Principal Investigator
Ashutosh Agarwal
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami
Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute
Profile: Google Scholar UM-BME IEEE-TNB NIDDK-HIRN
Email: A.agarwal2 at miami.edu
Phone: (305) 243-8925
Address: Life Science & Technology Park 1951 NW 7th Ave #475 Miami FL 33136
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami
Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute
Profile: Google Scholar UM-BME IEEE-TNB NIDDK-HIRN
Email: A.agarwal2 at miami.edu
Phone: (305) 243-8925
Address: Life Science & Technology Park 1951 NW 7th Ave #475 Miami FL 33136
Postdoctoral Fellows
Annie Bowles
Expertise: Stem Cells, Pericytes, Immune interactions
Expertise: Stem Cells, Pericytes, Immune interactions
Gulistan Tansik
Expertise: Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells,
Expertise: Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells,
Research Associate
Siddarth Rawal
Expertise: Prototype Design + Microfabrication
Sid was born and raised in Kenya and has an MD degree from Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary. Since 2010, Sid has been involved in microfiltration platform development for label-free detection and enrichment of Circulating Tumour Cells from human cancer patients, leading to his spin-off company Circulogix.
At PMLab, Sid serves as a resident expert in SolidWorks based design of fluidic microdevices, microfabrication, 3D printing and system integration. In addition to assisting the Islet team, he is spearheading the Cancer on Chip efforts.
Expertise: Prototype Design + Microfabrication
Sid was born and raised in Kenya and has an MD degree from Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary. Since 2010, Sid has been involved in microfiltration platform development for label-free detection and enrichment of Circulating Tumour Cells from human cancer patients, leading to his spin-off company Circulogix.
At PMLab, Sid serves as a resident expert in SolidWorks based design of fluidic microdevices, microfabrication, 3D printing and system integration. In addition to assisting the Islet team, he is spearheading the Cancer on Chip efforts.
Doctoral Students
Ahmad Alassaf
Project: Multi-functional Heart on a Chip
Ahmad was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. After earning his Bachelors degree in Biomedical Technology from King Saud University, he came to the US for his Masters in Biomedical Engineering from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He gathered research experience optimizing 3D biological scaffolds for ultrasound mediated drug delivery.
Since joining the PMLab in Fall 2014, he has been developing a Heart on a Chip capable of accurately measuring multiple functional outputs from engineered cardiac tissues.
Project: Multi-functional Heart on a Chip
Ahmad was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. After earning his Bachelors degree in Biomedical Technology from King Saud University, he came to the US for his Masters in Biomedical Engineering from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He gathered research experience optimizing 3D biological scaffolds for ultrasound mediated drug delivery.
Since joining the PMLab in Fall 2014, he has been developing a Heart on a Chip capable of accurately measuring multiple functional outputs from engineered cardiac tissues.
Vera Mayo
Expertise: Cell and Tissue Culture, Cardiac Electrophysiology
Vera was born and raised in Lima, Peru and moved to the U.S. in 2003 where she got her Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering at Drexel University. Vera has gathered research experience at the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute.
After picking up a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at UM, she joined our PMLab where her main research interests are regenerative and cardiac tissue engineering.
Expertise: Cell and Tissue Culture, Cardiac Electrophysiology
Vera was born and raised in Lima, Peru and moved to the U.S. in 2003 where she got her Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering at Drexel University. Vera has gathered research experience at the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute.
After picking up a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at UM, she joined our PMLab where her main research interests are regenerative and cardiac tissue engineering.
Matthew Ishahak
Project: Fluidic co-culture systems
Matthew was born in Hollywood, FL and attended high school at American Heritage in Plantation, FL. He has completed the 5-year BS/MS in Biomedical Engineering at University of Miami, and worked with laser ablation of tissues and associated instrumentation.
He joined PMLab in Spring 2015, where he is playing with microfluidics, microfabricaion, and engineered cellular microarchitectures.
Project: Fluidic co-culture systems
Matthew was born in Hollywood, FL and attended high school at American Heritage in Plantation, FL. He has completed the 5-year BS/MS in Biomedical Engineering at University of Miami, and worked with laser ablation of tissues and associated instrumentation.
He joined PMLab in Spring 2015, where he is playing with microfluidics, microfabricaion, and engineered cellular microarchitectures.
Rachel Besser
Project: Cardiac Differentiation/Maturation on a Chip
Rachel was born in Honolulu and raised in Boca Raton, FL. For her undergraduate degree, she studied Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida (GO GATORS!) and worked with hydrogels and stem cells in Christine Schmidt Lab.
She joined PMLab in Fall 2015, where she is engineering dynamic microenvironments for inducing skeletal muscle phenotype.
Project: Cardiac Differentiation/Maturation on a Chip
Rachel was born in Honolulu and raised in Boca Raton, FL. For her undergraduate degree, she studied Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida (GO GATORS!) and worked with hydrogels and stem cells in Christine Schmidt Lab.
She joined PMLab in Fall 2015, where she is engineering dynamic microenvironments for inducing skeletal muscle phenotype.
Master's Students
Nolan Chastain
Project: Customized Mechanical Clamp for Microfluidics
Nolan is a first year graduate student in the 5 year BS/MS program in Biomedical Engineering. Born and raised in Carmel, Indiana, he enjoys water skiing and cheering on Hurricane Athletics. After graduating, Nolan hopes to pursue a fulfilling career in medical device design.
Project: Customized Mechanical Clamp for Microfluidics
Nolan is a first year graduate student in the 5 year BS/MS program in Biomedical Engineering. Born and raised in Carmel, Indiana, he enjoys water skiing and cheering on Hurricane Athletics. After graduating, Nolan hopes to pursue a fulfilling career in medical device design.
Undergraduate Students
Ellery Jones
Project: Podocyte on a Chip
Ellery is a Florida native and senior at the University of Miami studying biomedical engineering with a focus on biomaterials and tissue engineering. She has previously worked at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science, she plans to pursue graduate school and continue working within the fields of disease modeling and regenerative medicine.
Project: Podocyte on a Chip
Ellery is a Florida native and senior at the University of Miami studying biomedical engineering with a focus on biomaterials and tissue engineering. She has previously worked at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science, she plans to pursue graduate school and continue working within the fields of disease modeling and regenerative medicine.
Roger Charles
Project: Bone Microenvironment
Project: Bone Microenvironment
Joe Reda
Project: Designer Hydrogels
Project: Designer Hydrogels
Isabella Claure
Project: Neuro-Muscular Junctions
Project: Neuro-Muscular Junctions
Danny Carbonero
Project: Muscle on a Chip
Project: Muscle on a Chip
Lucas Almada-Sabate
Project: Fluid Handler Control
Lucas was born and raised in Miami, FL and attended Ransom Everglades School. He is currently pursuing a B.S.E. degree in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. His academic interests include Biomedical Engineering, Programming, Nanotechnology, and Entrepreneurship.
He joined the lab in the summer of 2017, where he is currently working on developing software for integration of the fluidic handling system parts onto one comprehensive platform.
Project: Fluid Handler Control
Lucas was born and raised in Miami, FL and attended Ransom Everglades School. He is currently pursuing a B.S.E. degree in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. His academic interests include Biomedical Engineering, Programming, Nanotechnology, and Entrepreneurship.
He joined the lab in the summer of 2017, where he is currently working on developing software for integration of the fluidic handling system parts onto one comprehensive platform.
Nicholas Leira
Project: Motorized Fluid Collection
Project: Motorized Fluid Collection
Divya Bhansali
Project: Cardiac Impedance Measurements
Project: Cardiac Impedance Measurements
Cat Cutrone
Project: Designer Hydrogels
Project: Designer Hydrogels
