Alumni
Former Instructors
My key focus is to identify the clinical and therapeutic unmet needs and to find solutions through biomaterials approach. I have been developing novel biomaterials for medical adhesive, drug delivery/formulation, and tissue engineering. My expertise in synthesis and characterization of new materials, coupled with my desire to solve important medical problems through a highly collaborative research is critical for the translational research which is my goal to take innovative approaches to the market to reach people. Yuhan is now an assistant professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School where he maintains an active collaboration with the Karp lab. Lab website: https://biomaterials.bwh.harvard.edu/
Post-Doctoral Alumni
I joined the Karp Lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in June 2018. In 2013, I received my PhD from MIT-Portugal Program. During my PhD and postdoctoral studies, I focused on different aspects of Vascular Biology such as performing high-throughput assays to modulate cell activity and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, preparing micro- and nano-technologies to regenerate ischemic tissues, and establishing in vitro human blood-brain barrier (BBB) models. In 2016, I received a British Heart Foundation scholarship and started to work on the exosomes for the regeneration of tissues after ischemia. Outside the lab, I love spending time with my family, travelling and reading.
I am currently a post-doctoral fellow in the Karp group. I obtained my B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 2005, where I also did undergraduate research under the supervision of Dr. Jose Moran-Mirabal and Pro
Hi! I’m currently a postdoctoral associate in Prof. Karp’s lab at the Harvard-MIT division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School. I joined in March, 2009. My research topic is the design and fabrication of bio-inspired biomedical adhesives. I received my Ph. D degree in organic chemistry in 2008 from KAIST in Korea. During my Ph. D. course, I studied surface organic chemistry (self-assembled monolayers and design of bioactive surfaces), fabrication of functional surfaces (e.g. superhydrophobic surfaces and non-biofouling surfaces), formation of polymeric films on solid surfaces, and fabrication of nanostructures. ACtually, most researches were related to bio-mimetic topics. I think that learning from Nature gives us inspiration to develop artificial functional systems.
In addition to researches, I enjoy listening to music, playing tennis, watching movies and musicals, and traveling.
I joined Karp lab as a postdoctoral fellow, co-advised by Dr. Jeffrey Karp (Brigham and Women’s Hospital / HMS) and Dr. Robert Langer (Koch Institute / MIT). My research focus has been on intracellular signaling, especially in brown adipocyte, and received Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo in 2013. Currently, translational research is my subject of interest, specifically handling stem cells and organoids to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
I joined the Karp lab as postdoctoral fellow in July 2018. I have completed PhD in 2017 from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India. My doctoral research included development of novel nanoparticles for targeted combination cancer therapy. Currently, I am working on drug delivery of biologics through non-invasive routes to target different diseases. Other than research, I love to travel and spend time with my family.
Hi! I joined the Karp laboratory on July 2010 as a Postdoctoral Fellow. I am working on developing, synthesizing, and evaluating novel drug-based hydrogels for therapeutic uses. Prior to this I was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Brandeis University in Prof. Lizbeth Hedstrom’s laboratory where I worked on a medicinal chemistry project designing and systematically developing and synthesizing small molecule inhibitors of Cryptosporidium Parvum in collaboration with Dr. Greg Cuny at Harvard Medical School. Our studies may be highly useful for the development of drug treatments to conquer cryptosporidiosis. I received my Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry from Brandeis University under Prof. Li Deng where I developed several novel asymmetric reactions catalyzed by quinine and quinidine derived organocatalysts which were also discovered in our laboratories. I received my BA in Chemistry in 2003 from Bard College and worked on my senior project with Prof. Hilton Weiss where we developed novel reactions and studied the chemical properties of ferrocenyl fulvenes.
I joined the Karp lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in Feb 2018 after I finished my Ph.D. study at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. My doctoral research includes the use of lipid-based nanoparticles for immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy of cancer and other immune-related disorders. I am interested in working at the interface of pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, and medicine. In addition to research, I enjoy reading and traveling.
Bryan is currently a postdoctoral associate in Professor Karp’s laboratory researching and developing bioinspired tape-based surgical adhesives. He received his PhD in medical science from Brown University (2010), where he was awarded the Joukowsky Family Foundation Outstanding Dissertation Award. While at Brown, he studied under Professors Edith Mathiowitz and Anubhav Tripathi investigating nanoencapsulation techniques, bioadhesives for oral drug delivery, pill force modeling, and magnetic pill retention.
I joined the Karp Lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in October 2017 after I finished my Ph.D. degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea. My past research interests have been studying and developing integrated systems to control cellular microenvironment and its function for regenerative medicine. Currently, my research focuses on microneedle technology and its clinical application. Out of the lab, I love spending time with my family and exploring the city.
I am a postdoctoral associate who is co-advised by Professor Langer (The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT) and Professor Karp (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School). I received the Ph.D. Degree from Changchun institute of applied chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2016. My research interests focus on the exploitation of stimuli-responsive materials, the controlled drug delivery, as well as stem-cell based therapy. Other than research, I enjoy traveling.
Oscar R. Miranda is a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Karp lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), his work is focused on developing the next generation of drug delivery systems, stem cells based systems and biomaterials for therapeutics applications in biomedicine. In 2010, He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Prof. Vincent M. Rotello’s lab at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where his dissertation was focused on engineering nanoparticles surface for biosensing and other biological applications. He was very privileged to be awarded the William E. McEwen outstanding graduate student award during his stint at UMass-Amherst. In 2005, He obtained a MSc degree in Prof. Temer S. Ahmadi lab at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. He research was focused in the effects of intensity and energy of CW-UV light on the nucleation and growth of gold nanorods (AuNRs), where he won the 1st place in Villanova University chapter of SIGMA XI, research day. He obtained his BE in Chemical Engineering from National University of Engineering (UNI) and a postgraduate (MBA) in Marketing from Central American University (UCA) in Nicaragua.
In addition to researches, He enjoys listening to music, watching movies and sports, dancing, traveling, ping pong, tennis, jogging, boxing, martial art, gym, out/in door activities. He eats everything so he likes go to all international restaurants and taste everything including beers!
Hi. I joined the Karp Lab in March 2011 as a postdoctoral fellow. My work focuses on developing novel needle based medical devices. I obtained my BE (Biomedical) in 2003 and PhD in 2007 from the National University of Ireland, Galway. My doctorate focused on applying mechanical stimulation to MSCs for vascular tissue engineering applications, under the supervision of Prof. Peter McHugh. Since then, I have worked in industry and academia, in both Ireland and Boston, designing and manufacturing medical devices. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy playing gaelic (Irish) football, soccer, skiing, travelling the world and brewing beer and cider (with mixed results).
Dr. Joseph A. Phillips received his PhD (2004) in theoretical high-energy physics from the University of Maryland where he studied string theory, extra-dimensional supergravity, and high-spin supersymmetric field theories. He then studied molecular motors involved in actin-based cell motility as a postdoctor in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department at the University of Florida. As a recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant in Cancer Biology, he applied chemical biology techniques to develop new methods for early detection and diagnosis of cancer in the Shands Cancer Center and Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida. Dr. Phillips is continuing his postdoctoral training in the Karp lab where he is focused on using in vivo confocal imaging and bioengineering techniques to develop novel mesenchymal stem cell therapies for tissue regeneration.
Mohammad Qasaimeh joined the Karp’s (Harvard Medical School) and Karnik’s (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) laboratories in September 2013 as a Postdoctoral Associate, and will be joining New York University, Abu Dhabi in August 2014 as an assistant professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering. Mohammad received his B.S. in Mechanical/Mechatronics Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology, a M.A.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in 2006, 2008 and 2013, respectively. Mohammad has been the recipient of several prestigious fellowships and awards including the NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Scholarship (CGSD3), the Students-Researchers Stars Award from the Fonds de recherche du Quebec (FQRNT), the BME Excellence Award from McGill University, and several best poster awards in institutional and international conferences. His current research interests include developing novel microfluidic devices for the study of cellular dynamics and for point of care diagnostics, and developing MEMS devices for biomedical application.
I joined the Karp Lab as a postdoctoral associate in August 2007. Prior to this I completed my Bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and polymer science from the University of Calcutta in India. I received my MS and PhD from the University of Akron, Ohio in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. My area of research involves the development of novel polymeric/stem cell systems for applications in regenerative medicine.
I joined the Karp lab as a postdoctoral associate in the summer of 2017, after I graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering. My doctoral research includes the mechanics and mechanobiology of cells as well as the application of human pluripotent stem cells for modeling early human embryogenesis in vitro. My postdoctoral research joining the forces of the Karp lab and the Langer lab focuses on adult stem cells, biomedical devices, and regenerative medicine. Aside from lab work, I enjoy books, jigsaw puzzles, exercises and many outdoor activities.
Hi! I joined the Karp lab as a postdoctoral researcher in January 2019 shortly after completing my Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of British Columbia. During my Ph.D. I developed alternative strategies for preventing rejection following organ transplantation using novel immunomodulatory biomaterials. Within the Karp lab, I work with Dr. Rui Kaui to overcome the clinical limitations of MSC therapies through the development of translationally-focused bioengineering strategies. Beyond research, I am passionate about contributing to impactful science communication and enjoy writing articles for non-scientists highlighting the breakthroughs and challenges in scientific research. Outside the lab, I like to stay active, binge-listen to podcasts and sail whenever I can get the chance to!
I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Karp Lab focusing on establishing platform technologies—to target primary and metastatic prostate cancer—that can be rapidly translated to the clinic. This primarily involves developing nanoparticle-based approaches to deliver drug-loaded particles to sites of cancer metastasis using cells of the immune system as vehicles. I completed my PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University, where as a graduate student I was involved in designing and fabricating nanotechnology-
Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Dr. Jeffrey Karp’s laboratory (the laboratory for Advanced Biomaterials and Stem-Cell-based Therapeutics) at Harvard-MIT division of Health Science and Technology, Harvard Medical School. I received Ph.D. degree from the Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India in 2005 (supervisor: Prof. Santanu Bhattacharya). During graduation I carried out my research in the area of developing novel catalysts for decontamination reactions in supramolecular aggregates. After receiving my degree I have joined as postdoctoral fellow in Dr. George John’s laboratory at the City College of New York, where extensively I worked on developing various biobased amphiphiles to generate soft nanomaterials such as molecular hydro/organo gels, liquid crystals, self-assembled organic nanoarchitectures and their utilization in synthesizing various metal nanoparticles using novel in-situ methods.
Currently my research interest includes designing advanced bionanomaterials for generating novel stem-cell-based therapeutics for regenerative medicine.
My hobbies include playing badminton (I just love that game!), running, reading novels, watching movies and visiting friends etc (hmmm… I need more hours per day!!!)
I am Qun Wang, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. I hold a joint position at Prof. Robert Langer’s lab at MIT and Prof. Jeffrey Karp’s lab at Harvard Medical School. I got my first Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Wuhan University at 2007 and second Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of Kansas at 2010. My areas of interest include biomaterials, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, cell culture, nanotechnology, polymer science and engineering, ‘green’ materials and environmental science. Specifically, my research focuses on creating novel materials for drug delivery systems and tissue engineering, including films, fibers, gels, self-assembling colloids, nano- and micro-particles. I have also developed a breadth of analytical skills to characterize materials. Right now, I am working on creating novel materials to fabricate artificial intestine.
Hello! I’m Nikken, and I join Prof. Karp’s lab since June 2012. In Karp’s lab I will be developing biosensor technologies to gain a better understanding of in vivo biological phenomena. I received my PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2010. My dissertation in NUS was focused on studying the self-assembly of peptide nanostructures for anticancer drug and gene delivery, under a joint supervision from Prof. Yen Wah TONG (NUS), and Dr. Yi-Yan YANG (IBN, A*Star). Subsequently, I joined Dr. Yang’s lab at IBN for my first postdoc appointment to develop various peptide and polymeric biomaterials for macromolecular therapies against infectious diseases. Now I look forward to working with great teammates at Karp Lab. Other than having fun in the lab, I also enjoy outdoor activities, travelling and eating; and my favorite past-time is listening to music, watching movies, simple exercises like jogging, swimming, or gym exercise, and enjoying pints of “HiNikken” with friends…
Hi, this is Chenjie or CJ. I am a postdoctoral associate in Karp’s lab beginning from June, 2009. My current research interests include controlling stem cell rolling and homing for tissue repairing and tumor therapy.
I obtained my Ph.D. degree in Prof. Shouheng Sun’s group at Brown University (Rhode Island, 2009), where my dissertation was focused on the biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles. I was very privileged to be awarded the Joukowsky Family Foundation Outstanding Dissertation Award and also the Potter Prize for Outstanding Postdoctoral Thesis during my stint at Brown University.
I got my B.Sc from the Department for Intensive Instruction in Nanjing University (Nanjing, China, 2002). Later I obtained my M. Phil. under the supervision of Prof. Bing Xu at Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2004). I also spent one year at Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford University (Palo Alto, California, 2005).
My personal interests are jogging, traveling and enjoying different beers!
I joined the Karp Lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in August 2018. Three months ago, I received my Ph.D. degree from Purdue University under the supervision of Prof. Yoon Yeo. My doctoral research focused on leveraging endothelial selectins for enhanced drug delivery to solid tumors. Currently, my research spans from drug delivery to recapitulation of in vivo-like pancreatic islet niches. Aside from work, I enjoy travelling, and equity & alternatives investing.
I am a postdoctoral research fellow in Karp Lab. I majored in Biotechnology and earned Ph.D. degree at Yonsei University, Republic of Korea. I studied with interest on neural and bone tissue engineering using human stem cells under Professor Seung-Woo Cho. Recently I am interested in recapitulation of in vivo-like pancreatic islet niches for functional islet differentiation of human stem cells. Aside from lab work, I enjoy traveling, swimming, and watching baseball game.
Hi! I joined Karp group in September, 2010 as a postdoctoral associate. My current research interests are development of biomedical adhesive and drug delivery by using self-assembled materials. I obtained my Ph.D. degree in Prof. Jin Kon Kim’s group in 2010 from POSTECH in Korea, where I focused on the nanoporous materials based on block copolymer self-assembly for biomedical applications such as virus filtration and protein or gene drug delivery. And I studied metal oxide nanotubular structure prepared from polymer template for optical and sensor applications. My personal interests are playing sports, especially kumdo, and travelling.
Hi, I joined Prof. Karp’s lab since Feb. 2011 as a research fellow sponsored by Swiss National Science Foundation. I obtained my PhD degree from University of Bern, Switzerland in 2010 and before that, my MSc degree from Uppsala University/Karolinska Institute in Sweden, 2007. My research interests are adult stem cell based regenerative therapies, especially on the improvement of their efficiency and feasibility by utilizing novel biomaterial and cutting-edge biotechnology. I am so excited to join this talented family.
Lijie (Grace) is a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Karp’s lab at Harvard Medical School and Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. She obtained her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and M.S. in Applied Chemistry from Tianjin University in China. Then she received Edward Mason Fellowship to pursue her Ph.D. at Brown University in 2005. During three and half year’s study at Brown, she got her second M.S. in Chemical Engineering and obtained her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in Dr. Thomas J. Webster’s Nanomedicine lab in January 2009. After graduation, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Kyriacos A. Athanasiou’s Musculoskeletal Bioengineering lab at Rice University.Lijie’s research areas include nanobiomaterials, drug delivery, bone and cartilage tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biomechanics. She has published 5 invited book chapters, 12 peer-reviewed papers, 7 conference proceedings and has presented her work on over 22 conferences. Moreover, Lijie was the recipient of the Society for Biomaterials STAR Awards in 2007 (Chicago, IL) and in 2009 (San Antonio, TX). She also received the prestigious Joukowsky Family Foundation Outstanding Dissertation Award at Brown and the Sigma Xi Award for Excellent Research in 2009.
Hi, I am currently a Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Karp’s group at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. My current projects focus on the interface of stem cells and nanostructured devices towards diagnostics, therapeutics and regenerative medicine.I obtained my Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2008 from McMaster University (Canada), where I studied functional nucleic acid/gold nanoparticle-based biosensors and nanostructures. I completed my M.Sc. degree in Chemistry in 2003 at the Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry at Shandong University (China) and my research was focused on polymer/colloid nanocomposites. Prior to that, I received my B.Sc. degree in Chemistry at Shandong University (China) in 2000.Besides research, I am also interested in soccer, traveling, running, reading and movies.
Graduate Alumni
Hi, I am a graduate student in the Karp Lab and have just finished my first rotation in the Harvard-MIT Medical Engineering and Medical Physics PhD program. My interests include cardiac regeneration, cancer metastasis, and global health diagnostics. I am currently working on a project focused on looking at mesenchymal stem cell invasion into tissues. I joined the lab in February and have learned a tremendous amount about stem cell biology and cellular engineering. I received my bachelors degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa and an MPhil in Engineering Design from Cambridge University.
In addition to research, I enjoy music, movies, exploring the northeast, hiking, and cooking.
I am a graduate student at MIT Portugal Program, and I am currently conducting my research at Karp Lab. My PhD project focuses on the development of an autologous stem cell-based therapy that can be rapidly translated to the clinic and fully executed within the operating room, thus significantly enhancing current and evolving tissue regeneration therapies. I graduated from New University of Lisbon with a master degree in biomedical engineering. After graduating I worked for two years in an American multinational information technology corporation as consultant for healthcare information system projects, until I decided to pursue a career in something that I love, translational science. Besides science, family and friends, traveling and exploring new places, cooking and eating, painting, reading, kayaking and enjoying the ocean, sunny days and starry nights, are some of the things that keep my life moving.
I joined the Karp Lab in May 2019 as a visiting PhD candidate. I received my bachelor degree in Biochemistry by the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and a MsC in Drug Development by the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, both in Spain. In 2015, I joined the PhD program in Drug Delivery at Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain) under the supervision of Prof Maria Jose Alonso. Currently, I’m working with Dr. Nitin Joshi in the application of new biomaterials for drug delivery. Outside of the lab, I enjoy travelling, figure skating and photography.
I joined the Karp in September 2007 from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg Sweden. I’m writing my master thesis in Bioengineering during a 5 months visit to HST and Boston. I have focused my studies on protein engineering, immunology and tissue engineering and I am very passionate about so called BioPharma and stem cells therapy. It is somewhere within these areas of research I aim to work after graduating. I am enjoying my stay in Boston and spend my free time discovering the city and New England.
Allison is an adventurous medical student in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology who loves exploring new places, playing lacrosse, laughing rambunctiously, and making new friends. Her passions include singing with the HMS Heartbeats a capella group, her Saturday morning radio show, teaching, mentoring, and trying unusual foods. She is a graduate of MIT and holds Sc.B degrees in biology and chemistry. As an undergrad, she had the pleasure of working with Dr. Catherine Drennan to elucidate the crystal structure of ribonucleotide reductase with its allosteric inhibitor and Dr. Monty Krieger to investigate the mechanism of oocyte death in mice with impaired cholesterol homeostasis. She has also collaborated with the Rigotti Laboratory in Santiago, Chile investigating murine infertility. Allison is thrilled to join the Karp Lab in its pursuit of creative solutions to medical problems. She and her teammates are currently designing devices for treating Type I diabetes.
Peter Anthony Jones is a graduate student pursuing his M.S. in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics through the HST MEMP program at Harvard Medical School and MIT. He joined Karp Lab in 2014 as a researcher and is currently building an in vitro biomimetic model of the islets of Langerhans for diabetes. Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a Bachelor of Arts in International Business Administration from the American University of Paris, and a Masters-level Certificate in Classical Vocal Performance from the Conservatoire Jean-Philippe Rameau in Paris, France. Peter has spent two years as a medical device engineer. Notably, he worked for six months as an intern on the orthopedics product development team at DePuy Mitek Sports Medicine (part of Johnson & Johnson). He also has five years of international experience in strategy consulting, sales and marketing. Peter is bilingual in French and conversant in Spanish. He enjoys hiking and nature and is an avid archer.
I am a graduate student in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Program, on the Medical Engineering and Medical Physics track, which is a long way to say I’m working towards a PhD from MIT. I started in the Karp Lab in Fall 2010, and am really interested in mesenchymal stem cell biology and therapeutics, as well as cancer biology. I would like to make a positive difference in science and engineering education both domestically and internationally, especially at the elementary level. I am particularly interested in health education in the developing world. I received a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego in mechanical engineering and an MPhil in genetics from the University of Cambridge. I was born and raised in California (seasons are overrated), and am still coming to grips with the fact that we are not walking distance from DC. I enjoy running, spending time with friends, loading the dishwasher methodically, being outdoors, and am trying to learn to cook. Lastly, I really enjoy acronyms, so being a PhD MIT-MEMP in HST, taking classes at HMS and studying MSCs really works well for me.
I joined Dr. Karp’s lab as a Graduate Research Associate in January 2008. Prior to this, I completed my bachelor’s in Medicine at the AFMC, Pune in India. I also worked at the Wheaton Franciscan Hospital in Milwaukee for three months in the Department of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Paediatrics. My areas of interest include stem cell based therapeutics, development of novel Polymeric/ stem cell systems for applications in Regenerative Medicine, Gamma Imaging and Bispecific Antibody Modulation. On the clinical side my field of interest is Radiology and Radiodiagnosis.
Hi, I am a PhD student co-supervised by Professors Robert Langer and Jeffrey Karp. I joined the group in September 2011 from the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Denmark. My research areas include stem cell- based therapeutics and tissue engineering. Current research focuses on engineering microenvironments in order to control stem cell fate, with the aim of building biomimetic tissues for therapeutic use. I received my B.Sc and M.Sc in Biomedical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Research here was focused on cartilage tissue engineering. Outside of the lab I enjoy running, and I love to meet new interesting people and places.
I’m Kyungheon Lee, a Ph.D student from KAIST, Korea majoring in mechanical engineering. I’m interested in microscale fluid dynamics, micro fabrication, optics and micro-Total Analysis System. I joined Geko inspired adhesive project and worked with Dr. Wookyung Cho and Maria. In the Karp Group, I could take a chance to experience several fields, such as chemistry, biology and micro engineering and I could share and get a lot of experience from each field’s experts. It was great time for me!
Yes, Kelvin is my real name and my parents probably did intend for me to become a scientist obsessed about the thermodynamics of everything, even medicine, which, indeed, is the gist of Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, isn’t it? Here in the Karp Lab where opportunities abound, I hold dear to my training in biomaterials and drug delivery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, so I’m only tinkering with cell therapy, medical devices, and molecular sensors. Naturally, my PhD thesis focuses on strategies for translating extracellular vesicles as a therapy. And because no man is an island, I partly work through collaborations with industry and other academic groups including the Wyss Institute. Counting my hyphens as I write, which many scientists should, I solve my perpetual problem of work-life(-sleep) balance mathematically by culinary exploration, badminton, table tennis, church, travel, socializing via LinkedIn, and navigating my mind palace the Sherlock Holmes way.
Hey there! I’m a medical student at Imperial College London. In my second year here I’m developing PLGA microcarriers carrying conventional immunosuppressants and coated with mesenchymal stem cells, for local subcutaneous delivery in hand and face transplants. I am also assisting with two other projects. I am grateful for the supportive, fun and dynamic environment here at the Karp lab, and am most certainly looking forward to making the best of my time here.
I intend for my experiences here to augment my surgical aspirations with a proper grounding in regenerative medicine and biomedical engineering.
In my spare time, I fence, tinker with audio electronics, sing, cook, work out, read Buddhist philosophy and dabble in humanitarian work
Hi everyone! My name is Maria and I´m from Portugal. I did my undergrad and master degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Coimbra. Currently, I’m a graduate student at the MIT-Portugal Program now enjoying the opportunity of developing my research in collaboration with Prof. Jeff Karp’s lab. I’m working on the field of biomaterials and nanotechnologies, more specifically on the gecko adhesive project. My major objective is to create new materials that can be rapidly translated into the clinic to help others! Besides that I love travelling (a lot!), watching films and eating good food.
As a graduate student in the “Karp Lab for Advanced Biomaterials and Stem-Cell-Based Therapeutics” I assess characteristics of stem cells and their modifications using flow cytometry. Being involved in many projects, I have the chance to gain valuable insight in many different aspects of working with stem cells and biomaterials.
I am a student currently pursuing an Integrated Master’s program in cell and molecular biology at the M. S. University, India. I joined the Karp lab in July 2019 as an intern for my master’s thesis and am a part of the drug delivery team, working with Dr. Nitin Joshi on designing hydrogels to achieve targeted drug delivery for solving unmet clinical needs. Apart from the lab, I like to teach underprivileged children and participate in social work. I am really passionate about travelling and baking, and I love dogs.
I joined the Karp Lab in 2008 for a 7-month internship during my undergraduate studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and found the research here stimulating. Hence, I returned to complete my PhD studies here, and am currently enrolled in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology program (Medical Engineering Medical Physics track). My research covers mesenchymal stem cell biology and therapeutics, and I am also interested in technology for third world applications, and raising standards of education in SE Asia.
Clinical Intern Alumni
I joined the Karp lab in June, 2010. I am from Japan and graduated from Nagasaki
University School of Medicine in 1990. Nagasaki is located on the western edge of Japan.
Nagasaki University School of Medicine is the cradle of modern medical science in Japan.
I am a broad certified surgeon in gastroenterology and have an interest in regenerative
medicine very much. It’s my great pleasure to get a chance to work in Dr. Karp’s group with
young researchers.
Former Technicians and Technical Interns
I am a Technical Research Assistant in Dr. Jeffrey Karp’s laboratory (the Laboratory for Advanced Biomaterials and Stem-Cell-Based Therapeutics) at the Harvard-MIT division of Health Science and Technology. I came to the Karp Lab after finishing an M.S. and B.A. in chemistry from Brandeis University, where my research focused on developing new asymmetric methodologies for organic synthesis using cinchona alkaloid-derived catalysts. In Dr. Karp’s group I am developing new hydrogel-based therapies and drug delivery technologies. Two areas of particular interest to me are biomaterials and drug delivery, so I’m very excited to be researching in the Karp Lab.
I am research assistant in the Karp Lab working on formulations for drug delivery. I joined the lab after graduating with a chemistry degree from Northeastern University in May 2017. During my undergraduate studies I completed 3 co-ops at Celgene, Sanofi, and Amgen and conducted research with Professor Kirss examining the kinetics of phosphine and halide substitution in catalytically active ruthenium compounds.
I am a master’s student from India majoring in Biotechnology and am presently working with Dr. Weian Zhao on a project whereby we seek to elucidate Mesenchymal Stem Cell homing mechanism. It’s been a great learning experience where carrying out research has been fun at all times. I am fascinated by the stream of Stem Cell Biology and seek to expertise in regenerative applications of Stem Cells, that can be translated to pragmatic clinical therapies. Apart from my research, I enjoy adventure sports, Console Gaming, Fast cars and I have a love for gadgets!
My name is Liang Zhang. I obtained a master degree from McMaster University. Afterwards, I worked as a student intern in the Karp Lab. I learned much biology techniques centered on MSC cultivation and analysis. In the future, I wish to apply these knowledge into a broader context using engineering principles.
My name is Hao-Yu Greg Lin. I join Karp lab in November 2010. I am working on researching and developing bioinspired tape-based adhesives. I received my MS degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University in 2005. I am currently also working at Harvard University, Center for Nanoscale Systems. Prior joining Karp lab, I was working at Nantero (Woburn, MA) as a Device Research Engineer developing non-volatile random access memory devices using carbon nanotubes.
Helna joined the group in November 2020 as a research trainee. Her current work focuses on engineering hydrogels and other novel biomaterials for intranasal and inhalation drug delivery. She received her Master’s in Nanomedicine from Amrita Centre for Nanoscience, India, where she developed cell-instructive nanofibrous scaffolds for biomedical applications. Outside the lab, Helna enjoys painting and playing violin.
I joined the lab in September 2011 as a research intern during my master’s program in ‘Medicine & Technology’ from ‘Technical University of Denmark’ and ‘University of Copenhagen’. I work under Chenjie, mainly on MRI contrast agents for stem cells and cellular migration studies. Prior to Boston I worked in 3 different labs during my school time, including a year at University of Maryland and a year in industry, both on scaffolds for cartilage and connective tissues.
I spend a considerable amount of time travelling, for example I thought I could follow the Kenyan runners in their home territory for a year after high school but instead I learned a little about physical limits. I enjoy a local brew, my Fantasy football team and will work still harder to beat the post.docs in poker!
Co-Mentored Alumni
As a PhD candidate within the MIT Portugal program of Bioengineering Systems, I work between two labs, one in Biocant in collaboration with Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) from Portugal, and Karp Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital together with Boston Children’s Hospital at MIT. These joint efforts are oriented towards finding minimally-invasive and more effective therapies for myocardial infarction. My initial interest in this area was sparked by Physiology studies at the University of Belgrade and an additional rich practical knowledge gained through the IAESTE internship at UFV in Viçosa, Brazil in 2008, as well as the First BSRT Summer School of Berlin in 2009. Besides technical skills, these experiences have contributed to my knowledge in technology transfer, entrepreneurship & innovation. My curiosity passionately spans the exploration of nature, cultural diversity, dances, languages & lifestyles in general.
Hi, I’m Yi-Dong Lin and I’m currently a postdoctoral fellow working under the supervision of Prof. Robert Langer at MIT and Prof. Jeffrey Karp at BWH. My current research project is developing and applying novel polymers for tissue engineering. I received my PhD degree in biomedical engineering in National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan in 2011, and then I had mt first postdoctoral training in Academia Sinica until February in 2014. My previous research topic is using biomaterial-based approach to enhance effcacy of drug and cell delivery for cardiovascular repair.
I am a 4th year M.D. candidate at Harvard Medical School, currently conducting research in regenerative stem-cell therapeutics under Dr. Jeffrey Karp (BWH) and Dr. Robert Langer (MIT). My interests include clinically-oriented and translational cell-based therapeutics and tissue regeneration, as well as and diagnostic medical devices and telemedicine. My work in the lab currently focuses on expanding intestinal stem cells ex vivo using a novel scaffold system designed for implantation in intestinal disease. I received my Bachelors in Health Science from McMaster University in 2009 before moving to Boston for medical school. In addition to research and clinical device development, I love to play and watch hockey (go Montreal!) and develop useful web-based applications.
Sufeng is currently an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT. She is co-supervised by Professor Robert Langer and Jeffrey Karp. Her research areas include development of stem cell-based therapeutics and novel drug delivery systems for biomedical applications. She received her PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta, where she worked with Professor Hasan Uludag. Her PhD research focused on delivering protein therapeutics to bone for bone regeneration, including chemical modification with bisphosphonates and physical encapsulation with nanoparticles.
Former Lab Managers
I am the Lab Manager at the Karp Lab; I joined in February of 2014. I handle the administrative side of the lab as well as grants and lab safety. I received my BS in Biology with a minor in Child Development and Family Relations and I am currently working on my MSM in Healthcare Administration. I have been part of Brigham and Women’s Hospital for the past three years and prior to joining the lab, I worked directly in the hospital and its corporate office.
In addition to fulfilling one of my passions, which is facilitating research, I love spending time with my family and friends, staying active, the outdoors, the beach, traveling, my sorority Lambda Theta Alpha, food and ice cream, shopping, reading and the color pink.
I am the new lab manager and grants coordinator for the Karp Lab. Before coming to the Karp Lab I worked in Research Space Management at Massachusetts General Hospital for 3 years. Learning the ins and outs of research within a Partners Healthcare affiliated hospital helped prepare me for the transition to Brigham and Women’s. My background is in English and Business and I have a B.A. from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.
In addition to enjoying the world of science I love to cook spicy ethnic foods, bake, brew my own beer, knit, read, travel, watch British comedies, listen to music and go to concerts, swim, run, bike, and hike.
Hi, my name is Eileen Vote. I’m the new Karp Lab Manager. My background is in Architecture and Archaeology, but I have collaborated with the Sciences at Brown University where I completed my Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Research. There I worked with Biology, Medicine, Applied Math and Computer Science to create Scientific Visualizations to help scientists analyze data.
I’m very excited to be here in the Karp Lab and will be helping Jeff and the rest of the lab with a variety of tasks. If you need help with something, just ask!
Undergraduate Alumni
Hi I am Ruchika Aggarwal, a Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology undergraduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Delhi), India. I have just completed my sophomore year and am working on a very interesting project on stem cell rolling at the Karp Lab for the summer. A few of the large number of things I love to do are skate, shop, dance, sing and explore new places with friends.
I am an intern from the University of Toronto, where I’m in the Engineering Science program with a major in biomedical engineering. At the Karp Lab I will be working with Dr. Oren Levy on a number of projects regarding mesenchymal stem cells, specifically related to cell homing. My prior research experience focused on developing an in vitro model for staining the cornea with fluorescein to determine the effects of fluorescein at the cellular level, so I am very excited to learn more about regenerative medicine and other aspects of biomedical engineering during my time here. Outside of the lab I enjoy reading, watching (many) tv shows, playing the clarinet and exploring Boston.
I’m an intern from the University of Toronto in the Engineering Science Biomedical major doing my PEY year. Currently, I am working with Grace Teo on characterizing the mechanism of mesenchymal stem
cell transmigration across the endothelium. So far, it has been an amazing learning experience. The work environment at the Karp lab is very encouraging and friendly, and the diversity of projects throughout the lab provides exposure to several different areas in the field. Outside of work, I enjoy Taekwondo, running, reading and listening to music.
I am an undergraduate student from Oxford University and currently at MIT on a 6-month exchange program in order to complete my Masters thesis. In Oxford I am majoring in Materials Science and I am especially interested in biomaterials and nano-technology. I am working on an extremely interesting project here in the Karp Lab; developing an animal-inspired biodegradable biocompatible medical adhesive tape. This will potentially revolutionize future surgical procedures. I find it fascinating how the animal kingdom can influence the scientifif world. I also passionately support the promotion of science and innovation and I am actively involved in projects that help bridge the gap between science, business and the general public.
I am an undergraduate at Tufts University, majoring in Cognitive and Brain Sciences. During my internship, I will be working with Grace Teo researching the mechanism of mesenchymal stem cell transmigration across the endothelium, as well as with Kelvin Ng focusing on developing research tools to study mesenchymal stem cells in vivo. My previous research experiences involved studying stem cells and cancer biology, and developing a new way to radio-protect hematopoietic cells so I am very excited to learn more about stem cell biology and therapeutics. Outside of the lab, I enjoy exploring Boston, cooking, and writing.
I am a mechanical engineering student from University of Toronto currently doing my professional experience year. I am working on novel biodegradable adhesives for internal applications with potential anti-cancer, bacterial static and hemostatic properties. I really enjoy doing research in the karp lab with friendly and supportive mentors and labmates. Personally, I enjoy watching movies, running, and playing basketball with friends.
I’m an undergraduate student from the University of Waterloo currently working on an internship in Dr. Karp’s Lab. I’m working under Dr. Praveen Kumar Vemula on developing novel encapsulation vehicles for drug delivery. This aligns with my research interests in biomedical engineering, and especially with work that has immediate application. I’m enjoying working in such a motivating atmosphere, and I hope to make most out of the rest of my time here. In the future I hope to gain exposure to related research in an industry setting (and hopefully travel while I do so), before pursuing a graduate degree. Outside of work and school I enjoy skiing, snowboarding, playing tennis and doing parkour.
Hi, I am a third year undergraduate student at Northeastern University majoring in Bioengineering with a minor in Mathematics. I joined the lab in January 2018 as a research intern. As part of Dr. Nitin Joshi’s drug delivery team, I work on the research and development of next generation biomaterials and drug delivery systems for therapeutic application. Besides laboratory research, I enjoy biking, swimming, hiking, visiting animal shelters and exploring museums with Dana.
Hi! I’m a third year undergraduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute majoring in biomedical engineering with a concentration in biomaterials. I am working with Dr. Yuhan Lee and his team on developing bioinspired tissue adhesives. Outside of the lab, I enjoy swimming, playing tennis, and playing the violin.
Hi! I’m a third year bioengineering major at Northeastern University who works as an intern in Dr. Nitin Joshi’s group and is developing next generation biomaterials and drug delivery systems for various therapeutic applications. Aside from research and school, I enjoy playing and seeing music as well as coaching and competing in sailboat racing.
I joined Dr. Karp’s lab in May 2010, as an intern student. I am an undergraduate Engineering Science student majoring in Biomedical Engineering at University of Toronto. It has been a rewarding year for me working here at Dr. Karp’s Lab, where I met many excellent researchers and inspired by their innovative ideas. Currently, my research focuses on understanding mesenchymal stem cell’s (MSC) immunomodulatory properties with the goal of improving its therapeutic effect in the clinic. Previously, I developed a high content screening platform to quantify mesenchymal stem cell’s osteogenic potential under Professor William Stanford at University of Toronto. Being a part of this multidisciplinary research group has stimulated my interests in translational medicine-orientated biomedical research. In the future, I would like to pursuit in a career in improving medical condition in developing area by bringing bench-top technology to the village. Apart from research, I travel, anywhere with a vibrate culture, from hundred year-old book store in town to the other side of the globe. Cheers.
I am a native of Massachusetts and am going to be a senior in biomedical engineering at Boston University. Currently, my senior project is designing a new artificial vestibular system. I hope to gain valuable research experience here at Karp Lab. I know many of the things I will experience here will aid me greatly in the future whether I choose to continue with school after graduation or go straight to work.
I’m an intern from the University of Waterloo, where I’m in the Life Sciences program with a major in Molecular Genetics and a minor in Psychology. At the Karp lab, I work with James on developing a novel method to augment mesenchymal stem cell therapy for inflammation using drug loaded microparticles that have been engineered at the lab. We hope that our research will have wide ranging applications in treating diseases like Graft vs host disease and Crohn’s disease.
Following my internship here, I will be working at the lab of Dr. Matthijs van der Meer for my senior thesis, and pursuing research in the mechanisms that underlie learning, memory and decision making. In the future I hope to go on to do my PhD. In Neuroscience and pursue research in neurodegenerative disorders.
Outside of the lab I can usually be found at a café or a park bench, writing my version of the great American novel and drinking entirely too much coffee. My list of obsessions include literature, poetry (Bukowski is a favourite), music, photography, food, child rights, cats, and travelling. Some of my favourite parts of the city would be the Holocaust Memorial on the Freedom Trail, the River Gods pub in Cambridge and The Paramount diner by Beacon Hill.
Hi! I am an undergraduate student from the University of Toronto, majoring in Biomedical Systems Engineering within the Engineering Science Program. I joined the Karp Lab in May 2019 as a research intern, working with Dr. Rui Kuai to engineer biomaterials for enhanced immunomodulation in the treatment of various diseases. I have a passion for the impact of engineering design in healthcare and for helping communities in need. Outside of the lab, I enjoy sports (Go Leafs!), travelling, exercising, and spending time with friends.
I am a visiting undergraduate student to the Dr. J. Karp Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. I am joining the lab from the University of Waterloo, Canada. It is a great pleasure to be a part of our multidisciplinary group of researchers, answering the key questions of modern medicine and coming up with unique solutions to meet humans? current healthcare needs. My research interests involve the utilization of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) properties for regenerative medicine. Moreover, I am fascinated by basic questions of MSC behaviour, such as their physiological role and identity, homing, self-renewal, differentiation. My favourite sports are soccer, swimming, skiing, and running. In addition, I highly enjoy reading and traveling.
Hi! I’m Sarah, a german exchange student from Saarland University. I will be spending my Masters in materials science here at the KarpLab. I am a member of the Functional Surfaces research group of the Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Germany, directed by Prof. Eduard Arzt, and my project will be both supervised by KarpLab and INM members. My fields of interest include the development and testing of new and versatile adhesive structures for medical applications with a special emphasis on wet adhesion and bioinspiration. I am really looking forward to join such a multidisciplinary laboratory.
In my free time I practice ballroom dancing, enjoy reading, baking and discovering new cities by foot armed with a photo camera.
I am an undergraduate student from University of Toronto, specializing in biomedical engineering. It is definitely a great opportunity for me to work in such a multidisciplinary atmosphere where you see and participate how cutting edge researches are conducted. Currently I am working with Weian and Yukkee on their collaborating project, focusing on the delivery of antitumor drug through microparticles-loaded mesenchymal stem cells. My previous research experience includes working in a kids rehabilitation hospital to detecting electgromyogenic artifacts in prefrontal cortex EEG to potentially benefit the application of brain computer interface (BCI). I also worked on a project in a bionanotechnology laboratory, using quantum dots encoded microbeads to detect non-amplified gDNA samples. Out of work, I enjoy travelling, reading, and movies.
I am an undergraduate student from University of Waterloo, studying Biotechnology and Economics. I am currently here in Karp lab for my co-operative educational term, working as an intern under Zijiang Yang and Luke Mortensen. We are working on several projects, such as implantable device for drug detection, high throughput screening of drug induced PGE2 secretion by MSC, effects of CXCL4 on the homing of MSC, and others. I have worked as an intern in a bio-regenerative polymer material in Japan, and it is wonderful to experience the difference in lab culture. I enjoy reading, movies, music, however I do spend most of my free time eating and sleeping.
Hi! My name is Xueyin (Holly) He. I’m an undergrad student from University of Toronto, and currently working as a research intern at Karp lab. My project focuses on developing a drug delivery platform using nanoparticles to treat multiple diseases, such as Dengue and Osteoarthritis. Our goal is to improve the clinical efficacy of drugs and at the same time reduce the side-effects by employing drug delivery systems. In my free time I’m passionate about reading, painting, and traveling. My plans for the future are to travel around the world to see different cultures and try all kinds of food!
I am an intern from the University of Waterloo studying in the Nanotechnology Engineering program. I will be under the supervision of Dr. Yuhan Lee, working on novel applications of a new polymer and its derivatives. I will also be assisting Kelvin and Allison as they develop a new technology as a solution to type I diabetes.
I am excited to be a part of the Karp Lab, as I strongly reinforce the mission of translating technologies from the lab bench to the bedside.
Outside the lab, I am hoping to explore more of Boston by exploring its diverse food, history and sights.
Hello, I am a Biology and Behavioral Neuroscience student at Northeastern University. I am currently working as an undergraduate research aid under Dr. Li, working with carriers in the blood-brain barrier. Outside of lab, some things I love are cars, bikes, spontaneous road trips, and being outside in general!
I’m a chemical engineering undergraduate student from the University of Toronto. I joined the lab in September 2018 to work on the development of tissue adhesive biomaterials under the supervision of Dr. Yuhan Lee and Dr. Ashley Lee. Away from the bench, I’m a big Arsenal (soccer club) fan and enjoy exploring new experiences.
Hi! I am a sophomore studying biological engineering at MIT and am excited to work in the Karp lab on stem cell engineering, especially because of its promise to improve lives through ground-breaking treatments in the medical field. In my free time, I enjoy reading, travel, exercise (occasionally =) ), and volunteering on the campus ambulance, although I am always up for trying new things and meeting new people.
Hi, my name is Amrita Karambelkar and I am a freshman at MIT, hoping to major in Chemical and Biological Engineering. I am pre-med, and I want to go to medical school after graduation. Because of my academic and career interests, the research at the HST department is very interesting to me. I am thrilled to be working as a UROP at the Karp lab, because I really enjoy research and hands-on learning. In my spare time, I love reading, being with friends, dancing, and playing all kinds of sports, especially basketball.
Hi, my name is Sunny Kim, and I am rising senior at the Wheatley High School. It’s a delight to be researching at Karp Lab! Last summer, I worked at Polytechnic University to research about the behaviors of various polymers such as the SI-53 for biomedical applications. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, volleyball, the flute, and reading classics. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in the medical field in the future, and I believe anyone who works hard enough can achieve their dreams. As John M. Shanahan once said, “Doors don’t slam open.
I am really excited about my UROP ( Undergraduate research opportunities Program) this summer. I will be working with Post Doctoral Associate, Dr. Woo Kyung Cho in the Karp Lab. I will be helping him create superhydrophobic surfaces. This is my first research at MIT and therefore I am looking forward to having a robust research experience, meeting dedicated and intellectual people and developing maturity.
Hello, my name is Heidi and I am an undergraduate student from the University of Toronto, specializing in Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology. At the Karp Lab, I am an intern in Dr. Oren Levy’s team. I am excited to work on projects that explore different bioengineering methods to enhance the therapeutic potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSC-derived exosomes. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy running along scenic routes, going to indie/alternative concerts, as well as following tennis and Chelsea FC.
I am an undergraduate majoring in Bioengineering. I wish to pursue a research career in regenerative medicine, specifically in developing Mesenchymal Stem Cell based therapeutic systems. I strongly believe that, we equipped with these wonderful systems, can cure any disease that are threatening the human kind and well, seems like we have a long way to go before we sleep!Here in Karp lab, along with Dr. Joseph Phillips and Ms. Rukmani Sridharan, I will be involved in probing MSC homing and ectopic bone growth.
Hi! I’m a pharmacology student from University of Toronto, currently working as a research intern alongside Dr. Oren Levy. Our team focuses on exploring the properties of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), and aims to augment their therapeutic utility through a variety of bioengineering approaches. At the Karp Lab, I have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists with expertise in diverse fields, so I’m really looking forward to the innovative ideas we can come up with to improve the clinical outcome of hMSC-based therapies. Outside of the lab, I enjoy watching movies and dramas, as well as travelling – my goal is to explore all the touristic places in Boston and try as many good restaurants as I can during the time I’m here!
I am an undergraduate in my third year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology studying Biological Engineering. At the Karp Lab, I will be working with Dr. Nikken Wiradharma in developing biosensor technologies for use in cancer diagnostics, particularly working with microfluidic devices. Past research has focused mainly in tissue engineering, and I am excited to be working in a lab with more medically oriented goals. If not in lab or working on problem sets, I like going home to New York, exploring Boston, going to concerts, and listening to music.
Hello, I am an undergraduate student in the Nanotechnology Engineering program at the University of Waterloo working at Karp Lab for 8 months as part of my co-op program. I am working with Woo Kyung Cho and Maria Pereira, designing a novel bioadhesive for internal wound closure. Previously, my research has focused on thin film synthesis and characterization for use in surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. After graduation in 2013, I will pursue an MBA and would prefer to work in industry. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, soccer, hockey, and golf, as well as reading. I also love to travel.
I am an undergraduate student from the University of Waterloo, Canada currently studying Nanotechnology Engineering with a strong interest in the biomedical field. I am grateful to have this opportunity to take part in such a stimulating and multidisciplinary research environment. Working with Dr. Weian Zhao, my projects are focused on exploring the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells. I also have past research experience using MRI diagnostics for the assessment of a cancer vaccine. In my free time, I enjoy playing ice hockey, running, curling and reading.
My name is Tim Lee and I’m very excited to be working at the Karp Lab. I am a freshman at MIT and hope to double major in biology and economics with the intention of going to medical school. I have lived in Natick, MA for most of my life and like to play sports, watch TV, and study.
Hi, I am a sophomore at MIT, majoring in Chemical-Biological Engineering. I am interested in doing research that have applications to help people’s lives. I would like to go to graduate school after my undergraduate studies. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, frisbee, ping pong, and reading.
Hi! I am an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto specializing in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. I joined the lab in May 2019 and have been working in Dr. Nitin Joshi’s drug delivery group. Outside of the lab I enjoy baking, painting, and reading philosophical works on the subway.
I’m a Mechanical Engineering student from University of Toronto. Currently, I’m assisting Dr. Yuhan Lee with his glue project. Being tired of long winters, Boston’s summer reignited my passion for outdoor jogging – you might spot me in Back Bay Fen some afternoons. I love all kinds of waterbodies, and the Charles River is absolutely a charm.
I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in chemical engineering at the University of Toronto. I joined the lab in August, 2018 as a research intern under Dr. Kisuk’s team, working on the development of devices for enhancing the viability of stem cell derived pancreatic beta-cells.
My name is Shirley Ma and I am a second year student currently enrolled in Nanotechnology Engineering program at the University of Waterloo (UW) in Waterloo, Canada. Previously, I have worked with Professor Bo Cui on nanofabrication in the cleanroom in Waterloo, through which I gained valuable experience in the semiconductor field. Working in Professor Karp’s lab has brought the excitement of my work experience to another height. Directly mentored by Dr. Sufeng Zhang, I am provided with valuable feedback every day. It is the support, guidance and spirit contributed by all the amazing people in Karp’s lab taught me what it takes to be the pioneers in the medicine research field. I feel very lucky to be guided by Sufeng and be working on nanoparticles for drug delivery. During my spare time, I like swimming, dancing, singing, reading and hanging out with friends.
I’m currently enjoying the frigid New England winters while studying bioengineering and management science at MIT. The cutting edge stem cell work that is going on in the Karp lab is all extremely exciting, and I am especially motivated by the prospect of applying novel engineering approaches towards treatments that can directly and immediately benefit patients. I am also interested in the policy side of everything that is health and healthcare related. Originally from Northern California, other loves include figure skating, literature, macs, lively debate, cafe culture, and (the perennial weakness of all girls) shoes.
My name is Shefa Moten and I am currently a rising sophomore at Clear Creek High School. I am very excited to be working at Karp Lab and pursuing my passions for biology and engineering. Previously, I have worked on projects in fields ranging from tissue engineering to nanotechnology. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, reading, listening to music, and hanging out with friends.
Hi, I am an intern from University of Waterloo, Canada, currently pursuing my bachelor’s in Nanotechnology Engineering. I joined Dr. Jeffrey Karp’s lab in January and am currently working with Dr. Chenjie Xu on adhesives for tissue and microfluidic devices for assessment of cell migration. It’s very exciting to be able to work in such a stimulating research environment with all the brilliant people that make up this lab. In my spare time, I enjoy painting, travelling, and popping bubble wrap.
Hi! I am Shwetha Mureli, an undergraduate from SASTRA University, India. With an enthusiasm to lay the first stepping stones in pursuing a career in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, I joined Dr.Karp’s Lab in January 2010. I will be working here for the next 6 months on the ‘Gecko Adhesive project’ with Maria Nunes Perriera, a graduate student in the lab. My work here would essentially revolve around developing biomaterials suitable for clinical applications. So far my experience in Dr.Karp’s Lab has been really exciting and thought provoking! I hope to make the best of this opportunity which I believe would help me build a firm foundation to further my research interests in this field. Besides academics, I love music, badminton, food and fixing computers!
Hello! My name is John and I am an undergraduate student studying Cell and Molecular Biology within the College of Science at Northeastern University. As a research intern, I work with Dr. Nitin Joshi and his drug delivery team, developing next generation biomaterials and drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles and hydrogels, for therapeutic applications. Outside the lab, I enjoy working out, playing videogames, and keeping up with my favorite sports (Basketball, Football, and Soccer).
I am currently an intern from the University of Toronto’s Engineering Science program, with a major in Biomedical Engineering. During my internship, I will be working under the mentorship of Dr. Oren Levy on various mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) projects, mainly focusing on the cell homing project.
I’m excited about working more on the biological side of biomedical engineering, compared to my previous internships that were electrical and computer engineering based, and especially at such a prestiguous and multi-disciplinary lab. Aside from lab work, I enjoy travelling, checking out local eateries, listening to music and playing sports.
I’m a PEY (intern) student from the University of Toronto, majoring in Biomedical Engineering from the Engineering Science program. I’ll be working in the Karp Lab for a year, and I’m currently working on a drug delivery system for a novel biodegradable elastomer to be applied on ischemic heart tissues after myocardial infarction. It’s just been two months, and I’m loving it. Intelligent and fun labmates, and living in a beautiful city (when it’s not raining every day of the week). I love sports, music, and photography. I play badminton, volleyball, violin, piano, and with my camera. And I love eating. om nom nom.
I am an undergraduate student at KAIST majoring in Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering. I am currently working under Dr. Yuhan Lee, researching bioinspired adhesives for surgical applications. During my internship at the Karp Lab, I hope to explore and experience the vast field of biomedical engineering and translational nanomedicine. In my free time, I enjoy working out and watching NFL and NBA games.
I am an undergraduate student at Northeastern University majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in computer science. I started my internship at the lab in June 2018 and have been working under Dr. Joshi’s drug delivery team as a research assistant. While at Karp Lab, I wish to learn more about biomaterials and nanotechnology. Outside of work, I enjoy playing basketball, spending time with friends, cooking, and watching TV.
I am currently in my third year of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. During my 8 month internship at Karp Lab I am working with Dr. Chenjie Xu studying mesenchymal stem cell migration under chemoattractant gradients as well as nanoparticle uptake for magnetic resonance imaging. I see my time here as an invaluable research opportunity which will prepare me to be successful in graduate school. My previous research experience focussed on graphene and carbon nanotubes synthesis and functionalization for super capacitor application. When I’m not in the lab I enjoy playing soccer, volleyball, rugby, and working out as well as listening to music and watching movies.
Hello, I’m an undergraduate from the University of Toronto majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in bioengineering. I joined the lab in September 2019 as a research trainee and I’m excited to be contributing to the development of microneedle technology under the supervision of Dr. Ashley Lee and Dr. Yuhan Lee. I am incredibly passionate about helping with the creation of innovative and sustainable bio-material tools for health care. In my spare time, I enjoy painting wildlife, photography, taking walks around Boston and finding new books to read at the library.
My name is Nick Sherman and I am a research assistant here in the Karp Lab. I graduated from Northeastern University in 2015 with bachelors degrees in behavioral neuroscience and chemistry. I am currently working on several projects which aim to treat diseases like cancer, HIV and arthritis.
In my free time I enjoy volunteering as an EMT and reading. After Karp Lab I am looking forward to a career as a physician.
I am a research trainee from Rice University in Houston, Texas. My interests in future PhD work lie at the interface of neuroscience, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering. Half of my bucket list is filled with restaurants to try and the other half with places around the world to visit. If not a physician-scientist, I would be a food chemist!
I am currently a high-school student at Belmont Hill School, located in Belmont, MA. I started my work as an intern in June of 2018 in Dr. Joshi’s drug delivery team at Karp Lab. Assisting with various projects, I am furthering my knowledge and interest in the field more and more each day. Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis, spending time with friends, and watching soccer.
Born and raised in the city of Toronto, I have recently joined the Karp Lab as an Undergraduate Intern for two months during the summer of 2010. Thus far, I have completed two years of my Bachelors of Arts and Sciences degree at the University of Guelph, Ontario, with double minors in Biology and Family & Child Studies. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the piano, swimming, drawing, acting, and volunteering with a variety of programs abroad. During March 2008, I traveled to Costa Rica and volunteered at an orphanage in San Jose and in the summer of 2009, I spent four months in Israel where I volunteered as a First Aid Responder in Ramat Gan with Magen David Adom. This summer, I am thrilled to join the Karp Lab and contribute to the many exciting projects this amazing group has to offer!
I spent the first 18 years of my life in New Delhi (India). During high school, my interest in the magical world of nanotechnology peaked. With my family’s Canadian immigration, everything aligned and I enrolled into the B.A.Sc. Nanotechnology Engineering program at University of Waterloo. I absolutely loved my time at Waterloo and graduated from this program in 2011. At Karp Lab, I am conducting research at the interface of nanotechnology and medicine. Specifically, I am developing novel drug delivery technologies towards the goal of making them more adhesive. My second project deals with stem cell engineering and biosensors for studying physiological changes in the cellular environment.
Outside the lab, I am an avid soccer ( the real football) fan and enjoy playing it both indoors and outdoors. My favourite teams are Arsenal and Barcelona. I also play squash to let off the steam! I listen to rock and alternative music ( The Black Keys, Cage The Elephant, Arkells, Arcade Fire, Nirvana, U2…..) and some Indian music.
Hi! My name is Dawn and I am currently a Junior at MIT majoring in Bioengineering and minoring in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. I am interested in the application of fusing stem cells to solve medical problems through tissue engineering and regeneration approaches – what the Karp Lab is all about. I plan on pursuing a PhD in Bioengineering after I graduate, although where I would like to go is something I haven’t quite figured out yet. Outside of the lab, I am very involved in the undergraduate BE student board, am a member of TBP, and volunteer at MGH. Finally, in what little free time I have, I enjoy reading, listening to music, shopping, and playing IM sports.
I am a third year undergraduate student from NTU, singapore studying chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. I am currently working with Dr. praveen in developing controlled drug delivery vehicles to make a paradigm shift in the treatment of various illness such as arthritis, brain cancer.Previously I was working in finding the optimal conditions for Electrospinning of Hyaluronic acid , modifying chitosan to make it thermosensitive . I greatly enjoy the stimulating environment in the lab working with people with varied expertise. When I am free I love dancing Bharatnatyam which is a classical Indian dance. I also enjoy reading books and trying out new stuff.
Hi, I am an intern from the University of Waterloo in Canada studying engineering. At the lab I am working on self assembled hydrogels for controlled release and transdermal drug delivery. In the past I have worked on MEMS (microelectromechanical systems), computational simulations of solids and fluids and most recently on imaging nanowires optically. Combined, my experiences make me feel completely at home in this multidisciplinary lab. I will be trying to do graduate work in one of the fields above and hopefully will be able to decide on one of them :P.
I’m majoring in chemical-biological engineering and probably a minor in brain
and cognitive science. I was interested in doing research in Karp Lab because
I’m drawn to both the materials synthesis and engineering along with developing
biological applications of these materials.
I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto studying Engineering Science majoring in biomedical engineering. After finishing my third year of studies, I joined the Karp lab as a student research intern where I work with Dr. Weian Zhao. My current project deals with improving the homing mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells towards sites of inflammation by engineering them to express certain protein receptors in their membrane. During my one year internship, I hope this invaluable experience will help me gain a better understanding of biomedical research while being involved with projects that will quickly translate to improving the quality of life of currently suffering patients. I have previously worked at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland where I developed a bio-inspired encapsulation method using silica to improve the efficiency of lipase. I also worked at the University of Toronto where I looked at signalling cues that apoptotic osteocytes release to induce osteoclast formation. In my spare time, I enjoy playing chess and go, watching movies, and travelling. I am also a huge sports fanatic and love watching and playing baseball, Ultimate Frisbee, basketball, baseball, golf, skiing, biking, tennis and swimming.
Hey! I am an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, majoring in the Biomedical Systems Engineering option of the Engineering Science program. I joined the lab as a research trainee in September 2018 and am working on the development of an adhesive, biomonitoring device under the supervision of Dr. Ashley Lee and Dr. Yuhan Lee. Outside of the lab, I enjoy bouldering, watching variety shows, and playing music.
Hi! My name is Alisa – I’m a Pharmacology & Biomedical Toxicology student from the University of Toronto. I have been working as a research trainee at Karp Lab and a Visiting Undergraduate Research Fellow in Don Ingber’s group at Wyss Institute. My project focuses on developing strategies for harnessing MSC-secretome therapeutic potential. I am fascinated by the history of medicine, and the intersection of economics and biomedical innovation. In my free time I like exploring new places, learning to cook new meals, and listening to all kinds of music from Baroque to 70’s rock to present-day pop.
Hi! I am an undergraduate student in Engineering Science (Biomedical Systems option) at the University of Toronto. I joined the lab in May 2018 as a research intern, and work with the drug delivery team under Dr. Nitin Joshi, developing next generation biomaterials and drug delivery systems for therapeutic applications. In my spare time, I enjoy biking, ultimate frisbee, and keeping up with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
I am an undergraduate student perusing a degree in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto, with a major in Biomedical Engineering. My research focus surrounds the intersection between biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Specifically, I am interested in the development of intelligent hybrid carriers, both biological and synthetic, for the delivery of drugs, vaccines and various active molecules. Currently under the mentorship of Dr. Praveen K. Vemula, I am working on the development of next-generation therapeutic strategies for localized treatment of proteolytic diseases.
A native of India, I came to the United States in 2005. Having finished my high school in New York, I moved to Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, to pursue an education in the field of Biomedical Engineering. I believe that there is no facet of human life that is not touched by the beauty of an engineering application. Moreover, the ever-growing field of Biomedical Engineering, which aims to cure diseases and improve the general life of society, sheds a ray of hope to the billions suffering from various diseases. I am very thrilled at the prospects of working with Dr. Jeffrey Karp and other brilliant scientists who make up this vibrant community. I will be assisting Post Doctoral Associate, Dr. Praveen Kumar Vemula, with his research on drug-delivery. After graduation, I aspire to enter medical school. During my pastime, I enjoy playing tennis, reading books, and spending time with friends and family.
I am an undergraduate studying Biology at Northeastern University here in Boston. Along with Liu-Yi Wu, I have had the pleasure of assisting Peter Jones and Dr. Kisuk Yang in the development of a biomimetic culture system for human embryonic stem cell-derived islets. Our efforts are aimed towards the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes, and I hope that our work will someday impact the millions of patients that suffer from T1D. From this experience, I hope to learn the large role research plays in the medical field. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places to hike, to photograph, and to eat!
Through the UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program), I will be working with Post Doctoral Associate, Dr. Praveen Kumar Vemula in Prof. Karp’s lab at the Harvard-MIT division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School and look forward to being a part of the exciting cutting edge research taking place. I am currently a sophomore at MIT, majoring in biology with aspirations to enter medical school in the future. I enjoy a wide range of activities – being on the exec board of the MIT Undergraduate Biochemistry Association as well as that of New House, volunteering at MGH on the weekends, maintaining my dorm’s IM tennis team, and participating in MIT’s Chamber Music Society. A dedicated pianist of 15 years, I express myself through music and enjoy a wide range of musical styles, especially classical. Hailing from sunny south Florida, I also enjoy playing tennis, going to the beach, and swimming.
I can’t wait to dig my hands in, learn from, and collaborate with the brilliant and talented scientists who make up this lab.
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto majoring in Pharmacology and Toxicology. I work with Dr. Joshi’s team, developing next generation biomaterials and drug delivery systems for therapeutic applications. Outside of the lab, I enjoy figure skating, swimming, and visiting museums with Mu.
Hello, my name is Jamie and I am an undergraduate research intern from the University of Toronto, with a major in Biomedical Systems Engineering in the Engineering Science program. My project at Karp Lab focuses on creating an in vitro biomimetic model of diabetes for purposes such as disease modelling and drug screening. Research aside, I enjoy travelling and photography. I am fascinated by physics and astronomy in addition to being a cat enthusiast (Schrödinger’s and other types)!
Hello! My name is Andy and I am a student from University of Toronto, currently working as a research intern here at the Karp Lab. There are multiple research projects that I am involved in but the main objective is to employ stem cell-based strategies to treat major diseases such as diabetes and colitis. Outside of the lab, I enjoy going to different coffee shops and trying various drip coffee as well as lattes. In addition, I am a huge sports fan especially of my hometown teams (Let’s Go Raptors and Blue Jays!) and I personally play basketball and ultimate frisbee! This internship has been a great experience so far and I am loving the City of Boston, it is such a beautiful place!
My name is Le. I’m currently a sophomore at MIT, studying Chemical and Biological Engineering. I hope to go to graduate school or medical school after my undergraduate studies. I’m from Myanmar (aka Burma) and my family moved to U.S. when I was in tenth grade. I like being outdoors, playing tennis, and swimming (only for fun :P).
I am an intern from University of Waterloo’s Nanotechnology Engineering program.
I will be working with Eoin O’Cearbhaill on a number of projects related to microfluidic and needle devices.
In my spare time, I enjoy ultimate frisbee, music, and good food.
Hi, I’m a junior at MIT, majoring in mechanical engineering (the biology track). I’m hoping either to go into medical school or into biomedical engineering. I like to sing although I’m bad at it, to play World of Warcraft, and to read for fun.
Hi! I am an undergraduate student from the University of Toronto specializing in Pharmacology. I joined the Karp Lab in June 2019 as a research intern under Dr. Kisuk Yang’s team to work on the development of devices for enhancing the viability of stem cell- derived pancreatic beta-cells. Outside the lab, I enjoy swimming, baking, and exploring Boston.
Other Alumni
Hi! I’m Maeve and I am a high school senior . I enjoy learning about math and science. I am also an avid recycling fan, and a co-founder of my school’s recycling club. I encourage anyone reading this to remember to recycle and also to adopt an animal in need from your local shelter!
I am Raquel Cunha and I am currently pursuing a PhD in Bioengineering from MIT Portugal Program. The goal of my PhD is to develop clinical grade stem cell-based therapies with enhanced regeneration potential. My project is being developed as collaboration between Karp’s lab and Wyss Institute, Boston, and Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) from University of Lisbon, Portugal. My background is an Integrated Master in Biological Engineering at IST, Portugal. As personal interests, I like hiking, volleyball and travelling.
Hello! My first name is Dagang. I am a visiting professor in Dr. Karp’s group at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. My current projects focus on the synthesis and characteristic of nature inspired tissue adhesives (collaborating with Dr. Woo Kyung Cho) and the related nano-composite biomaterials. I came from State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University (China), where I gained my PhD in Material Science and Engineering in 2005. I got my faculty position in the same university in 2005, and was promoted to be an associate professor in 2007. I had been granted the program for New Century Excellent Talents of Ministry of Education of China.
I’m Oren Levy, an instructor in Prof. Karp’s lab. I received my B.Sc. in biology from Ben Gurion University (BGU), located in Beer Sheva, Israel. I carried out my M.Sc research in BGU, focusing on the JAKSTAT pathway and its involvement in vascular smooth muscle cell hypertrophy. During my PhD research, also performed in BGU, I studied the biochemistry and physiology of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). I investigated the roles of signal transduction pathways in hMSC physiological processes, specifically, the involvement of the JAK/STAT cascade in hMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. My post doc research in the Karp lab focused on hMSC homing and engraftment to various sites in the body. I have enjoyed my work in the lab so far, and have had the privilege to engage in multiple collaborations with our great lab members. My hobbies include soccer, tennis and basketball. In addition, I’m a huge fan of F.C Hapoel BeerSheva (“Ani adom balev baneshama”).
Hello, I’m a graduate student in the Harvard-MIT Medical Engineering and Medical Physics PhD program. My research interests revolve around regenerative medicine, specifically in the application of novel stem cell technologies towards the development of translational therapies. I received my bachelors degree in Chemical & Biological Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and have previously worked with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and National Institute of Standards and Technology. In addition to research, I enjoy any and all outdoor activities (hiking, cycling, skiing, etc..) as well as photography and traveling.
A bustling Chinese city, a New Zealand paddock, a Brazilian rainforest and now Jeffrey Karp’s laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School and MIT in Boston. They’re all views that I have seen from my office while working on fascinating and inspiring research!With a background in Bioinformatics, B.Sc and soon M.Sc. from Uppsala University in Sweden, and having done research in five continents I believe my contribution to the research on Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in Karp’s Laboratory will be of great value.I am currently working together with Chenjie Xu and Mary Mu, investigating properties of nanoparticles to aid the discovery of disease in earlier stages, in order to reduce the effect of various diseases, and hopefully make the world a little bit healthier!I don’t think anyone in the lab has missed that I’m the dance nerd. Dancing West Coast Swing, Blues, Salsa, Tango, Ceroc, Ballroom, Folk and well anything else I can get my hands on, I arrive early in the lab and spend most evenings on the dance floor! Come join! It’s fun!
Greetings! My name is Jane and I am an undergraduate student majoring in Biomedical Systems Engineering in the Engineering Science program at the University of Toronto. I am currently working as a part of Dr. Yuhan Lee’s team on projects involving bio-inspired adhesives for clinical applications. Outside of the lab, I enjoy sitting in a busy cafe while sipping a nice cold iced Americano, playing romantic period pieces and movie soundtracks on my cello, and singing karaoke despite my limited vocal range.
Hi! I am an undergraduate student studying Biomedical Systems Engineering at the University of Toronto. As a research trainee, I work with Benjamin Mead in the development of translational therapies through the application of intestinal stem cell technologies. Outside of the lab, I enjoy traveling, watching musicals and tasting new foods.
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto majoring in Chemical Engineering. I am part of Dr. Joshi’s team for research and development of arthritis drug delivery system. During my internship at the Karp Lab, I hope to expand my knowledge in biomedical engineering and medicine in general. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, working out and reading Buddhism literature