Elizabeth Orwin Research Group

Bio-Engineering Lab

Engman Fellowship in Bioengineering

The Engman Fellowship Program aims to create a vibrant learning environment for students to explore cutting-edge research in the field of bioengineering. Several components come together to create this environment, including interdisciplinary projects, team-based learning, and an emphasis on mentoring at all levels. Every Engman Fellow has the opportunity to present their work at a professional meeting. This Program is made possible by Robert and Mary Jane Engman, who own Opto 22 in Temecula, Calif., and share our values for undergraduate education.

Elizabeth Orwin ’95, James Howard Kindelberger Professor of Engineering and department chair, specializes in biomedical engineering. Orwin has worked for Gel-Del Technologies in St. Paul, Minn., on the research and development of a novel protein matrix for wound healing applications. She chairs the Engineering Department and also directs the Engman Fellowship Program in Bioengineering, which trains students in Biomedical Engineering research and device design. Her lab’s main research focus is in the area of tissue engineering, specifically applied to the study and development of an artificial corneal construct. Orwin also runs several industry-sponsored research projects involving tissue engineering and wound healing in skin and neural models. She is working to develop a “brain patch” for traumatic brain injury by harnessing regenerative medicine techniques and investigating novel combinations of cell source and scaffold materials to create a cell delivery system for neural tissue repair. Orwin’s lab also collaborates with Beckman Laser Institute on a device to measure nasal cartilage stiffness, as well as with Johns Hopkins University on the development of a device to simulate the forces involved in eye rubbing for keratoconus.