McCabe completed her PhD thesis at the Jacob School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego in early 2019. In her thesis, McCabe used molecular and cellular computational simulations to study cardiac mechanics. Her thesis was titled: “Multiscale Computational Approaches for the Study of Dilated Cardiomyopathy.” During her last year, McCabe was awarded two prestigious honors reflecting her academic performance.
Along with five other students from the UCSD School of Engineering, McCabe was selected to the Siebel Scholars Program. The program recognizes the most talented students at 29 graduate schools of business, computer science, bioengineering, and energy science in the United States, China, France, Italy, and Japan. Each year, top graduate students from each institution are selected as Siebel Scholars. Siebel Scholars are chosen by the Deans of each school on the basis of outstanding academic performance and qualities of leadership. Siebel Scholars are key advisors to the Siebel Foundation, guiding the development of innovative programs the Foundation initiates.
McCabe was further honored with the Engelson PhD Thesis Award from Jacobs School of Engineering, UCSD. Students are selected for the honors based on the recommendation of the Thesis Awards Committee, and McCabe received the recognition along with one other student.