Graduate Students

Sara Aboeleneen

Matriculated: 2020
Program: PhD
Research Area: Enhancing photothermal cancer therapy with biomimetic nanoparticles
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Email: saboelen@udel.edu
Location: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 442

Sobia Anam

Matriculated: 2021
Program: PhD
Research Area: Mathematical Modeling of HIV Dynamics
Research Adviser: Ryan Zurakowski
Previous Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering from Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Pakistan
Email: sobia@udel.edu
Location: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

Olivia Bailey

Matriculated: Fall 2021
Program: PhD
Research Area: MR Elastography for Brain Biomechanics
Research Advisor: Curtis Johnson
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
Honors & Awards: 2021 Gore Biomedical Engineering Graduate Fellowship
Email: obailey@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Suite 109

Diego Caban-Rivera

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: MR Elastography for Brain and Muscle Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Curtis Johnson
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Biomechanics concentration; Minor in Engineering Mechanics from The Pennsylvania State University
Email: dacr@udel.edu
Location: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Suite 109

Zheng Cao

Matriculated: Spring 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Develop an in Vitro Device to Manipulate the Microenvironment of Cardiac Cells to Study Myocardial Infarction
Research Adviser: Elise Corbin
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University & B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the East China University of Science and Technology
Honors & Awards: 2021 Fall Graduate Block Fellowship
Email: caozheng@udel.edu
Location: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

Brea Chernokal

Matriculated: Fall 2021
Research Area: Microphysiologic Systems for Tissue Engineering
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Delaware
Honors & Awards: NSF GRFP fellow
Email: brea@udel
Location Office/Lab: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

Hannah Cohen

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Rehabilitation Biomechanics and Robotics
Research Adviser: Fabrizio Sergi
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from West Virginia University
Honors & Awards: 2020 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: hncohen@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Suite 124

Chitran Roy Chowdhurry

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Drug Delivery/Nanomedicine
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: BTech/MTech in Biotechnology from KIIT University, 2019
Email: chitran@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, 4th Floor

Margaux Deputy

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Drug Delivery to the Placenta for Maternal-Fetal Health
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Delaware
Email: mdeputy@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, 4th Floor

Alexa Marie Diano

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: PhD
Research Area: MR Elastography for Brain Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Curtis Johnson
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Rowan University
Honors & Awards: 2022 BME Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
Email: adiano@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Room 109

Margo Donlin

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Gait Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Techniques
Research Adviser: Jill Higginson
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Engineering, Dual Concentration in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Elizabethtown College
Honors & Awards: 2022 Doctoral Fellowship
Email: donlinm@udel.edu
Location: STAR Campus, Suite 201

Roisin Donnelly

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Protein Biophysics
Research Adviser: Norman Wagner
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics from Trinity College, Dublin
Email: roisind@udel.edu
Location: 047 Colburn Lab

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

Luisa Fink

Matriculated: Fall 2021
Program: Biomedical Engineering, PhD
Research Area: Drug Delivery, Cell Engineering Concerning the Immune System
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: B.S in Bioengineering, University of Applied Sciences in Munich, Germany
Honors & Awards: 2020 Biomedical Engineering Chair Fellowship
Email: lufink@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, 4th floor

Cailin Gonyea

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Tissue Engineering and Embryonic Lung Development
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Honors & Awards: 2022 BME Outstanding Engineering Outreach Award, 2020 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: crgonyea@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI)

Cody Helm

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: PhD
Research Area: Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, Motor Control
Research Advisor: Fabrizio Sergi
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Minor in Biotechnology from North Carolina State University
Email: cahelm@udel.edu
Location: STAR Campus 540 S. College Ave. Suite 124

Elise Hoover

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Targeted Nanomedicine for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Therapy
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia
Honors & Awards: UD Doctoral Fellowship, 2022 BME Graduate Chair Award, 2019 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship, 2019 Gore Biomedical Engineering Graduate Fellowship
Email: ehoover@udel.edu
Location: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

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

Mary Kramer

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: MR Elastography for Aging Brain Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Curtis Johnson
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Carolina
Honors & Awards: 2020 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: mkkramer@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, Suite 201

George Kramarenko

Matriculated: Fall 2021
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Drug Delivery/Nanomedicine
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Bioengineering from Temple University & B.S. in Bioengineering from Temple University
Honors & Awards: 2022 NRT-MIDAS Fellow, 2021 Gore Fellow
Email: gkram@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, 4th floor

Meghan Kupratis

Matriculated: Fall 2018
Program: PhD
Research Area: Articular Cartilage Tribology and Osteoarthritis
Research Adviser: Christopher Price
Previous Degrees: B.S. Biomedical Engineering from Boston University
Honors & Awards: 2022 BME Best Paper Award, 2022 Dissertation Fellowship, 2020 STLE McCoy Fellowship, 2020 STLE Philadelphia Section Scholarship, 2020-22 SWE Ada Pressman Scholarship
Email: kupratis@udel.edu
Location: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

Emily Lambeth

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Cartilage Tribology and Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Christopher Price
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from North Carolina State University
Honors & Awards: Unidel Distinguished Scholar Award 2019; NSF GRFP Fellow 2021
Email: eplambet@udel.edu
Location: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

Ali Lateef

Matriculated: Fall 2021
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Cell and Tissue Modeling
Research Adviser: Elise Corbin
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida
Honors & Awards: 2021 Biomedical Engineering Chair Fellowship
Email: alateef@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: 590 Avenue 1743, Ste 421, Newark, DE 19713 Suite 450

Zhimo (Bill) Li

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Research Area: Organ-on-a-chip System, Better Manipulation and Biomimetic
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees:
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester & B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Ohio State University
Email: zhimoli@udel.edu
Location: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

Lily Lin

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Tendon Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Dr. Dawn Elliott
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia
Honors & Awards: 2022 BME Outstanding Service Award, 2020 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: lilymlin@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Suite 125/109J

Heather Malino

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Biomechanics of the Crystalline Lens
Research Adviser: Velia Fowler & Justin Parreno
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rowan University
Honors & Awards: 2023 George W. Laird Merit Fellowship Finalist, Rowan University’s Excellence in Diversity Award
Email: hmalino@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Wolf Hall 341

Milad Imeni Markhali

Matriculated: Spring 2022
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Biomechanics of Fibrous Tissues
Research Adviser: Dawn Elliott
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology
Email: mldimeni@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave, Suite 109J

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, 2020 BME Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award
Email: meadowkd@udel.edu
Location Office: 160 DuPont Hall
Location Lab: 148 DuPont Hall

Omkar Mhatre

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Evaluating the Role of Biophysical Forces in Lung and Vascular Disorders
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology & B.S in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology from ICT
Email: omkarm@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743

Yasaman Moghadamnia

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: Bioinformatics & Data Science PhD
Research Area: Drug Modeling, Computer Vision and Image Analysis
Research Adviser: Ryan Zurakowski, Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Physics from Alzahra University & M.A. in Biophysics from Johns Hopkins University
Honors & Awards: 2022 NIH CBB T32 Predoctoral Training Fellowship Award, 2021 UD Graduate Student Travel Award
Email: ymoghad@udel.edu
Location: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th Floor

Harrah Newman

Matriculated: Summer 2018
Program: PhD Biomedical Engineering
Research Area: Spine Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Dawn Elliott
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester
Honors & Awards: 2022-2025 NIH-F31
Email: harrah@udel.edu
Location: Dupont 160

Truc Ngo

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Neuromechanics, Decision-Making, Tactile Perception
Research Adviser: Joshua Cashaback & Charles Dhong
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Oklahoma State University & B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University
Honors & Awards: 2023 Top Ten Finalist: George W. Laird Merit Fellowship, 2022 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: tructn@udel.edu
Location: STAR Campus, Suite 201

Rebecca Nikonowicz

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Rehabilitation Robotics
Research Adviser: Fabrizio Sergi
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University
Email: rnikon@udel.edu
Location: 540 South College Ave., Suite 124A, Newark DE 19713

Sasan Paryad-zanjani

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Mathematical Biology, Nonlinear Control Systems, Cancer, HIV
Research Adviser: Ryan Zurakowski
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tehran
Email: sparyadz@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: 109B STAR Tower

Erfan Rahmani

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Gene Delivery and Wound Healing
Research Adviser: Kristi Kiick
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tehran & B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University
Email: erfanrh@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, 2nd Floor

Sanjna Rao

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Elastin-Collagen Nanovesicles for Drug Delivery
Research Adviser: Kristi Kiick
Previous Degrees: B.E. in Chemical Engineering from The Cooper Union
Email: srao@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, 2nd Floor

Filipa Ribeiro Soeiro de Carvalho

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Microfluidics, Women’s Health
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma
Honors & Awards: 2022 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: filipa@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, 4th Floor

Maneesha Sahni

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Using Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy and Drug Delivery for Endometriosis
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Engineering (Concentration in Biomedical Engineering), Minor in Biology from Drexel University
Honors & Awards: 2023 George W. Laird Merit Fellowship Finalist, 2022 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: msahni@udel.edu
Location: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, 4th Floor, Suite 442/444

Mackenzie Scully

Matriculated: Fall 2018
Program: PhD
Research Area: Biomimetic Nanotechnology for Cancer Therapy
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Biomaterials and Tissues Concentration from the 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

Ashika Singh

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Microfluidics to Study Immunology and Pathogenesis of HIV Infection
Research Adviser: Jason Gleghorn
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Biotechnology from St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) & B.S. in Biotechnology from Jai Hind College
Email: ashikas@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

Rishabh Singh

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Tissue Engineered Models for Breast Cancer Dormancy
Research Adviser: John Slater
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University & B.E (Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering from BITS-Pilani, India
Email: rishabhs@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, 4th Floor

Jacob Skigen

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Gait Biomechanics and Rehabilitation
Research Advisor: Elisa Arch
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical and Health Sciences Engineering from North Carolina State University
Email: jtskigen@udel.edu
Location: 540 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19713, 3rd Floor

Eric Sterin

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: PhD
Research Area: Biomimetic Nanotechnology for Therapeutic Delivery
Research Adviser: Emily Day
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering with focuses in Polymers and Biomaterials, Minors in Economics and Entrepreneurship from Ohio State University
Honors & Awards: 2022-2025 NSF-GRFP Fellowship, 2020 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: sterin@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), 4th floor

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: Elise Corbin
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Delaware & B.S.E in Biomedical Engineering and Minor in Polymer Science and Engineering from 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

Seth Sullivan

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Research Area: Neuromechanics, Human-Human Interaction
Research Adviser: Joshua Cashaback
Previous Degrees: B.A. in Physics from College of the Holy Cross
Honors & Awards: 2021 Biomedical Engineering Chair’s Fellowship
Email: sethsull@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: STAR Campus, Suite 201

Shalini Sundar

Matriculated: Fall 2020
Program: Biomedical PhD
Research Area: Measuring Cellular and Tissue Level Mechanical Properties
Research Adviser: Charles Dhong
Previous Degrees: Honors B.E. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Delaware & B.E. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware
Honors & Awards: 2020 Gore Engineering Fellowship
Email: sshalu@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: Dupont 324

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 from the University of Delaware
Email: rtaitano@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park – 5 Innovation Way, Suite 200

Ann Thomas

Matriculated: Fall 2022
Program: PhD
Research Area: Drug Delivery for Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Research Adviser: Christopher Price
Previous Degrees: M.S. in Biotechnology from NIT Rourkela, India & B.S. in Biotechnology from VIT University, India
Email: annt@udel.edu
Location: AP-Bio, 590 Avenue 1743, 4th Floor

Connor Virgile

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Cell & Tissue Engineering, Sepsis, Biomaterials
Research Adviser: Elise Corbin
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, minor in Economics from the University of Rochester
Email: cvirgile@udel.edu
Location: Delaware Technology Park, 9 Innovation Way, Suite 276

Tyler Williams

Matriculated: Fall 2019
Program: PhD
Research Area: Magnetic Resonance Elastography and Biomechanics
Research Adviser: Curtis Johnson
Previous Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering & B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Honors & Awards: Unidel Distinguished Graduate Scholars Award, Ralph Hughes Memorial Scholarship, Louis A. Harding Memorial Scholarship, Bayard D. Kunkle Scholarship
Email: ltylerw@udel.edu
Location Office/Lab: 201 STAR Campus

“You can’t build a strong team with five people who all think the same way.”

Ashutosh Khandha

PhD Graduate, University of Delaware