Current Graduate Students and Postdocs
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Emily Fabiano
Graduate Student
Hometown: Somerville, NJ
Degrees: BS in Chemical Engineering, Rutgers
Bio: My interest lies in uncovering specific mechanisms through which cells regulate bioenergetics and migration in breast cancer. When I'm not in lab I love running marathons, eating cheese, or traveling the world and learning about new cultures. -
Ismael "Ish" Ortiz
Hometown: Miami, FL
Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami
Bio: My research interests are in the areas of cancer heterogeneity and its effects on metastasis and cancer cell migration and metabolism. Away from the lab I enjoy watching sports, swimming and chess. -
Kyra Smart
Hometown: Denver, CO
Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Davis
Bio: My research focuses on understanding the progression of metastatic breast cancer and the mechanism by which diabetic hyperglycemia can worsen cancer prognosis. When I’m not in lab I like cooking, facetiming my family, socially-distant hikes and listening to new music. -
Madison Bates
Hometown: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Degrees: BS in Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
Bio: I am interested in understanding how diabetic hyperglycemic influences cancer-associated fibroblast plasticity to support tumorigenesis and worsened prognosis for diabetic cancer patients. In my free time I love cooking, exploring new cuisines, and listening to true crime podcasts. -
Santiago Lopez
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
Bio: My interest lies in understanding the mechanism behind secondary site metastasis in diabetic hyperglycemic tissue. Away from the lab, I like swim, watch shows on netflix, and travel to new places and eat a lot of food!!Description goes here -
Keefer Boone
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University
Bio: My research interest is centered on cell energetics. Outside of lab, I enjoy finding as much free food as possible on campus. -
Jose Hernandez
Hometown: Oswego, IL
Degrees: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2024, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Bio: I am interested in further investigating the relationship between cancer cell mechanics and metabolism. Outside of lab I enjoy going to the movie theater, going to concerts, and free reading. -
Sid Dsa
Hometown: Thane, India
Degrees: B. Tech. in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Bio: My research focuses on understanding cellular energetics and metabolic changes related to cancer-associated fibroblasts under the influence of breast cancer cells. Outside of lab, I really enjoy playing board games, going for hikes, and listening to blues music. -
Sarah Libring
Hometown: Westampton, NJ
Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering 2017, Rutgers University; Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering 2022, Purdue University
Bio: I am interested in fibroblast reprogramming in metastatic niches during cancer progression. Outside of lab, I like to spend time with my husband and son, bake, and do graphic design work. -
Raghu Vamsi Kondapaneni, PhD
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Degrees: B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering 2013, CVSR College of Engineering, JNTUH; M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering 2015, Sri Venkateswara University; Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering 2023, The University of Alabama
Bio: My research focuses on investigating the metabolic heterogeneity in breast cancer and how it influences cancer cells to migrate and develop metastatic tumors. Away from the lab, I enjoy watching sports and playing badminton & cricket. -
Katie Young, PhD
Hometown: Austin, TX
Degrees: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering 2016, University of Texas at Austin; Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering 2021, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University
Bio: I am interested in cancer cell mechanics, specifically in understanding how cell stiffness affects the various stages of the metastatic cascade. When not in lab, I volunteer with a Christian organization, Young Life, mentoring adolescents and young adults. I also love biking, baking, books, and Broadway musicals! -
Current Undergraduate Researchers
Camille Neal-Harris
Xavi Gallert
Mehmet Acikel
Sophia Oliveira
Lab Alumni
Postdocs & Research Assistant Professors
2024 Georgii “Zhora” Vasiukov, PhD: Research Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University.
2022 Jian Zhang, PhD: former Post-doctoral associate at Vanderbilt University. Now Assistant Professor at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
2019 Lauren Griggs, PhD: former Post-doctoral associate at Vanderbilt University. Now Director, Multicultural Engineering Program, Assistant Teaching Professor, Penn State University
2018 François Bordeleau, PhD: former Post-doctoral associate at Vanderbilt University. Now Assistant Professor at the Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
2018 Kayla Goliwas, PhD: former Post-doctoral associate at Vanderbilt University. Now University of Alabama, Birmingham
2013 Saumendra Bajpai, PhD: former Post-doctoral associate at Cornell University. Now Assistant Professor at IIT Madras
2011 Libin Yuan, PhD: former Post-doctoral associate at Cornell University. Now Genomics Associate Technical Director, Labcorp
2010 Christine Montague, PhD: former Post-doctoral associate at Cornell University. Now Research Associate at Cornell University
Graduate Students
2024 Wenjun Wang, PhD: former PhD student at Vanderbilt University
2024 Emily Berestesky: PhD student at Vanderbilt University
2024 Chelsea Faith Mariano: former Master’s student at Vanderbilt University.
2023 Jenna Mosier, PhD: former PhD student at Vanderbilt University. Now Faculty at the University of Alabama
2022 Curtis Schunk, MS: former Master's student at Vanderbilt University. Now Analyst at One Oncology
2022 Ethan Oseas, MS: former Master's student at Vanderbilt University. Now PhD student at Oregon Health and Science University
2022 Samantha Schwager, PhD: former PhD student at Vanderbilt University. Now Scientist at Arcus Biosciences
2021 Andrew Johnson, MS: former Master's student at Vanderbilt University. Now Research Product Manager at Medable, Inc
2021 Matthew R. Zanotelli, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Post-doctoral research at Richard A. Cerione Lab, Cornell University
2021 Lauren Hapach, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Draper Laboratories
2020 Tanner McArdle, MD: former Medical student at Vanderbilt University.
2020 Jacob VanderBurgh, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Principal Scientist CyteQuest
2018 Aniqua Rahman-Zaman, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Scientist at WuXi Apptec
2018 Danielle LaValley, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Post-doctoral fellow at Janssen
2018 Joseph Miller, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Bridgewater Associates
2017 Marsha Lampi, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Instructor at the University of Houston
2017 Julie Kohn, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware
2016 Emmanuel Lollis, MS: former Master's student at Cornell University. Now Engineer at Thermo Scientific
2016 Atrouli Chatterjee, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2016 Crystal Shan, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2015 Shawn Carey, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Senior Scientist at Torque Therapeutics
2015 Stephanie Cheng, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2015 Adeline Chen, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2015 Deanna Lin, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2015 Zachary Goldblatt, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2014 Brooke Mason, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Senior Portfolio Manager at Stryker Surgical Therapeutics
2014 Nicholas Deisadze, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2014 Allie Braun, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2013 Casey Kraning, PhD, JD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Patent Attorney with Fish and Richardson
2013 Courtney Faber, MS: former Master's student at Cornell University. Now Research Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2013 Brian Fleischer, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2013 Olivia Torre, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2013 Viral Oza, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2012 Joseph Califano, PhD: former PhD student at Cornell University. Now Principal Scientist, Merck
2012 Princess Kara Parker-Smith, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2012 Daniel Kim, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2012 Matthew Tang, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2011 Jonathan Charest, MS: former Master's student at Cornell University. Now Scientist at Rancho Biosciences
2011 Joseph Shawky, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2011 Na Young Kim, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2011 Alina Starchenko, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2010 Monica Jackman, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2010 John Peloquin, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2010 Rafael Gonzalez-Cruz, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2010 Shaoyang Anthony Yeh, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2010 Yun-shao Peter Sung, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2010 Chieh-Hsiang Jason Yang, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2009 Joshua Horwitz, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2009 Katrina Shum, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2008 Josephine Bodle, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2008 Kartoa Chow, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
2008 Samantha Spindel, MEng: former Master's student at Cornell University.
Undergraduate Researchers & Research Assistants
2024 Bryne Knowles: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2024 Ryan Zurcher: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2024 Averly Valz: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt Univeristy.
2023 Hannah Kirkham: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2023 Sarah Platkin: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2023 Mara Yella: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2023 Reethi Padmanabhan: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2023 Addison White: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2022 Matthew Rowe: former Research assistant at Vanderbilt University. Now PhD student at University of Pennsylvania
2022 Tânia Goin: former Research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2021 Yusheng (Sunny) Wu: former Research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2021 Heng Sun: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2021 Caroline Carlson: former Undergraduate research asssistant at Vanderbilt University.
2020 Mara Rao: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2019 Archit Potharazu: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2019 Isaac Richardson: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2019 Natalie Goldfield: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2019 Anissa Jayathilake: former High school research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2019 Jenny Ma: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2019 Shweta Modi: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2018 Andres Larraza: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2018 Halie Hotchkiss: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2017 Sophie Xie: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2017 Ansley Petherick: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2017 Harrison Thomas: former Undergraduate research assistant at Vanderbilt University.
2016 Dylan Parker: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2016 Jack Pollack: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2016 Katharina Fung: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2015 Karen Martin: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2015 Bryan Chan: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2015 Michael Mazzola: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2014 Sahana Somasegar: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2014 Peter Joe: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2013 Dennis Zhou: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2012 Leah Roldan: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2012 Kelly McBride: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2012 Lulu Bai: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2011 Esther Lim: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.
2010 Tracy Cheung: former Undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University.