Biomedical Engineer

Posted on: 2010-02-10

MEGHANA V HONNATTI
9155, Judicial Drive, Apt # 5507, San Diego, CA 92122
[email protected]          Cell: (573) 424-9157


CAREER SUMMARY
As a Biomedical Engineer, possess over four years of research and development experience in medical devices, technology development and product development, specifically, in MEMS, micro- and nanotechnology, microfluidics and biosensors.


TECHNICAL SKILLS
* Microfabrication:
- Processing: Class 100-10,000 cleanroom; Process plan; Mask layout, Photomask fabrication; Photolithography; Physical Vapor Deposition (sputtering, thermal evaporation of metal thin films); Electroplating; Wet/dry etching (Reactive Ion Etch, microwave and RF plasma etching); Wafer cleaning; Rapid prototyping; Surface modification (plasma treatment and PEG triblock copolymer)
- Materials: Silicon, glass, SU-8, gold, copper, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)
- Testing and Characterization: Scanning Electron Microscope, MEMS Motion Analyzer, Nanospec thin film measurement system, Surface profilometer, Contact angle goniometer, Syringe pump

* Biomedical Engineering:
- Bioinstrumentation: Micro/nanomanipulation; Micro/nanoinjection; Electrophysiology (patch clamping, carbon fiber amperometry); Electrochemistry; Optical microscopy (confocal, fluorescence, DIC); Micropipette puller
- Biology: Cytotoxicity assays, Fluorescence labeling (FM, Fura, Mitotracker, Lysotracker, Texas Red, PI); Antibody labeling (biotin/streptavidin complex); Cell culture (Normal Rat Kidney, INS-1, Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin cells); Cytometry

* Electrical Engineering:
Signal, image and sound processing; Statistical data analysis; Digital & analog circuit design

* Computer Skills:
AutoCAD, Freehand, SolidWorks, LASI, PULSE, Igor Pro, MATLAB, C, C++, Visual Basic, EndNote, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)


WORK EXPERIENCE
Zyvex Corporation, Richardson, TX
Nov 2005 – May 2007
Biomedical Engineer
* Microfabrication for Neuromodulation Applications
- Designed and microfabricated SU-8, SU-8/gold and 3-dimensional polymeric MEMS devices for in vitro and in vivo neural engineering applications.
- Performed process design, implementation and troubleshooting of MEMS processes to increase yield and improve performance.
- Confirmed in vitro biocompatibility of MEMS multi-electrode arrays and carbon nanotube dispersions by conducting growth curve experiments with NRK cells.
- Built a bench-top prototype of an orthopedic sensor for daily wireless monitoring of bone growth in patients with congenital bone deformities; tested for read distance, accuracy and repeatability.
- Coordinated routinely with a multidisciplinary team consisting of chemists, molecular biologists, engineers, neuroscientists and surgeons in industry, university and hospitals.
- Experienced in laboratory and cleanroom safety procedures; trained in handling and disposal of hazardous materials.

* Nanomanipulator Applications & Product Development
- Coordinated product transition from generation 1 to 3 through collaborations, customer feedback, attending trade shows and conferences and through interactions with internal teams which led to increase in sales by 50%.
- Spearheaded nanomanipulator applications development such as cellular nanosurgery, nanoinjection and directed cellular manipulation by leading experimentation and end-effector development.
- Developed test methodology for and performed drift measurements on nanomanipulator motors by using a MEMS motion analyzer and Michelson’s Interferometer to quantify product specifications.
- Managed and selected vendors for equipment and material; executed equipment set-up, calibration, training, SOP and super user.
- Participated in new product development through prototype building, market research and literature review.
- Generated data for and presented at conferences, quarterly reviews and grant proposals; Trained and mentored colleagues and interns.

Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Columbia, MO
Aug 2002 – Oct 2005
Research Assistant
* BioMEMS Device Fabrication and Testing
- Designed and microfabricated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic channels; performed photolithographic patterning, replica molding and surface modifications.
- Devised a method for rapid solution exchange time around a cell and the measurement thereof.
- Engineered a method for accurate measurement of the departioning rate constants of fluorescent markers from cell membranes; the measured rate was 10X faster than by previous methods.
- Optimized the designs to reduce data variability (~75%), testing time (>50%) and analysis time (~70%), and improve exchange rate (10X faster).
- Developed software programs in Igor Pro for data analysis.

* Micromachined Silicon Biochip Characterization
- Performed electrical and electrochemical characterization of gold, silver, titanium nitride and diamond like carbon electrodes by amperometry and cyclic voltammetry.
- Implemented cell manipulation methods which improved single-cell recording efficiency on micromachined biochips from 9% to 56%.
- Conducted single cell patch-clamping experiments to obtain membrane capacitance measurements.
- Trained and mentored PhD and undergraduate students on microfluidic device design, processing and testing.


EDUCATION
* MS in Electrical Engineering, GPA: 3.6/4.0        Aug 2002 – Dec 2004
University of Missouri – Columbia, USA
Thesis Title: Microfluidic Devices for Rapid Solution Exchange           Advisor: Dr. Kevin D. Gillis

* BE in Electronics Engineering, GPA: 3.7/4.0       Aug 1998 – May 2002
Pune University, India


PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
1. T. Kmecko, M. Honnatti and G. Hughes. “Three-dimensional Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Neural Interface for Efficient Charge Transport”, Nanotech 2007, 10th Annual Meeting, Santa Clara, CA, May 2007.
2. K. Colinjivadi, J.B. Lee, Meghana Honnatti, R. Draper, M. Ellis, G. Skidmore, and G. Hughes, “Polymer microgrippers as end-effectors for biological sample manipulation,” ASME IMECE 2006 Conference, Chicago, IL, Nov. 2006.
3. H. Hu, M. Honnatti, K. D. Gillis, “Microfluidic device for rapid solution exchange to study kinetics of cell physiology”, American Physics Society (APS), 59th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, Tampa Bay, FL, Nov. 2006.
4. G. A Hughes, M. Honnatti, “Profile on Zyvex Corporation”, Nanomedicine, June 2006, Vol. 1, No. 1, Pages 139-143.
5. M. Honnatti, S. Bhattacharya, S. Gangopadhyay, K. D. Gillis. “Measurement of the Kinetics of Dye Dissociation using Microfluidic Devices”, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), 15th Annual Fall Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 2004.
6. M. Honnatti, G. Hughes, “Intracellular Nanosurgery” Application Note 9721.
7. M. Honnatti, G. Hughes, K. Colinjivadi, J. B. Lee, “Directed Cellular Manipulation using Polymer Grippers” Application Note 9720.
8. M. Honnatti, G. Hughes, R. Draper, “Enabling Subcellular Nanosurgery: An Application Overview”, Application Note 9719.