Jake recently began his Ph.D. candidacy in biomedical engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is developing biosensors designed to provide continuous, point-of-care and clinically relevant data for diagnosing and treating disease. But before this phase of his life, he was a three-year Global Social Impact Fellow on the SicklED project team.
That team worked to develop a proof-of-concept diagnostic device for screening patients for sickle cell disease in Sierra Leone. Similar to the continuous glucose monitors used to manage diabetes, the technology Jake is researching now could help patients and clinicians better manage a variety of diseases.
Jake contributed to the technical development of the SicklED proof-of-concept test kit. Over two summers, he traveled with the team to conduct fieldwork in Sierra Leone, where he encountered some of the most pressing challenges in global health. During fieldwork he and his GSIF teammates collaborated with local stakeholders to help develop an end-to-end system of care connecting diagnosis with treatment.
Academically and professionally, SicklED has been the most transformative influence on both my worldview and my future aspirations,” Jake said. “This experience taught me that while scientific progress is important, innovation cannot turn into impact without strong communication and an entrepreneurial drive.
Unlike a traditional research laboratory, SicklED made fieldwork and stakeholder collaboration central to its approach. One of the most influential parts of the experience for Jake was watching his team co-develop educational and training resources with local healthcare workers.
The GSIF experience, including two rigorous fieldwork trips, also reshaped how he views bioengineering—not simply as a scientific discipline, but as a tool for creating meaningful, human-centered impact. That perspective continues to guide his academic journey and his aspirations as a biomedical researcher. It also helped him develop social, teamwork and business skills while learning more about how he contributes within a collaborative environment.
“Throughout this journey, I plan to leverage the collaborative, communicative and critical-thinking skills I learned as a part of Creative Inquiry at Lehigh,” Jake said.