BME-SIM Leadership Team
Stacey Meardon, PT, PhD
Co-PI and Program Co-Director (meardons@ecu.edu)
Dr. Meardon began serving as a Co-PI in 2020. She has served as a faculty mentor with ECU’s BME-SIM since 2014. Each year, Dr. Meardon guides 3-4 doctor of physical therapy students in research capstones projects, mentors 1-2 undergraduates and serves on committees for master’s and PhD students. Her student collaborations have resulted in 33 regional/state and 50 national conference presentations and 14 manuscripts with students as co-authors.
Nick Murray, PhD
Co-PI and Program Co-Director (murrayni@ecu.edu)
(Primary Point of Contact)
Dr. Murray has served as Co-PI and Co-Director since 2021. Prior to this, he served as an REU Faculty Mentor for five years.
Chris Venters, PhD
PI
Dr. Venters began serving as PI in 2020. He has over 10 years of experience teaching first-year through senior-level undergraduate engineering courses, and his research studies ways to improve teaching and learning in undergraduate engineering education. Dr. Venters is twice a recipient of the ECU Campus Living and Residence Hall Association’s Honored Instructor Award in 2018 and 2019 and has mentored nearly 20 students in completing senior capstone projects.
Stephanie George, PhD
Former PI
Dr. George served as PI and Program Co-Director from 2014-2020. Dr. George has advised over 25 undergraduate students in research and an additional 22 in senior capstone projects. 12 of her students received URCA awards. Of the research students who have graduated, 56% have gone on to graduate programs. As a leader in integrating research and teaching, she received the CET Scholar-Teacher Award (16/17). As part of her research agenda, Dr. George continues to be involved in the BME-SIM program
REU Site Publications
Learn about our novel mentoring structure incorporating home institution mentors; George, S.M., von der Embse, N. and Domire, Z.J. Targeted Recruiting and Home Institution Mentor Model for REU Sites. Proceedings of the 123rd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, p1-6, 2016.
Findings from our 3-year review demonstrate the success of a methodology based REU Site; George, S.M. and Domire, Z.J. Simulations, Imaging, and Modeling: A Unique Theme for an Undergraduate Research Program in Biomechanics. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 139 (7), p.071002-071002-6, 2017. Editor’s Pick 2017;
Findings from our 6-year review revealed gender confidence gaps pre-program which were not fully closed post-program; George, S.M. and Domire, Z.J. A Six Year Review of the Biomedical Engineering in Simulations, Imaging, and Modeling Undergraduate Research Experience. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 2020. epub ahead of print.