Students, Fellows & Scholars

Postdoctoral Fellow
Ozgur Atalay, Ph.D.
- MentorConor Walsh
- Focus AreaBioinspired Robotics
- Research InterestsDevelopment of textile-based sensing structures, special focus on soft strain and pressure sensors
- EducationMsc. Textile Technology, The University of Manchester, UK, 2009; Ph.D., Textile Technology, The University of Manchester, UK, 2014
Postdoctoral Fellow
Amir Bein, Ph.D.
- MentorDonald E. Ingber
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsSmall intestine physiology, inflammatory bowel diseases, gut barrier function in health and disease, nutrients absorption and their effect on intestinal epithelial cells, biosensors, cryo-preservation of primary and stem cells.
- EducationPh.D, Nutritional Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Israel. R.D. Training in Nutrition, Kaplan Medical Center, Meuchedet Clinics & Ministry of Health Israel. B.Sc.Nutr (Honors). The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Brian Beliveau, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsChromosome biology, nuclear organization, super-resolution imaging technologies, systems biology
- EducationPh.D., Genetics, Harvard University; B.S. & M.S., Cellular and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University
Postdoctoral Fellow
Adam Celiz, Ph.D.
- MentorDave Mooney
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsBiomaterials, Musculoskeletal and Dental Tissue Engineering
- EducationPh.D. Chemistry, Cambridge University, 2010; BSc. (Hons) Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences, University of Brighton, 2006
Postdoctoral Fellow
Leo Chou, Ph.D.
- MentorWilliam Shih
- Focus AreaMolecular Robotics, Programmable Nanomaterials, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsDNA nanotechnology, nanomedicine, targeted drug delivery, synthetic biology
- EducationPh.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 2014
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mingjie Dai, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin; George Church
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology, Programmable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsNucleic acid nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and biophysics
- EducationPh.D. candidate, Harvard Biophysics program; B.A./Sci.M. Physics, Cambridge University, UK 2010
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jonathan Didier, Ph.D.
- MentorDonald Ingber, David Weitz
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Research interestsClinical applications of droplet microfluidics
- EducationPh.D., Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2010; B.S., Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 2000
Postdoctoral Fellow
Benjamin Freedman, Ph.D.
- MentorDavid J. Mooney
- Focus AreasAdaptive Material Technologies, Biomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsBiomaterials, drug delivery, biomechanics, orthopedics, tendon/ligament, tissue engineering, structure-function relationships
- EducationPh.D., Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2017;
  B.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2011
Postdoctoral Fellow
Viktoras Frismantas, Ph.D.
- MentorDonald E. Ingber
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Researc InterestsHematologic malignancies, tumor microenvironment, bone marrow function in health and disease, tissue engineering, advanced in vitro models, high throughput screening, preclinical drug development
- EducationPh.D., Cancer Biology, University of Zurich, 2016; M.Sc., Genetics, Vilnius University, 2010; B.Sc., Molecular Biology, Vilnius University, 2008
Postdoctoral Fellow
Nicolas Garreau de Loubresse, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology, Programmable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsSynthetic biology, Genome engineering, RNA therapeutics
- EducationPh.D., Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Strasbourg, 2012; M.S. Molecular and Structural Biology, University of Strasbourg, 2009; B.S. Life Sciences, University of Strasbourg, 2007
Graduate Student
Alexander Garruss, Ph.D.
- MentorGeorge Church
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
- Research InterestsDesign and engineering of biomolecules and microbes to expand sustainable options for world energy production, commodity chemical synthesis, and environmental remediation
- EducationPh.D. Candidate, Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics, Harvard University; M.S., Computer Science, University of Kansas; B.S., Kansas State University
Postdoctoral Fellow
Tobias W. Giessen, Ph.D.
- MentorPamela A. Silver
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
- Research InterestsSynthetic Biology, Protein Engineering, Bionanotechnology, Protein Compartments and Nanostructures
- EducationPh.D., Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, 2013; M.Sc., Philipps-University Marburg and Imperial College London, Chemistry, 2010
Postdoctoral Fellow
Nikhil Gopalkrishnan, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials, Synthetic Biology
- Research Interests
- EducationPh.D., Computer Science and Engineering, 2012; B.Tech, Computer Science and Engineering, 2006
Postdoctoral Fellow
Junling Guo, Ph.D.
- MentorNeel Joshi
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems, Living Cellular Devices, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsPolyphenols, Collagen fiber, Curli fiber, Self-assembly, Surface functionalization, Metal-Phenolic Networks
- EducationPh.D., Nanostructured Materials and Interface Group, The University of Melbourne, Australia, 2016. M.S., Sichuan University, China, and National Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan, 2012.
Graduate Student
Sasan Jalili Firoozinezhad
- MentorDonald Ingber
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsOrgan-on-chips, three-dimensional models of human organs, disease modeling and drug development, tissue engineering, biomaterials
- EducationMSc in Tissue Engineering (2012), BSc in Polymer Engineering (2011), BSc in Biomedical Engineering (2010), Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Iran
Postdoctoral Fellow
Kaushik Jayaram, Ph.D.
- MentorRob Wood
- Focus AreaBioinspired Robotics
- Research InterestsBiomechanics, robustness, bioinspired robotics, distributed sensing
- EducationPh.D. in Integrative Biology at University of California Berkeley (2015); M.Tech. in Computer Integrated Manufacturing and B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (2009)
Graduate Student
Mike Jin
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
- Research InterestsMolecular and cellular computation, biomolecules as programmable information carriers and sensors, theoretical limits for biocomputation
- EducationB.S., Computer Science and Mathematics, Yale University, 2013; B.S., Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, 2013
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jongmin Kim, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsI have very broad interests in dynamic DNA nanotechnology and synthetic biology
- EducationPh.D., Biology, California Institute of Technology, 2007; B.S. Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 2000
Postdoctoral Fellow
Youngeun Kim, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsDNA Nanotechnology, Programmable Nanomaterials, DNA-Mediated Nanoparticle Assembly, Synthetic Biology, Dynamic DNA Systems
- EducationPh.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2016; B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, double major in Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2011
Graduate Student
Josie Kishi
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
- Research InterestsDNA computing, DNA self-assembly, molecular programming
- EducationB.S. Computer Science, California Institute of Technology
Postdoctoral Fellow
Elisha Krieg, Ph.D.
- MentorWilliam Shih
- Focus AreaMolecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsDNA Nanotechnology, Molecular Robotics and Materials Science
- EducationPh.D. in Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 2013; M.Sc. in Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 2009; Vordiplom in Chemistry, University of Cologne, 2006
- Contactelisha.krieg@wyss.harvard.edu
Postdoctoral Fellow
Esak Lee, Ph.D.
- MentorChristopher Chen; Donald Ingber
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsOrgan-on-chips, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, cancer, vascular diseases
- EducationPh.D., Bioengineering, Johns Hopkins University; M.S., Pharmacy; B.S., Chemical Engineering, Seoul National University
Postdoctoral Fellow
Giuk Lee, Ph.D.
- MentorConor J. Walsh
- Focus AreaBioinspired Robotics
- Research InterestsExoskeletons, Energy-efficient systems, Redundant actuations
- EducationPh. D., Robust Design Engineering Laboratory, Seoul National University, 2014; B.S., Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, 2010
Postdoctoral Fellow
Junmin Lee, Ph.D.
- MentorAli Khademhosseini
- Focus AreasAdaptive Material Technologies, Biomimetic Microsystems, Living Cellular Devices
- Research InterestsBiomaterials, Stem cells, Tissue Engineering, Bioreactors
- EducationPh.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2017; M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 2010; B.S., Materials Science and Engineering; Yonsei University, 2008
Postdoctoral Fellow
Xiang Li, Ph.D.
- MentorDavid Walt
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsAdvanced diagnostics, clinical pathology
- EducationPh.D. Analytical Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, 2017; B.S. Chemistry, Nanjing University, 2012
Postdoctoral Fellow
Samira Musah, Ph.D.
- MentorGeorge Church; Donald Ingber
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsStem cell and developmental biology, organs-on-chips microphysiological systems, disease modeling and therapeutic development, mechanobiology in cell fate determination and disease progression, regenerative medicine, genome engineering of mammalian cells, mechanisms of hereditary and acquired diseases
- EducationPh.D. in Chemistry with training at the Chemical-Biology Interface, University of Wisconsin Madison, 2012; B.S.-Honors in Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, 2006
Postdoctoral Fellow
Bhavik Nathwani, Ph.D.
- MentorWilliam Shih
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsMolecular biophysics, ultra-high resolution imaging, synthetic biology
- EducationPh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
Postdoctoral Fellow
Piotr Nowak, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsDNA nanotechnology, self-assembly & self-organization, artificial life
- EducationPh.D., University of Groningen, Chemistry, M.Sc., University of Warsaw, Chemistry
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ryan Orszulik, Ph.D.
- MentorRob Wood
- Focus AreaBioinspired Robotics, Biomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsBioinspired systems, microrobotics, smart structures, piezoelectric actuators
- EducationB.A.Sc. York University, 2007; Ph.D. York University, 2014
Postdoctoral Fellow
Berna Özkale Edelmann, Ph.D.
- MentorDavid J. Mooney
- Focus AreasBiomimetic Microsystems, Immuno-Materials
- Research InterestsProgrammable nanostructures, biomaterials, cancer research
- EducationPh.D., Material Science at the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, 2016; M.S., Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, 2011; B.S., Chemical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2009
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mirkó Palla, Ph.D.
- MentorGeorge Church
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
- Research InterestsHigh-throughput, single-molecule DNA sequencing technologies; bionano instrumentation for genomic applications
- EducationPh.D. Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University; B.S. Mechanical Engineering with Minor in Mathematics, Clarkson University
Postdoctoral Fellow
Anne-Laure Papa, Ph.D.
- MentorDonald Ingber
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials, Biomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsDevelopment of novel translationally directed therapeutic systems including programmable nanoparticles and ex vivo modified cells (e.g. platelets), utilizing surface modifications and biomimicry to ensure optimal circulation times and multifunctional therapeutic effects on various disease models. My current research interests are inspired by platelet physiology and their implications in cancer metastasis and vascular diseases.
- EducationPh.D. in Physical Chemistry in partnership with NVH Medicinal Biotechnology, University of Bourgogne, France; M.Sc. Chemistry of Interfaces and Materials, University of Bourgogne, France
Research Associate
Francesco S. Pasqualini, Ph.D.
- MentorKevin Kit Parker
- Focus AreaAdaptive Material Technologies, Biomimetic Microsystems, Immuno-Materials, 3D Organ Engineering
- Research InterestsComputational Biophysics; Tissue engineering; Organs-on-chips; Stem Cell Bioengineering; Quality Assurance for Regenerative Medicine
- EducationBiomedical Engineering, University of Bologna, Italy; PhD, Physics and Materials Science, University of Marche, Italy
Postdoctoral Fellow
Tommaso Ranzani, Ph.D.
- MentorsRobert J. Wood, Conor J. Walsh
- Focus AreaBioinspired Robotics
- Research InterestsSoft Robotics, Medical Devices, Bioinspired Design, Surgical Robotics, Sensing and Actuation, Advanced Manufacturing
- EducationPh.D. in BioRobotics, The BioRobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 2014; M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Pisa, 2010; B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Pisa, 2008
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sheila Russo, Ph.D.
- MentorsRob Wood, Conor Walsh
- Focus AreaBioinspired Robotics
- Research InterestsSurgical robotics, soft robotics, sensing and actuation, meso and micro-scale manufacturing techniques, and advanced materials
- EducationPh.D., Biorobotics, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy, 2014
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jonathan Sabaté del Río, Ph.D.
- MentorDonald Ingber
- Focus AreaBiomimetic Microsystems
- Research InterestsBiosensors, Microfabrication, DNA technology, microfluidics, biorecepetors, miniaturization and automation of assays
- EducationPh.D. in Chemical, Environmental and Process Engineering, University Rovira i Virgili, 2015; Master's in Nanoscience and Nanotechnoloy, University Rovira i Virgili, 2011; Licentiate in Chemistry, University Rovira i Virgili, 2010
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sinem Saka, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsNucleic acid nanotechnology, super-resolution imaging, cell biology
- EducationB.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Middle East Technical University, Turkey, 2008; M.Sc. in Molecular Biology, University of Goettingen, Germany, 2010; Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, University of Goettingen/International Max Planck Research School, Germany, 2013
Postdoctoral Fellow
Andres Sanz Garcia, Ph.D.
- MentorChristopher Chen
- Focus AreasBiomimetic Microsystems, 3D Organ Engineering
- Research Interests3D organ engineering, organs-on-chip
- EducationPh.D. Mechanical Engineering, University La Rioja (2013); M.S. in Industrial Engineering, University La Rioja; B.S. in Electrical Engineering, University La Rioja; B.S. in Electronics, University La Rioja, Spain
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hiroshi Sasaki, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsChromosome biology, RNA biology, single-molecule biophysics, super-resolution imaging, systems biology
- EducationPh.D., Structural Biology, The University of Tokyo, 2011; M.S., Biophysics and Biochemistry, The University of Tokyo, 2007; B.S. Biophysics and Biochemistry, The University of Tokyo, 2005
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jonathan Scheiman, Ph.D.
- MentorGeorge Church
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
- Research InterestsGenomics and Synthetic Biology, Sports Biotechnology, Elite Athlete Microbiomes
- EducationPh.D., Biomedical Science, Sackler Institute @ NYU School of Medicine, 2010 B.S., St. Johns University, Biology, 2003
Postdoctoral Fellow
Nisarg Shah, Ph.D.
- MentorDavid Mooney
- Focus AreaImmuno-Materials
- Research InterestsBiomaterials, Immune Engineering
- EducationPh.D. Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014; B.S., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 2009
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jie Shen, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology, Programmable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsDNA architecture based bottom-up nanofabrication of optical and electronic devices
- EducationPh.D., Chemistry, Peking University, 2010; B.S., Chemistry, Peking University, 2005
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jesse L. Silverberg, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsMaker-style instrumentation and computer vision software as tools for exploratory science, Multiscale-biophysics and systems-biomechanics in living materials, The role of geometry and microstructure in mechanical metamaterials, Extreme forms of collective motion in active matter
- EducationPh.D., Physics, Cornell University, 2013; M.S. Physics, Cornell University, 2012; B.S. Physics, Northeastern University 2009; B.S. Mathematics, Northeastern University, 2009; B.S. Philosophy, Northeastern University, 2009, Currently NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellow (F-32), Previously NSF Graduate Research Fellow, IGERT Fellow, and Matthews Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
Lizeth Sloot, Ph.D.
- MentorConor Walsh
- Focus AreaBioinspired Robotics
- Research InterestsInstrumented assessment of neurophysiological impairments and the therapeutic application of assistive devices in patients with movement disorders
- EducationPh.D. in Biomechanics, MSc in Medical Physics, BSc in Medical Natural Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Postdoctoral Fellow
Wei Sun, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology, Programmable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsDNA-directed self-assembly
- EducationPh.D., Chemistry, Peking University
Postdoctoral Fellow
Toma Tomov, Ph.D.
- MentorWilliam Shih, Wesley Wong
- Focus AreaMolecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsDNA nanotechnology, single molecule biophysics, single molecule fluorescence microscopy, force spectroscopy, microfluidics
- EducationPh.D in Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 2016; M.Sc. (2012) and B.Sc. (2009) in Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev
Graduate Student
Yu Wang
- MentorGeorge Church; Peng Yin
- Focus AreaSynthetic Biology, Programmable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsSynthetic biology, super-resolution imaging, neuroscience
- EducationB.S. Nanjing University, China and University of Southampton, United Kingdom
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hua Wang, Ph.D.
- MentorDavid J. Mooney
- Focus AreaImmuno-Materials
- Reearch InterestsCancer research, Biomaterials, Drug delivery
- EducationPh.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016; B.S. Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, 2012.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hongqiang Wang, Ph.D.
- MentorRobert Wood, Conor Walsh
- Focus AreaBioinspired Robotics
- Research InterestsSoft robots, electrostatic adhesion, and electrostatic film actuators
- EducationElectrostatic adhesion, electostatic actuator and climbing robots, PhD, Advanced Mechatronics Laboratory, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2015;
  Localization algrithom of multiple noise sources by microphone arrays, M.S., B.S. Xi'an Jiaotong University, China, 2011, 2008
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sungwook Woo, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials, Synthetic Biology
- Research InterestsStructural and dynamic DNA nanotechnology, Synthetic biology
- EducationPh.D., Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, 2013; M.S. Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 2007; B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 2005
Postdoctoral Fellow
Feng Xuan, Ph.D.
- MentorPeng Yin
- Focus AreaProgrammable Nanomaterials
- Research InterestsNucleic acid nanotechnology, biosensors and medical diagnostics
- EducationPh.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2014; B.S. & M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Hunan University, 2010