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
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
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
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
Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Scientists
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
Gabrielle Blevins, Research Lab Specialist Associate
BS Bioengineering, University of Toledo
MS Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan
Ana Sofia Peraza Muñuzuri, Post-Baccalaureat Education Research Program Trainee
she/her
BSE Biomedical Engineering, The University of Iowa
Kimmi Chan-Sui, Research Technician
BS Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Masters and Undergraduate Students
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 and Research Scientist 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
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.
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
Prianka Hashim
Research Technician, 2019-2021
BS Neuroscience, BA Gender & Sexuality Studies, Muhlenberg College
Present: PhD Student, Northwestern University
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
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
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