Postdoctoral research associates
Brian O’Grady
B.S., M.S. Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
Ph.D. Materials Science, Vanderbilt University
Brian’s research focuses on building representative 3D neurovascular models.
Daniel Chavarria
B.S. Biology, University of Texas at El Paso
M.S., Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Daniel’s research focuses on using principles of mechanobiology and cellular engineering to fabricate improved blood-brain barrier models.
Alex Ligocki
B.S. Cell and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida
Ph.D. Biomedical Science, University of Florida
Alex’s research focuses on how peripheral and central inflammation collectively impact brain barrier function.
Haley Masters
B.S. Biology, University of California Riverside
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine
Haley’s research focuses on building a blood-CSF barrier-on-a-chip model system.
Graduate students
Alex Sorets
B.E. Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University
Joined the lab in 2019 to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Alex’s research focuses on drug delivery to the brain (co-advised by Craig Duvall).
Lexi Yates
B.S. Biochemistry, Biola University
Joined the lab in 2020 to pursue a PhD in Materials Science
Lexi’s research focuses on evaluating hemodynamic risk factors for neurodegeneration using engineered models (co-advised by Angela Jefferson).
Lauren Drake
B.E. Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
Joined the lab in 2020 to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Lauren’s research focuses on engineering human brain models to recapitulate tau pathology.
Corinne Curry
B.S. Chemistry, Western Kentucky University
Joined the lab in 2020 to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering
Corinne’s research focuses on hydrogel-mediated vascularization strategies.
Rachel Moen
B.S. Bioengineering, Clemson University
Joined the lab in 2020 to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering
Rachel’s research focuses on production and characterization of designer extracellular vesicles from custom cell sources (co-advised by Jamey Young).
Andrew Kjar
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Utah State University
Joined the lab in 2021 to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Andrew’s research focuses on using synthetic and computational biology strategies to track spatiotemporal progression of neurodegeneration in engineered brain models.
Rebecca Embalabala
B.S. Biology and Piano Performance, Indiana Wesleyan University
Joined the lab in 2022 to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience
Rebecca’s research focuses on how astrocytes cause blood-brain barrier dysfunction in neurodegeneration.
Nicole Marguerite
B.S. Chemical Engineering and Neuroscience, University of Kentucky
Joined the lab in 2022 to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering
Nicole’s research focuses on cell replacement therapy in the brain.
Elaina Ziehm
B.S. Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University
Joined the lab in 2023 to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience
Elaina’s research focuses on the role of perivascular cells in cerebral amyloid angiopathy pathogenesis.
Adam Abdulrahman
B.S. Bioengineering, Clemson University
Joined the lab in 2023 as an MSTP student to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Adam’s research focuses on nonviral gene targeting of perivascular macrophages in the brain.
Sarah Lyons
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island
Joined the lab in 2023 to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering
Sarah’s research focuses on nonviral gene targeting of brain barriers to prevent immune cell brain influx under inflammatory conditions.
Maria Russotti
B.E. Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University
Joined the lab in 2024 to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Maria’s research focuses on engineering hydrogels to direct stem cell development and phenotypes.
Research staff
Hyosung Kim
B.S. Food Science and Biotechnology Engineering, Kangwon National University
Ph.D. Molecular Biology, Rutgers University
Hyosung’s research focuses on glial-vascular interactions in health and disease. He is a former postdoctoral fellow who was promoted to Research Assistant Professor in 2023.
Becca Cowell
M.S. Biology, Lipscomb University
Becca joined the lab in 2023 as a senior research assistant and was promoted to lab manager in 2024. She is in charge of lab organization and protocols, animal husbandry, and training.
Jamie Pouncey
B.E. Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee
Jamie joined the lab in 2024 as a junior research assistant. She handles ordering, assists with lab maintenance, and contributes to various research projects.
Inanimate support objects
Sir von Hammock III
At the request of the graduate students, our beloved hammock joined the lab in the spring of 2019 to provide physical and emotional support during long hours in the lab. His adventures can be followed on Twitter via @SirvonHammock.
Undergraduates
Sam Cullison (ChBE)
Zander Schwartz (BME)
Samirah Salifu (ChBE)
Josh Park (Chemistry)
William Ford (Chemistry)
Melanie Fernandez (BME)
Alumni
postdoctoral
Dan Balikov, MD/PhD — Next position: University of Michigan for residency in ophthalmology
Graduate students
Nicholas Marinelli, MS — Next position: United States Navy
Emma Neal (Hollmann), PhD — Next position: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Medical Innovators Development Program
Jonah Rosch, PhD — Next position: Eli Lilly
Allison Bosworth, PhD — Next position: Postdoc at University of Southern California
Rachel Boone, MS
Kylie Balotin, PhD — Next position: Verge Genomics
Yajuan Shi, PhD — Next position: Denali Therapeutics
Ketaki Katdare, PhD — Next position: Genentech
Everett Allchin, PhD
STAFF
Madison Stiefbold — Next position: Graduate student at Rochester Polytechnic Institute
Kensley Horner — Next position: Fisk Bridge to the Doctorate Master’s Program
UNDERGRADUATES
Amanda Bailey (ChBE)
Catey Dodson (ChBE)
Cassie Woolley (SyBBURE)
Archit Protharazu (BME)
Michaela Copp (ChBE)
Franklin Gong (ChBE)
Dalton Gullett (ChBE)
Sungrok Chang (ChBE)
Shyla Slater (ChBE)
Nikki Kragt (ChBE)
Robbie Weinstein (ChBE/BME)
Joe Alejo (ChBE)
Riley Knight (ChBE)
Colin Fricker (Neuroscience)
Neelansh Bute (Neuroscience)
Izzy Richter (BME)
Derek Lee (ChBE)
Lucas Mowery (ChBE)
Riya Patel (ChBE)
Kate Mlouk (Neuroscience)
Amber Cui (ChBE)
Sidney Vafaie-Partin (Biological Sciences)
Hayden Paige (Medicine, Health, and Society)
Katrina Schwensen (ChBE)
Mia Haschert (ChBE)
Heather Murray (ChBE/BME)