Graduate Students
Omar
Banda
Matriculated: Fall 2014
Program: PhD
Research Area: Biofunctional materials and cellular engineering
Research Adviser: John Slater
Previous Degrees: BS Cell Biology and Biochemistry from Rice University
Honors & Awards: 2015 IGERT Fellow
Email: obanda@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Jamie Benson
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: Cartilage biomechanics and tribology
Research Adviser: David Burris and Christopher Price
Previous Degrees: BE in Biomedical Engineering, CUNY City College of New York
Honors & Awards: 2017 Chair’s Fellowship
Email: jmbenson@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: 333 Spencer Laboratory
Ellen Bloom
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: Mechanics of fiber-reinforced tissues and tendinopathy
Research Adviser: Dawn Elliott
Previous Degrees: BBmE in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minnesota
Honors & Awards: 2017 Robert W. Gore Fellowship, 2017 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: etbloom@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: 160 (office)/148 (lab) DuPont
Ali Bozorgnezhad
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD (Mechanical Engineering)
Research Area: Multiphase Flow, Microfluidics, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics
Research Adviser: Dr. Jason Gleghorn, Dr. David Burris (ME)
Previous Degrees: M.S. Mechanical Engineering, K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Email: abn@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Tech Park, 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Andrew Brown
Matriculated: Fall 2018
Program: PhD
Research Area: Applying droplet microfluidics to biological systems
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: BS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Lebanon Valley College
Email: brownaj@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Zheng Cao
Matriculated: Spring 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Engineering Biomaterials and 3D Tissue model to Study Cardiomyopathy
Research Adviser: Elise Corbin
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology; M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston
Email: caozheng@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park, 9 Innovation Way
Meg
an Dang
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Research Area: Targeted nanomedicine for cancer therapy
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: BS Bioengineering, University of Maryland
Honors and Awards: Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship 2017
Email: mndang@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Tech Park, 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Peyton Delgorio
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: MR Elastography for Brain and Muscle Biomechanics
Adviser: Curtis Johnson
Previous Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Email: delgorio@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Room 125
Michael Donzanti
Matriculated: Fall 2018
Program: PhD: Biomedical Engineering
Research Area: Microfluidics, Organ-on-a-Chip Devices
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering
Honors & Awards: 2018 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship, 2018 Gore Biomedical Engineering Graduate Fellowship
Email: mdonz@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Cindy Farino
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: Microfluidics and biomaterials
Research Adviser: John Slater
Previous Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University
Email: cjfarino@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park -5 Innovation Way
Margot Farnham
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD
Research Area: Articular Cartilage Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Christopher Price
Previous Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering, minor in Mathematics from Bucknell University, PA
Honors & Awards: 2016 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: mfarnham@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Andria Farrens
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD
Research Area: Motor learning, functional MRI, MR compatible robotics
Research Adviser: Fabrizio Sergi
Previous Degrees: BS in Mechanical Engineering, Minor Biomedical Engineering
Honors & Awards: 2016 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship; 2013 Harold Robert Grant Memorial Prize; 2013 Robert A and Denzil M Kepner Scholarship
Email: afarrens@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave., Suite 124
Elahe Ganji
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD (Mechanical Engineering)
Research Area: Overuse Biomechanics, Musculoskeletal Tissue Mechanics
Research Adviser: Dr. Megan Killian
Previous Degrees: B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Email: elaganji@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Rachel Gilbert
Matriculated: Fall 2015
Program: PhD
Research Area: Regenerative Medicine/Mechanics of Development
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: B.S. Cornell University – Major: Biological Engineering Minor: Biomedical Engineering M. Eng. Cornell University – Biomedical Engineering
Honors & Awards: 2015 NSF GRFP Honorable Mention 2015 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship 2015 Gore Fellow 2016 NSF GRFP Honorable Mention
Email: rgilbert@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Jeongmin Hwang
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: Biomaterials, Gene/drug delivery, Regenerative medicine
Research Adviser: Kristi Kiick and Millicent Sullivan
Previous Degrees: BS in Chemistry, University of Utah; MS in Bioengineering , University of Utah
Honors & Awards: 212 Mack Thomas Rozelle Scholarship, 2017 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: jmhwang@udel.edu
Location Office: 253 Colburn Lab (Office)
Location Office/Lab: 243, 256, 260 Colburn Lab and 227 Dupont Hall (Lab)
N’Dea Irvin-Choy
Matriculated: Fall 2018
Program: PhD
Research Area: Drug Delivery
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Rowan University
Honors & Awards: Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship 2018, UD; University of Delaware Graduate Scholar, 2019, UD
Email: irvinchn@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park, 5 Innovation Way
Aditya Jagarapu
Matriculated: Fall 2015
Program: PhD
Research Area: HIV Modeling
Research Adviser: Ryan Zurakowski
Previous Degrees: Bachelor of Technology, Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, India Masters of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Ohio
Email: srihari@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Patricia Johnson
Matriculated:Fall 2013
Program: PhD
Research Area: N/A
Research Adviser: N/A
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biochemistry from Michigan Technological University, M.S. in Business Administration from Texas A&M University, Emphasis: Systems Engineering
Email: pjohns@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: N/A
Keely Keller
Matriculated: Spring 2014
Program: PhD
Research Area: Microfluidics and biomaterials
Research Adviser: John Slater
Previous Degrees: BS in Bioengineering and MS in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University
Honors & Awards: 2015 Laird Fellowship
Email: kheintz@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Meghan Kupratis
Matriculated: Fall 2018
Program: PhD
Research Area: Articular cartilage biomechanics and biotransport
Research Adviser: Christopher Price
Previous Degrees: B.S. Biomedical Engineering from Boston University
Email: kupratis@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Connor Leek
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD
Research Area: Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Megan Killian
Previous Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering
Email: connorle@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park, 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Ryan Locke
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD
Research Area: Tendon-to-bone interface
Research Adviser: Megan Killian
Previous Degrees: B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Email: rlocke@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way
Benjamin Luo
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: Elucidating intracellular trafficking of nanoparticles
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: BS, Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley
Email: bluo@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way Suite 200
Ryan
McDonough
Matriculated: Fall 2015
Program: PhD
Research Area: Cartilage Mechanotransduction Engineering
Research Adviser: Christopher Price
Previous Degrees: Honors B.S. in Computer Engineering with minor in Biomedical Engineering – University of Delware
Email: ryanmcd@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Robert McGrath
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD
Research Area: Wearable robotics
Research Adviser: Fabrizio Sergi
Previous Degrees: Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
Email: rmcgrath@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Suite 124
Grace Mcilvain
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: Pediatric Magnetic Resonance Elastography
Research Adviser: Curtis L Johnson
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware; Masters of Business Administration, University of Delaware; Masters of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Email: gmcilvai@udel.edu
Location: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave,Office Suite 201
Kyle Meadows
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: MRI and biomechanics of fibrous soft tissues
Research Adviser: Dawn Elliott
Previous Degrees: B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University
Honors & Awards: 2018 IBBM Fellow
Email: meadowkd@udel.edu
Location Office: 160 DuPont Hall
Location Lab: 148 DuPont Hall
Catherine Millar-Haskell
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD
Research Area: Tissue Engineering
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: Biomedical Engineering, M.S., B.S.
Email: cmillarh@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way
Daniel Minahan
Matriculated: Fall 2017
Program: PhD
Research Area: Regenerative Medicine, Translational Medicine
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University
Honors & Awards: 2017 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship, 2017 Gore Biomedical Engineering Graduate Fellowship
Email: dminahan@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Saurabh Modi
Matriculated: Fall 2015
Program: PhD
Research Area: HIV Modeling
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: BS & MS in Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute Tech-Bombay
Email: saurmodi@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Evans Hall
Harrah Newman
Matriculated: Summer 2018
Program: PhD: Biomedical Engineering
Research Area: Spine Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Dawn Elliott
Previous Degrees: BS Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester
Email: harrah@udel.edu
Location: Dupont 160
Ashutosh Parajuli
Matriculated: Fall 2012
Program: PhD
Research Area: Mechanotransduction in bone
Research Adviser: Liyun Wang
Previous Degrees: BS in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University, UT.
Honors & Awards: 1st place prize for podium presentation at 2015 CBER Biomechanics Research Symposium, 2012 Gore Fellowship
Email: parajuli@udel.edu
Location: 206 Spencer Lab
Babak N. Safa
Matriculated: Fall 2014
Program: PhD, Mechanical Engineering
Research Area: Tissue damage mechanics and inelasticity
Research Advisers: Professors Dawn Elliott and Michael Santare (ME)
Previous Degrees: B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, 2014
Email: safa@udel.edu
Location: 160 Dupont Hall
Mackenzie Scully
Matriculated: Fall 2018
Program: PhD
Research Area: Biomimetic nanotechnology for cancer therapy
Research Adviser: Dr. Emily Day
Previous Degrees:B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Biomaterials and Tissues Concentration, University of Miami
Honors & Awards: 2018 Gore Biomedical Engineering Graduate Fellowship, 2018 Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award from the Biomedical Engineering Department
Email: mkscully@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Jasmine Shirazi
Matriculated: Fall 2015
Program: PhD
Research Area: 3D Organotypic Models
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University MS in Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University
Honors & Awards: 2016 IGERT Fellow
Email: jshirazi@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Daniel Smith
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD
Research Area: MR Elastography of Anisotropic Tissue
Research Adviser: Curtis Johnson
Previous Degrees: BS Mechanical Engineering, Minor Biomechanical Engineering from University of Delaware
Email: drsmitty@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Suite 125
John Sperduto
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD
Research Area: Metastatic Cancer, Microfluidics, in vitro Disease Models, Organ-on-a-Chip Devices
Research Adviser: John H. Slater
Previous Degrees: BS in Mechanical Engineering, The College of New Jersey
Honors & Awards: 2017 IGERT Fellow, 2016 Gore Fellowship, 2016 Chair’s Fellowship
Email: jsperdu@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Wade Stewart
Matriculated: Fall 2015
Program: PhD: Biomedical Engineering
Research Area: Mechanical regulation of induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes for in vitro disease models of cardiovascular disease and corresponding regenerative therapies.
Research Adviser: Dr. Elise Corbin
Previous Degrees: M.S. Biomedical Engineering University of Delaware, BSE in Biomedical Engineering and Minor in Polymer Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
Honors & Awards: 2018 Best Biomedical Engineering Graduate Teaching Assistant
Email: wadegs@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: 9 Innovation Way Rm 276; Lab: 9 Innovation Way Rm 286
Ryan Taitano
Matriculated: Fall 2018
Program: PhD
Research Area: Biomaterials and microfluidics for vascular dementia research
Research Adviser: John Slater
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Email: rtaitano@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Nicholas Trompeter
Matriculated: Fall 2015
Program: PhD
Research Area: Cytomechanics and regenerative medicine
Research Adviser: Randall Duncan
Previous Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Penn State University, Biology
Email: ntromp@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park, 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Danielle Valcourt
Matriculated: Fall 2015
Program: PhD
Research Area: Nanomedicine for cancer therapy
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Biomolecular Engineering concentration, University of Notre Dame
Honors & Awards: 2016 George W. Laird Merit Fellow, 2015 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: dvalcour@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Andrea Zonnino
Matriculated: Fall 2016
Program: PhD: Biomedical Engineering
Research Area: MRI-compatible robotics
Research Adviser: Fabrizio Sergi
Previous Degrees: MSc Biomedical Engineering, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma; BSc Industrial Engineering, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
Honors & Awards: University Dissertation Fellowship
Email: zonni@udel.edu
Location: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave., Suite 124
“You can’t build a strong team with five people who all think the same way.”
Ashutosh Khandha