PhD Students
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Emily Berestesky Hometown: Ashland, MA
I am interested in how cancer metabolism varies in a population of cells and how these differences can lead to varied rates of tumor development and metastasis in healthy and diabetic tissues. Away from the Lab, I spend my time cooking, caring for my houseplants, and watching TV with my cat Bucket. |
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Emily Fabiano Hometown: Somerville, NJ
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. |
Madison Bates Hometown: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
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. |
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Chelsea Faith Mariano Hometown: Irvine, California
Currently I am interested in cancer heterogeneity and how extracellular vesicles released by cancer cells contribute to metastasis. Outside of lab, I enjoy sketching, violin, and reading. |
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Kyra Smart Hometown: Denver, Colorado
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. |
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Ismael "Ish" Ortiz Hometown: Miami, Florida
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. |
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Jenna Mosier Hometown: Arlington, TN
My research focuses on how cells respond to the spatial restriction they encounter in the primary tumor environment. Currently, I am looking at whether or not repeated confinement can better equip cells to migrate through challenging microenvironments to facilitate metastasis. Outside of the lab, I enjoy painting, running, board games, and piano. |
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Paul Taufalele Hometown: Bucks County, PA BSE in Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, 2017 I am interested in how mechanical information from the tissues guides angiogenesis both at the cellular and molecular level. Specifically, I am investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying matrix stiffness-dependent endothelial cell behaviors. Away from lab, I enjoy Rockband 2, snowboarding, and am a sauna enthusiast. |
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Wenjun Wang wenjun.wang[at]vanderbilt.edu Hometown: Xi’an, China My research interest is to investigate how mechanical cues modulate tumor metastasis and tumor angiogenesis. My current project is focused on studying the molecular mechanism by which hyperglycemia induced matrix stiffening regulates endothelial barrier function. Outside of lab, I enjoy reading and yoga. |
Post-Doctoral Associates
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Katie Young, Ph.D. katie.young[at]vanderbilt.edu Hometown: Austin, Texas 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! |
Masters Students
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Curtis Schunk curtis.t.schunk[at]vanderbilt.edu Hometown: Brentwood, TN My research involves investigating the metabolic activity of cells and the traction forces that they cause, to understand a connection between the two. When I’m away from lab, I enjoy sports, traveling, trying to learn guitar, and doing anything outside. |
Undergraduate Students
- Hannah Kirkham
- Sarah Platkin
- Mara Yella
- Reethi Padmanabhan
- Addison White
High School Students
Vanderbilt Alumni
Post-doctoral Associates
- Jian Zhang, 2022: Currently an Assistant Professor at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
- Lauren Griggs, 2019: Director, Multicultural Engineering Program, Assistant Teaching Professor, Penn State University
- François Bordeleau, 2018: Currently an Assistant Professor at the Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
- Kayla Goliwas, 2018: University of Alabama, Birmingham
PhD and MS Student Alumni
- Samantha Schwager, PhD, 2022, Biomedical Engineering
- Ethan Oseas, MS, 2022, Biomedical Engineering
- Andrew Johnson, MS, 2021, Biomedical Engineering
Medical Student Alumni
- Tanner McArdle, 2020
Research Assistant Alumni
- Matthew Rowe, 2022
- Tânia Goin, 2022
- Yusheng (Sunny) Wu, 2021
Undergraduate Students
- Heng Sun, 2021
- Caroline Carlson, 2021
- Mara Rao, 2020
- Archit Potharazu, 2019
- Issac Richardson, 2019
- Natalie Goldfield, 2019
- Sophie Xie, 2017
- Ansley Petherick, 2017
- Harrison Thomas, 2017
High School Student Alumni
- Anissa Jayathilake, Hume Fogg High School
Cornell Alumni
Postdoc Alumni
- Saumendra Bajpai, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate, Biomedical Engineering 2011-2013, Now an Assistant Professor at IIT Madras
- Libin Yuan, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate, Biomedical Engineering, 2011, Now Genomics Associate Technical Director, Labcorp
- Christine Montague, PhD, Post-Doctoral Associate, 2008-2010, Now a Research Associate at Cornell University
PhD and MS Student Alumni
- Matthew R. Zanotelli, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2021, Post-Doctoral Researcher at Richard A. Cerione Lab, Cornell University
- Lauren Hapach, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2021, Draper Laboratories
- Jacob VanderBurgh, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2020, Principal Scientist CyteQuest
- Aniqua Rahman-Zaman, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2018, Scientist at WuXi Apptec
- Danielle LaValley, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2018, Postdoctoral fellow at Janssen
- Joseph Miller, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2018, Bridgewater Associates
- Marsha Lampi, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2017, Instructor at the University of Houston
- Julie Kohn, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2017, Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware
- Emmanuel Lollis, MS, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 2016, Engineer at Thermo Scientific
- Shawn Carey, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2015, Senior Scientist at Torque Therapeutics
- Brooke Mason, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2014, Senior Portfolio Manager at Stryker Surgical Therapeutics
- Casey Kraning, PhD, J.D., Biomedical Engineering, 2013, Patent Attorney with Fish and Richardson
- Courtney Faber, MS, Biomedical Engineering, 2013, Research Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- John Huynh, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2012, now Executive Director, Technical Operations, Gene Therapy at PTC Therapeutics
- Joseph Califano, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2012, Principal Scientist, Merck
- Jonathan Charest, MS, Biomedical Engineering, 2011, Scientist at Rancho Biosciences
MEng Alumni
- Atrouli Chatterjee, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2016
- Crystal Shan, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2016
- Stephanie Cheng, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2015
- Adeline Chen, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2015
- Deanna Lin, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2015
- Zachary Goldblatt, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2015
- Nicholas Deisadze, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2014
- Allie Braun, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2014
- Brian Fleischer, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2013
- Olivia Torre, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2013
- Viral Oza, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2013
- Princess Kara Parker-Smith, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2012
- Daniel Kim, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2012
- Matthew Tang, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2012
- Joseph Shawky, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2011
- Na Young Kim, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2011
- Alina Starchenko, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2011
- Monica Jackman, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2010
- John Peloquin, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2010
- Rafael Gonzalez-Cruz, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2010
- Shaoyang Anthony Yeh, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2010
- Yun-shao Peter Sung, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2010
- Chieh-Hsiang Jason Yang, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2010
- Joshua Horwitz, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2009
- Katrina Shum, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2009
- Josephine Bodle, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2008
- Kartoa Chow, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2008
- Samantha Spindel, MEng, Biomedical Engineering, 2008
Undergraduate Alumni
- Andres Larraza BS, Materials Science and Engineering, 2018
- Jenny Ma BS, Operations Research and Engineering, 2019
- Shweta Modi BS, Biomedical Engineering, 2019
- Dylan Parker BS, Biology, 2016
- Jack Pollack BS , Biological Engineering, 2016
- Halie Hotchkiss BS, Biomedical Engineering, 2018
- Karen Martin BS, Mechanical Engineering, 2015
- Bryan Chan BS, Biological Engineering, 2015
- Katharina FungBS, Materials Science and Engineering, 2016
- Michael Mazzola BS, Biology, 2015
- Sahana Somasegar BS, Human Biology, Health and Society, 2014
- Peter Joe BS, Biology, 2014
- Dennis Zhou BS, Biological Engineering, 2013
- Lauren TangBS, Biological Engineering, 2013
- Dennis Zhou BS, Biological and Environmental Engineering, 2013
- Leah Roldan BS, Biological and Environmental Engineering, 2012
- Kelly McBride BS, Biological and Environmental Engineering, 2012
- Lulu Bai BS, Biological and Environmental Engineering, 2012
- Esther Lim BS, Biological and Environmental Engineering, 2011
- Tracy Cheung BS, Biological and Environmental Engineering, 2010