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μM.D.-ERL

Medical micro-Device Engineering Research Lab

at Michigan Tech

Alumni

μM.D.-ERL has mentored a diverse group of graduate, undergraduate, and high school researchers. Our alumni have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and clinical research.

Postdoctoral Alumni

Zainab Alshoug
2022 – 2025
Portable, affordable, quantitative microchip electrophoresis for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing.
Hector Moncada-Hernandez, Ph.D.
2014 – 2017
ABO-Rh Red blood cell dielectrophoretic responses in a handheld portable device.
Hwi Yong Lee, Ph.D.
2014 – 2018
Cell impedance optimization and hematocrit detection.
Kaela Leonard, Ph.D.
2013 – 2014
Alternating Current Dielectrophoretic Manipulation of Erythrocytes.
Shampa Aich, Ph.D.
2006 – 2007
Nano-Encapsulation of Trace Metal Impurities using Metal Colloidal Core-Shell Technologies.

Graduate Alumni

12 Ph.D. alumni, 6 M.S. alumni, 2 augmenting advisor M.S. alumni, and 1 visiting Ph.D. student scholar.

Dissertation and thesis titles link to Digital Commons records when a public record is currently available.

Natalia Krakhaleva, M.S. - May 2026
“Novel detection of Vitamin D from Human Tears and Blood Serum.”
Waruni Mampage, M.S. - May 2025
“Electrokinetic Characterization of Microbiota, Intestinal Caco-2 cells and microplastics as a potential stressor to inform Gut-Brain-Microbiota Interactions Diagnoses.”
Rixlie Fozilova, M.S. - May 2024
“Optimizing Diabetes Diagnostics: Electrophoretic Separation and Detection of Hemoglobin A1c with Boronate.”
Azade Tahmasebi, M.S. - Dec 2022
“Ion Gradients Above, at, and Below the Charging Frequency in Dielectrophoretic Microdevices.”
Zainab Alshoug, Ph.D. - July 2020
“Analysis of Transient Lipemia with and Without Tea Intervention in a Diagnostic Blood Microdevice.”
Sanaz Habibi, Ph.D. - April 2019
“Exploring the Role and Impact of Microscale Phenomena on Electrode, Microdevice, and Cellular Function.”
Jeana Collins, Ph.D. - July 2018
Also earned an M.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2016.
“Reverse Insulator Dielectrophoresis: Utilizing Droplet Microenvironments for Discerning Molecular Expressions on Cell Surfaces.”
Current role: Associate Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University
Zhichao Wang, Ph.D. - Aug 2017
“Nano eNablerTM printing for surface Isoelectric Focusing (sIEF).”
Maryam Khaksari, Ph.D. - July 2016
“Vitamin Analysis from Infant Tears.”
Ran An, Ph.D. - Aug 2015
“Exploration and Quantification of Surface and Bulk Ion Gradients in a Dielectrophoretic Microdevice.”
Current role: Assistant Professor, University of Houston; NSF CAREER Awardee 2024
Hwi Yong Lee, Ph.D. - Nov 2014
“Hematocrit Electrokinetic Detection in Microdevices.”
Nupur Bihari, M.S. - Jan 2015
Adrienne Minerick served as augmenting advisor.
“Blood Typing Device without Reagents: Sensing Electrodes to Replace Optics.”
Sterling Prince, M.S. - Dec 2014
Adrienne Minerick served as augmenting advisor.
“Characterization of electrodeposited polyaniline films on Si and functionalizing them to detect biomolecules.”
Chung-ja Yang, Ph.D. - July 2014
“Alternating Current Dielectrophoresis of Core-Shell Nanoparticles: Experiments and Comparison with Theory.”
Tayloria Adams, Ph.D. - July 2014
“Utilizing Dielectrophoresis to Determine the Physiological Differences of Eukaryotic Cells.”
Current role: Associate Professor, University of California Irvine; NSF CAREER Awardee 2020
Hongyu Xie, M.S. - Nov 2013
“2D Graphene Paper Microdevice for Membrane Cholesterol Impact on Red Blood Cells.”
Hector Moncada-Hernandez, Visiting Ph.D. Student Scholar - 2011 - 2012
Ph.D. awarded in May 2013.
“Multipole Polarization Effects on Dielectrophoretic Behavior of Interacting Particles.”
Kaela Leonard, Ph.D. - Aug 2012
“Alternating Current Dielectrophoretic Manipulation of Erythrocytes in Medical Microdevice Technology.”
Aytug Gencoglu, Ph.D. - Aug 2012
“Effects of Ion Limiting Conditions on the Behavior of Microfluidic Devices.”
Current role: Assistant Professor, Michigan Technological University
Soumya Srivastava (Keshavamurthy), Ph.D. (MSU) - June 2010
“Dielectrophoretic Characterization of Particles and Erythrocytes.”
Current role: Associate Professor, West Virginia University
Prashant Daggolu, M.S. (MSU) - Aug 2007
“Dielectrophoretic Characterization of ABO Blood Type, Frequency, and AC Field Strength of Erythrocytes.”

Undergraduate Researchers

89 listed researchers

Karenine Ornevil+^ (Supported on URIP/Anderson funds for 2025-2026), Mary Claire Thuet, Mark Mainville, Clara Murchison, Daisy Schwartz^ (COE REU awardee), Connor Greca, Goldeluck Duhaylungsod, Holly Flores#, Juan Cruz-Moreno#, Maia Neidritis-Newkirk, Audrey Roberts, Logan McMillan+, Stephanie Manthei, Lucas Piekarski, Jessika Rogers, J. Harrison Shields, Stefan RhodeHumphries, Russell O’Brien, Anna Nelson, Destiny Robinson (MICUP), James Gooding, Flora Kibong+ (MICUP), Jackie Harris, Joseph Cybulski, Paige Ferris, Madison Diehl, Pennie Winters, Eliot Nagler^, Katherine Massa, Korri Baird, Emma Johnson (MICUP), Amber Westfield (MICUP), Lillia Szilagyi, Jacqueline Harms, Hien Nguyen (MICUP), Anisa Nuanes*, Zach Eckert, Carl Baker (Honors Scholar), Cedrick Barber+, Kelsey Maijala, Nils Bergman (Nano Certificate), Ashley Fox (MICUP), Greg Martin (MICUP), Kailey Feuerstein^ (MICUP), Carlos Prado#, Ellesse Bess+ (MICUP), Amber Johnson, Chad Bilicke, Ki-Joo Sung, Kelly-Anne Zayan, Ryan Hill, John Yurgil, Maggie Huss, Courtney Lentowich, Aaron Ritthaler, Sean Duke^, Amanda Mixon, Alex Beneke, Phillip Jamison+^, Hunter Merrill, Eric Rutan*^, Anell Pullen^, Blake Garrett+, Emily Cotton, Kyle Barfield, B. Selin Tosun, Christopher Dawson+, Megan Walton*, Florian Schulz*, Georgio Proctor*+, Michael Queen*, Marc Forbes, James Kelly*+, Ashley Pate*+, Matt O’Brien, Chris Habuda# (earned Materials Certificate), Sheena Reeves+^^, Ebonye Allen+, Eleenaw Jefferson*+, Amelia Clark+, Jessica Campbell+, Brittany Hankins+, Nick Wyckoff, Alexis Walton+, Laurence Sones, Patrick Jouben*^, Mat Thomas, Kellie Smith^^, Stephen Marbut.

High School Researchers

Sarah Thompson, William Brookes, Philip Jamison, Farshad Chowdbury.