Kimberly Humphries awardee Nada Kamona discusses her internship experience at the FDA

"I am very happy to have received the 2017 Kimberly & Rob Humphries Internship Award. The generosity of this award has made it possible for me to continue pursuing my career in biomedical engineering research. 

This summer, I am doing research at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the Division of Imaging, Diagnostics, and Software Reliability (DIDSR). I am working on image texture models, where we are developing models and codes for synthesis of gray-level textures, such as bones and lung parenchyma, as well as, building and testing phantoms by 3D printing. In addition, I am working at the Medical Imaging and Image Analysis Laboratory with Dr. Murray Loew at the George Washington University. For over a year now, we have been working on using thermography for breast cancer screening. It is such an exciting time and a wonderful feeling to know that all my hard work may someday help to develop a new diagnostic method; and that it has potential to save a patient’s life.

Not only has my positions allowed me to learn about my major on a more in-depth and practical level but it has also taught me valuable critical thinking and problem solving skills. Working together with my professor and supervisors at the FDA has helped me become a well-rounded scientist who is capable of both working by another’s direction and being an independent thinker.

By awarding me the Humphries Internship Award, you have lightened my financial burden of living away from home and supporting my research-related expenditures. This allows me to focus more learning and expanding my professional network. Your generosity has inspired me to do the best I can to further develop myself and to achieve my goals. Thank you for trusting me and encouraging me to pursue my passions."

- Nada Kamona