Technology & Business Development

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  Research Assistant IV - Immunology
  Maximilian Benz
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Olivier Henry
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectOrgans-on-Chips
  • Research InterestsMicrofluidics, sensors, MEMS
  • EducationB.S. Biochemistry, Emmanuel College
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  Research Assistant IV
  Elizabeth Calamari
  
  • MentorRichard Novak, Donald Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectMicroengineering for Organs on Chips
  • Research InterestsMicrofluidic device design for organs-on-chip devices
  • EducationM.S., Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2015; B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Minor in Biology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2013
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  Research Assistant IV
  Tony Cao
  
  • MentorsDonald Ingber, Amir Bein, Rachelle Prantil-Baun
  • Focus AreasLiving Cellular Devices, 3D Organ Engineering
  • ProjectOrgans-on-Chips
  • Research InterestsUsing the human gut-on-chip to model environmental enteric dysfunction and screen drugs with potential therapeutic value.
  • EducationMasters in Translational Medicine, UC Berkeley-UCSF, 2018; B.A.Sc. in Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada, 2017
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  Research Support
  Anne Cheng
  
  • MentorRichie Kohman
  • Focus AreaLiving Cellular Devices
  • ProjectFISSEQ
  • Research InterestsMolecular neuroscience, gene therapy, cellular interactions
  • EducationNeurobiology, B.A. Harvard, 2017
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  Research Assistant I
  Tristan Daifuku
  
  • MentorEvan Appleton
  • Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
  • ProjectDARPA ELM
  • Research InterestsComputational scientific research and renewable energy research
  • EducationB.S. Lafayette College, Mathematics, 2016
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  Research Assistant II - Microbiology
  Alexandre L. M. Dinis
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Mark Cartwright
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsDARPA Sepsis, THoR
  • Research InterestsEmerging and infectious diseases, pathogen/pathogen fragment detection and capture through ELISA under various treatments, vaccine preparation, tolerance to disease, microfluidics
  • EducationB.S. Boston College, Biology, 2016
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  Research Assistant III
  Nina M. Donghia
  
  • MentorJames J. Collins
  • Focus AreaLiving Cellular Devices
  • ProjectsPaper-based Diagnostics, Portable Molecular Manufacturing
  • Research InterestsDesign and testing of paper-based gene networks, protein engineering and expression in cell-free systems, on-demand protein manufacturing
  • EducationB.A. Sarah Lawrence College, Cellular Biology, 2008
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  Research Assistant III - Materials/Chemistry
  Thomas Doyle
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Michael Super
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsDARPA Sepsis
  • Research InterestsFabrication of functional surfaces for biosensor and therapeutic applications, surface chemistry, bioconjugation, and product development
  • EducationM.A. University of Texas at Austin, Chemistry, 2007; B.S. University of Massachusetts, Chemistry, 2001
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  Clinical Research Coordinator
  Jack Eiel
  Jack graduated from Colgate University in 2015 with degrees in Biology and Philosophy. A native Philadelphian, Jack returned to the University of Pennsylvania where he coordinated clinical research for the Institute of Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism. Projects he was most involved with focused on early diagnosis and treatment of Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes, as well...
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  Research Assistant II
  Isabel Goldaracena
  
  • MentorsPeng Yin, Sinem Saka, Josie Kishi
  • Focus AreasMolecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
  • ProjectImmuno-SABER
  • Research InterestsMolecular nanotechnology, Highly multiplexed imaging, DNA self-assembling
  • EducationB.S. in Biotechnology, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM), Mexico, 2018
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  Research Assistant IV
  Keeve Gurkin M.Sc.
  
  • MentorMichael Aizenberg, Tanya Shirman
  • Focus AreaAdaptive Material Technologies
  • ProjectHeterogeneous Catalytic Systems, Marine Anti-Fouling Materials
  • Research InterestsNanoparticle synthesis, Colloidal Systems, Catalysis Materials, Slippery Surface Coatings
    
  • EducationB.Sc. and M.Sc. Chemistry, Northeastern University, 2010
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  Research Assistant IV
  Isaac Han
  
  • MentorsGeorge Church, Denitsa Milanova, Eric Kelsic, Noah Davidson
  • Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
  • ProjectVectored Immunoprophylaxis, AAV Gene Therapy
  • Research InterestsCell Biology, Genetic Engineering, Aging
  • EducationB.S. UMass Amherst, Biology, 2013
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  Research Assistant - Protein Analytics and Characteristics
  Caitlin Horgan
  
  • MentorsDonald Ingber, Alex Watters, Mike Super
  • Focus AreasAdaptive Material Technologies, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectDARPA Sepsis
  • Research InterestsProtein engineering, Medicinal chemistry, Molecular pharmacology, Early stage drug design
  • EducationB.S. Chemistry, Simmons College, 2016
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  Research Assistant II
  Isaac Hsia
  
  • MentorsDonald E. Ingber, Olivier Henry
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectOrgans-on-Chips
  • Research InterestsMEMs, Organ-on-Chips
  • EducationM.S., Biomedical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, 2018; B.S., Mechanical Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, 2015
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  Research Assistant III-Analytical-Immunology
  Hamza Ijaz
  
  • MentorsEd Doherty, David Mooney
  • Focus AreaImmuno-Materials
  • ProjectDrug Release, Analytical Method Development, Autoimmune immunotherapy involving T cells expansion, generating T cells using scaffolds that mimic the way that antigen-presenting cells (APCs) activate T cells in the body.
  • Research InterestsTargeted Drug Delivery, Immunotherapy, Hydrogels and Material Science
  • EducationM.S. Organic Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 2016; B.S. Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 2015
    
    
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  Research Assistant, Materials Characterization
  Christopher Johnson
  
  • MentorEd Doherty
  • Focus AreaImmuno-Materials
  • ProjectsClick Alginate Injectable Gels, Ultrasound-Mediated Drug Delivery, and PNM Analytical Method Development
  • Research InterestsMaterial Science and Engineering of Drug Delivery and Manufacturing Processes, Analytical Method Development, and Mass Spectroscopy and Chromatography
  • EducationB.S. SUNY Environmental School of Science and Forestry/ Syracuse University Syracuse, Chemistry, 2004
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  Research Assistant III - High Throughput Screening
  Vishal Keshari
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Richard Novak
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsTHoR
  • Research InterestsStem cell biology/Regenerative medicine
  • EducationM.S. Molecular Biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; B.S. Molecular Biology/Bio. Technology, Clarion University of Pennsylvania
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  Research Assistant II
  Yukiye Koide
  
  • MentorsPamela Silver and Jeff Way
  • Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
  • ProjectiARPA FunGCAT
  • Research InterestsImmunology, genetic engineering
  • EducationA.B. Harvard University, Biomedical Engineering, 2017
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  Research Assistant III
  Collin Leese-Thompson
  
  • MentorsEd Doherty, Chris Johnson
  • Focus AreaImmuno-Materials
  • ProjectNovartis Biomaterial Systems and Drug Delivery
  • Research InterestsMaterial Science, Drug Delivery, and Immunology
  • EducationB.S. Penn State University, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2016
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  Research Assistant II
  Alex Letizia
  
  • MentorYing Kai Chan
  • PlatformSynthetic Biology
  • ProjectGene Therapy
  • Research InterestsImmunology, virology, infectious diseases
  • EducationB.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, 2017
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  Research Assistant IV, Materials Characterization Technician
  Michael Lewandowski
  
  • MentorMichael Aizenberg
  • Focus AreaAdaptive Material Technologies, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Immuno-Materials, Synthetic Biology
  • ProjectMaterials Characterization
  • Research InterestsMass Spectrometry, Chromatography, Drug Metabolism, Environmental Toxicology
  • EducationB.S. Environmental Science, University of Vermont, 2002
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  Research Assistant III - Biology/Hematology
  Shanda Lightbown
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Michael Super
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsDARPA Sepsis, DARPA THoR
  • Research InterestsLarge animal focused in-vivo study design, biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, infectious diseases, anesthesia and surgical support
  • EducationB.A. Mount Holyoke College, Biology, 2015
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  Research Assistant
  Lorena (Rena) Lyon
  
  • MentorsPamela Silver, David Riglar
  • Focus AreaSynthetic Biology
  • ProjectDean's Initiative
  • Research InterestsGene circuits, Synthetic biology
  • EducationB.A., Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Harvard College
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  R&D Machinist
  Paul Machado
  
  • Focus AreaAdaptive Material Technologies, Bioinspired Soft Robotics, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Living Cellular Devices, Molecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
  • EducationSomerville High Machine Shop Trade School, Computer Programmer at Bunker Hill College
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  Staff Instrumentation Engineer
  Susan Marquez
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Richard Novak
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsBiostasis
  • Research InterestsDevelop instrumentation to streamline screening of biological systems
  • EducationS.M. MIT, Electronic Materials; B.A. Wheaton College, Chemistry
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  Research Assistant II
  Yuka Milton
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Oren Levy, David Chou
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectBone marrow-on-a-chip
  • Research InterestsBio-inspired materials, stem cell biology, bioengineering
  • EducationB.A. Wellesley College, Biochemistry, 2015
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  Research Assistant III - Protein Engineering
  Vadika Mishra
  
  • MentorAlex Watters, Mike Super
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectDARPA Sepsis, Protein Engineering
  • Research InterestsProtein chemistry, protein purification, bioengineering, assay development
  • EducationM.S. Biochemistry, University of Guelph, 2015; B.S., Cell Molecular and Developmental Biology, Purdue University, 2011
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  Research Assistant III - Microdevice Design
  Carlos Ng
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Richard Novak
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Living Cellular Devices
  • ProjectOrgans-on-Chips, Modular Microfluidics
  • Research InterestsMicrofluidics, biomaterials, microfabrication, diagnostics Devices
  • EducationM.S. Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2014; B.S. Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2012
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  Research Associate III - Materials Chemistry
  Sami Rifai
  
  • MentorMichael Super
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsDARPA Sepsis
  • Research InterestsBioprocess design, separation design, reaction design, chemical synthesis, surface chemistry, analytical chemistry
  • EducationB.S. Purdue University, Chemical Engineering, 2014
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  Research Assistant III
  Anna Rock
  
  • MentorsMike Super, Ed Doherty, Donald Ingber
  • Focus AreasAdaptive Material Technologies, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Immuno-Materials
  • ProjectsImplantable Cancer & Autoimmune Disease Vaccines; Click Alginate Injectable Gels
  • Research InterestsOptimization of In Vivo Animal Models; Immunofluorescence; Histology; Neuroimmunology; Novel Diagnostic Technologies
  • EducationB.S., Neuroscience Track: Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2013
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  Research Assistant IV
  Melissa Rodas
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsDARPA Sepsis/DLT
  • Research InterestsProtein Expression & Purification, Process Development (Upstream/Downstream), Assay Development
  • EducationB.S. University of Rhode Island, Microbiology
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  Research Assistant
  Andreas Rousing
  
  • MentorsTimothy Walsh, Geoff Lansberry, Conor Walsh, Robert Wood
  • Focus AreasBioinspired Soft Robotics
  • ProjectExosuit, Flexi-Mitts, Acoustophoretic Printing, SensorShirt
  • Research InterestRobotics, Control Systems, Electronics, Machine Learning, Space Technology
  • EducationM.Eng. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, 2017; B.S. Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2014; B.S. Physics and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, 2014
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  Research Associate II
  Justin Scott
  
  • MentorMark Cartwright
  • Focus AreasBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Immuno-Materials, Living Cellular Devices
  • ProjectsVaccine, Sepsis
  • Research InterestsBioengeering, Biomimetics, Microbiology
  • EducationM.A., Harvard Extension School, Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, in progress; B.S., UMass Boston, Biochemistry, 2013
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  Research Assistant IV - Microbiology and Functional Performance Assays
  Benjamin Seiler
  
  • MentorDonald E. Ingber, Michael Super, Mark Cartwright
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsDARPA Sepsis, Rapid Pathogen Diagnostics
  • Research InterestsTargeted rapid infection diagnostics, sepsis therapies, emerging/infectious diseases
  • EducationB.S. University of New Hampshire, Microbiology, 2010
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  Research Assistant III - Microengineering
  Kostyantyn Shcherbina
  
  • MentorsRichard Novak, Donald Ingber
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectDARPA ThoR
  • Research InterestsBiomedical image processing, Non-invasive therapeutics and diagnostics
  • EducationB.S., Bioengineering, George Mason University, 2017
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  3D Printer Technician
  Ted Sirota
  
  • MentorJames Weaver
  • Focus AreaAdaptive Material Technologies, Bioinspired Soft Robotics, Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics, Immuno-Materials, Living Cellular Devices, Molecular Robotics, Synthetic Biology
  • Research Interests3D Printing
  • EducationB.S. Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Boston University, 2015
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  Research Assistant II
  Ben Swenor
  
  • MentorsDonald Ingber, Rachelle Prantil-Baun
  • Focus AreaBioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics
  • ProjectsLiver-on-a-Chip and Kidney-on-a-Chip
  • Research InterestsDrug discovery, Organs-on-Chips
  • EducationB.S. Cedarville University, Cellular & Molecular Biology, 2016