Cornell University, College of Engineering, Ithaca, NY May 2010

. Bachelor of Science, Biological Engineering

o Concentration in Biomedical Engineering

o Graduated cum laude

. GPA: 3.7, Dean's List six semesters

Fundamentals of Engineering exam April 2010

. "Passed"

Relevant Courses

Engineering: Computer-Aided Engineering: Applications to Biomedical

Processes, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Materials and

Devices for Human Body Repair, Biomaterials for the Skeletal

System, Bio-Fluid Mechanics, Biological and Environmental

Transport Processes, Thermodynamics, Mechanics of Solids,

Financial and Managerial Accounting for Engineers, Intro to

Computer Programming

Biology & General Biology with lab, Biochemistry: Molecular Biology,

Proteins, and Metabolism,

Chemistry: General Chemistry with lab, Organic Chemistry

Math: Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations,

Linear Algebra, Probability & Statistics

Physics: Mechanics, Heat/Electromagnetism

experience

Research Engineer Summer 2009/2010, April 2011-Present

The Vermont Lung Center, South Burlington, VT

. Design and alter mathematical models of the lung

. Program, manage, and execute experiments on live animals

. Analyze experimental data to improve models of acute lung injury and

lung mechanics

. Present weekly findings to a group of research professors and co-

workers

PROJECTS

Senior Capstone Design Project Spring 2010

. Worked with four team members, using COMSOL to model the diffusion of

antibiotics from an implantable absorbable bead

. 20-page final report reviewed by Engineering Technical Writing Staff

. Final presentation to 40+ colleagues and professors

Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury Research Project and Journal Article Summer

2009/2010

. Scripted and executed experiments on live mice connected to a computer-

driven mechanical ventilator

. Monitored lung tissue elastance (a model output parameter) as an

indicator of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI)

. Analyzed experimental results and assessed the roles of tidal volume and

positive end-expiratory pressure on the development of VILI

. Research selected by the American Thoracic Society for a poster

presentation at the May 2010 convention in New Orleans, of which I was

the presenter and first author

. Co-authored a journal article regarding this research, that is now

published in Annals of Biomedical Engineering ("Quantifying the Roles

of Tidal Volume and PEEP in the Pathogenesis of Ventilator-Induced

Lung Injury"; Vol. 39, No. 5, May 2011, pp. 1505-1516)

Skills

. Computer Programs: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft

PowerPoint, Matlab, Simulink, MathCad, COMSOL, Origin, GraphPad Prism,

SCIREQ FlexiVent Software

. General: diligent worker, responsible leader, dedicated to

professionalism, strong communication skills, dependable/personable

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