Current Lab Members
Graduate Students
Interested in joining the lab? Please see the Open Positions tab to find more information.
Ezra Cho
PhD Student, NSF GRFP Fellow
Ezra is a PhD student interested in interrogating DNA structures to improve therapeutic drug targeting. He completed his undergraduate degree in bioengineering with a minor in statistics at the University of Maryland, with research experience in bioinformatics. During his free time, he spends his time cooking, working out, and recordkeeping his lifestyle habits.
Meredith Davis
PhD Student
Meredith is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. She earned her Master of Science in BME from Boston University in 2024 and her Bachelor of Science in BME from the University of Virginia in 2022. As an undergraduate, she conducted research in Dr. Rebecca Pompano’s lab, where she developed and validated a computational model to predict the spatial resolution of an experimental technique for detecting cytokine secretion in lymph node tissue. Her research interests include immunology, tissue engineering, and nanomedicine. Outside of the lab, Meredith enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and exploring new restaurants.
Siyi Zheng
PhD Student, SB2 Trainee Awardee
Siyi is a PhD student interested in DNA-targeted immunotherapy. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology at Hunan University, China. She completed her master’s degree in biomedical engineering at Boston University, where she conducted research in Dr. Hadi Nia’s lab studying the residual solid stress in murine brains. Her research interests focus on nanomedicine and tissue engineering.
Anna Maria Ferrante
PhD Student, TRB Trainee Awardee
Anna Maria is a PhD student interested in the intersections of immunology, nanotechnology, and drug delivery. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing soccer, baking, and hiking.
Matthew Gatto
PhD Student
Matthew is a PhD student interested in developing drug delivery mechanisms to engineer the immune system. He received both his undergraduate degree in biochemical engineering and his master’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Georgia where he completed research in liposomal drug formulation. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, working out, and watching Boston sports teams win championships.
Emma Hudson
Masters Student, BU MLK Fellow
Emma Hudson is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from American University. During this time she researched how vertical farms could be deployed as a social intervention for chronic disease and performed case studies on how gold nanoparticles could be used as a diagnostic tool for pulmonary hypertension with United Therapeutics. Her research interests focus on immunology and drug delivery. In her free time, she runs a nonprofit focused on empowering food insecure communities with precision farming technology.
Research Associates
Interested in joining the lab? Please see the Open Positions tab to find more information.
Mayayi Izzo
Research Technician
Mayayi is a Research Technician interested in immunology and translational nanomedicine. She recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Brown University. During her undergraduate studies, she collaborated in Dr. Anita Shukla’s lab to develop surface-functionalized liposomes for enhanced targeting of bacterial infections. She is eager to hone her research skills in preparation for pursuing a PhD. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going for walks, and playing board games.
Julia Nowak
Summer Research Associate
Julia is a recently graduated senior from the Department of Biomedical engineering at BU. She is interested in the fields of nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and biotechnology. She hopes to explore these fields and more in her future academic career.
Undergraduate Students
Interested in joining the lab? Please see the Open Positions tab to find more information.
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Lauren Bell
Lauren is a senior studying biomedical engineering and a student in the Kilachand Honors College at Boston University. She is interested in applying nanotechnology and biomaterials to advance the durability and effectiveness of immunotherapies. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, baking, and exploring Boston.
Sloane Kinley
NSF REU​
Sloane is a Nisbet Honors Program senior at Converse University studying biology and mathematics, as well as a minor in chemistry, with special interest in DNA nanostructure design and implementation in targeted drug delivery. During her undergraduate career, Sloane worked in Dr. Jessica Sorrells' lab with a focus in using biochemical and mathematical concepts to construct DNA nanostructures of varying sizes and shapes and determine their long-term stability. In her free time, Sloane enjoys hiking, cooking, and anything to do with nature.