Rucha Joshi, Ph.D., Biomedical engineering, is a faculty in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis, CA, focussing on engineering education research and instructional innovation in Biomedical Engineering. Prior to joining UC Davis in 2018, she was post-doctoral fellow in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue, working on multiple educational projects in enhancing teaching, learning, outreach, and diversity of engineers. Rucha’s current research focuses on approaching challenges in teaching engineering through the lens of design thinking. Previously, Rucha contributed to instructional innovation in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue, and worked on an NSF-funded grant for studying the professional formation of engineers and enhancing diversity and inclusion within Purdue. Rucha is also actively involved in educational entrepreneurship projects and making engineering accessible to underrepresented high school students in the US as well as India.
Prior to receiving her Ph.D. from Purdue in 2016, Rucha received a MS in Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University, USA in 2011, and a BS in Biotechnology Engineering from Shivaji University, India in 2009. Rucha has received several scholarships and awards for thought leadership, entrepreneurship, & community engagement, including the Ross Fellowship for outstanding PhD applicants, and the Burton D. Morgan Fellowship for entrepreneurial students at Purdue. She was honored by the late president of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam for her invention of “low calorie biscuits from banana peel pulp” and for her STEM popularization efforts. Rucha authored a book in Marathi “Bhartiya Balvaidnyanikachi Garudzep” summarizing her life experiences in inspiring Indian students towards STEM pursuits that won a literary award from Maharashtra State Government.
