These efforts have led to NSF funding to develop intracellular neuroprobes brain mapping. She received her B.S. degree in Chemistry in 2001, M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering in 2003 and her Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005. Before joining UMBC in August 2010, she was Director of the Center for Biosystems and Engineering, professor of Computer Engineering at Virginia State University, and the Executive Director of the Richmond Area Program for Minorities in Engineering. Her other research interest includes engineering education and K-12 outreach.