Bioinnovation and Medical Engineering Symposium

Friday, June 27, 2025 at Innovation Lab Forum

Registration for the symposium has closed because we have reached the maximum capacity of the venue. Additional bioinnovation and medical engineering events will be announced in the upcoming academic year.

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Event Overview

Join us at Missouri S&T for the inaugural Bioinnovation and Medical Engineering Symposium, a one-day gathering of leading scientists, engineers, health care professionals, and policymakers dedicated to shaping the future of bioinnovation.

This event will highlight Missouri S&T’s groundbreaking work in medical engineering and biotechnology, foster collaboration with regional partners, and showcase emerging research from academia, industry, and government.

Attendees will enjoy a full day of networking, cutting-edge talks, a poster session, and a celebratory dinner.

Who Should Attend

  • Faculty and researchers in bioengineering, biotechnology, and medical innovation
  • Industry leaders and Chief Science Officers from biotech and pharma sectors
  • Policymakers and elected officials
  • Partners from WashU, Phelps Health, and other medical and academic institutions
  • Students and postdoctoral trainees in relevant fields

Program Highlights

Program Highlights
Opening Remarks from Missouri S&T leadership
Historical Overview of Missouri S&T’s role in bioinnovation
Plenary Talks from visionary leaders in the field
Contributed Sessions from S&T faculty, industry partners, and trainees
Trainee Blitz Talks – high-impact, rapid-fire research presentations
Networking Lunch
Poster Session & Reception

Preliminary Schedule

TimeEvent
7:30 AMBreakfast
8:00 AMWelcome from Dr. Mohammad “Mo” Dehghani, Chancellor of Missouri S&T
8:15 AMOpening Plenary Address: Dr. Cory Berkland, Mark and Becky Levin Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry, Washington University in Saint Louis
Title: Translating Academic Innovations
9:15 AMCoffee Break
9:30 AMSymposium #1: The Future of Health Education at Missouri S&T
1. Dr. David Westenberg, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of Biological Sciences, Missouri S&T
Title: The Miner Path to Health Care Professions
2. Dr. Daniel Forciniti, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri S&T
Title: New BS in Biomedical Engineering – Materials and Biomanufacturing Tracks
3. Dr. Jee-Ching Wang, Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri S&T
Title: Bioengineering Ph.D. program at Missouri S&T
4. Dr. Stephen Roberts, Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives and Professor of Biological Sciences, Missouri S&T
Title: Engineering, Innovation, and Technology in Medical Education
11:15 AMLunch
12:15 PMSymposium #2: Medical Engineering and BioInnovation at Missouri S&T
1. Dr. Fateme “Sha” Fayyazbakhsh, Assistant Research Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Missouri S&T
Title: Bioactive Materials and Biofabrication
2. Dr. Pablo Sobrado, Richard Vitek/FCR Endowed Professor of Chemistry, Missouri S&T
Title: Enzymology and Drug Discovery
3. Dr. Seung-Jong “Jay” Park, Kummer Department Chair of Computer Science, Missouri S&T
Title: AI-powered Biomedical and Health Science Applications
1:45 PMCoffee Break
2:00 PMSymposium #3: Needs and Interests of Industry
1. Dr. Shenda Baker, Principal at Inari Advisors and former President/CEO of Synedgen
Title: From Academia to Industry: Perspectives on Needs and Challenges in BioInnovation
2. Mr. Aaron Willard, Chief Partnership Officer at the API Innovation Center
Title: Missouri as a Catalyst for Increasing U.S. Health Security
3. Dr. Steve Jung, Chief Commercial Officer of MO SCI LLC
Title: From University Research to Clinical Use – A Biomedical Glass Story
4. Mr. Ty Harmon, Co-Founder of Valkyrie UAS Solutions
Title: Increasing Rural Healthcare Access with Drones
3:45 PMCoffee Break
4:00 PMClosing Summary and Panel Discussion on Technology Transfer and Innovation
Speaker/Moderator: Dr. Gina Yosten, Kummer Department Chair of Biological Sciences, Missouri S&T
Panelists:
• Dr. Shenda Baker, Principal at Inari Advisors and former President/CEO of Synedgen
• Dr. Christine Karslake, Associate Vice Chancellor Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization, Missouri S&T
• Dr. James Sterling, Founding Dean of the Kummer College of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development
5:00 PMPoster Session and Cocktails
6:30 PMDinner

Contact Information

For questions about registration or participation, please contact:

Steve Roberts
Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives