People
Principal Investigator
Dr. Jonathan Grasman
Postdoctoral Research: Tufts University, 2015-2019
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2015
B.S. Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2008
Favorite Food: Okonomiyaki or chicken parmesan
Fun Fact: I lived in Mongolia for a summer
Graduate Students
Natalie Kozan
Degree Pursuing: PhD
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, NJIT 2020
Area of Research: I am researching biomaterial scaffolds to facilitate skeletal muscle regeneration for the healing of volumetric muscle loss.
Favorite Food: Mac and Cheese
Fun Fact: A random fact about me is that I love cooking and baking!
Syndnee Sicherer
Degree Pursuing: PhD
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, NJIT 2020
M.S. Biomedical Engineering, NJIT 2021
Area of Research: I am researching how variations in scaffold materials (bulk and ECM components) will impact myoblast growth and differentiation into myotubes.
Favorite Food: Brisket
Fun Fact: I've been behind the scenes of three Broadway plays.
Jarin Tsunim
Degree Pursuing: PhD
B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, BUET, 2018
Area of Research: Design and Fabrication of single and multi-channel hollow collagen tubes to observe axonal growth and how it replicates in the peripheral nervous system.
Favorite Food: Pizza, Kabab, and Ice-cream
Fun Fact: I love to sing and paint.
Satyaj Awasthi
Degree Pursuing: PhD
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, 2020
M.S. Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, 2023
Area of Research: Research on developing a decellularized skeletal muscle hydrogel for creating neuromuscular junctions
and incorporating biochemical cues to facilitate VML recovery.
Favorite Food: Spaghetti Alfredo
Fun Fact: I enjoy playing guitar, scuba diving and im an intermediate-level in Muay Thai.
Undergraduate Students
Sean Caswell Sheetal Padhi
Major: Biomedical Engineering Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation Year: 2024 Graduation Year: 2024
Research: Volumetric tissue Research: PNS models of neural
regeneration regeneration within collagen hydrogels
Favorite Food: Shawarma Favorite Food: Chicken Biryani
Fun Fact: I played ice hockey for Fun Fact: Nothing gets me
13 years and love to drum. like a good book!
Faith Adams Nyssa Nixon
Major: Biomedical Engineering Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2026 Graduation Year: 2026
Research: Cross-linked collagen scaffolds Research: Peripheral nerve regeneration
Favorite Food: Broccoli and Cheese Favorite Food: Spam Musubi
Fun Fact: I also have a Youtube channel Fun Fact: I do graphic design as a boredom hobby.
where I post movie reviews!
Peter Kutuzov Shreyas Bolla
Major: Biochemistry Major: Biology (BA/MD)
Graduation Year: 2024 Graduation Year: 2026
Research: In vitro models of peripheral Research: Developing a bioactive scaffold
nerve regeneration. for skeletal muscle regeneration.
Favorite Food: Borscht Favorite Food: Chicken Biryani
Fun Fact: I'm a triplet. Fun Fact: I always take exams with 3 pencils on my
desk for good luck.
Yash Parikh Shree Shruthi Sankar
Major: Biology Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation Year: 2025 Graduation Year: 2027
Research: Myoblast growth Research: ECM extraction for tissue
and alignment regeneration.
Favorite Food: Eggplant Parmesan Favorite Food: Chicken and noodles.
Fun Fact: I have gone skydiving. Fun Fact: I did Martial Arts for 4 years and
earned a black belt.
Noor Haque Marlin Abdelmasih
Major: Mechanical Engineering Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2026 Graduation Year: 2025
Research: Myofiber growth and alignment Research: Enhance muscle regeneration
after VML
Favorite Food: Pasta and Butter Chicken Favorite Food: Nachos
Fun Fact: I have two cats named Fun Fact: I have two birds named
Samwise and Frodo. Doritos and Sky.
Alumni
Sandra Raju, MS (Biomedical Engineering), Effects of mechanical stimulation on myoblasts
Drew Diel, MS (Biomedical Engineering), Effect of endothelial cells when seeded into collagen gel channels
Simone Bishara (Biochemistry), Biomaterial scaffolds for muscle regeneration
Karthik Budharaju (Biology, Accelerated BA/MD), Role of extracellular matrix proteins in determining neurite growth
Neeraja Dave (Biomedical Engineering), Investigating alignment of myoblasts within ECM-hydrogels
Jasmine Guliani (Biomedical Engineering, BS/MD), Skeletal muscle regeneration
Shaikh Hassan (Biomedical Engineering), CNS models of neural regeneration within collagen hydrogels
Hans Pocholo B. Hugo (Biomedical Engineering), Collagen-fibrin composite materials
Aman Mittal (Biomedical Engineering), Silk-collagen composite hydrogels
Vivian Ojeda (Biomedical Engineering), Muscle Regeneration
Milan Patel (Biomedical Engineering), Biomimetic scaffolds for skeletal muscle regeneration
Selma Shifa (Biomedical Engineering), Maintenance and long-term methods for myoblast hydrogel culture
Adrian Sudol (Biomedical Engineering), Investigation of the effects of fibroblasts on axonal growth and repair
Rashmi Venkatarama (Biomedical Engineering), Exercise models that enhance reinnervation
Juliana Yang (Biomedical Engineering), Endothelial cell growth in microfluidic collagen hydrogels
Noah N. Youssef (Biomedical Engineering, BS/MD), Skeletal Muscle Regeneration