Contact: Maridith Geuder
An Oct. 29 public program at Mississippi State will look at ways computer modeling helps reduce the time and cost of designing life-saving devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, heart valves, and other technology.
Presented by John Prentice, president of Colorado-based Quetzal Computational Associates, the presentation will begin at 3 p.m. in 106 Simrall Hall.
Quetzal specializes in the application of computational physics-based technologies to problems in biological physics. Modeling the human heart is among the company's current projects.
Prentice's lecture is part of a series that brings industrial biomedical engineers to the Starkville campus. Funded by the College of Engineering through a Hearin Foundation grant, the programs provide career information to students while offering opportunities for faculty members to discuss collaborative projects.
Joel Bumgardner, associate professor of biomedical engineering, said some 40 MSU faculty members are part of the Biomedical and Science Coalition that developed the lecture series.
"While designed primarily for students and faculty, these programs are open to anyone who is interested," he said.
In addition to Prentice, fall semester guests will include Tom Leamon, vice president and director of Massachusetts-based Liberty Mutual Research Center for Safety and Health, Nov. 4-6; and Harry Puryear, director of Research and Development of the Access Systems Division, for Minnesota-based SIMS Deltec Inc., Nov. 9-13.
"Exposure to leading researchers such as these broadens the horizons of our students and enables our faculty to make important contacts," said engineering dean A. Wayne Bennett. "It also is an excellent way to make others aware of the excellence of Mississippi State."
Leamon will discuss ergonomic and human factors engineering topics. In his role at Liberty Mutual he directs research projects addressing occupational biomechanics, work-related low back pain and injury, cumulative trauma disorders, and prosthetics and electrophysiology.
Puryear will speak on issues facing the use of materials for implant applications. SIMS Deltec is a leading manufacturer of infusion pumps for delivering medications on a continuous or on-demand basis. The company also produces vascular access systems used to deliver medications, nutritional solutions or other fluids.
For more information about the lectures, contact Bumgardner at (601) 325-3282.