Our Team
Laboratory Staff
Meijuan Lin, Ph.D.
Research Lab Specialist Inter
MS/PhD: Wuhan University, China
Research Area: Engineered Immunological Niches for Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosis
Fun Fact: Meijuan enjoys hiking, one of her favorite is the Iron Belle Trail segment in Mackinac Island.
Graduate Students
Graduate Students
Mary Dickenson, PhD Candidate
mdicken@umich.edu
Fifth Year Graduate Student, BME
BS BME, University of Virginia
MSE BME, University of Michigan
Research Area: Injectable Hydrogels for MS Diagnosis
Fun Fact: Mary enjoys working at a local barre studio outside of lab!
Graduate Students
Graduate Students
Graduate Students
Gabi Garza, PhD Candidate
Fifth Year Graduate Student, BME
BS Bioengineering, Oregon State University
MSE BME, University of Michigan
Research Area: Engineered Cells for MS Monitoring
Fun Fact: Gabi found Bigfoot's social security card while camping in Oregon, confirming his residence.
Graduate Students
Sydney Wheeler, PhD Candidate
Fifth Year Graduate Student, BME
BS BME, University of South Carolina
MSE BME, University of Michigan
Research Area: Antigen-Conjugated Scaffolds for MS Diagnosis
Fun Fact: Sydney has an Etsy shop (@SydCrafted)!
Sonja Danon, MD/PhD Candidate
Fifth Year Graduate Student, CMB
BS CMB, Seattle University
Research Area: Developing Synthetic Receptors for Sepsis Detection
Fun Fact: Sonja enjoys reading, eating, and sleeping outside of the lab.
Shivanie Kodikalla, PhD Candidate
Fourth Year Graduate Student, BME
BS BME, Virginia Tech
MSE BME, University of Michigan
Research Area: Engineered Immunological Niches for Diagnosis of Lupus Nephritis
Fun Fact: Shivanie loves to cook, go on walks, and hammock in her free time.
Sami Lukpat, PhD Student
First Year Graduate Student, BME
BSE BME, University of Michigan
MSE BME, University of Michigan
Fun Fact: Sami loves to cook pasta, bake cakes, and take lagree classes outside of lab.
Réka Facsko, Visiting Student Researcher
rfacsko@umich.edu
Fifth Year Graduate Student, Semmelweis University
BS in Biochemical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
MS in Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Research Area: Immune responses to PEG-containing nanomedicines and biomaterials
Fun Fact: Réka enjoys cooking and trying new things in the kitchen.
Hussein Nasserdine, Masters Student
SUGS Student, BME
BS CMBS, University of Michigan
Research Area: Recombinant Protein Purification Using Elastin-Like Polypeptides (ELPs)
Fun Fact: Hussein has a make-shift bike shop in his garage!
underGraduate Students
underGraduate Students
Connor Joyce
Fourth Year Undergraduate Student, CMBS
Research Area: Cellular Interactions with Drug-Delivering Scaffolds
Fun Fact: Connor has a Mini Goldendoodle named Chase!
underGraduate Students
underGraduate Students
underGraduate Students
Jovanna Gallegos
jovanna@umich.edu
Fourth Year Undergraduate Student, MechE
Research Area: Developing Synthetic Receptors for Sepsis Detection
Fun Fact: Jovanna completed a student placement at Alpine Formula One Team.
underGraduate Students
Luke Buendia
Third Year Undergraduate Student, Public Health
Fun Fact: Luke loves to play soccer and do Brazilian jiu jitsu in his free time.
Jia Thakker
Second Year Undergraduate Student, CMBS
Research Area: Engineered Immunological Niches for Diagnosis of Lupus Nephritis
Fun Fact: Jia loves photography, reading, and traveling!
Lab Mascot
Rosie
Rosie the LABradoodle attended Puppy 1 at Petco before leaving to pursue other passions. Her interests include anything that stinks, squirrels, wearing sweaters, and belly rubs.