About David Botana
Bridging scientific discovery and clinical application through inclusive design
My Journey
I was born with physical disabilities that have shaped my perspective on accessibility and inclusive design. These include a missing radial bone in my left arm, muscle differences, and a twisted spine. Rather than viewing these as limitations, they have become the driving force behind my passion for creating solutions that address inequities in academic and clinical spaces.
My personal experiences with physical differences have given me unique insights into the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, particularly in accessing scientific and medical resources. This perspective is invaluable in my research and design work, where I strive to create tools and technologies that are truly inclusive.
Education & Research
I completed my undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, where I first discovered my passion for biomedical engineering. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD at Purdue University, working at the Bioengineering Machine Learning Laboratory under the guidance of leading researchers in the field including Young Kim.
My doctoral research focuses on mobile health, color science, and community health worker research — developing machine learning models to enable rapid, accurate diagnostics on consumer smartphones in low resource settings.
Research Experience
Menstrual Stem Cell Research
Investigated the regenerative potential of menstrual stem cells for therapeutic applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Institute for Accessible Science
Developed assistive technology solutions to make scientific research more accessible to individuals with disabilities, breaking down barriers in academic environments.
Olympic/Para-Equestrian Committee
Contributed to initiatives supporting para-equestrian athletes, leveraging my understanding of adaptive sports and accessibility requirements.
Mission & Vision
My mission is to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and clinical application through entrepreneurship and inclusive design. I believe that the most innovative solutions come from diverse perspectives and that accessibility should be built into every aspect of scientific and medical technology from the ground up.
Through my research in machine learning and mobile health, combined with my work in assistive technology, I aim to create tools that not only advance our scientific understanding but also translate directly into improved quality of life for patients and researchers alike.