Rebecca A. Bercich

Dr. Rebecca A. Bercich is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Her work bridges biomedical engineering, sustainable technology, and technical communication.

• Education: PhD, MS, and BS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University (2016, 2011, 2010).

Research Interests focus on:

• Plastic recycling technology and closed-loop economies, including collaboration with reTHink, Inc. to address Wabash Valley plastic waste.
• Biomedical instrumentation and devices, stemming from her PhD work on wireless neuromuscular interfaces.
• Atmospheric water harvesting and technical communication in engineering to advance interdisciplinary education.

Article Trends highlight her dual focus on biomedical innovation (wireless implants, prosthetic control) and sustainability (plastic upcycling, global engineering education). Her work also emphasizes engineering pedagogy, particularly in technical writing and cross-disciplinary curricula.

Scientific Awards:

• Estus H. and Vashti L. Magoon Award for Excellence in Teaching (2015)
• Purdue Teaching Academy Graduate Teaching Award (2015)
• Third Place, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance Biomedical Engineering Startup Competition (2011)

Teaching Interests include mechatronics, engineering design, measurement systems, and graphical communications. She mentors student projects through Rose-Hulman’s plastic up-cycling center funded by an Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) grant.