Principal Investigator
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
Andrea Jones, Ph.D. Candidate
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
Monica Wall, Ph.D. Candidate
mawall@umich.edu
Fourth 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
Third Year Graduate Student, Cellular and Molecular Biology
BS Biology, Brandeis University
MS Reproductive Science and Medicine, Northwestern University
Despina Pavlidis, Ph.D. Candidate
dpavlidi@umich.edu
Third Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
MS Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan
Emily Thomas, pre-Candidate
emilyet@umich.edu
Second Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma
Allison Sutton, pre-Candidate
aesutton@umich.edu
Second Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS Biological Engineering, Cornell University
MEng Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University
Delaney Sinko, pre-Candidate
dsinko@umich.edu
First Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University
Taylor Schissel, pre-Candidate
tschisse@umich.edu
First Year Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS Biomedical Engineering, Boston University
Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Scientists
Cynthia Dela Cruz, Pharm, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow - University of Michigan;
2018 - 2020 - Research Associate - University of Colorado
2013 - 2018 - Postdoctoral Fellow - Reproductive Endocrinology, Division of Human Reproduction, UFMG, Brazil.
2009 - 2013 - Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology, UFMG, Brazil
2006 - 2008 - Master in Pharmacology, Unesp, Brazil
2002 - 2006 - Pharmacy School, USC, Brazil
Daniel Pfau, Postdoctoral Fellow
they/them/their
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
Amanda Schwartz, MD
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellow, University of Michigan
Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency, Duke University
MD, Rush Medical College
BA, Biology and History, Northwestern University
Colleen Flanagan, M.S.E.
MSE (BME), University of Michigan
BSE (ME), University of Michigan
BSE (Eng.Sci.), University of Michigan
Ms. Flanagan is a Sr. Research Specialist with her focus on the immuno-isolating device and supporting the project through preparation for FDA IND submission, process refinement and standardization, and preparing for commercialization.
Masters and Undergraduate Students
Gabrielle Blevins, Master's Student
Biomedical Engineering
Natalie Hanby, Sophomore
Biomedical Engineering
Natalie is working with Monica creating an artificial ovary and inducing immune tolerance.
Ansen Tan, Senior
Biomedical Engineering
Ansen is working with Andrea on sequencing the human ovary.
Bipasha Ray, Sophomore
Biology, Health, & Society
Bipasha is working with Margaret on characterizing materials for the immuno-isolating hydrogel.
Abigail Wandoff, Senior
Biomedical Engineering
Abigail is working with Dr. DelaCruz studying the effects of testosterone administration in the mouse model of transgender transition
Maria Jennings, Sophomore
Biomedical Engineering
Maria is working with Despina on the immuno-isolating hydrogel.
Alumni
Ph.D. Alumni
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
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 .
Jiwon Kim, PhD Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2012-2016
Present: P&G, Cincinnati, OH
Postdoctoral Alumni
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
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
Sudipta Dutta, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan, 2016-2018
PhD: Syracuse University, NY
MS: University of Calcutta, India
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
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.
Yi Li, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan 2016-2019; 2012
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
Prianka Hashim
Research Technician, 2019-2021
BS Neuroscience, BA Gender & Sexuality Studies, Muhlenberg College
Present: PhD Student, Northwestern University
Medical Students Summer Research
Anne Marie Opipari, Univerity of Michigan Medical School, summer 2016
Jennifer Park, University of Connecticut Medical School, summer 2017
Former Master and Undergraduate Students
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