Students, Fellows & Scholars

• 
  Ph.D. Candidate in Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  Soufiane Aboulhouda
  
  • MentorGeorge Church
  • Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
  • ProjectSomaCode
  • Research InterestsCell Therapy, Immunology, In vivo functional genomics, bioengineering
  • EducationBS, University of California, Santa Cruz
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Seun Araromi, Ph.D.
  
  • MentorsConor Walsh and Rob Wood
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Soft Robotics
  • ProjectWearable digital health devices
  • Research InterestsDevelopment of compliant transducers technologies for wearable digital health systems
  • EducationPh.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, UK, 2012
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Andrés Cubillos-Ruiz, Ph.D.
  
  • MentorJim Collins
  • Focus AreaLiving Cellular Devices
  • ProjectEngineered Live Biotherapeutics for Antibiotic-Induced Dysbiosis
  • Research InterestsCombining genomics with synthetic biology approaches to understand microbial physiology and engineer microbes into novel therapeutics and diagnostics
  • EducationPh.D., Microbiology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015; M.Sc., Microbiology, Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, 2007
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Queeny Dasgupta
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Living Cellular Devices
  • ProjectDeveloping a model for radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis using the alveolus-on-chip platform
  • Research InterestsOrgan-on-chip devices, pulmonary fibrosis, epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, disease modeling
  • EducationPostdoc, Tufts University, USA, July 2018-Jan 2020; Ph.D. Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India, 2018
• 
  Research Associate in Bioengineering
  Irene de Lázaro
  
  • MentorDave Mooney
  • Focus AreaImmuno-Materials
  • Research InterestsNanomaterials, tissue regeneration, immunomodulation
  • EducationPh.D, Regenerative Medicine, University College London, 2015; MSc, Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of London, 2011; MPharm, Pharmacy, Alcalá University, Madrid, 2009
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Helena de Puig
  
  • MentorJames J. Collins
  • Focus AreaLiving cellular devices, Synthetic biology,
  • ProjectNew tools to detect proteins and nucleic acids
  • Research InterestsPoint-of-care diagnostics, Nanotechnology, Synthetic biology
  • EducationPh.D. Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2017; M.S. Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2013; Eng. Industrial, Institut Quimic de Sarria, URL, 2010
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Debraj Ghose
  
  • MentorDon Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics and Diagnostics
  • ProjectSloan Matter-to-Life
  • Research InterestsCell and tissue dynamics; In vitro, mathematical, and computational models
  • EducationPhD, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Duke University, 2021
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Tal Gilboa
  
  • MentorDavid Walt
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectDeveloping sensors for diagnostics
  • Research Interests Point-of-care diagnostics, Nanotechnology, Single molecule sensing
  • EducationPh.D., Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 2018; B.Sc., Biomedical Engineering, Technion, 2012
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Vaskar Gnyawali
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • Research InterestsMicrofluidics, Biomedical devices, Drug delivery, Diagnostics
  • EducationPh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, 2018; M.Sc., Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, 2013; B.E., Computer Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, 2009
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Fan Hong
  
  • MentorPeng Yin
  • Focus AreasMolecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
  • Research InterestsMolecular Programing, System/Synthetic Biology, Bioinformatics
  • EducationPh.D. Arizona State University, 2019; B.S. Huazhong University of Science and Technology
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Zohreh Izadifar, Ph.D.
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, 3D Organ Engineering
  • Research InterestsBiomimetic tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, 3D bioprinting, advanced biomedical imaging
  • EducationPh.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 2015; M.Sc. Civil and Geological Engineering-Hydroinformatics, University of Saskatchewan, 2010
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Seongmin Kim
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber
  • Focus AreasBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Living Cellular Devices
  • ProjectOrgans-on-Chips
  • Research InterestsOrgan-on-chips, Tissue engineering, Human microbiome, Gut-brain axis, Personalized medicine, Pluripotent stem cells
  • EducationPh.D., Bioengineering, The University of Tokyo, 2019
• 
  Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  Christos Kyprianou
  
  • MentorDon Ingber
  • ProjectBone Marrow-on-a-Chip
  • Research InterestsOrgans-on-a-chip, Synthetic Biology, Developmental Biology, Biophysics
  • EducationBSc, Genetics at the University of Leicester, UK
    MSc, Clinical Embryology at the University of Oxford, UK
    MRes, Developmental Biology at the University of Cambridge, UK
    Ph.D., Developmental Biology at the University of Cambridge, UK
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Ninning Liu, Ph.D.
  
  • MentorPeng Yin
  • PlatformMolecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
  • ProjectDeveloping real-time, nanoscale labeling technology
  • Research InterestsDNA nanotechnology, Super-resolution imaging using DNA probes, Programmed protein assembly
  • EducationPh.D., Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California - Berkeley, 2013; B.S., Biochemisty, B.A., Chemistry University of Washington, 2007
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Junzhe Lou
  
  • MentorDavid Mooney
  • Focus AreasAdaptive Material Technologies, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectSingle cell encapsulation in microgels
  • Research InterestsBiomaterials, Microgel, Mechanobiology
  • EducationPh.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2019;
    M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2016;
    B.E., Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 2013
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Xiaokang Lun
  
  • MentorPeng Yin
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics Molecular Robotics
  • ProjectDNA nano-device for the sensing and quantification of biomolecules and their dynamic behaviors
  • Research InterestsDNA molecular robotics; Systems biology; Single-cell analysis; Cell signaling
  • EducationPh.D. Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 2018;
    M.S. Biomedical Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 2013;
    B.S. Biology, Wuhan University, 2011
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Yuncheng Man
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • Research InterestsOrgan-on-chips, Point-of-care diagnostics, Disease modeling, Drug testing
  • Education Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, 2021; B.S., Dalian University of Technology, 2016
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Dionis Minev
  
  • MentorWilliam Shih
  • Focus AreasMolecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
  • ProjectLow-cost, ultrasensitive diagnostic platform for detecting nucleic acids and proteins
  • Research InterestsDNA nanotechnology, ultrasensitive diagnostics, synthetic biology
  • EducationPh.D., Engineering Sciences, Harvard University, 2020; M.Sc., Medical Technology and Engineering, Technical University of Munich, 2015; B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 2012
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Alican Ozkan
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber
  • Focus Area3D Organ Engineering, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Living Cellular Devices
  • ProjectCancer Research UK
  • Research InterestsMicrofluidics, Organ-on-a-chips, Biomimetic Tissue Engineering, Hepatology, Gastroenterology
  • Education Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2020; M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, Bilkent University, 2015; B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, METU - NCC, 2013
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Ana Raquel P. Santa Maria, Ph.D.
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber and James Gorman
  • Focus AreasBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, 3D Organ Engineering
  • ProjectBrain Targeting Program
  • Research InterestsBlood-brain barrier (BBB), brain microvessels, endothelial cells, surface proteins, BBB targets for drug transport
  • EducationPh.D. in Biology, Szeged University, Hungary, 2021; M.S. in Biological Engineering, Algarve University, Portugal, 2015
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Sukanya Punthambaker
  
  • MentorGeorge Church
  • Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
  • Research InterestsNanopore sequencing, in situ sequencing, synthetic biology, protein engineering
  • EducationPh.D., Molecular Biology, University of Michigan; M.Sc., Biotechnology, University of Mysore
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Joanna Robaszewski
  
  • MentorPeng Yin
  • Focus AreasBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Molecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
  • ProjectsDNA bionanotechology, advanced tissue imaging, rapid diagnostics
  • Research InterestsDNA nanotechnology, advanced bioimaging, reliable rapid diagnostics, programmable biomaterials
  • EducationPh.D., Physics, Brandeis University, 2021; M.S., Physics, Brandeis University 2015; B.S., Physics, California Institute of Technology, 2013
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Justin Rolando
  
  • MentorDavid Walt
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsPoint-of-Care Tuberculosis Diagnostics, Bio-Inspired Single-molecule Diagnostics
  • Research InterestsUsing single-molecule detection to improve the quality of medical diagnostics, longitudinal studies of human health, and increasing access to the health-care system via Point-of-Care diagnostics.
  • EducationPh.D., Caltech with Rustem Ismagilov (Chemistry, 2019); Double BA, Univ Colorado - Boulder with Bruce Eaton (BioChem, MCD-Bio, Minor Chem, 2009). Fashion Director - Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good (2001).
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Elee Shimshoni
  
  • MentorDonald Ingber
  • Focus Areas3D Organ Engineering, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • Research InterestsOrgan chips, cancer, inflammation, extracellular matrix
  • EducationPhD, Life Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 2019; M.Sc., Life Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 2014; B.Sc., Biology and Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2011
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Woojung Shin
  
  • MentorsJames J. Collins; Donald E. Ingber
  • Focus AreasSynthetic Biology; 3D Organ Engineering
  • ProjectInvestigation of the carcinogenic effects of bactericidal antibiotics in the gut
  • Research InterestsSynthetic biology, Host-microbiome interaction, Organ-on-a-chip
  • EducationPh.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Biomedical Engineering, 2020; M.S., Sungkyunkwan University, Chemical Engineering, 2015; B.S., Sungkyunkwan University, Chemical Engineering, 2014
• 
  Postdoctoral Researcher
  Prakash Shrestha
  
  • MentorsWesley P. Wong and William M. Shih
  • Focus AreaMolecular Robotics
  • ProjectDeveloping methods for single-molecule proteomics
  • Research InterestsSingle molecule technologies, DNA nanotechnology, Mechanobiology
  • EducationPh.D. Chemistry, Kent State University, Ohio, USA, 2018; M.Sc. Physical Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2010
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Luis R. Soenksen
  
  • MentorJames J. Collins
  • Focus AreasLiving Cellular Devices, Synthetic Biology, 3D Organ Engineering
  • ProjectsWearable Synthetic Biology, Medical Devices, CRISPR-Electronics, Novel Sensors
  • Research InterestsWearables, Synthetic Biology, Medical Devices, Electronic sensors, Organs-on-chips, Microfluidics
  • EducationMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Ph.D. Candidate Mechanical Engineering, 2020; Johns Hopkins University
    MSE Graduate - Bioengineering Innovation and Design, 2012; Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM)
    B.S. Biomedical Engineering, 2010
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Megan Sperry
  
  • MentorsMichael Levin & Richard Novak
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectBiostasis
  • Research InterestsComplex systems, cognition, adaptive plasticity of the brain & other tissues, learning & memory
  • EducationPh.D., Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2019; M.Phil., Structural Biomechanics, Imperial College London, 2014; B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 2012
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Anna Stejskalová
  
  • MentorDonald Ingber
  • Focus Areas3D Organ Engineering, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectCervix-on-a-chip
  • Research InterestsOrgan-on-a-chip, Women's health, Mechanobiology
  • EducationPh.D., Bioengineering, Imperial College London, 2019; MSc, Trinity College Dublin & University of Groningen, 2014
• 
  Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  Hanquan Su
  
  • MentorPeng Yin
  • Focus AreasLiving Cellular Devices, Molecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
  • ProjectHighly multiplexed, DNA-based super-resolution imaging
  • Research InterestsDNA nanotechnology, DNA-based bioimaging, Super-resolution imaging
  • EducationPh.D. in Chemistry, Emory University, 2020;
    B.S. in Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 2014
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Jiuhai Wang
  
  • MentorDonald Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics and Diagnostics
  • ProjectAlzheimer's Disease-on-Chip, Brain Targeting Program
  • Research InterestsBlood-brain barrier (BBB)-on-Chip, Alzheimer's disease models, BBB function in brain diseases, BBB shuttles for brain transport.
  • Education Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2020
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Nicole Weckman
  
  • MentorJames J. Collins
  • Focus Area Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • Research InterestsPoint-of-care diagnostics, CRISPR/Cas systems, DNA nanotechnology, single-molecule nanopore sensing, BioMEMS, synthetic biology
  • EducationPh.D. in Engineering, University of Cambridge, 2018; MEng in Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 2013; BASc in Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, 2011
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Mohamed Yafia
  
  • MentorDonald Ingber
  • Focus AreaAdaptive Material Technologies, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Immuno-Materials
  • ProjecteRapid: Multiplexed electrochemical sensors for fast, accurate, portable diagnostics
  • Research InterestsPoint-of-Care Testing, Microfluidics and Biosensing
  • EducationPh.D., University of British Columbia, 2017; MSc and BSc, Cairo University, Mechanical Engineering, 2011 and 2009
• 
  Postdoctoral Fellow
  Yunhao Zhai
  
  • MentorDonald Ingber
  • Focus AreasBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics,Living Cellular Devices
  • ProjectDeveloping organ-on-chips to study human immune responses and vaccines
  • Research InterestsImmunology, Organ-on-chips, T cell signaling, germinal center reaction
  • Education Ph.D., Immunology, Aix-Marseille University, France