Governor's STEM Scholars Present Research at National Biomedical Engineering Conference

Two alumni of the Governor's STEM Scholars, a program of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, traveled to Orlando, Florida, to present their research at the 2026 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting, held October 21–24.

One of the nation's leading gatherings for biomedical engineering, the annual meeting was expected to bring together approximately 5,000 researchers, engineers, students, and healthcare professionals to share innovative research, explore emerging technologies, and advance healthcare through engineering.

Reindy Sanon and Kaylee Carranza, members of the 2025 Governor's STEM Scholars class, presented Wash! Track! Win! An Automated, Gamified Hand Hygiene Monitor for Adolescents, a research project developed during their time in the program.

The project explored how technology and gamification could encourage better handwashing habits among adolescents. Through surveys, stakeholder interviews, and a pilot study at Carteret High School, the research team developed and tested an automated hand hygiene monitor that uses real-time scoring and interactive features to promote healthier behaviors in New Jersey schools.

Presenting at BMES gave Reindy and Kaylee the opportunity to share their team's research with the national biomedical engineering community, receive valuable feedback from researchers and industry professionals, and explore new possibilities for advancing their work.

Below, Reindy and Kaylee reflect on their experience presenting their research on a national stage.

Our time at #BMES2026

On October 24th, we attended the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. It included a wide range of events, from high school presentations to university-level sessions.

“Attending BMES really opened my eyes to how different fields like engineering and innovation play such a crucial role in shaping our healthcare. I got to see high schoolers and undergraduates from across the country come together to share their groundbreaking ideas. Having the opportunity to represent our team and present our research there showed me how powerful youth-led research is in bridging the gap between technology and patient care.” – Reindy Sanon

“Attending this conference was an experience I never thought I would have, and one that helped grow my interest in understanding research in many ways. Presenting my team’s research to people who walked by made me feel passionate and confident because we had put so much effort into the project. In addition, seeing other high school students present their valuable research made me realize that we all are a part of a journey in hopes of shaping a more positive and innovative future. – Kaylee Carranza

During our presentation, we have received valuable feedback and guidance on how to refine our project moving forward. For instance, judges and attendees emphasized the importance of improving shape and color detection, incorporating various games to keep all users fully engaged, and extending handwashing time so users get the most out of the experience. This feedback allows us to look back into our research and determine what to improve in order to grow our project.