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The Team

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Dr. Maribel Vazquez

Principal Investigator 

Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Email: mv582@soe.rutgers.edu

Page: https://bme.rutgers.edu/maribel-vazquez

LinkedIn: dr-maribel-vazquez-05304a139

Phone:  848-445-6568

Fax:      732-445-3753

ACADEMIC TRAINING

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) 

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.),

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 

 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Cambridge, MA

Master of Science (M.Sc.),

Mechanical Engineering

 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Cambridge, MA

Doctor of Science (Sc.D.),

Mechanical Engineering

ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

Mechanical Engineer:

Intel Corporation 

Cleanroom Support (Portland, OR)

Cleanroom Development and Micro-contamination (Santa Clara, CA)

 

Graduate Teaching Assistant:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering (Cambridge, MA)     

 

Graduate Research Assistant:

MIT Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (Cambridge, MA)   

 

FACULTY POSITIONS:    

Assistant Professor, 

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, City College of New York        

 

Assistant Professor and Co-founding Member, 

Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York       

Associate Professor, 

Dept. of Biochemistry, The Graduate Center

The City University of New York (CUNY)

 

Associate Professor (Tenured), 

Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York  

Associate Professor (Tenured),

Dept. of Biomedical Engineering 

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Professor of Biomedical Engineering (Tenured),

Principal Investigator

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Graduate Students

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Juan Sebastián Peña

Ph.D. Candidate in Biomedical Engineering
M.Eng. Biomedical Engineering 

B.Eng. Biomedical Engineering

Email: juan.s.pena@rutgers.edu
LinkedIn: 
www.linkedin.com/in/juan-sebastián-peña-carvajal-54004481

Juan Sebastián is a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, and fellow in the NIH PhD Training in Biotechnology at Rutgers University. Juan's current research focuses on evaluating the contribution of Muller glia (MG) cells to the integrity and impermeability of the inner blood retinal barrier (iBRB), focusing in the interaction of endothelial cells and MG to form a selective physiological barrier. Currently, Juan's work involves the design and development of a microfluidic device to explore this phenomenon to advance therapies in diabetic retinopathy. 

Fun Fact: Juan is an avid art enthusiast. He paints and draws in his free time. Over the years he has created digital illustrations that he  incorporates in his scientific publications.

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Larissa Oprysk (DePamphilis)

Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering 

M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering 

BA.Sc. Mechanical Engineering

Email: lmd346@soe.rutgers.edu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-depamphilis/

Larissa is a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, and fellow in the NIH PhD Training in Biotechnology at Rutgers University. 
Larissa’s current research focuses on computational modeling of cellular mechanisms and cell to cell interactions involved in retinal stem cell transplantation for vision restoration. She uses agent based modeling techniques to uncover unknown mechanisms behind the migration and infiltration of photoreceptor replacement cells with a focus on adhesion mediated mechanisms and morphological changes during transplantation. 


Fun Fact: Larissa enjoys spending time with her puppies and playing board games in her free time and is passionate about using science and engineering to help those with disabilities. 

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Janell Mason

Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering

B.Sci. Biomedical Engineering

Email: janell.mason@rutgers.edu
LinkedIn: 
www.linkedin.com/in/janell-mason/

Janell Mason is a PhD student in biomedical engineering at Rutgers University. Janell’s research examines the morphologies of primary glial cells and endothelial cells, as well as the presence of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) to understand the progression of Diabetic Retinopathy. One day, she wishes to work on a project that links epilepsy with diabetic retinopathy.

Fun Fact: Janell also DJs and enjoys dancing and in her free time, she has a strong passion for leadership as she as a member of the National Society of Black Engineers

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Lauren Simanovsky

Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering

B.Sci.E. Biomedical Engineering

Email: lauren.simanovsky@rutgers.edu
LinkedIn: 
www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-simanovsky

Lauren Simanovsky is a PhD student in biomedical engineering at Rutgers University. (Bio coming up.)
 

Fun Fact: Lauren is also a member of the Rutgers Powerlifting team. 
 

Alumni

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Richard Cliver

M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering 

B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering

Email: rnc54@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-cliver-aa1061136/

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Brian Ayers

M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering 

B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering

Email: brianayers125@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-ayers-bme/

Shawn Mishra, PhD

PhD Biomedical Engineering

M.S. Mechanical Engineering

B.S. Biomedical Engineering

Email: shawnmishra2007@u.northwestern.edu

Caroline Peña

M.S. Biomedical Engineering 

B.E. Biomedical Engineering

Email: cpena001@citymail.cuny.edu

Sean McCutcheon, PhD

PhD Biomedical Engineering

B.S. Biomedical Engineering

Email: sean.mccutcheon.29@gmail.com

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Stephen Mut

M.Eng.  Biomedical Engineering 

B.Sc. Bio/Chemical Engineering

Email: sm2116@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-mut-344037161

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Miles Markey

M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering 

B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering

Email: mwm104@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miles-markey-12a5b213b

Tanya Singh, PhD

PhD Biomedical Engineering

M.S. Biomedical Engineering

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Email: tsingh989@gmail.com

Stephanie Zhang, PhD

PhD Biomedical Engineering
M.S. Biomedical Engineering

B.S. Biomedical Engineering

Email: szhang9286@gmail.com@gmail.com

Kameron Starr

M.S. Biomedical Engineering

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Email: kstarr000@citymail.cuny.edu

FUNgineering

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