Bioengineering, Rice University
Pujita Munnangi joins EnMed with a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and a minor in biochemistry and cell biology from Rice University. Her current research interests include point-of-care medical devices, biomaterials and tissue engineering, and biomechanics.
While at Rice, she worked in the McHugh Lab on optimization of PLGA microparticles for pulsatile vaccine drug delivery and also worked as an EMT responding to on-campus emergencies from 2018 to 2021. In addition, Munnangi spent summer working for the NIH in the Hernandez Lab (surgical oncology) where she prepared human liver specimens to characterize the 3D metastatic niche in the liver using fluorescence microscopy. Her senior design project at Rice focused on developing a breath-synchronized aerosol drug delivery device for neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
“EnMed is the perfect program for me to integrate my love of engineering and STEM with my passion for medicine,” she said. “As an engineer and future doctor, I hope I can apply science to solve real-life problems that will benefit the patients I see every day.”
After graduating, Munnangi plans to pursue academic medicine and has an interest in trauma and orthopedic surgery, but is open and excited to explore all specialties. Outside of school, she enjoys embroidery, soccer, origami and biking. She is originally from Fremont, CA.
