Fall 2025 Workshop

September 20, 2025
Emerging Technologies Building
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Here's What Our Student Attendees Had to Say about our Spring 2025 Workshop

“It was great for forming connections and learning more about different careers in BMEN!”

“It’s a great way to hear thoughts from people who are ahead of us in our professional journey!”

“… it was a great way to connect with people and learn more about the major. I think the best way to learn about the major is from various people who have had experience in field and also people who are closer like upperclassmen students. It’s like seeing the immediate future and distant future, it’s a good balance.”

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Fall 2025 Workshop Agenda

  • – : Welcome, Process Overview, and Community Commonalities and Connections
  • – : Building Your Learning Strategies
  • – : Panel Discussion: Implementing Learning Strategies in Biomedical Engineering
  • – : Break
  • – : Panel Discussion: Pathways to Biomedical Engineering
  • – : Lunch and Outdoor Break
  • – : Lunch Recap and Community Connections
  • – : Panel Discussion: What Mentoring Means to Me
  • – : Break
  • – : Support Map Exercise
  • – : Concluding Remarks, Resources, Evaluation

Workshop Panelists

“What Mentoring Means to Me” Panelists

Daniel Alge, PhD

Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Programs in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at TAMU

Dr. Daniel L. Alge’s research is in biomaterials with an emphasis on applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, his interests span from fundamental studies on biomaterial chemistry and characterization to translational research.

https://engineering.tamu.edu/biomedical/profiles/alge-daniel.html

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielalge/

Jill Almaguer

Sr. Project Manager at Memorial Hermann Health System

o From Aggie Class of 1983 as the first woman bio-engineering graduate from Texas A&M University hired at HP in Houston, Jill has been driven to achieve success in the field of biomedical engineering for more women to follow in her footsteps. Jill has also given back with scholarships to women in biomedical engineering. Jill represented biomedical engineering on many Society of Women Engineers committees including mentoring biomedical engineering students from various races and backgrounds for diverse programs such as DeVry University’s HerWorld and Project CURE. Professor Almaguer was gratified to see the diversity of her biomedical engineering students in her bio ethics classes when she was Visiting Associate Professor of Practice at Texas A&M. Mrs. Almaguer currently serves on the TAMU College of Engineering Advisory Council and is a member emeritus of the BioMedical Engineering Department Advisory Board. Jill earned her MBA from Houston Christian University where she serves on the College of Science and Engineering External Advisory Board. Mrs. Almaguer is a SWE Fellow and a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. She co-chairs the Houston Industry Chapter of the BioMedical Engineering Society and serves on the board of the Healthcare Technology Management Association. Jill recently moderated a panel on AI in Healthcare for the Federation of Houston Professional Women while working in her current role as Sr. Project Manager at Memorial Hermann Health System for the Information Systems Division Project Management Office. Jill hosted a Summer Engineering Experience for BMEN students and several senior design projects.

Damion Dixon, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at TAMU

Damion Dixon is a postdoctoral research associate and visiting lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU). He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering [2018] from Georgia Southern University and his Ph.D. in Engineering (Mechanics and Materials emphasis) [2023] from the University of Georgia. Dr. Dixon’s long-standing research interests are in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, specifically for the treatment of segmental bone defects. Dr. Dixon’s Ph.D. research centered around the development of stimuli- (e.g., electrical and mechanical) responsive biomaterials for targeted regeneration of load-bearing bone. Following his Ph.D., Dr. Dixon joined Prof. Melissa Grunlan’s research group with a focus on creating “self-fitting” shape memory polymer (SMP) bone scaffolds with improved osteogenic and antimicrobial properties.

Damion Dixon – ‪Google Scholar

https://www.linkedin.com/in/damiondixon

Staci Horn

Research Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Pathology Lab at Texas A&M University

Parul Mahajan

Senior Technical Marketer | Certified Life & Nervous System Coach

Parul Mahajan is a Senior Technical Marketer at NI (now part of Emerson), where she leads marketing initiatives that bridge the gap between technology, education, and industry. With a background in biomedical engineering and a passion for strategic storytelling, she has driven impactful campaigns for academic solutions, CompactDAQ, and MIO products, enhancing customer experience and engagement. 

Beyond her corporate role, Parul is a Certified Life Coach and Nervous System Coach, dedicated to personal transformation and holistic well-being. She has coached over 100 clients through career transitions, stress management, mindfulness, and personal development. Combining her expertise in leadership, facilitation, and breathwork, she has hosted corporate workshops and women’s retreats focused on empowerment and resilience. 

Parul holds a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas. She thrives at the intersection of engineering and human potential, helping both organizations and individuals navigate complexity with clarity and confidence. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/parulmahajan/ 

www.instagram.com/chaiwithparul 

“Career Pathways” Panelists

Jackie Coleman

Grants and Marketing at InformAI

Jackie Coleman is a rocket scientist turned writer. Writing is her second career, which she loves! In her first career, she managed experiments and data on the Space Station and Shuttle and now provides great content to help businesses clearly communicate a tailored message.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelinehavelka/

Christian Gonzalez

Director of Marketing and Product Management at Endotronix

Christian J. Gonzalez is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the medical device industry, transitioning from engineering to marketing and product management. A proud graduate of Texas A&M University, Christian earned a Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering in 2012 and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering in 2011. He also holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Christian currently serves as Director of Marketing at Endotronix, where he oversees the global commercialization of innovative solutions for the Cordella System, a pulmonary artery pressure sensor enabling better heart failure management. His career includes roles at Medtronic, Argon Medical Devices, and Endotronix, where he gained expertise in product development, market strategy, and upstream/downstream marketing. Notably, Endotronix was acquired by Edwards Lifesciences in August 2024. Dedicated to education and mentorship, Christian serves on the External Advisory Board for Texas A&M’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. In 2023, he was honored as a Texas A&M Association of Former Students “12 Under 12” award recipient, recognizing his career and service achievements.

https://www.aggienetwork.com/media/guides/young-alumni/12u12-2023-recipients.pdf

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-gonzalez-6931993b/

Faraz Jivan

Senior Process Engineer – Polymer Engineering Team at Venostent, Inc.

o Faraz Jivan is a seasoned biomedical researcher with over 15 years of experience in polymeric biomaterials and biomedical engineering. He earned his Bachelor’s in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2013 and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2019. After completing his doctorate, Faraz joined Volumetric Biotechnologies as the Lead Biomaterials Engineer, where he worked on pilot-scale polymer synthesis, bio-ink formulation, and 3D bioprinting. Following the company’s acquisition by 3D Systems in 2021, he became a Senior Bioengineer in the Regenerative Medicine group, co-leading efforts to develop a cellularized, implantable, and biologically-functional human kidney scaffold. In 2024, Faraz joined Venostent, Inc. as a Senior Process Engineer, where he now leads polymer synthesis scale-up and process optimization for the company’s novel bioabsorbable polymer used in the production of SelfWrap perivascular devices for chronic kidney disease patients.

Sarah Kusumo

Founder-in-Residence at TMC | MedTech Innovator

Sarah Kusumo is a Texas A&M University Biomedical Engineering graduate with experience in medical device research and industry. While at Texas A&M University, she was a research assistant utilizing particle physics to further develop a low-cost portable PET scanner at the Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy. Within the Biomechanical Environments Lab, she worked on developing a digital visual analog pain scale app, specifically gathering VOC and creating a GUI interface prototype. Later, she worked on a team at Texas A&M University and Houston Methodist Hospital on a “Method and Device for a Clampless Carotid Endarterectomy,” which was patented and later passed on to EnMed. Within industry, her experience spans across start-up, mid-size, and global medical device companies through many different phases of the product life cycle. However, her most recent industry experience was as an R&D Engineer at Medtronic on their New Product Development team, where she led the development of a major subassembly on the next generation ENT console. While she was at Medtronic, she founded, hosted, and produced “Medtech’s Next Generation Podcast,” a Medtronic Global internal podcast discussing the future of the medtech industry from people to technology. Currently, she is a TMC Biodesign Founder-in-Residence working to identify healthcare’s greatest unmet needs and form a company around the medical device solution.

Adelina Ramirez

Regional Technology Specialist at Biosense Webster, J&J Med Tech

Howdy! My name is Adelina Ramirez, but usually go by Addie. I am from the Harlingen, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley and a proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie BMEN Class of 2018! I went on to my first role in Biosense Webster (Now Johnson and Johnson MedTech | Electrophysiology) as a Clinical Account Specialist in Houston, Texas for 4 years. I was then promoted to Regional Technology Specialist where I help train others and launch new products in my Region! On my off time I enjoy running, rock climbing, and traveling. I also love to spend time with family and friends, cooking, and playing team sports.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adelina-ramirez-754b49157/

Additional panelist information TBD and coming soon