August 2024 BME Blaze: Meghan Pinezich

Education

Columbia PhD BME ‘22

Columbia MS BME ‘19

University of Virginia BS ChemE ‘17

Where are you from?

Long Island, NY

What drew you to the field of Biomedical Engineering?

I was always interested in solving problems related to human health and disease. As an undergrad studying chemical engineering at UVA, I first learned about tissue engineering while working in Professor Kyle Lampe’s biomaterials lab. This experience made me want to pursue a PhD with a focus in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, which naturally led me to BME. 

What is your current role?

Currently I am Postdoctoral Scientist in the Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering where I am a member of the ‘Lung Team’. We are building a whole lung bioreactor model of cystic fibrosis for therapeutic screening. I am also the Program Manager of Columbia BiomedX, an accelerator that catalyzes the translation of Columbia technologies from the lab to the market by providing education, funding, and mentorship to teams.

Why did you choose Columbia BME?

Columbia BME stood out to me as a place that valued interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering, medicine, and business. Because of this, the research has always felt very applied and needs-driven. The work that we do in the lab is directly connected to problems faced in the clinic, and there is always a back and forth between different stakeholders to ensure the solutions actually fit the need. 

What were some of your favorite projects/memories from the program?

Pitching and being awarded funding in the BiomedX Pitch Competition as a graduate student was definitely one of my favorite memories. Now as Program Manager of BiomedX, I work with faculty and students to develop their go-to-market strategies and pitch storytelling approach. Seeing both sides of the program – first as a student and now as Program Manager – has been a really rewarding and educational experience. 

What was your proudest moment at Columbia?

During my PhD, I worked on the development of a whole lung cross-circulation bioreactor to study and repair acutely injured lungs. Even though the focus at the time was lung injury, I was always interested in applying the cross-circulation platform to answer questions related to cystic fibrosis, a disease that has had a deep personal impact on my family. Near the end of my PhD, we were approached by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to do exactly that! My proudest moment was when we officially received the award to fund the project.   

How has your experience with Columbia BME contributed towards your goals?

Working in Gordana’s lab gave me the opportunity to pursue cystic fibrosis research which was a lifelong goal of mine. I am very grateful that I could train in such a supportive environment where I was able to pursue research that is both scientifically and personally meaningful to me. 

What are your thoughts on the strength of Columbia BME's alumni network and how has that influenced your career path?

Connecting with fellow Columbia alumni, especially from the BME PhD program, shows you just how many diverse career paths you can follow with a BME degree. For me, it made me realize that I want to pursue a career at the intersection of science and business and helped me connect with others in my network that are doing the same!  

Any words of wisdom or tips for prospective BME students?

Beware of conventional ways of doing things. Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the best way.. and doesn’t mean it’s the way that you have to do it! 

What are you excited about?

I am excited to see tissue engineering applied to address the donor organ shortage through ex vivo organ repair, xenotransplantation, and immune engineering ☺