Nance Lab
Disease-Directed Engineering
Graduate Student Alumni
Hawley Helmbrecht, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering,
Advanced Data Science Option
May 2023
Thesis: An Engineering Framework to Quantify Microglial Morphology in Models of
Neurodevelopmental Disease
Current: Postdoctoral Fellow in Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Advisor: Dr. Lauren Jantzie
Jeremy Filteau, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering,
December 2023
Thesis:
Co-Advisor: Prof. Cole DeForest
Current:
Chris Nyambura, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, August 2022
Thesis: Rational Design of Protein-loaded Polymeric nanoparticles: A Computational and Experimental Approach
Mike McKenna, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, October 2021
Thesis: Establishing, applying, and enhancing a multiple particle tracking technique for characterization of the brain extracellular microenvironment
Current: Scientist I, NanoString Technologies, Inc
Andrea Joseph, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering,
May 2021
Thesis: Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles for neuroprotection in neonatal brain injury
Current: Postdoctoral Fellow in OB/Gyn, NYU, Advisor: Dr. Michal Elovitz
Mengying Zhang, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Molecular Engineering,
September 2020
Thesis: Quantum dot probes for neuroimaging and visualization of extracellular vesicles
Current: Scientist I, Vector Engineering Division, Biogen
Chad Curtis, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Advanced Data Science Option,
June 2019
Thesis: Trajectory features as surrogate measures of the nanoparticle-microenvironment interaction space
Current: Assistant Professor of Data Science, Nevada State University
Rick Liao, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering,
July 2020
Thesis: Antioxidant-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of excitotoxicity
in neurological disease
Current: Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioengineering, Harvard University, Advisor: Prof. Samir Mitragotri
Nels Schimek, M.S.
M.S. in Chemical Sciences and Technology,
May 2022
Thesis: Development of a machine learning pipeline to analyze biological multiple particle tracking datasets
Current: PhD student in Chemistry, University of Washington
Cheng-Hao Lin, M.S.
M.S. Chemical Engineering,
August 2021
Thesis: Skeletonization and fractal analysis of microglial cells in neonatal brain
Nuo Xu, M.S.
M.S. Chemical Engineering,
June 2021
Thesis: Nanoparticle loaded implantable flexible microelectrode arrays for pain management after spinal cord surgery
Current: Ph.D. Student, Chemical Engineering, University of Washington
Qiong July Zhou, M.S.
M.S. Chemical Engineering, Advanced Data Science Option,
March 2021
Thesis: ifThreshold Python Package: score ranking the standard threshold method.
David Shackelford, M.S.
M.S. Chemical Engineering, Advanced Data Science Option,
August 2020
Thesis: Comparing Machine Learning Classification Methods for Biological Tracking Data
Current: University of Colorado Computer Science
Chih-Chung Chen, M.S.
M.S. Chemical Engineering,
June 2017
Thesis: Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia encephalopathy
Current: PhD Candidate in Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne
Undergraduate Researcher and High School Volunteer Alumni
Teng-Jui Lin
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: PhD student, Berkeley
Gisele Charpentier
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current:
Jonny Harrigan
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current:
Najma Hashi
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Minor in Global Health
Current: Fred Hutch Cancer Research Institure
Tolu Adebayo
B.S. Biology
Current: Research Technician, Seattle Children's
Ana Rios Sigler
B.S. Bioengineering
Current: Research Technician, Allen Brain Institute
​
​
Norah Alhindi
Biochemistry Undergraduate, KAUST Scholar
Denise Beebout
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: Texas Instruments
Michael Chungyoun
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: PhD Student, Johns Hopkins
Brendan Ball
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: PhD Student, Purdue University
Zach Saba
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: Starbucks R&D Manufacturing
Alex Hayes
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: Keyence Corporation
Jessica Pon
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: Capital One
Kate Hildahl
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Pre-med
Current: Medical Student, Rochester University
​
Ceza Pontes
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry
Current: Research Protocol Manager, Whittman-Walker Research
Camille Motchoffo Simo
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Pre-med Biochemistry
Current: Medical Student, UCLA
Evan Epstein
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: Medical Student, Univ. Arizona
Victoria Dahl
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pre-med
Current: Medical Student, Miami University
Tora Gao
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Pre-med
Current: PhD Student, UCLA
​
Dorsa Toghani
B.S. Bioengineering, Pre-med
Current: Medical Student, University of Washington
Olesya Mironchuk
B.S. Bioengineering, Neurobiology, Pre-med
Current: Medical Student, University of Washington
Nina Chen
B.S. Biology
Current: Freelance Artist
Emily Rhodes
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: PhD Student, University of Colorado
Sam Broadwell
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: Alcon
​
Alex Choe
B.S. Material Science & Engineering
Current: MS Student, University of Washington
Sameeha Jilani
B.A. Public Health, Pre-med
Current: MD/PhD Candidate, Case Western
Saahiti Jasti
B.S. Molecular & Developmental Biology
Current: ZeroUI
Belinda Garana, PhD
B.S. Chemical Engineering (UW), PhD Chemical Engineering (University of Southern California)
Current: Postdoc, Pacific Northwest National Lab
Holly Sullivan, PhD
B.S. Chemical Engineering (UW), PhD Bioengineering (UCSD)
Current: Sales & Application Engineer, ProAnalytics LLC
Paige Bennett
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: W.L. Gore & Associates
Binh Dang
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: IPS-Integrated Project Services
Sanchit Gad
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: LeanTaas
Catherine Panlilio
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: Pall Corporation
Andy Kirk
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Current: Moses Lake Industries
​
Sanjana Jankiraman
HS Summer Research Volunteer
Current: Undergraduate, UW
Maya Mallya
HS Student - STEMM Prep Program
Current: Undergraduate Student
Meghan Mallya
HS Student - STEMM Prep Program
Current: Medical Student, UT Austin
Sarah Sackeyfio
HS Student - STEMM Prep Program
Current: Undergraduate, Stanford University
Jessica Holloway
HS Student - STEMM Prep Program
Current: Undergraduate, UNC Chapel Hill
Ben Wong
HS Summer Research Volunteer
Current: D.E. Shaw Group
Maria Sati
HS Student Research Volunteer
Current: Undergraduate Student
Phoebe Wilcox
HS Student Research Volunteer
Current: Undergraduate Student