At the College of Engineering’s end-of-year meeting on June 10, several Biomedical Engineering faculty and staff members were recognized for their outstanding contributions across research, service, and academic leadership. These honors reflect the college’s core values and the department’s continued commitment to shaping the future of biomedical engineering at Cal Poly.
CENG Outstanding Staff Award
Dave Laiho
The College of Engineering’s Outstanding Staff Award honors individuals who demonstrate consistently exceptional performance across areas such as work quality, human relations and professional development.
Dave Laiho, the department’s sole electromechanical technician since 2007, has played an essential role in building and maintaining BMED’s labs and infrastructure. Eighteen years ago, he helped install and calibrate the department’s equipment, and he has continued to support it daily ever since.
In addition to managing traditional engineering tools, Laiho has developed deep expertise in the biomedical side of the department—working with cells, media, tissues, and other biologic materials and biohazards. He functions as both an engineering and biology technician, operating specialized equipment ranging from scanning electron microscopes to tissue processors.
Laiho also leads BMED’s 3D printing capabilities, assisting students and student assistants with solid modeling, print materials and designs. As the department’s safety representative, he has led key efforts to improve safety protocols and hazardous waste management, including streamlining safety training for faculty researchers.
BMED would not be what it is today without Laiho’s hard work, expertise and dedication.
In addition to Laiho’s staff recognition, several BMED faculty members were honored for university-level awards, internal grants and externally funded research:
University Award
Distinguished Scholarship Award:
Kristin O’Halloran Cardinal
Promotion to Professor:
Thomas Katona
Internal Grants and Awards
Research, Scholarly & Creative Activities Grant (2025–26):
Britta Berg-Johansen
Lockheed Martin Endowed Professorship:
Ben Hawkins
Externally Funded Grants
VentureWell:
Thomas Katona
