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By: Eli Freund, Editorial Communications Manager, UConn School of Engineering\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Continuing on the success of the past several years, the University of Connecticut School of Engineering has two finalists in this year\u2019s Women of Innovation Awards, an annual program presented by The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) and the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC),\u00a0which recognizes outstanding women in STEM.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s finalists from UConn Engineering include Leila Daneshmandi (Collegian Innovation and Leadership<\/strong>), a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering and co-founder of biomedical company Encapsulate, LLC and Maria Chrysochoou (Post-Secondary Academic Innovation and Leadership<\/strong>), department head for Civil and Environmental Engineering and executive director of the Connecticut Brownfields Initiative.<\/p>\n According to the press release, Women of Innovation\u00ae\u00a0Finalists are nominated by their peers, coworkers, and mentors, and are selected based on their professional experience, history of innovation, ability to think creatively and solve problems, and demonstration of leadership. The finalists were selected from more than 150 women nominated earlier this year, one of the strongest fields in the 16 years of Women of Innovation\u00ae.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This year\u2019s 50 Finalists include researchers, educators, engineers, managers, students, and entrepreneurs who work in or study biotech, pharmaceuticals, software, computer hardware, advanced materials, medical devices, IT, and associated fields.<\/p>\n High school, undergraduate and graduate students who have exhibited extraordinary and unique achievements in their technology disciplines are also among the finalists. Students are judged on inventiveness, STEM accomplishments, independent research, community service, and academic performance.<\/p>\n