Please join the Fischell Department of Bioengineering in welcoming our newest graduate students!
Incoming Ph.D. Students
| Wahida Binte Naz Aurthy was born in Bangladesh and graduated from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) with a B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering. Her research interests include biomaterials and tissue engineering. Outside of the lab, she enjoys exploring new places, long walks, watching F1, and spending time with cats. |  |
| Anna Avila graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering in May 2026. Her research interests and previous research experience span drug delivery, biomaterials, tissue and immunoengineering. While at CWRU, she was also a member of the Women’s NCAA Cross Country and Track Teams. Outside the lab, she enjoys running, cycling, triathlons, snowboarding, fishing, and spending time at the beach with her dog. |  |
| Melana Henriques is from Stuarts Draft, VA, and graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. My research interests primarily focus on biomaterials, drug delivery, and immunoengineering. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading (especially Harry Potter), building LEGO sets, watching anime, and taking long walks. |  |
| Jacob Kang graduated from the University of Maryland - College Park with a B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics. His research interests are in computational neuroscience, AI modeling, and emotion. His only real joy in life is scavenging the free food that occasionally shows up on the 3rd and 4th floors of Clark Hall. |  |
| Inthisar Kunnath earned her M.S. in Biotechnology from New York University and previously worked at MilliporeSigma in Massachusetts and the biotech startup Enceladus Bio in New York, where she gained experience in lipid nanoparticle development and RNA delivery. Her research interests include drug delivery, nanomedicine, immunoengineering, and translational research. Outside the lab, she enjoys traveling, exploring new places and cuisines, and spending time with friends and family. |  |
| Sebastian Lawton is originally from Loveland, CO and graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering along with Chemical and Biological Engineering. His undergrad research focused on machine learning applications to human cell morphology image analysis in 3 dimensions. In his free time, he enjoys all kinds of games, skiing, hiking, reading fantasy, and unwinding with his cat, Mirri. |  |
| Michael Penafiel graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Bioengineering in 2023. His research interests include medical robotics, wearable medical devices, and feature detection of biomechanical anomalies. In his spare time he enjoys triathlons, spending time outdoors, cooking, and traveling. |  |
| Luxanna Sands graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S in Bioengineering in May 2025. Her research interests include the development of biomedical instruments and optical imaging tools to advance human health. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and trying out new coffee recipes. |  |
| Benjamin Shaw graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and completed an MBA through KU's Engineering + MBA program. Last year, he worked as a Global Health Fellow at Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies. Outside of research, Benjamin enjoys hiking, biking, and camping. |  |
| Timothy Stout grew up in central Oregon and graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in biomedical engineering. His research interests include biomaterials, tissue engineering, and vascular biology. In his free time, he enjoys camping, skiing, movies, and live music. |  |
| Dun-Heng Tan graduated from National Taiwan University with a major in Materials Science and Engineering. His research interests center on biomaterials, medical device design, and regenerative medicine. In his free time, you can find him playing volleyball or table tennis, or falling off the wall while trying to get better at bouldering. |  |
| Yingshan Wang Wang is from China. She graduated from Xi'an Jiaotong University with a B.S. degree in Artificial Intelligence. She is interested in the information processing and control capabilities of neural systems. Her goal is to develop bio-inspired intelligence and apply statistical methods to brain data to inform clinical therapy. In my spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, listening to music, and viewing art. |  |
The department additionally welcomes:
- Frank Borris
- Vicky Chen
- Ryan Jerome
- Renee Jaranson
- Adam Landa
- Melinda Zhou
- David Torres Arango
- Julie Zacharko
Incoming Master's Students
| Yusuf Mastoor is from Ellicott City, MD, and graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Bioengineering. After spending two years at the NIH studying the mechanisms underlying cell death during cardiac ischemia, he joined the University of Maryland's MD/PhD program. His research interests span cardiovascular disease, immunoengineering, and the development of translational therapies that bridge engineering and clinical medicine. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing tennis, reading, and contributing to an award-winning trivia team. |  |
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