HRITHIKA DIVAKARAN
State College,PA
Summary
Biomedical engineer and MS candidate with 3+ years of combined academic and industry research experience in multi-modal preclinical imaging, in vivo disease models, and tissue-based analysis. Hands-on experience with bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and SPECT/CT in orthotopic tumor models, alongside cell culture, immunohistochemistry, H&E staining, and tissue processing. Comfortable working with live animal models, laboratory equipment maintenance, and detailed experimental documentation in fast-paced, multidisciplinary research settings.
Overview
1
1
Certification
5
5
years of post-secondary education
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Research Assistant — Mechanobiology & Biomaterials
Pennsylvania State University, Butler Lab
08.2025 - Current
- Design and execute hypothesis-driven studies investigating matrix stiffness-dependent endothelial uptake using mechanically tunable GelMA-loaded nanoliposome systems in HAEs, linking quantitative experimental variables to biological response.
- Developed a biodegradable intracocular drug-delivery system for sustained Travoprost release, performed material synthesis, formulation, in vitro release testing, data organization, and interpretation under physiologically relevant conditions.
- Presented research findings at the 2026 Penn State Biomedical Innovation Exchange and collaborated across engineering and biological research workflows.
Research Intern — Translational Tumor Engineering Lab
National University of Singapore
05.2026 - 07.2026
- Selected for the IRIS@NUS Research Programme from 4,500 global applicants; investigated stiffness-dependent human cancer-associated fibroblast responses using RGD-functionalized Alg-MA and MeHA 3D hydrogel platforms.
- Utilized fluorescence imaging, H&E staining, tissue embedding, and image-based assessment of patient-derived tumor explants to compare cellular responses across controlled mechanical conditions, elucidating insights into YAP/TAZ mechanotransduction.
- Streamlined experimental workflows and shared findings with a multidisciplinary translational research team, enhancing collaborative research efforts.
Image Processing Engineer
L&T Technology Services
10.2023 - 06.2025
- Developed a real-time bronchoscopy navigation module using C++, OpenCV, and VTK for airway labeling and scope tracking across four clinical datasets, improved navigation accuracy by 25% and reduced diagnostic variance.
- Engineered an automated defect-detection algorithm for stent-graft medical images, reducing manual inspection time by 60%.
- Handled medical-image datasets, developed visualization pipelines, troubleshot algorithms, and conducted quantitative performance evaluations in an industry R&D environment.
Research Intern — Radiation Oncology & Nanomedicine
ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre
01.2023 - 06.2023
- Contributed to preclinical glioblastoma research by utilizing orthotopic brain tumor models, developing longitudinal study design, and optimizing targeted therapeutic delivery.
- Executed multi-modal in vivo imaging — bioluminescence imaging (BLI) for tumor progression monitoring and SPECT/CT for biodistribution and pharmacokinetics quantification — across longitudinal study timepoints in live animal models, enhancing proficiency in imaging equipment operation and quantitative analysis.
- Managed live animal models during study protocols, including anesthesia administration, tumor cell injection, and tissue harvesting/neurosurgery, ensuring adherence to ethical standards under research team supervision.
- Performed cell culture, specimen preparation, immunohistochemistry, tissue processing, and biomarker analysis to assess cellular uptake, target engagement, and biological response.
Education
MS - Biomedical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA 08.2025 - 12.2026
BTech - Biotechnology; Minor, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Manipal Institute of Technology
Manipal, India 07.2019 - 06.2023
Skills
- Imaging & Quantitative Analysis: Multi-modal in vivo/ex vivo imaging: BLI, SPECT/CT, fluorescence imaging, confocal microscopy, DIC microscopy; image analysis in ImageJ/Fiji, 3D Slicer, MATLAB
- Programming: C, OpenCV, VTK, MATLAB, COMSOL Multiphysics
- Research Methods: Preclinical study design, orthotopic and in vivo tumor models, longitudinal data collection, specimen/tissue preparation, cell culture, histology, IHC, PCR, ELISA, H&E staining, tumor explants, biomaterial fabrication, laboratory equipment operation and maintenance, experimental documentation
- Translational Biology: Glioblastoma models, tumor microenvironment, CAF biology, mechanotransduction, endothelial biology, drug delivery, biomaterials
Certification
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), CITI Program — 2025-12 | Generative AI for Healthcare, Google — 2025-05
Timeline
Research Intern — Translational Tumor Engineering Lab
National University of Singapore
05.2026 - 07.2026
MS - Biomedical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
08.2025 - 12.2026
Graduate Research Assistant — Mechanobiology & Biomaterials
Pennsylvania State University, Butler Lab
08.2025 - Current
Image Processing Engineer
L&T Technology Services
10.2023 - 06.2025
Research Intern — Radiation Oncology & Nanomedicine
ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre
01.2023 - 06.2023
BTech - Biotechnology; Minor, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Manipal Institute of Technology
07.2019 - 06.2023