Alumni Spotlight: Luke Perkins, M.Eng. 2007

As an M.Eng. student at Cornell, Luke Perkins researched the mechanical properties of collagen gels in the Bonassar Lab. After graduation, he relocated to Colorado to work for Covidien Respiratory and Monitoring Solutions (now part of Medtronic) in Sustaining Engineering supporting failure investigations and cost savings projects for several lines of disposable medical devices including tracheostomy tubes, endotracheal tubes and pH-based CO2 detectors. Here, he also worked a program management rotation supporting the launch of PB980 next generation ventilator.

In 2015, Perkins moved back to the Northeast, taking a role as core team leader at Becton Dickinson, where he is responsible for managing a portfolio of sustaining projects for a product line called PhaSealTM, which is used in the safe preparation and administration of hazardous drugs. His team is responsible for supporting global projects encompassing line extensions, cost savings and failure investigations. He has had the opportunity to work closely with a manufacturing team located in Madrid and regional business leaders in the U.S., Europe, China and Japan.

Last fall Perkins matriculated into the SC Johnson School of Business to pursue an Executive MBA. After graduation, he plans to continue working in leadership roles within the medical device industry.