Whether in the lab or the studio, Natalia Melbard is drawn to work that blends discipline, expression and human connection. (Photo courtesy of Melbard)
This Duke BME Student Isn’t Just Building Devices — She’s Finding Balance
Natalia Melbard came to Duke for the Biomedical Engineering (BME) program in the Pratt School of Engineering, but the rising junior quickly realized she had joined a campus where academics, creativity and community carry equal weight.
Her interest in biomedical engineering began in high school, sparked by “a phenomenal teacher” and an AP Biology course that made science feel tangible and personal. She began to see how biology connected to her own body and the world around her, and that curiosity evolved into a deeper interest in how engineering could be used to solve real medical problems.
In the Delgado Vela lab, working in association with the Bass connections team Bioremediation of Plastic Pollution to Conserve Biodiversity, Melbard studies microbes with potential applications in degrading microplastics, research that connects to environmental concerns she witnessed growing up on the Outer Banks.
Alongside her engineering coursework, she is also pursuing a Dance minor — an intentional choice that reflects her desire to balance technical rigor with creative expression. Dance offers her a different way of thinking, one rooted in emotion, movement and perspective.
But she also sees Duke as a place where rigorous academics coexist with a vibrant undergraduate experience. “Cheering Duke sports, taking part in student clubs and meeting with friends — Duke is a community where students are dedicated to their studies but also balance that with lives outside the classroom.”
Outside her classrooms, Melbard has built a campus life rooted in connection and movement. Heavily involved in Project Wild (PWILD), she serves as an orientation leader helping welcome new students into the program. As a member of the Duke Climbing Club, she can often be found on the rock wall at Wilson Gym.
Looking ahead, Melbard plans to pursue a career in medical device development in industry, with the possibility of returning to research or academia later in her career.
We sat down with her to learn about her summer plans, her advice for students interested in STEAM and why she chose to pursue dance alongside a demanding biomedical engineering curriculum.
Biomedical Engineering is already an academically intense major, why did you also decide to minor in Dance?
While my BME major sits at the intersection of building, research and impact, I’ve always had an appreciation for the arts. In high school, I took studio art and valued having a space that was less about precision and problem-solving and more about expression and perspective. Dance gives me a more expansive way of thinking that isn’t centered on a single technical problem.
I knew that I needed that balance alongside my major. My academics are very detail-oriented and structured, and dance provides permission and space to step back and think about bigger ideas and human experiences. Taking classes, rather than only participating in student groups, also gives me dance history, technique and context, which makes it feel more meaningful and intentional within my schedule.
What does your summer look like?
I’m returning to Uganda for two months through DukeEngage to continue a medical device project started last year. Our team is developing CannaSave, a device designed to improve oxygen delivery for newborns using nasal cannulas, which is the flexible tubing designed to deliver supplemental oxygen.
Visiting Ugandan hospitals last summer, we saw firsthand how understaffing can make it difficult to respond quickly when infants pull out their oxygen tubes. While this is a challenge in many healthcare settings, the consequences are especially serious where nurses are stretched thin. Our device detects when a nasal cannula becomes dislodged and immediately alerts staff, helping reduce delays in care. This summer, we’ll focus on refining and testing the prototype based on what we learned on the ground.
It will take up a significant part of my summer, but it’s been one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had at Duke — so I’m excited to return and build on it.
What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a STEAM course of study at Duke?
One thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have to separate STEM and the arts. They actually strengthen each other more than people expect. Engineering can be very structured and technical but having something like art or dance in my life helps me think more broadly about people, connections and purpose. That perspective makes me more motivated in my technical work.
I’d also say to stay curious and try things early, even if you’re not sure you’ll stick with them. A lot of my path came from just taking classes or joining programs that interested me without overthinking whether they fit perfectly. If something sparks your interest, it’s worth exploring — you can figure out how it fits into your larger path as you go.
