Mahvish Syed

Class of 2020

Education: Blended BS + MS Biomedical Engineering at Cal Poly

 

Biography

Mahvish’s interest in Stem Cell Research sparks from how little we know about it. Mahvish feels this field holds a challenge and vast margins to grow, learn, and pioneer. Mahvish is specifically interested in researching and creating cardiac patches to treat myocardial infarction. Mahvish feels the CIRM program at Cal Poly is a robust program that prepares the CIRM students really well for the industry. Mahvish hopes to benefit greatly from the in-class and internship opportunities provided through this program and develop a working skill set to then continue in the private sector.

Mahvish chose to intern with Viacyte in the R&D Engineering Department. She worked under her supervisor, Karim Dudum, and her manager, Chris Folk. The R&D team required design testing of the device to satisfy FDA guidelines to establish safety and efficacy of the device. Her role in the project included assisting with Device Verification Testing (DVT) of the company's biologic-device combination product developed for treatment of Type 1 Diabetes.  DVT specifically consisted of design control, experimental design, technical writing, and product design & development.