★ about me
hi! i'm ilina, a bioengineering grad (dec 2025) based in dallas, tx. i have four co-op rotations worth of hands-on R&D engineering experience in regulated medical device environments, spanning design verification and validation, risk documentation, machine learning for medical imaging, and cross-functional investigations. by night i'm building tiny weird tech things, decorating planners, and reading.
i'm also secretary of InspireAbilities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting families of kids and adults with disabilities; something close to my heart. 🌸
bioengineering
DIY & making
audiobooks
PC building
cyberdecks & e-readers
nonprofit work
gardening
✦ projects
APR 2026
📖 altoids tin e-reader
fitting a pocket-sized e-reader into an altoids tin. working through the wiring and
figuring out a minimal display setup that actually fits. documenting as i go.
🔧 in progress
MAR 2026
🏥 fda device recall explorer
interactive streamlit dashboard for exploring 37,000+ FDA medical device recall records
pulled live from the openFDA API. filter by recall classification (Class I/II/III),
manufacturer, date range, and failure mode keyword. includes a trend chart, manufacturer
breakdown, keyword frequency analysis across recall reason text, a US state map, and CSV export.
python
streamlit
pandas
plotly
openFDA API
✓ completed
DEC 2025
🥾 boot sense — smart rehab boot
senior design capstone @ university of toledo. built a low-cost sensor system
that embeds load cells + an HX711 amp into a walking boot to give patients
real-time haptic feedback when they exceed their partial weight-bearing limit —
because ~62% of patients unknowingly do. wrote the arduino firmware including
a hysteresis-based alert algorithm (on at ≥30% body weight, off at ≤20%)
with a hold timer so it doesn't buzz every time you shift your weight.
validated on a functional prototype with serial monitor data.
arduino
embedded C
HX711
load cells
biomedical
✓ completed
2022–2023
📊 physician stress & patient safety — UT + johns hopkins
undergraduate research funded by a university grant. built a data pipeline in
python + matlab to aggregate multimodal physiological data (heart rate, sleep,
activity) from fitbit sense watches worn by anesthesiology residents at johns
hopkins over 2-week clinical rotations. results suggested that elevated heart rate
above daily baseline correlated with more near-miss events, even when self-reported
mental health scores didn't. can't share the patient data (HIPAA 🫶) but processing
code available on request.
python
matlab
fitbit API
data pipelines
physiology
★ undergraduate research
💼 experience
Mar 2026 – Present
Entry Level Analyst — Deals and Transformations LLC
tech M&A due diligence work, remote. reviewing statements of work, infrastructure
diagrams, and security documentation to support diligence processes. producing
technical deliverables summarizing findings for internal stakeholders. clients confidential.
M&A due diligence
technical analysis
remote
2024–2025
R&D Engineer Co-op — Cook Medical
4 rotations across 2024 and summer 2025 in the MedSurg R&D division, Bloomington IN.
executed design V&V testing across Class II medical devices in GMP-regulated cleanroom
and lab environments. authored test protocols, reports, and risk management documentation
(DFMEA, PFMEA) in compliance with ISO 13485 and 21 CFR Part 820. led cross-functional
investigations, supported process validation, and developed ML tools for medical imaging.
ISO 13485
DFMEA/PFMEA
design V&V
machine learning
GMP/cleanroom
21 CFR 820
Jun 2022 – May 2023
Undergraduate Research Assistant — University of Toledo / Johns Hopkins
physiological data research funded by a university grant, in partnership with Johns Hopkins.
built Python and MATLAB pipelines aggregating multimodal data from Fitbit Sense watches
worn by anesthesiology residents during clinical rotations. results suggested elevated
resting heart rate correlated with near-miss events independent of self-reported stress scores.
python
matlab
fitbit API
May 2022 – Oct 2023
Medical Scribe — iScribeMD
documented 2,500+ patient encounters in real time across three hospital systems using
Epic Systems. supported emergency physicians with accurate clinical documentation.
epic systems
emergency medicine
Mar 2021 – Aug 2021
Caregiver — Texas Health and Human Services
provided direct care to children and adults with developmental disabilities using
ABA and NACD frameworks in structured clinical settings.
Mar 2017 – Aug 2021
Business Development & Front Desk — Lonestar Inn
handled front desk operations at a family-owned motel. negotiated long-term corporate
room contracts with railroad crews and construction companies, building a reliable
recurring revenue stream for the business.