Education

Mississippi State University - B.S. Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering, GPA 4.0 (Expected May 2027)

President's List (2023, 2024, 2025)

Professional Experience

Parker Hannifin

Design & Manufacturing Intern - Parker Hannifin

Summer 2026 (Incoming)

Core Skills: Mechanical Design, Manufacturing Engineering, CAD, Design for Manufacturing

  • Incoming Design and Manufacturing Intern, applying skills in CAD, simulation, and manufacturing workflows within a global motion and control technologies company.
CAVS Mississippi State University

Engineering Assistant - Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS)

Jan 2026 – Present

Core Skills: SolidWorks, CFD, FEA, Abaqus, Medical Device Design

  • Designing and optimizing a ventricular shunt catheter in SolidWorks, reducing simulated flow stagnation zones by ~33% via refinement of lumen geometry, inlet hole configuration, and semi-open tip design, while accelerating design iteration cycles by ~30%.
  • Performing CFD simulations in SolidWorks Flow Simulation and ANSYS Fluent under physiologically relevant flow rates (laminar regime, low Reynolds number), improving velocity distribution uniformity by ~18% and minimizing recirculation zones linked to obstruction risk.
  • Applying FEA in Abaqus to evaluate structural response under physiological pressure loading, reducing peak stress concentrations by ~20% while maintaining geometric feasibility for manufacturing.
UMMC Cancer Research Center

Summer Research Intern - UMMC Cancer Research Center

Jun 2025 – Aug 2025

Core Skills: 2D/3D Cell Culture, MTT Assays, qRT-PCR, Western Blot, Bioprinting

  • Designed 2D/3D tumor models (organoids, spheroids) to study treatment response.
  • Performed qRT-PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and MTT assays with significant results (***p < 0.0001).
  • Used 3D bioprinting (CELLINK BioX) to create tumor–bone–vessel constructs for translational applications.

Research Experience

Biomedical Polymer Engineering Lab

Undergraduate Research Assistant - Biomedical Polymer Engineering Lab

Aug 2025 – Dec 2025

Core Skills: Material Selection, Cytocompatibility, Antioxidant Assays, Polymer Characterization, Cell Culture

  • Performed stress–strain characterization of polymer samples using an Instron universal testing machine, evaluating tensile strength, elastic modulus, and failure behavior, improving consistency of material performance comparisons by ~20% and enabling data-driven material selection for load-bearing applications.
  • Analyzed concentration-dependent material response using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and stress–strain data correlation, identifying stiffness, degradation and failure trends, improving prediction of material performance trade-offs under real-world loading by ~15%.
  • Performed cytotoxicity experiments using fibroblasts and conducted toxicity absorbance analysis to evaluate nanoparticle biocompatibility across multiple concentration gradients.
HEAL Lab

Undergraduate Researcher - HEAL Lab

Jan 2025 – Dec 2025

Core Skills: Human-Machine Interaction, Robotics, Research Methodology, Literature Review

  • Co-authoring two papers in research journals on assistive robots specializing in movement, locomotion, and mobility.
  • Explored 50+ assistive robotic systems in the current market, understanding common design principles, neuro mechanics, and mobility optimization for real-world use.
Taebi Lab

Undergraduate Research Assistant - Taebi Lab

Aug 2024 – May 2025

Core Skills: Human Subject Studies, ECG/Physiological Data Acquisition, Signal Analysis

  • Conducted 25+ human subject studies capturing synchronized ECG, pulse oximeter, accelerometer, and blood pressure data during breath-hold and normal breathing.
  • Collected and analyzed physiological signals using LabScribe, Bluetooth sensors, respiration belts, and video systems.
Neural Engineering Division

Undergraduate Researcher - Neural Engineering Division

May 2024 – Aug 2024

Core Skills: EEG Recording, MATLAB, Signal Processing, Experimental Design

  • Executed a 10-participant EEG study on fear of heights; developed experimental protocols, managed data acquisition, and applied MATLAB signal analysis (FVPS).
  • Quantified neural oscillations, showing a 25–30% increase in activity in fear-responsive participants versus controls.

Projects

Wearable Motion Monitoring System

Wearable-Servo-Actuated Humanoid Hand for Motion Replication

  • Designing, modeling, and fabricating a multi-DOF humanoid hand using SolidWorks and 3D printing using Bambu Lab, developing finger linkages and joint mechanisms and iterating prototypes to improve fit, strength, joint mobility, and functional gripping.
  • Integrating microcontroller-based control (Arduino UNO), servo motors, and sensor inputs to enable synchronized multi-joint motion with improved positional accuracy and system responsiveness (~20%) compared to initial prototype performance.
  • Building and optimizing the hardware and signal processing pipeline, including calibration, motion mapping, and real-time visualization, resulting in a functional prototype capable of consistent joint movement tracking and replication.
DrainWatch

DrainWatch: Sensor-Integrated Jackson-Pratt Drain Support System

  • Designing and developing a mechatronic wearable system to stabilize Jackson-Pratt drains and prevent tubing-induced displacement, improving user comfort and reducing mechanical strain during daily movement.
  • Integrating a load cell-based sensing system with microcontroller control (Arduino Uno) to estimate reservoir fullness in real time without modifying the medical device, enabling non-invasive monitoring with improved measurement consistency (~20%).
  • Modeling, prototyping, and iterating belt, holster, and sensor integration assemblies in SolidWorks, optimizing load transfer, fit, and manufacturability through continuous design-validation cycles, achieving ~31% improvement in overall system performance over the initial prototype, with ongoing iterative enhancements to durability, usability, and reliability.
  • Please visit the full project documentation at https://pranavipaudel.xyz/drainwatch_final.html
3D Bioprinting

3D Bioprinting for Tumor Microenvironments

Integrated 3D bioprinting (CELLINK BioX) to create tumor–bone–vessel constructs, demonstrating scalability and feasibility for translational medicine.

EEG FPVS Study of Fear Responses

Designed MATLAB-based EEG protocols and analyzed neural responses to high-altitude imagery, enhancing understanding of implicit fear processing.

Contactless Cardiovascular Monitoring

Developed human subject experimental setups and biosignal acquisition systems for contactless monitoring using synchronized ECG and accelerometry.

Bridge Design

Bridge Design Project

Designed and tested a small-scale bridge model, optimizing load distribution and structural integrity using CAD and FEA analysis.

Grocery Holder

Grocery Holder Project

Created a custom groceries holder using CAD and 3D printing, focusing on ergonomics and ease of transport for daily use.

Personal Website Project

Created personal portfolio website integrating HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, establishing both frontend and backend for seamless integration.

Licences & Certifications

CSWP Mechanical Design Certificate

Dassault Systemes: Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP)

Advanced proficiency in parametric modeling, complex assemblies, and design intent in SolidWorks for professional engineering applications.

CSWA Certificate

Dassault Systemes: Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA)

Proficiency in 3D modeling, assemblies, and engineering drawings through problem-solving design tasks reflecting real-world engineering applications.

CSWA Additive Manufacturing Certificate

Dassault Systemes: CSWA - Additive Manufacturing

Proficiency in design for additive manufacturing, 3D printing workflows, and material and process selection for real-world production applications.

ACE CNC Machining Certificate

Autodesk: ACE CNC Machining - Fusion 360

Completed CNC Machining Training covering 2-axis and 3-axis workflows, toolpath generation, and CAM-to-machine production from concept to finished part.

LGS SOAR Certificate

Laney Graduate School - SOAR Scholar

Attended the LGS-SOAR Virtual Bootcamp at Emory University, completing interdisciplinary training in academic ethics, medical machine learning, neuroscience, and biotechnology.

Technical Skills

CAD & Modeling

  • SolidWorks / Inventor
  • AutoCAD / Fusion 360
  • GD&T
  • 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing
  • CNC Machining

Simulation & Analysis

  • CFD / FEA
  • ANSYS / Abaqus
  • Minitab / Excel

Electronics & Programming

  • Python / MATLAB / Mathematica
  • Electronics / Mechatronics
  • PCB / EDA Design
  • LabVIEW

Wet Lab & Biomedical

  • Western Blot
  • 2D/3D Cell Culture
  • Bioprinting
  • Immunostaining
  • Human Subject Studies (ECG/EEG)

Leadership & Involvement