Tec graduate developed diagnostic tools for heart disease at Harvard

Brenda Mendieta, a Biotechnology Engineering graduate from the Tec's Toluca campus, worked on bioinformatics and processing data on congenital heart diseases during her international stay at Harvard.

This was an opportunity with very limited availability, as she was chosen from among 30 students nationwide.

She obtained a place at the prestigious university thanks to her effort and support from her family and professors.

During her research stay, she carried out two projects. In the first, the graduate was able to incorporate data on patients who had been treated for 15 years in order to provide acceptance criteria on their clinical stages and find out about the state of the hospital's health system.

"The laboratory had data on millions of patients, which I had to incorporate. I had to make sure that all of this really helped the doctor I was working with and know what type of patterns should be followed up on," said Brenda.

The graduate also learned how to use machine learning to obtain data and develop tools to diagnose patients with congenital heart diseases.

"After obtaining histological samples of heart muscle, we took photos of them in the microscope and then started to use these machine learning tools to make it easier to identify cell morphology and tell them apart," she explained.

The importance of support from her parents and professors

According to this biotechnology graduate, getting this far was a process that began when she started college.

Halfway through her degree program, she decided that she was going to apply for a stay. When she started her third year, she applied for the opportunity to go to Harvard.

"As I wanted to go, I knew that at least I had tried if I didn't get in. I was competing with at least 30 students, and it was pretty close because there were students of biotechnology, medicine, biomedicine, mechatronics, and mechanics from across the country," shared Brenda.

"At least I had tried if I didn't get in."

Once she had been admitted and started the experience, the graduate said that she learned how important it was to stop feeling afraid and be open to learning new things instead of sticking to a single topic.

Brenda also said that she understood the need to be humble as she knew she couldn't have earned this opportunity without the support of her parents, professors, doctors, classmates, and the Tec.

Brenda's future at Harvard

After completing her studies, Brenda plans to work in the pharmaceutical industry and eventually study for a master's and then a PhD in therapeutic and pharmaceutical development at Harvard.

"Now that I've had the opportunity of this experience, I truly believe that many people can get there based on their knowledge.

"I think that the biggest obstacles to going are partly making the decision and mostly the financial side. Even so, I suggest not getting imposter syndrome and applying; it's something that will change your lives," concluded Brenda.

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