2021
Emerging Leader Awards Washington University in St. Louis McKelvey School of Engineering
Emerging Leader Awards Tuesday, March 30, 2021 The McKelvey Emerging Leader Award honors young engineering alumni who exemplify leadership and service through scientific excellence and innovation. This award highlights the positive impact alumni make on their local community, country and the world. 2021 emerging leaders
Robert Hamilton, BS ‘08 Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Officer, NovaSignal
Patti Harburg-Petrich, BS ‘05 MS ‘05 US West Coast Aviation Sector Leader/Principal, Buro Happold
David Levene, BS ‘05 Lieutenant Colonel, Chief of Advanced Capabilities Division, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, U.S. Air Force
Brent Ramerth, BS ‘07 Machine Learning Research Manager, Apple Inc.
Stephanie Willerth, MS ‘08 PhD ‘08 Professor and Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Engineering, University of Victoria panel moder ator
Nathalie de Vos Buchart, BS ‘04 2018 Young Alumni Award Recipient
Robert Hamilton
Robert Hamilton is an accomplished entrepreneur, engineer, and clinical researcher with a passion for innovative technologies in the area of brain health management. He serves as the chief scientific officer at NovaSignal, a medical company that is revolutionizing how real-time blood flow data is utilized for brain health. Hamilton developed the core technology by combining artificial intelligence, robotics, and automated cerebral ultrasound which led to the company’s founding in 2013. To date, the company has raised over $70M in venture financing, developed and received regulatory clearance for two medical devices, including the first fully automated ultrasound. As a member of the Goggio Family Foundation Board, Hamilton furthers the foundation’s mission to transform lives and strengthen communities by fostering innovation, creating knowledge, and promoting social progress. His outreach efforts have focused on international health, STEM education, and entrepreneurship. At Washington University, Hamilton was a member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers, the Biomedical Engineering Society and a letterman baseball player. As a dual degree student, he earned a bachelor of arts in mathematics from the College of Idaho and a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering from Washington University in 2008. He also holds a master of science degree and a doctor of philosophy in biomedical engineering from the University of California. Hamilton and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Chino Hills, CA.
Patti Harburg-Petrich
Patti Harburg-Petrich is a principal and the United States West Coast Aviation Lead at Buro Happold. She has experience leading teams for many building types, including aviation, commercial, healthcare, education, and sports. She has a passion for community-centric work, adaptive reuse, seismic retrofit, and sustainable design. As a structural engineer and LEED accredited professional for Building Design + Construction, Harburg-Petrich takes a holistic approach to green building. She leads a multidisciplinary team for the new Midfield Satellite Concourse at Los Angeles International Airport. The project targets net zero energy and carbon neutrality to enhance the experience of all who walk through its doors. Harburg-Petrich is a devoted mentor for the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Mentor Program, which supports high school students interested in the design and construction industries. In 2015, she was named Young Engineer of the Year by the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California for her outstanding contributions in the engineering profession. She also serves on the executive board for the Southern California Development Forum. At Washington University, Harburg-Petrich was involved with the American Society of Chemical Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers student organizations. Harburg-Petrich earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and a master of science degree in structural engineering from Washington University in 2005. She and her husband, Josiah, also a Washington University alumnus, reside in Santa Monica, CA.
David Levene
Lieutenant Colonel David Levene is the chief of the advanced capabilities division for the United States Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. He leads a 30-member team on specialized projects to rapidly design, develop, test, and field advanced technical capabilities. He is responsible for the activity coordination of a deputy secretary of defense-directed program, where he refines requirements, builds acquisition strategies, and integrates capabilities with stakeholders and senior leaders. After a rigorous review, Levene was selected for the prestigious one-year Air Force Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory. He conducted nanomaterials research in the quantum energy and materials group to help advance the country’s understanding of basic energy science. A distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Levene was a combat-experienced experimental test weapons systems officer with more than 1,300 flight hours in the F-15E and nearly 30 other military and civilian aircraft. Levene has received several honors including the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal and the Air Force STEM Award for exploratory and advanced technology development. As an undergraduate, Levene joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. His grandfather flew in World War II for the Navy which inspired Levene to pursue a military career. Levene earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University in 2005. He also holds two master of science degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Levene and his wife, Tiffany, are based in Washington, D.C. with their two children.
Brent Ramerth
As a computational linguist and software engineer, Brent Ramerth creates software that makes a meaningful impact on people’s lives. As a machine learning research manager at Apple, he is responsible for developing the software and statistical models that allow for power predictive keyboards and autocorrection on the iPhone operating system. The new features that were established for keyboard input and language modeling have significantly improved the ease and accuracy of software keyboards. These created algorithms and models facilitate digital communication for dozens of languages and hundreds of millions of people. Ramerth holds seven patents for innovations in natural language processing and autocorrection. His most valuable work exists at the intersection of technology and the humanities, and he particularly cherishes his design of a novel keyboard for the Cherokee language, the first of its kind on mobile platforms. As a recipient of the Langsdorf Scholarship, he is a loyal supporter of the university. Through the Ramerth Family Endowed Scholarship, he inspires others to give through the Ramerth Give Your Way Engineering Challenge to help shape the future of McKelvey Engineering and its exceptional students. Ramerth earned a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Washington University in 2007 and a master of science degree in human language technology from the University of Arizona in 2008. He and his wife, Kalinda, reside in San Francisco, CA with their two children and are Life Eliot Society members.
Stephanie Willerth
As a Canada Research Chair and professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Victoria, Stephanie Willerth’s collaborative and innovative work with engineering applications have benefitted health care, families and individuals. Willerth’s research group uses stem cell-based bioengineering to address significant biological problems in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. She develops engineered tissues suitable for transplantation in the human nervous system for treatment of diseases like Parkinson’s, or to repair damaged tissue found in the spinal cord. In 2020, Willerth co-founded Axolotl Biosciences, a company that strives to provide turn-key reagents, including bioinks, 3D tissue models, and consulting services to advance the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The Academic Press printed her book, “Engineering Neural Tissue Using Stem Cells” in 2017, and her research group has published 58 peer reviewed journal articles. Willerth serves as a staff scientist at the Creative Destruction Lab, and is a member of the steering committee of the British Columbia Regenerative Medicine Initiative. The University of Victoria recognized Willerth’s excellence in research partnerships with the 2020 REACH Award which honors the extraordinary teachers and researchers who lead the way in dynamic learning. Willerth earned a master of science degree and a doctor of philosophy in biomedical engineering from Washington University in 2008. She also holds bachelor of science degrees in biology and chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Willerth and husband, Gary, reside in Victoria, B.C.