
The Team
The Team
The Team
Contact Us
Contact Us
Contact Us
The Team

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.

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.

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

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

Richard Cliver
M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering
B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering
Email: rnc54@scarletmail.rutgers.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-cliver-aa1061136/

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

Stephen Mut
M.Eng. Biomedical Engineering
B.Sc. Bio/Chemical Engineering

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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