Kristina Ropella

Dr. Kristina Ropella serves as Dean of the Opus College of Engineering and Professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at Marquette University, where she directs the Ph.D. Program in Functional Imaging and leads the Functional MRI Research Laboratory. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University and a B.S. from Marquette University.

Her research integrates signal processing, functional MRI, and neurophysiology to study:

• Cortical neuronal interactions under anesthesia
• Brain connectivity during consciousness transitions
• Advanced fMRI techniques for clinical applications
• Cardiac electrophysiological modeling

Her recent publications (2012-2022) demonstrate dual focus: educational materials on biomedical statistics and experimental design (2022), and neuroscience research exploring anesthesia effects on neural networks (2005-2015) using rat models and fMRI.

She has secured major grants for educational initiatives:

• Engineering for the Difference through the Legacy Initiative (GHR Foundation, 2023-2027)
• Master’s Across Boundaries (GHR Foundation, 2019-2023)
• Opus College Student Success Center (2018-Present)
• Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (Kern Foundation, 2017-2020)
• E-Lead Engineering Leadership Program (2014-Present)