Anushka Mitbander

From designing accessible clinical tools to contributing to innovative medical device development, Anushka Mitbander has built her undergraduate experience at Arizona State University around improving patient care.

Mitbander chose the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU for its programs, like Barrett, the Honors College, the Grand Challenges Scholars Program and the Next Generation Service Corps that emphasize innovation and hands-on learning.

“I knew I wanted an education that would push me — not only technically, but also as a leader working across disciplines,” she says.

That interdisciplinary mindset led her to the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, part of the Fulton Schools, to study biomedical engineering, a field she describes as the perfect intersection of her passions. 

“I’ve always been fascinated by the human body and driven to improve human health, but I also love building things and solving problems,” she says. “Biomedical engineering allows me to take real medical challenges and design tangible solutions that can directly impact people’s lives.”

The Grand Challenges Scholar built a portfolio of experiences during her time at ASU, including interning at Desert Platforms, Mayo Clinic x ASU MedTech Accelerator and Nectero Therapeutics.

Her defining ‘aha’ moment came during a Mayo Clinic internship, where her team developed a novel internal phototherapy device to treat eosinophilic esophagitis. After conducting an in vitro study, the team produced promising results for the device’s potential. 

Mitbander has consistently pursued projects that blend technical innovation with real-world impact. In the Speech and Brain Research Laboratory with Ayoub Daliri, an associate professor in the College of Health Solutions, she defended her honors thesis on designing and developing a lightweight, cost-effective device to measure variables in speech production, with potential applications in diagnosing speech-related conditions and helping deaf children develop speech patterns through real-time feedback.

She also co-founded Swift Medical Carts in collaboration with HonorHealth to redesign a portable workstation for nurses. The result, which focused on usability and workflow efficiency, led to a pending patent. 

Beyond technical work, Mitbander has distinguished herself through leadership and service. Through Engineering Projects in Community Service, or EPICS, she worked on initiatives aimed at applying STEM solutions to societal challenges. 

After graduation, Mitbander will continue deepening her education by pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical engineering through ASU’s Accelerated Master’s degree program. Long term, she aims to work in medical device research and development, bringing innovative technologies from concept to market.

Mitbander’s advice to future engineers is simple: get involved early and often. 

“Engineering is best learned by doing,” she says. “Hands-on experiences will help you discover your interests and build skills that go far beyond the classroom.”

Favorites

Hobby: Playing the violin
Performer: Noah Kahan
Movie: Five Feet Apart
Activity: Playing Volleyball
Last book read: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2026 class.

Written by Hannah Weisman