- Major: Biomedical Engineering
- Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Graduation Year: May 2023
- E-mail: jpierc36@vols.utk.edu
Ambassador Profile
Hi! My name is Jessica Pierce and I am a senior in Biomedical Engineering. I live in Toronto, Ontario right now, but I've also lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama. I am currently on the pre-med track, so if you are looking for advice on how to handle pre-med and engineering classes at the same time, I can probably help you out a lot!
As a student at UT, I love that there are plenty of chances to get involved. In addition to being a TCE ambassador, I am serving as the President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)-UT Chapter this year, which has been such a fulfilling experience for me. I am also a Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) Research Scholar, and as a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), I have presented my research twice at the National BMES Meeting. In regard to research, I work as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Upper Limb Assist Lab, which I have been involved in since freshman year. I have also played oboe in the UT Symphony Orchestra and the UT Symphonic Band. Getting involved, especially when you are coming from somewhere far away like me, is a great way to see how UT is such an amazing school and meet a diverse group of people who will become your lifelong friends.
Outside of school, I work with Cherokee Health Systems as a Health Scholar Intern, where I get to do several rotations within different sectors of healthcare. Currently, I am working with the care coordination team under a hypertension program to get patients better involved in their healthcare by using an app to monitor their blood pressure. I am also working with Dr. Eboni Winford on an HRSA grant to address maternal mortality rates for Black mothers. For industry experience, I have worked with the world's largest medical device manufacturer, Medtronic, under their renal denervation operating unit. This past summer, I was in Irvine, California working for Edwards Lifesciences, which is the global leader in transcatheter heart valves. As a student at UT, the biomedical engineering program has allowed me to make the most of these opportunities and build my network.
Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions about the engineering program or the University of Tennessee in general! I will be more than happy to help you out!
