People

Principal Investigator

Justin L Brown
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
510 Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building
University Park, PA 16802

Tel: (814) 865-5190
Fax: (814) 863-0490
Email: jlb92@psu.edu

 

 

 

Graduate Students

Gabrielle Hamner

Program: Bioengineering PhD Candidate

Education and Professional Experience: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University (2016)
R&D Engineer at Stockmeier Urethanes, USA (2016-2018)
Lab manager of Kolandaivelu Ophthalmology Lab (2018-2020)

Area of Research: Development and characterization of silk-based ligament enthesis scaffolds

Gabi joined the Brown lab in November 2020.  She was born and raised in West Virginia where she got her bachelor’s degree at WVU.  She worked in industry for 2 years at Stockmeier Urethanes, USA as a research and development engineer, as well as 2 years in academic research in Dr. Kolandaivelu’s ophthalmology lab.  In her free time, she likes to read, hike, do yoga, and watch movies.

 

Elizabeth Byers

Alyssa Salazar

Program: Biomedical Engineering PhD Candidate

Educational and Professional Experience: B.S. in Bioengineering from University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus (2021)

Area of Research: 3D printing scaffolds for meniscus tissue engineering

Alyssa joined the Brown lab in November 2021. She grew up just outside of Denver and enjoyed many of the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. Alyssa has found herself continuing to hike and run outdoors since moving to Pennsylvania, as well as doing yoga and watching movies in her free time. She has been very involved within the BME department at Penn State, serving as President in the BMES GSA, as well as in the lab where she has been working hard on her research project.

 

Andrea Mesa Restrepo

Program: Bioengineering PhD Candidate

Educational and Professional Experience: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (2013) and MSc. in Basic Biomedical Sciences (2018)

Area of Research: Bone tissue-biomaterial interfaces

Andrea is from Colombia, where she studied for her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. In 2019, she started her PhD here at Penn State University. Currently, her focus is on understanding the ways ion-irradiated nanopatterned titanium surfaces interact with bone tissue to promote bone formation. Beyond her studies, Andrea is passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as serving her community through her involvement with BMES, MEGA and gradWIE graduate student associations.  In her leisure time, she likes crocheting and embroidering, cooking, staying active through workouts and hiking, enjoying movies, and spending time with her dog, Luke.

 

Anusha Mondru

Program: Master of Science, Biomedical Engineering

Educational and Professional Experience: Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal (2023)

Area of Research: Mesenchymal stem cell and mycelium-based scaffold interactions

Anusha is from Telangana, India. She completed her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology in India and has joined the Brown lab to complete research for her master’s degree. Additionally, she works as a part-time student food service worker at Warnock Commons at Penn State University. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, watching TV shows, and working out at the gym.

 

 

 

Daniel Widjaja

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Biomaterials Option

Research Focus: TBD

Daniel is a senior studying biomedical engineering, biomaterials option. He is originally from Jakarta, Indonesia and moved to Penn State in his freshman year. At Penn State, he is involved in BMES, Apollo THON organization, and the Delta Phi organization. In his free time, he enjoys working out, playing the piano, hanging out with his friends, fishing, and cooking. He also works at Hibachi at the hub, so be sure to say hi when you see him there.

 

Megan Horan

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Biochemical Option

Research Focus: POR1 curvature sensing and signalling

Megan is a senior in the Schreyer Honors College majoring in biomedical engineering with a biochemical focus.  She is from a small town in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  At Penn State, Meg is heavily involved with the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) and Society of Women Engineers (SWE), where she serves as the University Events Director. You can usually find her playing intramural sports, cheering on the Philadelphia Flyers, or hanging out with friends.

 

Emmaleigh Shinno

Major: Biomedical Engineering and Premed

Research Focus: Designing a 3D bioprinter sterile chamber

Emmaleigh is a junior studying Biomedical Engineering and became a member of Dr. Brown’s lab as a recipient of the NASA Women in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) Space Grant Program. She is from Kailua, Hawaii and is a part of the Millennium Scholars Program and the Schreyers Honors College. She is involved in the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, Minority Association of Pre-Health Students, Alternative Breaks, and the Indigenous Peoples Student Association. Outside of school she enjoys going to the gym, playing soccer, getting outside, and hanging out with her friends. While at home in Hawaii you can most likely find her at the beach or somewhere in the mountains on a hike.

 

Ryan Scott

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Biomechanics Options

Research Focus: Designing a climate-controlled electrospinning chamber

Ryan is a senior studying Biomedical engineering, biomechanics focus. He is from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. At Penn State, he is involved with Engineers for a Sustainable World and the Biomedical Engineering Society. He enjoys exercising, writing, and wood working in his free time. You can usually find him at the gym, green houses or hanging out with friends.

 

Jacquelyn Fekula

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Research Focus: NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium 2024 Undergraduate Research Internship Program

Jacquelyn (Jackie) Fekula is a second-year student studying biomedical engineering from Allentown, Pennsylvania.  Her goal is to one day work in prosthetic development.  She enjoys playing volleyball, traveling, reading, painting, and spending time with her family and friends.

 

Amadou Ndiaye

Major: Chemistry

Research Focus: TBD

Amadou is a sophomore majoring in chemistry from Baltimore, Maryland. He is currently involved in the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS). In his free time, he loves to play soccer, watch movies, read, and play chess. You can catch him at IM soccer on Fridays.

 

Andrew Owen

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Medical Imaging and Devices Option

Research Focus: TBD

Andrew is a junior majoring in biomedical engineering, medical imaging and devices option, and minoring in neuroscience. He is a member of BMES, Phi Delta Theta, and plays IM sports here on campus. He is from Plumsteadville PA, outside of Philly. In his free time, he likes to go to the gym, watch shows, play games, and hang out with his girlfriend and friends.

 

Catherine Mojazza

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Biomaterials Option

Research Focus: 3D printing GelMa hydrogels

Catherine is a senior studying biomedical engineering and minoring in nanotechnology. She is from Plano, Texas, just outside of Dallas. At Penn State, Cat is heavily involved in the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) and Engineering Student Tours and Resources (ESTARs) as a student leader. Outside of her engineering tours, she also gives general university tours through Penn State Tour Guides. She has previous research experience in porous GelMa hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering. Outside of class and lab she enjoys lifting weights, cooking, crocheting, reading, and caring for her plants.

 

Martin Michaels

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Biochemical Option

Research Focus: Cell curvature impacts on hMSC differentiation

Martin is a junior majoring in biomedical engineering from Washington, DC. He is a part of BMES and plays intramural sports. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, reading, and hanging out with friends.

 

Sathvika Rajkumar

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Biochemical Option

Research Focus: TBD

Sathvika is a sophomore studying biomedical engineering from Allentown, Pennsylvania. She is in the Schreyer Honors College and is heavily involved in the United Nations Association of USA at Penn State where she serves as the Vice President. Additionally, she is involved in the Biomedical Engineering Society, Women in Engineering Program, and Schreyer for Women. Outside of school, she loves to travel, spend time with loved ones, try new foods, and work out.

 

Peyton Seamans

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Biochemical Option

Research focus: TBD

Peyton is a sophomore in the Schreyer Honors College who is majoring in biomedical engineering with a focus in biochemistry. She is from Reading, Pennsylvania. When not in class, she is involved in the Women in Engineering Program, the Society of Women Engineers (where she is currently the Director of THON Member Relations), and the Biomedical Engineering Society (where she is currently the Officer of Mentorship). Peyton loves reading, watching sports, playing softball, daydreaming about the beach, and spending time with family and friends.

 

Ethan Smucker

Major: Biomedical Engineering with Biomechanics Option

Research Focus: TBD

Ethan is a junior in the Schreyer Honors College studying biomedical engineering with a biomechanics focus. He is from Lancaster County Pennsylvania. At Penn State, he is involved in the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and disciple makers club (DCF). Outside of school he enjoys traveling, hiking, fishing, and hanging out with friends.

 

Riley Smith

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Research Focus: POR1 curvature sensing and signalling

Riley is a junior in Biomedical Engineering from Glenmoore, Pennsylvania. She is involved in BMES, Learning Assistantance for Biol 141, and intramural sports. In her free time she loves to golf, fish, hike, work out, and watch movies.

 

Dipti Venkatesh

Major: Pre-Medical Medical

Research Focus: TBD

Dipti is a sophomore in the 7-year BS/MD program with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. She is from San Jose, California. At Penn State, she is involved in Remote Area Medical and Infusion clubs. Outside of school, she loves to read, play new sports, and hang out with friends.