People

Postdoctoral fellows

Roberto Alonso Matilla

Roberto Alonso Matilla, Ph.D.

CV: Roberto Alonso Matilla
[email protected]

Research

Roberto's research aims to potentiate antitumor immunotherapy efficacy against solid tumors.

Odde Lab project: T cell migration

Education

Degrees:

  • Ph.D., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 2018
  • M.Sc., Engineering Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 2014
  • B.S., Industrial Engineering, 2010
Publications

Roberto's papers elucidate biophysical mechanisms underlying the behavior of complex biological systems.

Publications: Roberto Alonso Matilla

Contact

Graduate students

Nikolaos Memmos
Research

Optimization of immunotherapies for glioblastoma, using mathematical modeling.

Odde Lab project: Agent-based modeling, T-cell migration, CD200 checkpoint immunotherapy

Education

Current program: Chemical Engineering and Materials Science PhD program, University of Minnesota

Degrees:

  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 2017
Contact
Riley Manning

Riley Manning

[email protected]

Research

Riley's research focuses on exploring migration and immune response differences between glioblastoma subtypes using in vivo and in vitro experimental methods as well as agent-based computational modeling. 

Odde Lab projects: Cancer cell migration, mouse glioma models, Brownian dynamics-based tumor simulations

Education

Current program: Biomedical Engineering PhD program, University of Minnesota

Degrees:

  • B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Alabama, 2018
Publications

The publication from Riley's undergraduate research focuses on the influence of ECM stiffness on the behavior of brain metastatic breast cancer cells in biomimetic hydrogels.

Publications: Riley Manning

Personal info

Hobbies and interests: Reading, running, yoga, and traveling

Contact
Aamir Ansari
Research

For his Ph.D. project, Aamir aims to optimize immunosurveillance in glioblastoma.

Odde Lab project: T cell migration

Education

Current program: Chemical Engineering PhD program, University of Minnesota

Degrees:

  • M.Tech., Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore, India), 2019
  • B.Tech., Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology (Nagpur, India), 2017
Publications

Aamir has two papers from his master's, where he investigated how interactions shape the community structure of a microbiome. 

Publications: Aamir Ansari

Personal info

Hobbies and interests: Cricket and soccer

Contact
Katherine Vopat

Katie Vopat

[email protected]

Research

The focus of Katie's PhD project will be disabling glioblastoma cell migration by targeting CD44 or related proteins.

Odde Lab project: glioblastoma cell migration

Education
Current Program: Biomedical Engineering PhD Program, University of Minnesota
 
Degrees:
  • M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 2022
  • B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 2021
Publications

The publication from Katie's undergraduate research is a review on the properties and clinical effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

Personal Info

Hobbies and Interests: exploring Minneapolis, reading, spending time with friends

Contact
Lauren (Ruyi) Li

Lauren (Ruyi) Li

[email protected]

Research

Lauren’s research focuses on the development of glioblastoma in mice model as well as examining cellular signals related to different types of glioblastoma as well as the immune responses related to them.

Odde Lab project: glioblastoma migration

Education

Current program: Biomedical Engineering PhD program, University of Minnesota

Degrees:

  • B.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2022
Personal Info

Hobbies and interests: Baking, dancing.

Contact
Ali Mohammad

Ali Mohammad

[email protected]

Research

Ali has focused his research efforts on modeling biosystems using numerical simulations and computational fluid dynamics.

Odde Lab project: T cell migration

Education

Degrees:

  • M.Sc., Aerospace Engineering, Major in Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (Tehran, Iran), 2021
  • B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, IAUCTB (Tehran, Iran), 2017
Publications
Personal Info

Ali enjoys soccer and snooker, plays volleyball, and closely follows NBA games. Iranian food is often on his menu, and he is a big fan of trying different food from different countries.

Contact

Research staff

Brian Castle, Ph.D.
Research

Brian's research focuses on optical imaging and quantitative analyses of cellular dynamics and tumor microenvironments.

Odde Lab project: Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Microenvironments

Education

Degrees:

  • Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2014
  • B.A., Biology, Gustavus Adolphus College, 2008
Publications

Brian's publications combine biophysical modeling and quantitative optical imaging to analyze cellular processes.

Publications: Brian Castle

Contact
Menal Abdella

Menal Abdella

[email protected]

Research

Menal's research is looking at T-cell adhesion and migration on 2D substrates. 

Odde Lab project: T-cell migration 

Education

Degrees:

  • B.A., Chemistry, Macalester College, 2023
Personal info

Hobbies and interests: Trying new foods, watching reality TV, and knitting. 

Contact

Advisees and former lab members

Expand all

Completed postdoctoral fellowships

Completed postdoctoral fellowships

Bruce Gao, Ph.D.

University of Miami, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering 
2000-2003
Current position: Professor, Dept. of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. 
[email protected]

Theodore (Ted) Tower, Ph.D.

University of Minnesota, Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science 
2001-2002 
Current position: Technical Leader at Kimberly-Clark, Neenah, WI.
[email protected]

Erkan Tüzel, Ph.D.

University of Minnesota, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
2007-2009
Current position: Associate Professor, Temple University
[email protected]

Brannon McCullough, Ph.D.

Yale University, Dept. of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry 2012-2015
Current position: Research Scientist, L.L. Gore & Assoc
[email protected]

Jay Hou, Ph.D.

Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
2012-2018
Current position: Assistant Professor, Brown University

Nima Ghaderi, Ph.D.

Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota
2021

Sarah Anderson, Ph.D.

University of Minnesota, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
2023
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Therapy Modeling & Design Center, UMN

Completed Ph.D. degrees

Completed Ph.D. degrees

Vincent VanBuren

(co-advised)
Thesis title: "Computational modeling of microtubule structure and assembly"
Ph.D. program, 2002
Current position: Asst Prof, Texas A&M 

Joseph Fass

Thesis title: “Investigation of neurite initiation and elongation for neural network engineering applications”
Program: Chemical Engineering, 2003
Current position: Bioinformatics Scientist, Providence Health
[email protected]

Yaakov Nahmias

Thesis title: “Laser-guided direct writing for three-dimensional tissue engineering analysis and application of radiation forces”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2004
Current position: Professor and Director, Center for Bioengineering and Dept. of Bioengineering, Hebrew Univ., Jerusalem, Israel.
[email protected]

Mauris DeSilva

(deceased)
Thesis title: “Investigation of micropatterning and micromechanical forces towards engineering neural networks with defined connectivity”
Program: Materials Science and Engineering, 2005
Prior to his passing, Mauris was the Founder & CEO, 3D PARS.

Andrew Bicek

Thesis title: “Origin and consequences of microtubule bending in living cells”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2007
Current position: Senior R&D Engineer, Boston Scientific, Inc., Maple Grove, MN. 
[email protected]

Melissa Gardner

Thesis title: “Modeling and analysis of microtubule-mediated chromosome transport during mitosis”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2008
Current position: Associate Professor, Dept. of Genetics, Cell Biology, & Development, University of Minnesota. 
[email protected]

Clarence Chan

Thesis title: “Cellular adhesion dynamics: investigation of molecular clutch attachment and force transmission”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2008
Current position: Principal Systems Engineer, Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA. 
[email protected]

Dominique (Seetapun) Davidow

Thesis title: “Microtubule dynamics and neuronal polarity establishment during neurite initiation”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2011
Current position: Scientist, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics
[email protected]

Brian Castle

Thesis title: “Multiscale modeling and analysis of microtubule self-assembly dynamics”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2014
Current position: Consultant, BioPharma Simulation Partners
[email protected]

Benjamin Bangasser

Thesis title: “Optimality in the nanomechanics of cell migration and adhesion”
Program: Chemical Engineering, 2014
Current position: Senior R&D Group Leader, Sherwin-Williams
[email protected]

Rebecca Markovitz (Klank)

Thesis title: “Physical determinants of glioma cell migration and disease progression”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2015
Current position: Stay-at-home Parent
[email protected]

Emily Tubman

Thesis title: “Modeling and analysis of chromosome attachment error correction and congression during mitosis”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2016
Current position: Princ. Global Clinical Educ. Mgr., , Boston Scientific, Minneapolis, MN
[email protected]

Louis Prahl

Thesis title: “Microtubule-based control of glioma cell migration”
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2018
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
[email protected]

Chao Liu

(co-advised)
Thesis title: "Label-free optical imaging to study brain connectivity and neuropathology"
Program: Biomedical Engineering, 2018 (Advised by Dr. Taner Akkin)
Current position: Research Fellow, MGH/Harvard University
[email protected]

Mahya Hemmat

Thesis title: "Multi-scale modeling of microtubule dynamics and the regulation by microtubule-targeting agents"
Ph.D. program, 2020
Current position: R&D Engineering II, Boston Scientific

Ghaidan Shamsan

Thesis title: "Mechanical regulation of glioma cell migration"
Ph.D. program, 2021
Current position: Senior Scientist, AstraZeneca

Nima Ghaderi

Thesis title: "Mathematical modeling of glioblastoma wound healing assay (WHA) and radiation response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)"
Ph.D. program, 2021
Current position: Senior Data Scientist, Boston Scientific

Sarah Anderson
Thesis title: "Characterization of Glioblastoma and T Cell Migration in Brain Tissue"
Ph.D. program, 2023
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Odde Lab

Marcus Kelly

Thesis title: "Mutual antagonism between CD44 and Integrins in Glioblastoma Cell Traction and Migration" 
Ph.D. program, 2023
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institutes of Health

Completed master of science degrees

Completed master of science degrees

Taunisha Harris

M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1998
Current position: Research Scientist at 3M (retired)

Yeqing Cao

M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1999
Current position: Scientist, Lucent Technologies

Keck-Choong Ho

M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1999
Current position: QA Comm Op Lead, Aimmune Therapeutics

Liza Davis

M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2002
Current position: Vice President, R&D, Boston Scientific

Brian Sprague

M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2002
Current position: Associate Professor, University of Vermont, Dept. of Surgery

Trent Fischer

M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2005
Current position: Principal Scientist, Medtronic

Aleksey Demchouk

M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2010
Current position: Data Scientist, C.H. Robinson

Joseph Powers

Thesis title: "The predicted role of stereospecificity in crowding-mediated effects on reversible biomolecular association"
B.S. Physics, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 2012
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2012
M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2013
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California San Diego, Bioengineering
[email protected]

Khoa Cao

Thesis title: "Estimating mechanical differences between dorsal and ventral surfaces of U251 cells"
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2015
M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2016
[email protected]

Horacio Estabridis

Thesis title: "Experimental and simulated cell migration in 1D and 2D nanofiber microenvironments"
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Irvine, 2015
M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2016
Currently employed by Teleflex Industries, Minneapolis, MN.
[email protected]

Lexi Doersch

M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2020
Current position: Research Associate, Invenra, Madison, Wisconsin

Postbaccalaureate

Postbaccalaureate

Kwaku Opoku

2007-09
Current position: Technology Research Program Manager, Medtronic

Andrew Gardeck

2015-17
Current position: University of Minnesota Medical School

Mariah McMahon

2017-20
Current position: Bioprocess Scientist, Vascudyne, St. Paul, Minnesota

Former laboratory staff

Former laboratory staff

Brooke Braman

M.D., University of Minnesota Medical School, 2023
BBmE, Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2018
Currently a resident, University of California San Francisco

Emmanuel Fâlé

B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Gannon University, 2018
Currently an M.D. student, University of Minnesota Medical School

Andrew Gardeck

B.A. Physiology, University of Minnesota, 2014
Currently Researcher II, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. 
[email protected]

Mariah McMahon

B.S. Biology, University of Minnesota, 2013
Researcher III
[email protected]

Research Interests: Studying tumor cell migration by imaging glioblastoma cells on varying degrees of substrate stiffness.

Completed bachelor of science degrees

Completed bachelor of science degrees

Ibrahim Irfanullah

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2023

Marcus Kelly

B.S. Biology, University of Minnesota, 2018
Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at National Institutes of Health
[email protected]

Patrick Bangasser

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2018
[email protected]

Jesse Kasim

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2016
Currently attends the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI. 
[email protected] 

Matthew Hunt

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2016
Currently working in Research & Development at Boston Scientific.
[email protected]  

Divya Palanisamy

B.S. Neuroscience & Philosophy, University of Minnesota, 2015
Currently participating in Teach For America Corps. 
[email protected]  

Stephanie Vogeli

B.S. Biology, University of Minnesota, 2015
Currently attends Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY. 
[email protected]

Shan Zhong

B.S. Biology, University of Minnesota, 2014
Currently attends University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN. 
[email protected] 

Kelsey McCoy

B.S. Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2014
Currently attends Columbia University, New York, NY.
[email protected] 

Benjamin Schlichtmann

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2014
Currently a Research Technician at Miromatrix Medical in Eden Prairie, MN.
[email protected] 

Alistair McIntyre

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2013
Currently attends the University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
[email protected]

Benjamin Fuller

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2013
Currently attends the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, WI.
[email protected] 

Aaron Lomicka

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2013
Currently Design Assurance Engineer, Boston Scientific, Maple Grove, MN. 
[email protected] 

Jordan Bernens

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2012 
Currently attends the West Virginia University School of Medicine, Lewisburg, WV.
[email protected] 

Kwaku Opoku

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2009 
B.A. Applied Science, Concordia College, Moorehead, MN 
Currently a Technology Research Program Manager at Medtronic

Allison Claas

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2011 
Currently attends the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
[email protected] 

Thomas Hoelkinger

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2012 
Currently an Engineer at Medtronic in Minneapolis, MN.
[email protected] 

Former high school students

Former high school students

Nathan Hinson

Currently Attends Duke University, Durham, NC.
[email protected]