Graduate Students
Akinjide Akintunde, PhD
Candidate
Biomedical Engineering
aakintun@tulane.edu
Akin is developing competencies in building experimentally-informed, clinically-motivated computational models for
connective soft tissue growth and remodeling. He has a BSc with honors in Physics from Obafemi Awolowo University,
Nigeria and a MS in Physics from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In between both degrees, he worked in
the corporate sector with PricewaterhouseCoopers. As an undergraduate, he did research in environmental health
physics and as a MS student, his research focused on computational modeling of infrasonic attenuation and
dispersion in the lower thermosphere. His interests in applications of scientific concepts and engineering methods
to biology and medicine led him to pursue a PhD in BME. His overall motivation is to solve clinical problems and
contribute to the improvement of human health.
Gabrielle Clark, PhD
Candidate
Biomedical Engineering
gclark2@tulane.edu
Gabrielle Clark is from Orlando, Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the
University of Central Florida. Throughout her undergraduate career she was involved in STEM outreach, tutoring,
and served as an undergraduate research assistant. During her junior year she developed a keen interest in the
application of mechanics to biology on a cellular and tissue level. This led her to pursue a PhD in BME.
Gabrielle is apart of the Women's Reproductive Health Team. She works on characterizing the mechanical properties
of murine reproductive organs employing biomechanical testing.
Cassandra Conway, PhD
Candidate
Biomedical Engineering
cconway2@tulane.edu
Cassandra is investigating the biaxial characteristics of the murine cervix and the role of ECM constituents in the cervix
during pregnancy as part of the Women's Reproductive Health Team. She received her Bachelor's in Science in Bioprocess Engineering
from Virginia Tech in 2015. She acts as the Service and Mentorship Officer for WISE+ at Tulane University. Her research interests
include the application and incorporation of mathematical models and biomaterials towards clinical therapies.
Jason D. Schuster, PhD
Candidate
Biomedical Engineering
jschust5@tulane.edu
Jason plans to graduate in May 2017 with a Masters in Science. Jason received his Bachelor's
in Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, in 2000.
After 15 years in industry in design engineering roles ranging from manufacturing to defining customer
requirements, Jason has returned to school to pursue more theoretical knowledge and research.
Jason's research interests are in computational modeling of soft tissue.
Jason is part of the Women's Reproductive Health Team and is helping define the mechanical properties of
murine reproductive organs.