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Principal Investigator

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Dr. Ariella Shikanov, Associate Professor

University of Michigan
Department of Biomedical Engineering    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Cellular and Molecular Biology Program

Ph.D. Students

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Andrea Jones, Ph.D. Candidate

askj@umich.edu

Fifth Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering

BS Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech

MS Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

Margaret Brunette, Ph.D. Candidate
mabrunet@umich.edu

Fifth Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering

BS Biomedical Engineering & Mechanical Engineering, Michigan Tech

MS Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University

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Monica Wall, Ph.D. Candidate
mawall@umich.edu

Fifth Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering

BS Material Science Engineering, University of Florida

MS Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

Jordan Machlin, Ph.D. Candidate
machlinj@umich.edu
Fourth Year Graduate Student, Cellular and Molecular Biology
BS Biology, Brandeis University
MS Reproductive Science and Medicine, Northwestern University
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Despina Pavlidis, Ph.D. Candidate
dpavlidi@umich.edu

Fourth Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering 

BS Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

MS Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

Emily Thomas, Ph.D. Candidate
emilyet@umich.edu

Third Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering 

BS Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma

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Delaney Sinko, pre-Candidate
dsinko@umich.edu

Second Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering 

BS Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University

Taylor Schissel, pre-Candidate
tschisse@umich.edu

Second Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering 

BS Biomedical Engineering, Boston University

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Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Scientists

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Daniel Pfau, Postdoctoral Fellow

they/them/their

pfaud@umich.edu 

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

2019 PhD in Neuroscience, Michigan State University, East Lansing

2014 MS in Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

BS Neuroscience, BA in Animal Science, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Gabrielle Blevins, Research Lab Specialist Associate

gblevins@umich.edu

BS Bioengineering, University of Toledo

MS Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

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Ana Sofia Peraza Muñuzuri, Post-Baccalaureat Education Research Program Trainee

she/her

perazaa@umich.edu

BSE Biomedical Engineering, The University of Iowa

Kimmi Chan-Sui, Research Technician

chansui@umich.edu

BS Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Masters and Undergraduate Students

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Marisa Leo, Master's Student

Biomedical Engineering

Maria is working with Margaret to develop a translational immunoisolating hydrogel for ovarian tissue to address impaired hormone function.

Bipasha Ray, Junior

Biology, Health, & Society

Bipasha is working with Margaret on characterizing materials for the immuno-isolating hydrogel.

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Maria Jennings, Senior 

Biomedical Engineering

Maria is working with Despina on developing a MAP hydrogel for human ovarian tissue encapsulation.

Natalie Hanby, Senior
Biomedical Engineering 

Natalie is working with Monica creating an artificial ovary and inducing immune tolerance.

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Nikolas Hoffman, Senior

Biomedical Engineering

Nikolas is working with Emily on developing materials to  understand the role of the extracellular matrix in follicle development in vitro and is 3D printing devices for human ovarian tissue processing.

Amy Lu, Sophomore 
Biomedical Engineering 

Amy is working with Emily on synthesizing materials for follicle culture to understand the role of extracellular matrix in follicle development in vitro.

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Chloe Fischer, Senior

Biomedical Engineering

Chloe is working with Despina to characterize human ovarian tissue using tissue clearing techniques.

Evelyn Cho, Sophomore 
Biomedical Engineering 

Evelyn is working with Daniel on mouse models of gender-affirming hormone therapy.

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Victoria Jan, Sophomore

Biomedical Engineering

Victoria is working with Gabby to characterize human ovarian tissue, and improve Artificial Intelligence and automated image processing.

Alumni

Ph.D. Alumni 

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Claire E. Nason-Tomaszewski,  PhD Biomedical Engineering, 2016-2022

MS Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

BS Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland

Present: Alcon, Atlanta, GA

Hadrian M. Kinnear,  PhD Cellular and Molecular Biology (MD-PhD), 2017-2021

BA Biochemistry, Bowdoin College

Present: MSTP Program, University of Michigan

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James R. Day,  PhD Biomedical Engineering, 2014-2019

MSE Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

BS Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh

Present: Abbvie Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA

Hong Zhou, PhD Biomedical Engineering, 2013-2017

Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, 2017-2018

Present: Abbvie Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA .

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Jiwon Kim, PhD Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2012-2016

Present: P&G, Cincinnati, OH

Postdoctoral and Research Scientist Alumni

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Yuting (Fanny) Fan, M.D. Ph.D. University of Michigan, Urology & BME, 2016-2018

Visiting Scholar, Page Lab, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Boston, USA, 2013-2019

Ph.D, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, OB/GYN, Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China, 2008-2013

M.D, Clinical Medicine, Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-sen University

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Elizabeth Constance, M.D. Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellow, University of Michigan, 2015-2017 

OBGYN Residency, University of Kansas Medical Center, MD University of Kansas School of Medicine

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Sudipta Dutta, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan, 2016-2018

PhD: Syracuse University, NY

MS: University of Calcutta, India

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Anu David, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan 2013-2019 
PhD, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) 2007-2012
MS, Biochemistry, University of Mumbai (India) 2003  

Present: Research Associate-4 with CHU Sainte Justine, Montreal.

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Lisa Green, M.D.

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellow, University of Michigan, 2015-2017

OBGYN Residency, Howard University Hospital, MD and MPH, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Present: Attending OBGYN Physician at the University of South Carolina

Yi Li, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan 2016-2019

PhD in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering (MBE), City University of Hong Kong, 2010

PhD in Material Processing (Biomaterial and Surface Treatment), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2007

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Prianka Hashim

Research Technician, 2019-2021

BS Neuroscience, BA Gender & Sexuality Studies, Muhlenberg College

Present: PhD Student, Northwestern University

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Cynthia Dela Cruz, Pharm, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow - University of Michigan 2020-2023

Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology, UFMG, Brazil, 2013

2006 - 2008 - Master in Pharmacology, Unesp, Brazil, 2008

Pharmacy School, USC, Brazil, 2006

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Amanda Schwartz, M.D.

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellow, University of Michigan

Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency, Duke University

MD, Rush Medical College

BA, Biology and History, Northwestern University

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Colleen Flanagan, M.S.

Senior Research Scientist, Shikanov Lab, 2019-2023

M.S.E Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

Medical Students Summer Research

Anne Marie Opipari, Univerity of Michigan Medical School, summer 2016

Jennifer Park, University of Connecticut Medical School, summer 2017

 

Former Students

Allison Sutton, MS Biomedical Engineering GSRA ('21-'23)

Gabrielle Blevins, MSE Biomedical Engineering, UM ('23)

Ansen Tan; BSE, Biomedical Engineering, UM ('23)

Abigail Wandoff; BSE, Biomedical Engineering, UM ('23)

Aarthi Arab; BSE, MSE Biomedical Engineering, UM (’13; ’14). Currently: Regulatory Engineer at FDA.

Tanay Kulkarni; BSE, MSE (’14, ’15) Biomedical Engineering, UM.

Rachel Ferguson; BS Cellular and Molecular Biology & Biomedical Engineering (’14); MSE (’15) Biomedical Engineering, UM.

Ashley Shipley; BSE Mechanical Engineering (2013); MSE (2014) Biomedical Engineering, UM.Currently: Mechanical Design Engineer at Stryker

Nicolas Espinosa (UROP)                                             

Angelica Okorom (UROP)

Eric Waselewski; BSE Biomedical Engineering, UM (’15)

Matthew Hill, BSE Biomedical Engineering, UM (’14)

Yuxin Shi,BSE Biomedical Engineering, UM (’14)

Johanna Buschhaus 

Olivia Nelson (UROP) 

Aurelia Busse (UROP)

Ellen Stewart, UM (’16 )

Amanda Barnes (UROP)

Steven Niedzielski (UROP);BSE Chemical Engineering, UM  (’15) Currently: Engineer at Air Liquide;

Jake Claflin, BSE Biomedical Engineering, UM (’16)

Alexa Cichon (UROP)

Rachel Forsyth (UROP)

Malika Malik (UROP) BS Environmental Sciences, UM (’16)

Kavinmozhi Caldwell, (UROP), BSE Electrical Engineering, UM (’16)

Shaina Martin (Summer ’16), BME University of Toledo

Cara Young (UROP)

Saloni Jaikamal (Winter, Summer and Fall 2017, MCubed)

Catherine Long BSE Biomedical Engineering (’17); MSE Biomedical Engineering (’18)

Irina Kopyeva, BSE Chemical Engineering (’19)

Leah Marks, MSE 

Christian Duvall, BME (19-20)

Rigoberto Vazquez, MM ('21)

Brendan Flannagan, BM ('21)

Likitha Nimmagadda, BM ('21)

Gillian Rubenstein, BM ('21)

High School Students 

Henry Vandermark, summer 2016

Eve Shikanov, summer 2015-16

Madeline Parks, summer 2016

Kevin Santoro, summer 2015-16

Alex Schwenderman, summer 2018

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