BME graduate student, Josh Leipheimer, was awarded a 2-year, $69,058, NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellowship to support his PhD dissertation project involved with the development of a hand-held autonomous device for safely and efficiently obtaining venous access in patients. The device works by using ultrasound imaging to identify vessels for cannulation in order to robotically guide an attached needle safely to the vein center, all comprised within a single unit. The proposed research involves development of puncture prediction software for assuring first-stick accuracy, and the hand-held robotic device for portable use. Josh is advised by Professor Martin Yarmush.