UNandUP Intern Spotlight: Meet Emily Lopez
At UNandUP, we believe the future of healthcare innovation is shaped by passionate students who are eager to learn, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact. Through our internship program, we provide aspiring engineers and scientists with opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge medical technology while gaining hands-on experience alongside our research and development teams.
This week, we are excited to spotlight Emily Lopez, whose curiosity, determination, and commitment to improving patient care have made her a valuable member of the TheraLode™ team this summer.
Emily Lopez is a rising third-year Biomedical Engineering student at Washington University in St. Louis and a summer intern at UNandUP where she works under the mentorship of Leah Morrell, Director of Product Development.
From a young age, Emily was fascinated by technology, a curiosity that eventually shaped her desire to give back to her community through engineering. With biology as her favorite subject in high school, she discovered that biomedical engineering was the perfect way to combine her passions for science, technology, and patient care.
What drew Emily to UNandUP was the company's mission of reaching underserved populations. She wanted to be part of a team whose work has a meaningful impact and was especially excited by the opportunity to contribute to cardiovascular and neuroscience research, areas that closely align with her long-term career interests. Since joining the TheraLode™ team, she says the experience has already taught her so much in a short amount of time, and she is grateful for the opportunity to contribute while continuing to learn.
This summer, Emily is looking forward to deepening her understanding of the versatility of biomedical engineering. She is especially interested in learning more about stroke rehabilitation and post-stroke care and is motivated by the opportunity to be part of a team working to improve current practices and overcome barriers for patients. For her, contributing to solutions that can make a real difference is what makes the work so meaningful.
As she continues her internship, Emily hopes to further develop her technical engineering skills, particularly in CAD and programming. She also looks forward to gaining more hands-on experience applying engineering principles to real-world healthcare challenges while learning how research evolves from an idea toward improving patient care.
One accomplishment that Emily is especially proud of is being the first person in her family to attend college. Pursuing her dreams and reaching this milestone has taken years of hard work, and she is incredibly grateful for the opportunity. It continues to motivate her to challenge herself and strive toward even bigger goals throughout her career.
Outside of engineering, Emily enjoys reconnecting with nature through hiking and backpacking, as well as strengthening her mobility through the performing arts and weightlifting. These activities allow her to stay active, challenge herself in new ways, and maintain a healthy balance between academics, engineering, and personal well-being.
And for those who know her only through engineering, there's one more fun fact—Emily's favorite music genre is nu metal.
Looking ahead, Emily hopes to pursue a career in the medical technology industry, ideally working on innovations in cardiovascular or neuroengineering. She is excited about contributing to technologies that improve patient outcomes while continuing to learn and grow as an engineer.
Emily on a backpacking adventure!