Laura Causey Sandoval, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
address: 699 W. 29th Ave #3342, Denver, CO 80202
phone: (704) 287-5514; email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
Doctorate of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering, December 2013
The City College of New York, New York, NY
Advisors: Sheldon Weinbaum, Ph.D., Stephen Cowin, Ph.D., Beth Lewandowski, Ph.D.
Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering, May 2008
Florida International University, Miami, FL
Advisor: Anthony McGoron, Ph.D.
Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering/Spanish Minor, May 2005
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Study Abroad Program, Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Fall 2002
EXPERIENCE
Rice University, Program Associate, Houston, TX. Jan 2014 - Jan 2016
 Designed circuit and other hardware and software system specifications
 Electronics troubleshooting, including experience with electronic test equipment
 Used design hardware tools such as Ultiboard/Multsim, Eagle, and OrCAD/Schematic
Capture
 Algorithm optimization using C, NI LabVIEW, and MATLAB programming and signal
processing
 Computer aided design of device components
 Data collection, documentation, statistical analysis and communication of results
 Developed and executed the IRB protocols
 Lead investigator of two domestic research studies at Rice University and UT Houston in
collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team, including clinicians, to test device
 Lead investigator of cross-functional team during an international trial at Queen
Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi
 Led administrative and management duties, including hiring, training, budget,
scheduling, and payroll of 28 nurses and technicians
 Ensured that prototype was compliant with ANSI/AAMI/ISO regulations and quality
standards and good manufacturing practices
The City College of New York, Research Assistant, New York, NY. Aug 2008 - Dec 2013
 Novel theoretical applications of the lymphatics system, muscle compressibility, and
Starling’s Principle leading to a publication in one of the top science journals, PNAS
 Worked with MATLAB and Abaqus FEA to simulate muscle contractions
United Nations Headquarters, Supporting Officer, New York, NY. Sept 2013 - Nov 2013
 Assisted with United Nations High Level Meeting on Disability and Development during
the General Assembly
 Drafted Secretary General Report, speeches, and letters to Member States and
diplomats
 Author of United Nations Enable Newsletter, Sept 2013 edition
NASA Glenn Research Center, Fellow, Cleveland, OH. Aug 2010 - Aug 2013
 Independently funded my doctoral research for 3 years
 Mathematical modeling of the effects of microgravity on skeletal muscle using MATLAB
 Collaborated with colleagues at Johnson Space Center and Glenn Research Center as
part of the Digital Astronaut Team
Florida International University, Research Assistant, Miami, FL. Aug 2006 - May 2008
 Designed experimental set-up for vapor and solution graft polymerization
 Used Class 10,000 and Class 100 Cleanroom Laboratory Equipment including RF plasma,
chemical vapor deposition
 Used scanning electron microscopy to analyze samples
 Designed experimental set-up to test hollow fiber membrane material properties
Cardinal Engineering, Inc., Project Manager, Oklahoma City, OK. Aug 2005 - Aug 2006
 Drafted regulatory plans for power plants, oil and brick and material companies
 Ground-water remediation
CERTIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
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C Programming, Python 2, MATLAB, JAVA
Code Composer Studio, microcontrollers
Multisim , Ultiboard, Eagle, printed circuit board design, soldering
National Instruments DAQ, Labview, computer aided design software
Abaqus FEA, SolidWorks
Scanning electron microscopy, graft polymerization, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor
deposition, clean room equipment, laser cutting, 3D printing
Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
IRB compliance documentation, clinical trials, troubleshooting
Engineer Intern Certification #13161, Oklahoma State, 2005
Spanish speaker, conversational level
PUBLICATIONS
K. Maynard, A. Abison, R. Selle, L. Causey, K. Kawaza, Q. Dube, N. Lufesi, G. Gamula, Z.M. Oden,
R.R. Richards-Kortum, E.M. Molyneux, Development and Scale-Up of Essential Newborn
Technologies. Tech4Development, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2016 (Submitted).
K. Maynard, L. Causey, K. Kawaza, Q. Dube, N. Lufesi, M. Oden, R. Richards-Kortum, and E.
Molyneux, New technologies for essential newborn care in under-resourced areas: what is
needed and how to deliver it. Paediatr Int Child Health, 35.3: 192-205, August 2015.
L. Causey, B.E. Lewandowski, and W. Weinbaum. A mathematical model of oxygen transport in
skeletal muscle during hindlimb unloading. NASA TM-2014-216631, March 2014.
L. Causey. Quantitative Model for Predicting Intramuscular Fluid Pressure and Skeletal Muscle
Compressibility During Contraction and Stretch with Oxygen Transport Correlations. Ph.D.
dissertation. The City College of New York, New York, 2013.
L. Causey, S.C. Cowin, and W. Weinbaum. Quantitative model for predicting lymph formation
and muscle compressibility in skeletal muscle during contraction and stretch. PNAS, 109.23:
9185-9190, June 2012.
L. Causey. Intravenous Oxygenator: Enhancement of Surface Properties to Minimize Bubble
Size. M.S. thesis. Florida International University, Miami, 2008.
United Nations Enable Newsletter, Sept 2013 ed.:
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=312.
AWARDS AND HONORS
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CCNY Great Grad – One of 12 students selected as the most accomplished in the
undergraduate and graduate class, 2014
Distinguished student speaker – The 3rd US-Turkey Advanced Institute, Antalya, Turkey,
2012
NASA Graduate Student Research Fellowship , 2010-2013
Award for Outstanding Leadership – NIH Undergraduate Minority Mentor for CCNY
Program, 2011
National Science Foundation Scholar – 7th International Summer School in Istanbul,
2008
TEACHING AND MENTORING
Undergraduate Senior Design: Team SteriVac, Rice University, 2014 - 2015
Designed device that safely reconstitutes vaccinations in lower resource settings
2nd place winner of the Global Health Design Competition at Rice University
Lemelson Foundation Internship Program, Rice University, Summer 2015
Created novel design for a blood pressure sensor; in process of submitting patent application
Undergraduate Design: Team Pneumaniacs, Rice University, Spring 2015
Designed a respiratory rate timer for pneumonia diagnosis and tested it in a hospital setting
ACTIVITIES
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Active member – Women Who Code Denver, 2016
Marathon Finisher – ING NYC Marathon, 2013
SCIENCE OUTREACH
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Global Health Innovation (Health Technology Forum, Houston Chapter), panelist 2015
Global Lens, Local Focus (Rice University), co-organizer 2015
Know Your UN 2014 Series: Exploring the United Nations (UNA Houston Chapter),
panelist 2014
Global Health Design Competition (Rice University), co-organizer 2014