Hannah M. Grover
Thayer Engineering

I graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Bioengineering and a minor in Mechanical Engineering and I am now a PhD student in the Thayer School of Engineering. My field of work is materials science engineering and its applications towards orthopedic devices. Specifically, I am studying how ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene can have its mechanical and wear properties changed through a novel processing technique. This is important as my work bears on the longevity of implanted devices, such as knee and hip joints. Outside of research, I am interested in hiking, cooking/baking, and being on the water. I became interested in working as a SEPA mentor because of the opportunity to develop curriculum and work closely with teachers to better understand the learning needs of middle school students. I had previously worked with the Thayer After School Science and Engineering group and that allowed us to plan small/fun activities but nothing close to this scale.