Hana Matsuda

My name is Hana Matsuda, and I’m a senior studying bioengineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. In summer 2023, I did cell engineering research at Hammer lab as part of the Rachleff Scholars Program. My project aimed to switch on and off the motility of immune cells with a pulse of light, and I continued working on this project with independent study for the following semester. Although it's not a research experience, in summer 2024, I interned at Aravind Eye Care System in Madurai, India, funded by CASI. My project was to create physical eye models for the nurses there to practice clinical skills. 

Research experience makes up the core of who I am now; I learned to effectively communicate with lab members, to present my work, and to manage my lifestyle. Perhaps most importantly, I identified what I do not like to do. The interaction with PhD students made me think about my future.

I'm excited to help you get started with research at Penn, which I’m sure will be a transformative experience for you! 

• Research Assistant, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
• Rachleff Scholars Program, Hammer lab, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania