Now a global project manager for wire technology at Alleima Advanced Materials, the materials science and engineering alum has earned the company �鶹��Ʒ S�s 2026 Innovation Prize for her work advancing wires used in critical medical devices such as continuous glucose monitors, hearing implants and pacemakers. The annual award recognizes excellence in product development.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The work I do is very rewarding. Every day, I get to contribute to advancing medical care and treatment, �鶹��Ʒ S� McDorman says. �鶹��Ʒ S�If it �鶹��Ʒ S�s a medical device and it has a wire, Alleima is likely contributing to it somehow. �鶹��Ʒ S�

McDorman earned her doctoral degree from UCF under Associate Professor Swaminathan Rajaraman, who directs the , where researchers develop micro- and nanoscale solutions spanning biotechnology, pharmacology, plant sciences and medical devices.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I chose UCF because the [materials science and engineering] program was highly rated … and had a wide variety of research areas … �鶹��Ʒ S�

Before coming to UCF, McDorman earned her master �鶹��Ʒ S�s and bachelor �鶹��Ʒ S�s degrees in physics, but discovered a passion for applied research that required a deeper focus on materials.

�鶹��Ʒ S�When I decided to pursue a Ph.D., materials science and engineering was a natural choice, �鶹��Ʒ S� she says. �鶹��Ʒ S�I chose UCF because the program was highly rated, small and had a wide variety of research areas that I was interested in. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Through her doctoral studies, McDorman found a more biology-focused side of materials science. Her work with biosensors in Rajaraman �鶹��Ʒ S�s lab ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in the medical device industry.

She credits her research experience at UCF with preparing her for work at Alleima, where 90% of her unit �鶹��Ʒ S�s business supports medical device manufacturing.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The company has a rich history of materials innovation in steel and nickel-based alloys, �鶹��Ʒ S� McDorman says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Since we produce wire, I am constantly using base materials science knowledge to process the material in a way that achieves a specific set of properties in the end product. �鶹��Ʒ S�

She says she has always aimed for a position that would allow her to make a positive contribution to society, an opportunity she is grateful to have at Alleima.

For new graduates considering a similar path, McDorman encourages them to connect with UCF alumni on LinkedIn and to explore job opportunities in Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s growing manufacturing industry, particularly in Volusia and Flagler counties.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We put a lot into our work every day because we truly care about ensuring the best possible patient outcomes, �鶹��Ʒ S� she says. �鶹��Ʒ S�It is great that our efforts have been recognized by the business. �鶹��Ʒ S�