Medical Engineering Success Stories
Medical imaging as a vocation
Mona Ayary
Mona Ayary, a graduate of the Biomedical Engineering Master's degree programme at FH Aachen, is now a doctoral researcher at the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Cologne University Hospital. There she conducts research in the field of experimental imaging and image-guided therapy, in particular MR-guided hyperthermia. With over five years of professional experience, she combines technical expertise with medical innovation - and remains closely connected to her alma mater to this day.
She currently supports students at FH Aachen with their practical projects and final theses and actively contributes her expertise to academic education. Her desire to work in teaching stems from a deep connection to the university: "It would mean a lot to me to give something back to the institution that has played such a central role in my development."
In an interview with our editorial team, Mona Ayary provides valuable insights and advice for young academics:
How did your studies at our university of applied sciences prepare you for your professional career?
My studies at the university of applied sciences gave me a solid theoretical foundation in medical technology and at the same time enabled practical applications in laboratories and projects. The close link between theory and practice was particularly valuable and prepared me optimally for the challenges of professional life.
Can you tell us a specific success story from your career that made your studies at the University of Applied Sciences possible? How did your degree programme directly contribute to this success?
Through my studies, I had the opportunity to work on projects at Forschungszentrum Jülich where I worked with patient data. This introduced me to clinical data analysis and gave me valuable insights into the practical application of medical imaging. I was also able to work on both hardware and software development, which gave me the confidence I needed to tackle complex technical challenges in my future career. These experiences have opened many doors for me and have had a significant impact on my career.
What practical experience did you gain during your studies and how did this influence your professional development?
In addition to the courses, my projects were of great importance: in Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, I worked on a decontamination study, which gave me independence and self-confidence. My second project was on the quantification of brain tumour metabolites by MRI using a self-developed Python GUI. Both experiences gave me in-depth knowledge in experimental research and data analysis, which was crucial for my later career.
What advice would you give to current and future medical technology students at our university of applied sciences?
I would recommend actively participating in projects and research and taking the opportunity to attend conferences. Building a strong professional network is also essential - this includes contacts with lecturers and industry partners. In addition, you should specialise early on and gain practical experience through practical trainings or final theses in companies.
With her in-depth knowledge, her enthusiasm for research and her openness to supporting students, Mona Ayary epitomises the ideal of a committed scientist - and an inspiring ambassador for FH Aachen.
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Success through discipline, passion and commitment
Lennart Selzener
Lennart Selzener, obtained his Bachelor's degree in Medical Engineering with honours in August 2024. He received the FH Aachen badge of honour for his exceptional achievements. During his studies, he was already actively involved as a tutor and student assistant for the programme management and thus made a significant contribution to supporting his fellow students.
Lennart is currently continuing his academic career at Maastricht University in the Master's degree programme, but remains closely connected to FH Aachen. In an interview with our editorial team, he gives an insight into his time as a student and shares valuable tips for future students:
How did your studies at our university of applied sciences prepare you for your professional career?
Studying at Jülich gave me a broad knowledge of engineering, natural sciences and medicine. This opens up many possibilities in my career choice and facilitates interdisciplinary work. Electives, practical projects and extracurricular courses still enabled me to specialise according to my interests and meet the requirements for many different Master's degree programmes.
What aspects of your degree programme at the University of Applied Sciences did you find particularly valuable for your future career? Were there any particular courses, projects or practical trainings that particularly helped you?
No matter what industry you work in later on, every medical technician should be familiar with handling data. Active participation in the practical training in practical computer science and the optional Python course in medical statistics in particular helped me a lot with tasks in my job or in my final thesis. Problems that take hours to solve by hand can be solved in seconds with a simple script - you should take advantage of these opportunities.
Did you take part in research projects, practical trainings or co-operations with companies?
Thanks to the good networking of the professors in the region, it was possible for me and many other students to carry out the practical project externally in a company. Through this intensive contact with industry, I was able to significantly improve my ability to work in an application-oriented way.
In your opinion, what should students definitely use or consider in order to maximise their career opportunities?
A good engineer must not only have knowledge, but also be able to communicate and apply it. You don't develop these skills by listening, but by actively interacting with the material, the lecturers and other students. Excursions, practical trainings, exercises, study groups, working as a Student Assistant or even your own projects are all opportunities to do this - and they should be utilised.
With his hands-on approach and clear vision for the future, Lennart Selzener is an inspiring role model for medical technology students - and a real figurehead for FH Aachen.
Where molecules, medicine and machine learning meet
Lorena Leguizamon
Lorena Leguizamon, a graduate of the Biomedical Engineering Master's degree programme at FH Aachen, is an outstanding example of how practical research, interdisciplinary interests and technological curiosity can lead to a successful career in medical technology. She graduated in 2021 and wrote her Master's thesis on "Interaction of D-peptides with Aβ42 Monomers: Thermodynamics of Binding and Structural Analysis" - a project that shaped her enthusiasm for biophysics and biomedical research.
After completing her degree, Lorena moved to Munich, where she worked for several years for a medical technology start-up that develops cardiological software solutions with machine learning. She initially worked in regulatory affairs, but then switched to developing algorithms for segmenting cardiac structures. She currently works as a data scientist and plans to further develop her career by studying for a doctorate or taking up new positions in biomedicine and software development.
In the following interview, Lorena gives an insight into her study experiences at FH Aachen and shares valuable advice for students.
What practical experience did you gain during your studies and how did this influence your professional development?
My fascination with biophysics and biochemistry solidified during my studies at FH Aachen, particularly through the inspiring guidance of Professor Digel. This led me to focus my master's thesis on biophysical studies of protein interactions. The project involved molecular simulations in collaboration with the FZJ, providing invaluable practical experience in Python programming and managing complex experiments and simulations on high-performance workstations. These skills have been directly applicable in my subsequent career as a software engineer.
What advice would you give to current and future medical technology students at our university of applied sciences?
- Maximise practical experience: Actively seek internships and choose a master's thesis that offers hands-on application of your knowledge.
- Build a strong network: Networking is crucial for career development. Invest time in connecting with peers, professors and industry professionals.
- Utilise your time effectively: Prepare for classes independently to grasp the fundamentals, then leverage your professors' expertise to delve deeper into your specific areas of interest.
How have the soft skills you acquired during your studies paid off in your professional life?
My remote internship during the pandemic at a local company's R&D department provided a unique opportunity to refine my professional skills. The remote setting demanded a goal-oriented work style, which strengthened my autonomy and time management. Regular, focused communication with my supervisor, despite the remote nature of the work, improved my communication skills. Successfully navigating the challenges of remote work and delivering valuable results to the team sharpened my problem-solving abilities - particularly in adapting to unexpected obstacles and finding creative solutions - and solidified my ability to work independently and effectively.
From Jülich to Utah - With data, heart and vision to the forefront of research
Dennis Della Corte
Dr Dennis Della Corte, now Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Brigham Young University (USA), began his academic success story at FH Aachen, where he completed a Master's degree programme in Biomedical Engineering. His extraordinary career, which ranges from biomedical engineering and data science to protein and drug research, impressively demonstrates how far a degree programme at FH Aachen can take you.
Last summer, Dr Della Corte returned to the Jülich campus for an inspiring guest lecture. There he spoke about his current projects at the interface of artificial intelligence, biophysics and drug discovery, which he is driving forward in his laboratory at BYU together with the Consortium of Molecular Design (CMOD).
In an interview with our editorial team, he shared his experiences from his studies and talked about key stages in his career.
What aspects of your studies at the university did you find particularly valuable for your future career? Were there certain courses, projects or practical trainings that were particularly helpful to you?
The external internships were highly valuable. I collaborated with a research group at Aachen University, where I designed a Bayesian optimisation algorithm to identify solutions in a high-dimensional parameter space for an artificial heart project. This experience deepened my expertise in modelling, a skill I now apply regularly across various projects.
Can you tell us a specific success story from your career that made your studies at the University of Applied Sciences possible? How did your degree programme directly contribute to this success?
I wrote my Master's thesis in collaboration with the Department of Informatics while working as an IT Project Manager at Bayer AG. Although unpublished due to confidentiality, the thesis laid the foundation for an enterprise data management system. This concept evolved into a product that later became a market leader in laboratory data management solutions. For several years, I collaborated with the company that commercialised this idea, allowing me to build a strong professional network, culminating in an exit as this start-up was acquired by BRUKER.
Today, Dr Della Corte leads an international research team at BYU and works on the development of intelligent biosensors, automated pathology and virtual drug development using state-of-the-art algorithms. His impressive list of publications, including in Nature Communications, demonstrates the relevance of his work to medicine and science worldwide. His advice to today's students: "You can dream big - but you should wake up at the right time". A motto that perfectly describes his extraordinary career.
