Vincent Baffour Gyawu

Graduate Student

Vincent is a PhD candidate with a multidisciplinary background in biotechnology and biomedical sciences. His research focuses on cancer immunoengineering, particularly the development of biomaterial approaches to modulate immune responses for cancer therapy. His interests include cancer nanomedicine, therapeutic cancer vaccines, and translational immunotherapy. Outside the laboratory, he enjoys volunteer work, community service, and watching soccer.

Eleonora Sadykova

Graduate Student

Eleonora conducts research focused on the development of biomimetic nanoplatforms for targeted cancer immunotherapy. She holds an M.S. in Physics (Biomedical Photonics) from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI and a B.S. in Biology from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology. She has more than nine years of research experience, with her work presented at over 15 international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Noor Ameer Hanoon

Graduate Student

I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biotechnology, with research experience in bacterial prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and the effects of medicinal plant extracts on pathogenic bacteria. I am currently pursuing a PhD specialization in Immunology to deepen my understanding of immune defense mechanisms and host–pathogen interactions. Outside academia, I enjoy drawing, reading novels, and hold a diploma in Interior Design.

Justin Adler

Graduate Student

I have an ME in Pharmaceutical Engineering and a bachelors in Chemical Engineering with a Biochemical emphasis. I work at Thermo Fisher as a formulation and stability scientist optimizing and evaluating biological pharmaceutical molecules. My research interests align with cancer immunoengineering, drug formulation design, and predictive optimization tools. In my free time, I enjoy reading and running.

Berrin Hacı Memet

Visiting Scientist

Berrin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Drug Research, Development and Application from Erciyes University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering, where her research focuses on nanomedicine, polymer chemistry, and nanoparticle-based peptide and drug delivery systems. Her work primarily explores the development of polymeric nanocarriers for the treatment of breast cancer.

Aarti Sahai

Affiliated Researcher

Aarti Sahai is an MD/PhD student in Health Outcomes Research at Saint Louis University School of Medicine with a research focus on surgical innovation and patient-centered outcomes. Her work spans breast reconstruction, surgical artificial intelligence, health disparities, and emerging technologies in surgery.

Mohammad Reza Zare

Affiliated Researcher

I hold an MSc in Chemical Engineering – Polymer, and my research focuses on designing biomaterials, advanced drug delivery systems, nanomedicines, microneedle technologies, and antimicrobial platforms to develop next-generation solutions for immunology, infectious diseases, and tissue regeneration.

Brooklyn Stenhoff 

Undergraduate Student

I am a junior majoring in Biological Sciences with a pre-medicine emphasis. I am doing research in nano vaccination with the focus on in vivo lymph node models. In my free time, I enjoy photography and art.

Jenna Mueller

Undergraduate Student

I am a third-year Biological Sciences major. My research focus is the characteristics and functions of regulatory T cells. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, watching movies, hiking, and pole vaulting as a member of the S&T track team.