News

3 PhD Theses Defended This Semester

May 22, 2020
Celinda Kofron et al
Thesis Defenses

Kali Manning, PhD
Morgan Lab

Towards Automated Additive Manufacturing of Bio-Tubes

Kali Manning has been an integral member within the Morgan Lab as well as the greater Brown graduate community since she started her Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2013. Kali’s research has made significant contributions in resolving biofabrication hurdles in tissue engineering, and her multiple publications highlighted her innovative work on forging additive manufacturing methods of building solid tissues. Kali has also taken the initiatives to maintain the Morgan Lab in optimal operation, as well as leading the training of all new lab members. Kali has not only been a driving and caring force in the lab, but also an exceptional scientist, a dear friend and mentor to all. She (and her delightful Christmas cookies) will be truly missed. We wish her the best in her future career path and endeavors! -The Morgan Lab

 

Benjamin Wilks, PhD
Morgan Lab

Cellular architects: Harnessing fibroblasts to synthesize highly-aligned, collagen-rich tissue constructs

Benjamin Wilks has been an integral member of the Morgan Lab since his undergraduate studies, and joined the PhD program in Biomedical Engineering after receiving his B.Sc. in 2015. Ben’s research involved developing numerous creative and unique solutions to investigate the biochemical and mechanical properties of engineered tissues. In addition to his thesis work, Ben is also a co-author on 6 other publications from the Morgan lab, demonstrating his strong collaborative nature and his versatile skill sets. As a member at the Morgan Lab and the Brown community, he has served as a friend and a mentor to all. He has always been generous with his time to brainstorm ideas and to problem solve. Best of luck with your future work, you will be truly missed! -The Morgan Lab

 

Noel Vera-Gonzalez, PhD
Shukla Lab

Combating Candida fungal infections: Nanoparticle and Responsive Drug Delivery Systems

Noel engineered smart biomaterials for delivering antifungals drugs. He is not only a fun-guy but also an amazing mentor, friend, and navigator of the scientific field. Noel is a fixer of all things and has an answer for any question, even Google has been known to question if he is an AI robot. His appetite for knowledge is only rivaled by his love of pastiche. Noel is a powerful force in the lab, lending a hand and lifting up his peers amidst building up achievements higher than the water bottle skyline on his desk. We have no worries that his leadership and perseverance will take him far in his career. We wish you the best of luck on your next adventure Noel, you will be missed! –The Shukla Lab