Well-versed in English, Spanish and 80s and 90s pop cultural references, Blake is a proud Houston native who has journeyed from the Lone Star State to the West Coast and now the East Coast in pursuit of discovering his passion for biomedical engineering and materials science. He’s currently a master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, building on his Bioengineering Bachelor’s from UC San Diego. Blake previously specialized in bioinformatics research, crafting complex metabolic and gene expression models to explore microbial metabolism and advance solutions in environmental and medical biotechnology. He also explored and became particularly interested in nano- and microscale principles of biomedical engineering from courses taken in polymeric materials, biochemical principles of engineering, molecular modeling, and engineering in medicine. Eager to work with the Segura lab, Blake looks forward to deepening his interest in the intersection of materials science and regenerative medicine, where he hopes to contribute to innovations in tissue repair. Outside of the lab, Blake is often found hiking scenic trails, rock climbing, cooking Cuban food, or enjoying live music at concerts.