Dennis Andre Norfleet II is a 2016 graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. He has research experience in developing assistive technologies for wheelchairs and quantitative analysis of drug release. He has also worked on interfaces for analyzing lymphatic vessel data. He has presented his research at several conferences and received awards. His technical skills include programming languages and quantitative analysis methods. He has experience tutoring and mentoring students.

1. Dennis Andre Norfleet II
1304 Rain Hollow Circle West, Collierville, TN 38017
Telephone number: 901-827-8749
E-mail: andre2151994@gmail.com
Education
2012 – 2016 B.S., Biomedical Engineering Honors, Chancellor’s Honors College, University
of Tennessee – Knoxville, Knoxville, TN; GPA: 3.63
ResearchExperience
2016 Capstone Senior Design Project, Under Dr. Jeff Reinbolt and Dr. David Bassett
Department of Biomedical Engineering – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Project: Fatigue-reducing wheelchair design
 Developed algorithm to automatically engage a brushless DC electric hub motor
when the wheelchair user passes a ‘physiologically stressful’ input torque
threshold
 The delivery of an input torque signal was processed by an Arduino
MicroContoller unit and the processed signal was delivered to a driver as an
analog PWM signal to drive the motor
 The desired effect is in propulsion assistance for wheelchair users in situations of
high stress
2015 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Under Dr. Roland Kaunas: June – August 2015
Department of Biomedical Engineering – Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Project: Quantitative Assessment of GW9662 Drug Release in Regenerative Bone
Implants (Full-Time)
 Developed alternative method to quantify small volumes of synthetic drug
molecule GW9662 in solution
 Quantification of GW9662 drug release is important because it causes
differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteogenic cells via modulation of
canonical Wnt signaling; this physiological signaling pathway leads to enhanced
osteogenic regeneration
 Used absorbance spectroscopy to quantify GW9662 concentration in solution
because phenyl groups in GW9662 absorb light most strongly at wavelength of
261 nm
 Research and testing had to be conducted on the drug molecule because previous
quantification studies had not used absorbance spectroscopy for GW9662
 Used Beer-Lambert’s law to construct method to determine unknown
concentrations of GW9662 in solutions from known standard curves
 Applied curve slope values to determine GW9662 concentrations in PLG drug-
encapsulated microsphere, hence identifying drug release kinetics
2014 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Under Dr. J. Brandon Dixon: June – August 2014
Department of Bioengineering – Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

2. Project: A More User-Friendly Interface for Working with Lymphatic Vessel Data in
MatLab (Full-Time)
 Constructed algorithm in programming language MatLab to output fluid shear
stress, flow rate, and fluid velocity quantities given lymphatic vessel diameter
data
 Applied fluid mechanics concept of Hagen-Poiseuille flow to fluid movement
through lymphatic vessels to derive approximate expressions for fluid shear
stress, flow rate, fluid velocity in a lymphatic vessel
 Algorithm provided quick and easy data analysis for lymphatic vessel diameter
post-experimentation
Publications and Presentations
2015 Presenter, Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP)
Annual Research Conference – Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
 Awarded 3rd place in engineering research oral presentation competition
2014 Presenter, National Society of Black Engineers’ Fall Research Conference – Tampa, FL
 Awarded honorable mention for poster research presentation in Technical
Research Exhibition
2014 Presenter, National GEM Consortium GRAD Lab – University of Louisville, Louisville,
KY
Technical Skills
 Proficient with MatLab, LabVIEW, Canopy, Python, and C++ computer programming
languages
 Highly proficient with absorbance spectroscopy quantification methods
 Knowledge of preparatory techniques required to make GW992 drug-loaded poly[lactide-co-
glycolide] (PLG) microspheres encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)
spheres
 Highly proficient at creating algorithms to analyze trends and distinguish signal noise in
arrays of experimental data
Professional Affiliations
2012 – Present National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
 Member of University of Tennessee – Knoxville chapter Executive
Board for the 2014-2015 academic year, Historian
 Biomedical Engineering Activity Coordinator for Mini-Seek, NSBE’s
annual day-long introduction of engineering disciplines to students in
grades 4 through 8
2012 – Present Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP)
 Member of TLSAMP advisory board for 2013-2014 academic year

3. Teaching Experience
2015-2016 Tutor, Perkins/Clement Hall/FBCC – University of Tennessee
 Works as a tutor for Undergraduate freshmen students in the subjects
of Engineering Fundamentals, Calculus 1 & 2, General Chemistry
2014-2015 Mentor, TLSAMP
 Participated in TLSAMP Mentor/Mentee Program, assisted my mentee
with classwork, adjusting to college life, and receiving engineering
professional experience
2011-2012 Tutor, Math Tutor for Algebra
 Provided help and support for members of New Shelby Missionary
Baptist Church in the area of mathematics
References
Mr. Travis Griffin, Director
Engineering Diversity Programs
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
travisg@utk.edu
865-974-1931
Dr. Roland Kaunas, Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
rkaunas@bme.tamu.edu
979-845-2412
Dr. J. Brandon Dixon, Professor
Department of BioEngineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
dixon@gatech.edu
404-385-3915