The ultra-fine wires Cacie McDorman ’20 helps develop are small in size but transformative in impact.

Now a global project manager for wire technology at Alleima Advanced Materials, the materials science and engineering alum has earned the company’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.

β€œThe work I do is very rewarding. Every day, I get to contribute to advancing medical care and treatment,” McDorman says. β€œIf it’s a medical device and it has a wire, Alleima is likely contributing to it somehow.”

Woman wearing glasses and a dark blazer smiles in a professional headshot against a white background.
ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ alum Cacie McDorman ’20 serves as global project manager for wire technology at Alleima Advanced Materials.

McDorman earned her doctoral degree from ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ under Associate Professor Swaminathan Rajaraman, who directs the , where researchers develop micro- and nanoscale solutions spanning biotechnology, pharmacology, plant sciences and medical devices.

β€œI chose ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ because the [materials science and engineering] program was highly rated … and had a wide variety of research areas …”

Before coming to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, McDorman earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in physics, but discovered a passion for applied research that required a deeper focus on materials.

β€œWhen I decided to pursue a Ph.D., materials science and engineering was a natural choice,” she says. β€œI chose ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ because the program was highly rated, small and had a wide variety of research areas that I was interested in.”

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

She credits her research experience at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ with preparing her for work at Alleima, where 90% of her unit’s business supports medical device manufacturing.

β€œThe company has a rich history of materials innovation in steel and nickel-based alloys,” McDorman says. β€œSince 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.”

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 ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ alumni on LinkedIn and to explore job opportunities in Florida’s growing manufacturing industry, particularly in Volusia and Flagler counties.

β€œWe put a lot into our work every day because we truly care about ensuring the best possible patient outcomes,” she says. β€œIt is great that our efforts have been recognized by the business.”