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Staff

Staff

W. Matthew Leevy, Ph.D.

Director
wleevy@nd.edu

In addition to serving as the Lab's Director, Matt is a research associate professor within the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, and a capstone project adviser and mentor to students in the ESTEEM Graduate Program. Matt has co-founded two companies: In Vivo Concepts LLC, and Benefactory Manufacturing and Design LLC. Matt operates a vibrant, collaborative, and entrepreneurial space, with broad experience in imaging technologies, object fabrication, and business creation. He is also incredibly photogenic.
Tony Van Avermaete

Manager
avanaver@nd.edu

Tony specializes in industrial design and prototyping. He holds one issued utility patent (2019) and co-founded a preclinical anesthesia device startup, In Vivo Concepts LLC. Tony holds a SolidWorks Certified Professional (CSWP) certification and is proficient in numerous CAD packages. His skill set includes 2D and 3D design, rapid prototyping, and he has helped develop hundreds of products for the Lab's clients. He is also the world's leading expert in Rokenbok.
Chris "Ocean" Owsianowski

Prototyping Specialist
cowsiano@nd.edu

Ocean is an artisan woodworker and runs his own company, Third Coast Woodshop. He is available on a part-time basis to help with any wood projects in the Lab. Chris is a former Coast Guard member and bakes a mean brownie.
Brandon Welsch

Graphics Lab Manager
bpwelsch@gmail.com

Brandon is an Artist and Graphic designer who specializes in dye-sublimation and UV printing technology. He helps the team enhance products and prototypes with graphic elements through his design skills. He has studied art and design in Florence, Italy and co-founded a design agency and a production company. He hopes to someday live in a van down by the river.
Ryan Kiner

Innovation Scholar
ryan.kiner@gmail.com

Ryan is a Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Saint Joseph Health System and has nearly a decade of successful experience in hiring and candidate management. He has an uncanny ability to read and connect with people of all backgrounds and has honed these skills to best help individuals land their dream purpose, spanning across many industries, including manufacturing, finance and healthcare. While attending college in Chicago, Ryan started a Design business and two businesses in Indiana. Currently he is a Co-Founder of Social Monet, a social club based in the South Bend Region that carefully curates events in an enriched environment, bringing unique segments of people together, leading to deeper interactions to further and build community.
Dorothy "Dot" Crumlish

Project Engineer
dcrumlis@nd.edu

Dot is a Sorin Scholar and Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Notre Dame. Dot holds a Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP) certificate, and has a background in architectural drafting. During her time at the lab, she has designed, prototyped, and built many products ranging from rollerblades to desks. Outside the lab, she loves to fold origami and is officially an expert fish sitter by the 10,000-hour rule.
Elizabeth "Izzy" Kamayangi

Lab Assistant
ekamayan@nd.edu

Izzy is an entrepreneurial innovator born and raised in Uganda. She is a graduate student at University of Notre Dame pursing a masters degree in Engineering, science and technology Entrepreneurship. Background in Electrical Engineering and med tech innovation. Izzy is fearless. At the sight of a ladder she will courageously climb to the top. Perhaps even without any ladder she will find a way.
Logan Kocka

Lab Assistant
Lkocka@nd.edu

Logan is a recent graduate from Miami University with a Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering. She also has coding, analytics, and IT experience. She is now an ESTEEM student at the University of Notre Dame, graduating in May 2023. In the IDEA Lab, Logan is a lab assistant on the graphic design team. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports and hiking. Her favorite sport to play is racquetball.
David Lyke

Lab Assistant
dlyke@nd.edu

David is a graduate student in the ESTEEM Program at the University of Notre Dame. He loves working hands-on and with CAD to bring ideas from a concept to a final product, and has modeled everything from chess pieces to entire semitrailers. David previously studied Mechanical Engineering at Marquette University and is also an Apple Certified Mac Technician.
Adrian Pacheco

Graphics Lab Intern
apachec2@nd.edu

Adrian Pacheco is a Senior Graphic Design Major at Indiana University South Bend. He studies alternative print technologies for application in personal and commercial projects. Adrian is wanted by the Department of Natural Resources for handling rare and endangered salamanders.