Maryam Ansari, Ph.D. Student (UMass Amherst, BME)
B.S. in Applied Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology
Research interests: mechanically responsive polymers, drug delivery
Dr. Xiaocong Cao, Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Science and Technology of China (co-trained with Rockefeller University)
B.S. in Biological Engineering, Northeastern University, China
Research interests: integrin mechanoactivation, viral infection
Weixuan Chen, Ph.D. Student (UMass Amherst, BME)
B.S. in Bioengineering, South China University of Technology
Research interests: single-molecule detection, VWF mechanoactivation
Xaymara Rivera Gonzalez, Ph.D. student (UMass Amherst, BME)
M.S. in Bioengineering, Lehigh University
B.S. in Physics, Lehigh University
Research interests: endothelial mechanotransduction, biological membranes
Hannah Hargrove, Ph.D. student (UMass Amherst, CHE)
B.E. in Chemical Engineering, University of Maine
Research interests: nanoparticle mechanical and chemical properties, drug delivery, AI/ML, food science
James Mandeville, Ph.D. student (UMass Amherst, CHE)
B.S. in Engineering, Biochemical concentration, Hope College
B.A. in Chemistry, Minor in Mathematics, Hope College
Research interests: integrin mechanoactivation, endothelial mechanotransduction
Sherly Makar, Ph.D. student (UMass Amherst, BME)
B.E. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas
Research interests: VWF mechanobiology, cancer immunotherapy
Qian Mu, Ph.D. student (UMass Amherst, BME)
M.S. in Materials Science, University Of Rochester
B.S. in Materials Science And Engineering, Shandong University, China
Research interests: viral adhesion, acetylcholine receptor modulation
Sean Doherty, Undergraduate Researcher (UMass Amherst, BME)
Research interests: viral infection, AI/ML, protein engineering
David Hou, Ph.D. student (Lehigh, BIOE)
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University
Research interests: viral adhesion, cellular mechanotransduction
Yi Liu, Ph.D. student (Lehigh, BIOE)
M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Washington University
B.E. in Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University
Research interests: VWF mechanoactivation, platelet mechanoactivation. blood coagulation
Co-Advising Researchers:
Luke Wang, Ph.D. student (Lehigh, BIOE, co-advised with Anand Jagota)
B.E. in Bioengineering, Nanjing Forest University
Research interests: Ebola viral adhesion, biomechanical modeling, COVID-19
Xinyu Cui, Ph.D. student (Lehigh, BIOE, co-advised with Anand Jagota)
B.E. in Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
Research interests: Ebola viral adhesion, coarse-grained modeling, COVID-19, AI/ML
Avani Pisapati, M.S. student (Lehigh, BIOE)
B.A. in Film and Media, Middlebury College
Research interests: single-molecule research on proteins involved in von Willebrand disease and cholinergic neurotransmission
Esraa Ismail, Ph.D. student (Lehigh, BIOE, co-advised with Xuanhong Cheng)
B.E. in Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology
Research interests: VWF, single-molecule–based flow-switchable biomaterials
Matthew Ziarnik, Ph.D. student (Lehigh, BIOE, co-advised with Anand Jagota)
B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Villanova University
Research interests: viral adhesion, coarse-grained modeling, COVID-19
Frank Zhang Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows:
Dr. Yanyan Chen, 2020-2021, current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Dr. Yizhen Wang, 2012-2014, current position: Associate Professor, Hainan University
Dr. Yan Guo, 2011-2014, current position: Research Scientist, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Dr. Jianguang Wu 2010, current position: professor, Anhui University of Science and Technology
Dr. Xinyan Wang 2009-2010, current position: System Manager, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences
Ph.D. Students:
Dr. Sajedehalsadat Yazdanparast (Lehigh, BIOE), 2018-2021, current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Lehigh University
Dr. Yi Wang (Lehigh, MSE), 2016-2021, current position: Senior Scientist, Merck & Co.
Dr. Wenpeng Cao (Lehigh, BIOE), 2015-2020, winner of the Lehigh University Stout Dissertation Award, current position: Senior Scientist, Biocytogen Inc.
Dr. Chuqiao Dong (Lehigh, MEM), 2015-2020, current position: Senior Software Engineer, Nvidia
Dr. Michael Morabito (Lehigh, MEM), 2016-2019, current position: Assistant Professor, Eastern University
Dr. Wei Wei (Lehigh, MEM), 2011-2018, current position: Senior HPC Production Analyst, EP Analytics, Inc.
Dr. Matthew Dragovich (Lehigh, MEM), 2013-2017, Commencement Speaker at Lehigh University, current position: Senior Scientist, Xencor Inc.
Dr. Chenyu Wu (Lehigh, BIOE), 2011-2016, current position: CEO, Zongze Herbal Medicine Co., China
Dr. Wei Zhang (Lehigh, MEM), 2011-2016, current position: Data Scientist Lead, Shopee, Singapore
Dr. Yan Xu (Lehigh MEM), 2011-2015, current position: Senior Mechanical Engineer, Apple Inc.
Dr. Xin Fu (SIBCB), 2009-2010, current position: research scientist, UC San Diego
Dr. Qingqing Jiang (SIBCB), 2009-2010, current position: research scientist, Shenzhen Institute of Standards and Technology
Dr. Yanbo Zhang (SIBCB), 2009-2010, current position: Senior Scientist II, Immunology, Abata Therapeutics
M.S. Students:
Ryan Seth (Lehigh, HSE), 2020-2021, current position: MD student, Case Western Reserve University
Jeffrey Dicker (Lehigh, HSE), 2020-2021, current position: Fetal Surgery Research Technician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Chuqian Xiong (Lehigh, BIOE), 2018-2019, current position: Medical Imaging Project Manager, Taimei Medical Technology, Inc.
Whitney Lai (Lehigh, BIOE), 2017-2018, current position: Product Manager, NIH
Kyung Min Lee (Lehigh, ChBE), 2018, co-advising
Wenpeng Cao (Lehigh, BIOE), 2017, current position: Senior Scientist, Biocytogen Inc.
Steven Bach (Lehigh, BIOE), 2011-2013, current position: Senior Research Scientist, Curia
Wei Zhang (Lehigh, MEM), 2013, current position: Data Scientist Lead, Shopee, Singapore
Benjamin Brozanski (Lehigh, MEM), 2012, current position: Design Engineer, Trice Medical
Xiang Gao (Lehigh, MEM), 2012, current position: Data Analyst, BigOne Lab
Undergraduate Researchers:
1) Ariana Fantasia-Davis, 2018-2021, Viral entry, COVID-19
2) Anna Katz, 2019, Anxiety and lynx2: transfection and protein purification.
3) Christianna Pepingco, 2018-2019, Ebola virus host-cell interaction.
4) Zhibo Zhang, 2018-2019, Ebola virus host-cell interaction.
5) Esther Park, 2018, Ebola virus host-cell interaction.
6) Juliet Chung, 2017-2018, Characterization of interactions between Lynx proteins and nicotinic receptors.
7) Jayne Guthon, 2017-2018, Molecular mechanism for CAR-T–tumor cell interaction.
8) Siyuan (Derek) Hu, 2017-2018, Neurogenetics of Creativity.
9) Monika Buczak, 2017-2018, Characterization of Lynx 2 – nicotinic receptor interactions using AFM.
10) Meaghan Gavey, 2017-2018, Role of cell adhesion molecules in CAR-T–tumor cell interaction. Probing Receptor Binding Capabilities of Mutant lynx Modulators for Anxiety.
11) Liam Dow, 2017-2019, Molecular mechanism for CAR-T–tumor cell interaction.
12) Myrna Yehia, 2015-2019, Profiling binding interactions for T cell activation in CAR-T immunotherapy, and Mechanism for adhesive interactions between leukocytes and medical stainless steals.
13) Nazli Guleryuz, 2017, AFM measurement epithelial cell stiffness.
14) Tenzin Dadon, 2017, Experimental characterization of the stiffness of NIH 3T3 cells using AFM.
15) Duc Tran, 2017, Cell stiffness data analysis computer program.
16) Andrew Truman, 2017, Experimental characterization of the stiffness of NIH 3T3 cells using AFM.
17) Maydelin Moya Fernandez, 2017, Experimental characterization of the stiffness of Aspc-1 cells using AFM.
18) Xaymara Rivera, 2017, Confocal imaging study of the structure of NIH 3T3 cells.
19) Brooke Lichak, 2017, Probing Receptor Binding Capabilities of Mutant lynx Modulators for Anxiety and Optimization of Creativity.
20) Rachel Swope, 2017, Probing Receptor Binding Capabilities of Mutant lynx Modulators for Anxiety and Optimization of Creativity.
21) Megan Polak, 2017, Probing Receptor Binding Capabilities of Mutant lynx Modulators for Anxiety and Optimization of Creativity.
22) Mark Crenshaw, 2017, Probing Receptor Binding Capabilities of Mutant lynx Modulators for Anxiety and Optimization of Creativity.
23) Ryan Armbruster, 2017, Probing Receptor Binding Capabilities of Mutant lynx Modulators for Anxiety and Optimization of Creativity.
24) Brendan Curran, 2017, Profiling binding interactions for T cell activation in CAR-T immunotherapy.
25) Krishen Shah, 2017, AFM analysis with nano indentation of the skin equivalents.
26) Cassandra Christman, 2016, Mechanism for TIM protein-mediated Ebola virus – host cell interactions.
27) Zihan Liu, 2015-2016, 3D printed atomic force microscopy.
28) Dasom Ko, 2016, Improving CAR T-cell Functionality by Determining kon and koff Rates.
29) Whitney Lai, 2015-2016, Probing von Willebrand Factor mechanical properties using optical tweezers.
30) Michelle Sanabria, 2015-2016, Quantification of Forces and Energies During Attachment of EBOV to Host Cell.
31) Dennis Moyer, 2015, An atomic force microscopy study of Ebola virus-host cell interaction.
32) Daniel Altman, 2016, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Cell Rheology Including Contributions of the Cell Membrane and Glycocalyx.
33) Nathan DeRaymond, 2016, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Cell Rheology Including Contributions of the Cell Membrane and Glycocalyx.
34) Ibrahim Hashmi, 2016, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Cell Rheology Including Contributions of the Cell Membrane and Glycocalyx.
35) Adama Shaw, 2016, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Cell Rheology Including Contributions of the Cell Membrane and Glycocalyx.
36) Katie Wu, 2016, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Cell Rheology Including Contributions of the Cell Membrane and Glycocalyx.
37) Isabel Amaya, 2016, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Cell Rheology Including Contributions of the Cell Membrane and Glycocalyx.
38) Serge Ayinou, 2016, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Cell Rheology Including Contributions of the Cell Membrane and Glycocalyx.
39) Felipe Torres, 2016, Experimental and Computational Investigation of Cell Rheology Including Contributions of the Cell Membrane and Glycocalyx.
40) Aileen Bidad, 2014-2015, 3D printed AFM.
41) Ken De Avila, 2015, Observing the the mechanical interactions among integrin, P2Y2R receptor, and Hantavirus.
42) Aydan Aktug, 2014-2015, Analyzing Mechanical Characteristics of von Willebrand Factor and Its Behavior Under Various Forces.
43) Zion Um, 2015, Solid Works design for 3D printed AFM.
44) Krista Schutt, 2014-2015, Mechanical mechanism for Ebola Virus entry.
45) Ohmny Romero, 2014-2015, Structural analysis and mutations in the A1 and A3 domains of von Willebrand Factor.
46) Chelsea Coffey, 2014-2015, Utilizing the Disulfide Bond Method to connect the von Willebrand factor Protein onto DNA Handles.
47) Daniel Chester, 2013-2015, The Purification of the A3 Domain of von Willebrand Factor, Endothelial Surface Glycocalyx Stimulation Induced Nitric Oxide and Calcium Signaling.
48) Katrina Bohnhorst, 2014 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Characterize the interaction between leukocytes and stainless steel.
49) Kaylynn Ganemaras, 2013-2014, Leukocye-endothelial cell interaction probed by AFM.
50) Brian Wittreich, 2013, Leukocye-endothelial cell interaction probed by AFM.
51) Yoshiki Takeyama, 2013, Leukocye-stainless steel interaction probed by AFM.
52) Katherine Vojir, 2012, Leukocye-stainless steel interaction probed by AFM.
53) Andrew Sgalato, 2012, Leukocye-stainless steel interaction probed by AFM.
Lab Technicians:
Yongjun Liu, 2009-2010, current position: Director of Assay Development and QC, Gritgen
Mengya Yuan, 2008-2010, current position: Senior Lab Manager, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
High School Researchers:
Prathysha Kothare, 2017-2020, multiple awards including the Senior Gold Medal in INSPOScience 2020, 3rd Place at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair and two-time Gold Medal for Best Project in Delaware Valley Tri-State Science Fair, current position: undergraduate student at MIT, majoring in Chemical/Biological Engineering
Minahil Chaudhry, 2015-2016, First Place Prize at Lehigh Valley Science and Engineering Research Fair, current position: student at the BS/MD 8 year early-assurance program, Drexel University
Single-molecule mechanobiology 
