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Lindsay Browning, B.S. '21, M.Eng. '22

Lindsay Browning in goal on hockey rink

Hometown: Penfield, NY
BME Degree Program: BS in biomedical engineering with concentration in Biomechanics and mechanobiology (BMMB)

Lindsay Browning
Lindsday Browning

Why did you choose Cornell?
When I was looking at schools in the hockey recruiting process, Cornell stood out because of the reputation of the engineering program and the relatively new BME major. My coach also enlightened me that Cornell is the only Ivy League school that has ROTC programs for every branch of the military. At the time, I was considering attending a military academy, and knowing that I could have a military experience while still playing hockey was exciting. What really tipped me over the edge was how supportive Coach Derraugh was of me as a person. He showed me that the Cornell community is a Big Red family, and that we support and stand by each other no matter what.

What made you choose BME as your major and what interests you most about it?
BME attracted me because the biomedical aspect satisfies my interest in the medical field, and the engineering aspect drives my passion for understanding the “whys” of the world. I love how much my classes challenge my mind and encourage me to think outside the box. Over the past three years, I have learned more about how the human body works than I ever though imaginable. Even more so, I have realized the enormity of the sea of knowledge that I have yet to understand, and the potential to learn more thrills me.

How did you decide on your BME concentration Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (BMMB)?
BMMB attracted me because it overlaps so well with athletics. The mechanics of how body parts move and function has always fascinated me, and being able to apply it to athletics makes it even more interesting. We recently looked at an athlete lunging, and from the dynamic analysis we could determine which leg had an ACL injury. This kind of diagnostics is incredibly exciting for me, especially because ACL tears are so common in hockey.

What do you think are some of the most important skills you’ve learned while pursuing this major?
The most useful skill I have learned from BME is how to think. Anyone can memorize math equations or learn a specific technological skill, but BME has taught me how to apply those skills. For example, I recently had an assignment to write a program that would dynamically analyze a single-legged hop. I had no idea how to write a program for the dynamics that I had just learned a day prior, but I had the toolset. Our professors are constantly pushing us to use our tool sets in different ways, which I believe is more valuable than any individual skill.

What advice might you give other students considering BME?
Come in with an open mind! Your prior knowledge will be challenged, and what you think you are interested in is most likely different from what your true interests are. Take courses that are different from what you would normally choose. Those experiences are what have made my time as a BME more rounded and fulfilling.

Browning and ROTC color guard.
Browning and ROTC color guard.

hockey team huddle at net
Cornell Women's Hockey team huddle at the net.

Any interests outside of or in relationship to your scholarship?
The most enriching part of my Cornell experience has been spent with my extracurriculars, ice hockey and ROTC. Being a student athlete has obviously pushed me mentally and physically, but it has also made me a better person. The need to balance time is incredibly demanding, but the motivation to be a better version of myself is stronger with my team than anywhere else. I actually find that I do better in my classes during our season because I am so motivated to be my best for our teammates, classmates, and Big Red family. ROTC also complements the student-athlete life. It has instilled in me a kind of respect and discipline that makes me so much more appreciative of the resources we have at Cornell. The leadership it has taught me has brought me to become a better student and teammate. Nothing is more satisfying than a day that starts with my military family, transitions into a mental challenge with my friends and classmates, and ends with my hockey family.

What stands out to you about your Cornell or BME experience so far and why?
My defining moment academically is actually a bit embarrassing. My sophomore fall I took statics and mechanics of solids with Professor Ritz and ended up dropping the class because I had done so poorly on the first prelim. I will be the first to admit that every day in BME is a learning experience, and I had not quite learned the time management part yet. Fast forward one year to junior fall, and I was taking the same course again with Professor Ritz because it is a BME requirement. For 12 months I had dreaded returning to statics and mechanics, but the second time around, it ended up being my favorite course so far at Cornell and I finished with an A. It is one of the reasons I realized the BMMB concentration was for me. And most importantly, it opened my eyes to a different kind of engineering that turned out to be my favorite.

What’s the next step for you and who or what has led you in this direction?
Because I am on an ROTC scholarship, I will be commissioning in the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant immediately upon graduation. I have a flight contract, which means that after a few months of generalized training, I will be headed to Pensacola, Florida to attend flight school and become a pilot.

Favorite quote that helps inspire you in your work/life?
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” – Jennifer Lee

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