MSE Research & Industry Showcase

Dr. Mandana Veiseh, Ph.D. '04

Founder and president, Polybiomics

Mandana Veiseh is founder and president of Polybiomics and a science and technology executive. She leads invention and R&D of polybiosensing systems and analytics that leverage live-cell intelligence. Previously, she held technical leadership roles at Xerox-PARC and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and conducted bioresearch at LBNL and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, resulting in entrepreneurial outcomes. She holds affiliate positions at LBNL and University of Washington (UW). Her career spans translation of deep science into scalable technologies, fully commercialized inventions and multidisciplinary publications, service on advisory councils and boards, strategic planning, and mentorship within industry, national labs, and academia. She has received research and impact awards from organizations including Society of Women in Engineering, Guild Association, NIH, and Xerox. Mandana holds a dual PhD in Materials Science & Engineering and Nanotechnology from UW through a DOE–ALS fellowship spanning LBNL and UC Berkeley and is alumna of NAE Frontiers of Engineering.

Dr. Megan Brewster, B.S. '06

Vice president of advanced technology, Impinj

Megan Brewster is Impinj’s vice president of advanced technology and brings more than 15 years of experience in technology and public policy. At Impinj, she brings clarity and strategy to the company’s product and technology roadmaps and fosters growth in emerging opportunities to deliver the Internet of Every Thing. Prior to Impinj, Megan served at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and GE Global Research. Megan earned a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from MIT with a minor in technology and public policy and a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington.

Dr. Aaron Feaver, Ph.D. '07

Executive director, JCDREAM/CHARGE (Washington State University)

As Director of JCDREAM, Aaron aims to bring together researchers and industry leaders across Washington State to focus on sustainable material supply chains for clean energy and transportation. Under the umbrella of JCDREAM, Aaron has led the development of the Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewably Generated E-Fuels (CHARGE), which supports the growth of the regional hydrogen economy. Prior to this, Aaron specialized in energy storage, nanotechnology, and ultra-capacitors. He co-founded EnerG2 and Group14 Technologies: two startups in the Seattle area focused on the synthesis and processing of high-performance carbon materials. Aaron received a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Washington.

Dr. Mike Beerman, Ph.D. '07

Principal aerospace systems engineer, Blue Origin

Mike Beerman is a Principal Aerospace Systems Engineer at Blue Origin, where he leads reusable thermal protection system development and testing for the New Glenn rocket. With a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Washington, Mike has spent 19 years advancing aerospace technology—from composite fuselage systems at Boeing and structural ceramics at Northrop Grumman, to hypersonic materials and re-entry vehicle technologies at Andrews Space and Intellectual Ventures. His work spans arc jet testing at NASA facilities, agile manufacturing systems, and establishing new test capabilities at Blue Origin. Mike holds patents in satellite recovery and composite fuselage fabrication, has published in leading journals on fluid mechanics and materials science, and brings a unique perspective shaped by his Peace Corps service in the 1990s. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of engineers and regularly works with students and early career professionals to inspire careers in aerospace.