Jayshiv Badlani
Northwestern University

Jayshiv completed his junior year at Northwestern University majoring in Economics. Jayshiv plans to attend medical school following graduation. During the summer 2008, Jayshiv will be working with Robert Parker, PhD, at the University of Pittsburgh. His summer research experience will find him engaged in mathematical modeling and control system design in the context of diabetes and critical care recovery. As related to relevance to tissue engineering, the outcomes of his work may lead to deployment of a glucose control system feasible for deployment in a critical care setting. Jayshiv enjoys ALL Pittsburgh sports teams, track, fashion, and rock climbing.

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James Byrne
University of Texas, Austin

James comes to the PTEI undergraduate program as a senior in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas, Austin. For summer 2008, James will be working with Stephan Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD, and Director of the Center for Pre-Clinical Tissue Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. James’ research is entitled, The Engineering of Bioartificial Hearts Prepared using Acid and Detergent Treatments. The aim of his work is to perform a comparative study of the preparation of rat whole-heart scaffolds using two different methods. This also includes analysis of the cell repopulation of the cardiac scaffolds. James reports his special hobbies to include reading, general fitness, rock climbing, rowing and “chilling out” in neighborhood coffee shops.

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Andrew Chiao
University of Pennsylvania

Andrew is a biochemistry major from the University of Pennsylvania. This summer will find Andrew working alongside Gwendolyn Sowa, MD, PhD, Co-Director of the Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic and Spine Research, at the University of Pittsburgh. His research will have Andrew investigating the effect of mechanical forces on intervertebral disc cells. Andrew’s recreational passions include playing the piano and the violin, as well as trying new, exotic foods.

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Tyeler Faulkner
Slippery Rock University

Tyeler will be a junior this year, majoring in Community Health at the Slippery Rock University. Summer 2008, Tyeler will be working with Rebecca Studer, PhD, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. As an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Studer’s lab, Tyeler’s research will lend toward continued development of techniques to silence p38 MAPK in primary nucleus pulposus cells in vitro, prior to trials in Dr. Studer’s annular stab model of intevertebral disc degeneration. Tyeler’s interests include reading, learning about completely new things, and the great outdoors.

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Jason Frank
Community College of Allegheny County

Jason comes to the PTEI undergraduate research program as a second year biotechnology major from the Community College of Allegheny County. Over the course of the 10-week program, Jason will be working with Kacey Marra, PhD, Director of the Plastic Surgery Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. Jason will work with adult stem cells derived from fat (adipose stem cells/ASCs) as well as with polymeric biomaterials. Broadly, Jason will be exposed to the utilization of ASCs for various tissue engineering applications, i.e., cartilage, fat, and bone regeneration. His hobbies include playing the guitar, and learning about new developments in the biotech field.

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Oscar Gonzalez
Virginia Commonwealth University

Oscar, who will be a junior this fall as a Biomedical Engineering major at Virginia Commonwealth University, will intern with Steven Abramowitch, PhD, Co-Director of the Tissue Mechanics and Mechanobiology Laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh. Oscar will be involved with mechanical testing to determine the impact of soft tissue scaffolds on the healing of vaginal lacerations in a rat model. Oscar’s hobbies are baseball, swimming rowing and movies; and he says the best way to spend a weekend in Pittsburgh is by visiting one of the many city parks or kayaking on the three rivers.

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Stephanie Haberman
University of Pittsburgh

An incoming sophomore this year at the University of Pittsburgh, Stephanie is a Bioengineering major. Stephanie will work with Garth Ehrlich, PhD, who is the Executive Director of the Center for Genomic Sciences at Allegheny-Singer Research Institute. Stephanie’s summer research work will be on the molecular and cellular biology of scarless wound healing, specifically characterizing the effects of gene knockouts and over-expression on the biology of scar formation and contraction during wound healing. In addition to her interest in engaging in research, Stephanie also enjoys volunteering and teaching and spending time at the pool over a hot weekend.

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Kristopher Hansen
Mt. Aloysius College

A senior this fall at Mount Aloysius College, Kris is a Biology major with plans to attend medical school. Over the summer, Kris will be working with Patricia Hebda, PhD, Director of the ENT Wound Healing Research Program at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Kris will be investigating the interaction between upper airway mucosal fibroblasts and naturally occurring ECM scaffolds. In his free time, Kris enjoys traveling, scuba diving and playing the acoustic guitar.

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Allison Hensler
Allegheny College

Allison is a sophomore at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania majoring in Biochemistry. This summer she is working with Joseph Ahearn, MD, Co-Director, University of Pittsburgh Lupus Center of Excellence. Her summer research will focus on the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. Allison hobbies include running, baking, traveling and listen to music.

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Brian Holt
Case Western Reserve University

Brian is a senior at Case Western Reserve University, majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a specialization in Tissue Engineering. His hobbies include intramural sports. Under the tutelage of Scott Tashman, PhD, Faculty of the Orthopaedic Biodynamics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Brian’s research will include development and testing of new instrumentation, as well as the collection, processing and analysis of biomechanical data from subjects with healthy and injured joints.

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Megan Jamiolkowski
The Catholic University of America

A sophomore this year majoring in Biomedical Engineering at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, Megan will work with William Wagner, PhD, Director of Thrombosis Research for the Artificial Heart and Lung Program at the University of Pittsburgh. As an undergraduate research intern in Dr. Wagner’s lab, Megan will work on the quantification and modeling of structure-mechanical properties of native and engineered soft tissue. A Pittsburgh native, Megan believes the best way to spend a summer weekend in Pittsburgh to be a visit to the historical, Kennywood amusement park, which will certainly include riding the antique carousel and wooden roller coasters.

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Kristen Klinger
Lehigh University

Kristen will be a junior this fall majoring in Biopharmaceutical Engineering at Lehigh University. During the summer, Kristen will be working with Dr. Savio Woo, Founder and Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center, a diverse multidisciplinary research and educational center in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research will primarily focus on the mechanical and biological characterization of tissue engineered collagen scaffolds utilizing stretching equipment. Kristen enjoys gymnastics, diving and a visit to Pittsburgh favorite sandwich shop, Pirmanti’s Brothers.

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Bridget LaFollette
University of Kansas

Bridget will be a junior this fall majoring in Chemical Engineering at the University of Kansas. Her future plans are to attend medical or graduate school. This summer, Bridget will be interning with Prashant Kumta, PhD, the Edward R. Weidlein Chair at the University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh. Bridget will be involved with identifying novel biocompatible biomaterials and innovative approaches to exploit biomaterials structural, chemical, physical and microstructural characteristics for biofunctional applications. Her interests range from swimming to listening to music.

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Devin Patel
St. Bonaventure University

A junior at St. Bonaventure University majoring in Biology, Devin will be spending his summer interning with James Kang, PhD, Director of the Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research at the University of Pittsburgh. Devin’s research is focused on tissue engineering of the intervertebral disc, and it involves in-vitro organ cultures of the rabbit disc, treated with various growth factor genes to effect increased extracellular matrix synthesis.

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Brittany Sams
Spelman College

Brittany is a junior this year, majoring in Biology at Spelman College. Brittany will be interning with Dr. Alan Russell, Director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Dr. Rick Koepsel, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and researcher within the Russell laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. The Russell Laboratory research has focused primarily on the symbiotic relationship between biological macromolecules and materials. As an undergraduate intern, Brittany’s research will focus on the growth of fibroblast cells in scaffolding materials that contain antimicrobial materials.

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Maggie Saracco
Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce Campus

Maggie is sophomore this year majoring in Biology at the Community College of Allegheny County, Boyce Park Campus. This summer, Maggie will be working with Dr. Kacey Marra, Director of the Plastic Surgery Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, and she will be working with adult stem cells derived from fat (adipose stem cells/ASCs) as well as with polymeric biomaterials.

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Alyia Smith-Parker
Vanderbilt University

As a Medicine, Health and Society major at the Vanderbilt University, Alyia’s summer research will find her working alongside Dr. Henry Zeringue, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh. The Zeringue Research group’s main focus is to explore and understand the basic mechanisms underlying neuronal function, from molecular interactions to nervous system communication. They focus on the development and integration of microtechnologies to overcome limitations with present techniques. As an undergraduate researcher in the Zeringue lab, Alyia will test the ability of a mutated sodium channel (SCN1a) to change the normal properties of neurons. These mutations have been associated with familial epilepsy.

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Danielle Wilt
Pennsylvania State University

Recently completing her sophomore year at Pennsylvania State University, Danielle is majoring in Science with plans to attend dental school focusing on oral surgery. Danielle is interning with Dr. Xudong Zhang, Department of Orthopaedic surgery and Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research focus is related to characterizing the mechanical properties of native and artificial (tissue-engineered) menisci in human knees. Danielle enjoys sports, the Pittsburgh Penguins and reading.