While at Wichita State University, Lindsey Mendenhall worked for NIAR's Advanced Materials Lab, which she plans to continue after graduating. She's joining over 2,100 of her peers graduating from WSU in spring 2025.

Lindsey Mendenhall was able to get more than just an education at Wichita State. Through the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), she got to work in her field while getting her degree and has a job lined up with the NIAR Advanced Materials Lab. Beyond the classroom, Lindsey found that the lessons she learned from teaching her dogs set her up for success in her academic and professional lives.

Lindsey is one of more than 2,100 students eligible for spring 2025 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad.

Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering, concentration in biomaterials and tissue engineering

Imperial, Nebraska

Chase County High School

Yes! I worked in the Advanced Materials Lab at NIAR for two years, where I was able to directly apply concepts from my biomaterials classes to real-world research and industry projects. I gained hands-on experience working with a variety of metals and advanced manufacturing techniques. Beyond the technical skills, I also had the opportunity to assist in managing project operations and contribute to program management efforts, giving me valuable insight into how research transitions into real-world applications.

After graduation, I’m excited to be continuing my work in the Advanced Materials Lab at NIAR on campus, transitioning into a full-time engineering role. I’ve really enjoyed the work I’ve done there as a student, and I’m looking forward to expanding my involvement in cutting-edge materials research and contributing to even larger-scale projects.

“Sit, Stay, Solve: How Working with Dogs Made Me a Better Engineer”

Before I ever stepped foot into the engineering industry, I spent years in practice and show rings, working with animals through 4-H. What I didn’t realize at the time was that teaching my favorite project — my dogs — to heel or stay was also teaching me the fundamentals of engineering: patience, observation, problem-solving and communication. I’ve learned skills that helped me train a wild puppy and now help me navigate complex research projects in the Advanced Materials Lab. From decoding behavior to troubleshooting processes, working with dogs gave me a unique toolkit that I now use every day as an engineer. Because sometimes, the best preparation for solving real-world problems starts with man’s best friend by your side.

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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