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Matthew Schiefer, Ph.D.
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A little about me...I'm originally from San Antonio, TX, but, no matter how hard I try, I seem to move farther and farther north. I currently live in Cleveland, OH. Summers are great, but winters leave me longing for a more temperate latitude.Growing up, I was always interested in math and science. I also wanted to be a doctor. I ended up choosing a path that marries those fields: Biomedical Engineering, specifically Neural Engineering. I was pretty certain of my field choice when I was only a Sophomore in high school. In Aug. 1996 I enrolled at Vanderbilt University. Studying at Vanderbilt was a great decision and afforded me many opportunites that I do not think would have been available if I had attended a larger, state university. I received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in BME in May 2001. It took 5 years because I spent a year studying abroad at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia, and scheduling conflicts prevented me from completing the degree in 4 years. Undoubtedly, it was worth it! I started graduate school in Aug. 2001 at Case Western Reserve University, also in Biomedical Engineering. In May 2003 I received my M.S. degree. The focus of my research was modeling retinal ganglion cell responses to electrical stimulation. This reseach was conducted under Dr. Warren Grill, now at Duke University. Following my M.S., the focus of my research shifted to using computer simulations and finite element modeling to drive the design of a electrode for use on the femoral nerve, which was subsequently tested in a series of intraoperative experiments. This research, which culminated in a Ph.D., was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Dustin Tyler and Dr. Ronald Triolo. In addition to these traditional academic persuits, I also take cooking classes and ballroom dance classes, play racquetball, and seek photography opportunities. I try to go hiking with my dad in Utah once a year and spend time with my mom every few months. But while I'm in Cleveland, I spend most of my spare time with my fiancée, Marjorie Montanez, Ph.D., who will be getting her M.D. in about a year. |
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