Makayla Johnson
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Chaska, Minnesota

 Advancing the future of discovery, both by empowering the next generation of young minds through outreach and by creating knowledge through research, is a deep passion for sophomore Makayla Johnson.

Johnson is the coordinator and lead for the Noblitt Scholars STEM Outreach Committee, allowing her to connect with younger students in the community. With fellow Noblitt Scholars, Johnson recently hosted an event that drew over 80 local Girl Scouts to campus to learn about STEM careers. Johnson and her committee are also leading Rose-Hulman’s inaugural STEM Jubilee on April 26 for local elementary and middle school students to explore STEM through 20 different fun activities. 

"This committee focuses on bringing hands-on STEM activities and workshops to grade school students in the surrounding Terre Haute area, and I love getting to support the community in this way," Johnson said.

She also introduces prospective students to STEM education through her role as an A-Team Admissions Tour Guide. On campus, she is the secretary of National Society of Black Engineers, as well as a member of both the Biomedical Engineering Society and Rosie Reads Book Club. 

Johnson also seeks to provide a more advanced field for the next generation to explore. After her first year at Rose-Hulman, Johnson was a researcher in the Young Scholars Summer Research Program through the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder. 

"This nine-week program allowed me to learn about the various career paths in research, meet and learn from world-renowned faculty, connect with other undergraduate researchers, visit the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, and, most importantly, conduct research on cell activity and viability in biomaterials," Johnson said. 

Her research experience in Colorado helped Johnson realize her goal of pursuing a doctorate in bioengineering after graduation. In service of that goal, Johnson is currently part of the Rose Research Fellows program.

"I am going to be working with Rose's industry partner FetTech and developing new methods to manufacture biomolecular scaffolds to use in regenerative medicine applications," she said.

Johnson has built the scaffolding to succeed in her career, paving the way for other students to climb the ladder behind her.