BME Alumna Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

UT BME alumna Nirmala “Nimmi” Ramanujam (B.S. 1989, M.S. 1992, Ph.D. 1995) was one of six Longhorns inducted into the National Academy of Engineering’s 2026 class, one of the highest distinctions an engineer can receive. 

After leaving the Forty Acres, Ramanujam went on to become a professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University and an entrepreneur, dedicating her research and commercialization efforts to developing technologies for women’s cancer screening and treatment in low-resource communities. 

She is known for developing several innovative screening tools, including the Pocket Colposcope and the Callascope — low-cost, portable imaging devices designed to improve access to cervical cancer screening. She has helped bring these technologies to communities in need through her startup, Calla Health Foundation. 

A member of the National Academy of Inventors, Ramanujam has received numerous awards and honors for her transformational contributions to women’s health, including the U.S. Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Innovator Award, the IEEE Biomedical Engineering Technical Field Award and the AnitaB.org Social Impact Award. 

Fun fact: Her talents extend beyond biomedical engineering — Ramanujam is also a talented, self-taught musician and pianist! 

Learn more about Ramanujam and her fellow Longhorn NAE inductees.