Engineering a Future Inspired by Nature: NJIT Graduate Danna Sanchez's Path to Discovery
Danna Valentina Sanchez Hernandez’s path to becoming a researcher began long before she arrived at NJIT. Growing up in Colombia, she developed an early fascination with science by attending medical conferences alongside her parents — both physicians — and learning about clinical trials and biological research. But her passion for biomedical engineering didn’t crystallize until she enrolled in dual-enrollment courses at Universidad CES.
“It was a revelation to discover a discipline where innovation directly improves our knowledge in biology,” said Sanchez Hernandez, who graduated high school at just 16 years old through that program. “Graduating high school with dual-enrollment with Universidad CES taught me that motivation and discipline have no age limits.”
Encouraged by her parents to aim high and pursue her dreams without constraint, she set her sights on the U.S. “Studying in the U.S., specifically at NJIT, was an intentional decision,” she said. “NJIT's ABET-accredited biomedical engineering program stood out for its academic excellence and dedication to practical experience.”
Adjusting to life abroad wasn’t easy. She encountered differences in education style, culture, and language — and at times questioned her capabilities. But she approached the challenges head-on. “Rather than letting this difference limit me, I embraced the opportunity by pursuing a minor in business to continue expanding my personal growth. I then further challenged myself by applying to the B.S./Ph.D. program at NJIT,” she said.
NJIT’s biomedical engineering program stood out for its academic excellence and dedication to practical experience.
Overcoming language barriers proved to be another steep learning curve. “Speaking a different language daily with my peers sometimes caused me to doubt my capabilities,” she recalled. “But I continuously sought out resources offered by the university, such as tutoring and mentorship.”
That determination has fueled her success in the lab and beyond. At NJIT, Sanchez Hernandez conducted a series of advanced biomechanics studies in Professor Brooke Flammang’s Fluid Locomotion Lab. Each project has been a step forward, allowing her to build on experience and deepen her understanding of applied tools like computational fluid dynamics, machine learning, statistical analysis … even shark fishing.
Her research journey has focused on how animals interact with their environment — from the suction abilities of remoras to the hydrodynamics of schooling blacktip sharks — applying engineering to nature in hopes of developing better biomedical and conservation technologies. “Professor Flammang allowed me to apply engineering fluid dynamics into animal movement and locomotion, and it’s been amazing!” she said. “Brooke let me bring my engineering skills into a field that felt true to my roots and curiosity.”
Presenting her research on national stages has also been transformative. At prominent national conferences, she became aware of the significance of her presence. “I was a young woman, a Spanish speaker from the Southern Hemisphere, and in that space, I was aware that there weren’t many others like me. It was a bit shocking at first but also deeply empowering.”
A recipient of the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, Sanchez Hernandez sees her achievements as a testament to perseverance and representation — pursuing research through education in the U.S. isn’t just a dream, it’s truly possible.
It gave me a renewed sense of purpose and confidence that I belong in research.
This summer, Sanchez Hernandez is expanding her research scope beyond the lab and into the field. Working with Utah State University and supported by the Bureau of Land Management, she’s conducting wildlife conservation research in one of Utah’s national parks. Her focus is on tracking the movement and habitat patterns of sage grouse and songbirds across sagebrush-steppe ecosystems — an experience that merges her engineering background with applied ecological study.
danna2.jpeg
“I’ve had the opportunity to apply my background in sensor technology, data analysis, and biological systems design to wildlife conservation research,” she said. Her team is using a combination of VHF radio telemetry, GPS tracking, and detection dogs to monitor species like the greater sage grouse — the largest grouse in North America, now under threat due to habitat fragmentation and land-use changes.
“This experience has provided me with practical experience to improve tracking accuracy, enhance data collection in remote environments, and provide actionable insights for habitat management, conservation planning, and understanding how these birds respond to human activities.”
By adapting tools originally designed for human health and motion tracking, Sanchez Hernandez is helping to better understand how animals survive and navigate in dynamic, human-impacted environments.
As she looks ahead in NJIT’s dual-degree program, her goals remain deeply interdisciplinary and driven by curiosity in how animals interact with their environment. The discipline offers a way to bridge engineering and biology, with the biological insights inspiring new engineering solutions.
To students following in her footsteps — especially international students — she offers this advice: “This is possible. But the first day, first week, first month will be difficult. Don’t let the hard moments make you doubt your dreams. Keep going, even when it feels difficult, your goals are worth it.
“I stay grounded by staying connected to all parts of my story: my past, my roots, my family’s history,” she said. “ I stay motivated by looking ahead: I see where I am now and where I want to go.”
