Student Profile
Esther Hodapp

Biomedical Engineering '10

Esther Hodapp believes strongly in perseverance. As a rock-climbing instructor for UC Davis Outdoor Adventures and a full-time graduate student in biomedical studies, Hodapp finds perseverance is the key to her success. “There are so many tests to run and things to look out for, and you have to persevere through them all.”

While a high school student, Hodapp knew she wanted a career in a medical field but not as a doctor. Her physics teacher recommended biomedical engineering, and she has been on that path ever since. Hodapp completed her masters degree at the University of Iowa with upper-extremities researcher Nicole Grosland, and is continuing her doctoral studies at UC Davis by researching total knee replacements under the advisement of Maury Hull, professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering.

Hodapp hopes to continue her research on total knee replacements, and specifically wants to increase the longevity of knee replacements, which typically last only about ten years. She jokes that she would love to cure osteoarthritis, the syndrome that makes knee replacements necessary, “…but then I would be putting myself out of a job!”

While she has many goals for the future of her work, Hodapp is quite proud of the things she has accomplished so far. Some of her proudest moments are memories of completed projects, published work, and of research that culminates in an end product. Just as no rock is too high to climb, no goal is too far out of reach, and Hodapp will persevere in the end.