Background: BS Engineering Science and Mechanics, 2007 The Pennsylvania State University, MS Mechanical Engineering 2009, Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2013, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Research Interests:

Fun Fact: I am a secret woodworker.

Email: ecorbin@udel.edu

Background: MS Chemical Engineering, 2018, Northeastern University, Boston; BS Chemical Engineering, 2017, East China University of Science and Technology, China

Research Interests: 1. Engineer a tunable biomaterial device to study cardiac fibroblasts activation for treatment acute myocardial infarction. 2. Study microstructure and mechanical strength of biomaterials effects on cell behavior. 3. Modify and bioconjugate iron particles to track the particle motion in elastomer material under magnetic field. 4. Engineer a viscoelastic hydrogel for magnetic resonance elastography.

Fun Fact:

Email: caozheng@udel.edu 

Background: BSc. in Mechanical Engineering, 2017, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Research Interest: To study the mechanotransduction propagation of cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts in responses to localized mechanical, biochemical, and topographical cues by the using tunable and reversible substrates.

Fun Fact: I love to do parasailing, rafting, and ultralight flying. Scuba diving and sky diving are on my bucket list.

Email: atia@udel.edu

Background: B.S.E. Biomedical Engineering, 2015, Case Western Reserve University; M.S. Biomedical Engineering, 2019, University of Delaware

Research Interests: Investigation into how the mechanical microenvironment can improve the maturation of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes when dynamically regulating stiffness and topography. Using novel Magnetorheologic Elastomer (MRE) technology, we study how dynamically tuning the stiffness and roughness of culture substrates can either enhance or inhibit the maturation of iPSC derived cardiomyocytes. It is our hope that by focussing on the maturation of cardiomyocytes we will be able to provide a means to produce patient specific mature cells that will function appropriately when applied as a cardiac therapeutic. 

Fun Fact: I am a connoisseur of table top and board games and enjoy collaborative fantasy story telling in the form of table top role playing games. 

Email: wadegs@udel.edu 

Background: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, 2019, University of Rochester

Research Interest: My research focuses on recapitulating the heart in vitro in disease states. More specifically, I am studying how septic cytokines will affect cardiac microtissue contractility, sarcomere alignment, and continued cytokine production.

Fun Fact: I swam competitively at Rochester and continue to coach the sport today.

Email: cvirgile@udel.edu 

Current: Majoring in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware

Research Interests: I am interested in research pertaining to interactions between cardiomyocytes and the immune system to further understand the mechanisms behind organ rejection. I hope to use this research as an opportunity to improve post organ transplant treatments and medication.

Fun Fact: I have been heavily involved with groups such as the American Heart Association and CORE since I was very young, as my brother is a heart transplant survivor.

Current: Majoring in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware

Research Interests: I am interested in tissue engineering and regenerative therapies, specifically new methods of treating neurological disorders and neurodegeneration. 

Fun Fact: I am an artist in my spare time

Current: Majoring in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware

Research Interests: My research is to directly measure the functional metrics of skeletal muscle using this biomechanical platform and how these metrics change in real-time to pharmacological or mechanical stimuli. My interest is in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and hopeful to achieve a Ph.D.

Fun Fact: I can make a grilled cheese blindfolded.