Fischell Institute APIDA Heritage Month Spotlight: Jason Chen

Jason Chen (BIOE ’23) is a Fischell Institute and MPower Entrepreneurship Fellow pursuing his master’s in engineering, with a focus on robotics.

Chen is working with Affiliate Fellow and BIOE Assistant Professor Jenna Mueller to construct and fully characterize an improved, low-cost, repairable device that can deliver three bolus loads of a drug or mixture, such as ethyl cellulose ethanol (ECE), using a small air tank and a bike pump for the total ablation of cervical pre-cancers.

As an Asian engineer, Chen said his family values of hard work have influenced him. While his family immigrated from China to the United States, they worked hard to provide for Jason and instilled in him the importance of education and perseverance.

“I remind myself of how far my family and I have come, especially when my grandparents and great-grandparents were struggling just a few decades ago,” said Chen.

Chen said celebrating Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American (APIDA) Heritage Month is important because he believes members of these communities bring different strengths and perspectives into a conversation.

“America has always been a melting pot of hard-working natives and immigrants, which is part of the reason for the continued innovation and success,” said Chen. “By honoring this month, we not only pay tribute to the generations of APIDA communities who have enriched our nation's history but also empower current and future generations to continue making their mark on the world.”

The Fischell Institute and MPower Entrepreneurship Fellowship helps students transition medical device ideas into prototypes and commercial ventures while earning their Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degrees. Applications for the next cohort are currently open. Those interested in applying should submit their application by Sunday, April 14, 2024.

Published April 12, 2024