Heilshorn Biomaterials Group

Current Members

Please reach out to any lab member if you'd like to learn more about their research!

Principal Investigator

Sarah Heilshorn

Professor and Associate Chair, Materials Science and Engineering

Professor, by courtesy, Bioengineering

Professor, by courtesy, Chemical Engineering

We are a collaborative team of research scientists and trainees spanning several disciplines and a range of educational experiences. We believe diversity in thought is at the core of successful interdisciplinary research and scientific advancement. To this end, we welcome contributions from all individuals, drawing on their own unique scientific and personal backgrounds. We actively foster a supportive and equitable learning environment through mutual respect, social connection, and mentorship.

Check out the list of honors and awards our group members have received.

PhD Students

Lucia Brunel

Chemical Engineering

3D Bioprinting of Cell-Laden Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

lbrunel at stanford dot edu

Michelle Huang

Chemical Engineering

Engineered Biomaterials for 3D Neural Tissue Models Using Stem Cells and Organoids

michuang at stanford dot edu

Yueming Liu

Materials Science & Engineering

On-Demand Control of Material Properties in Organoid Generation

lym5527 at stanford dot edu

Neil Baugh

Materials Science & Engineering

Developing Liposome-Based Hydrogels for Controlled Protein Delivery

njbaugh at stanford dot edu

Chris Long

Materials Science & Engineering

Nonlinear Microscopy for Understanding Neurodegenerative Pathology

cmlong at stanford dot edu

Narelli de Paiva Narciso

Materials Science & Engineering

Injectable Hydrogels for the Delivery of Gene-Based Myocardial Infarction Therapy

nnarciso at stanford dot edu

Betty Cai

Materials Science & Engineering

3D Bioprinting of Perfusable Networks Using an Interfacial Diffusant Strategy

bettycai at stanford dot edu

Daiyao Zhang

Chemical Engineering

Protein-Engineered Biomaterials for Probing Human Organoid Behavior

daiyao at stanford dot edu

Diya Singhal

Chemical Engineering

Exploring Patterned Collagen Fiber Alignment in ECM via Extrusion-Based Bioprinting

diyas at stanford dot edu

Postdocs

Patrik Johansson

PhD Bioengineering

Nonlinear Microspectroscopy of the Extracellular Environment for Understanding Disease Progression

patjo586 at stanford dot edu

Ram Rao

MD/PhD Biomedical Engineering

On-Demand Drug Delivery System Targeting the Extracellular Matrix for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma

ramrao at stanford dot edu

Renato Sam Navarro

PhD Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Injectable Hydrogels for the Delivery of Gene-Based Myocardial Infarction Therapy

renatosn at stanford dot edu

Jordan Taylor Moore

PhD Biomedical Engineering

Injectable Drug-Delivery System to Repair the Blood-Brain-Barrier After Ischemic Stroke

jtaylorm at stanford dot edu

David Kilian

PhD Biomedical Engineering

3D Bioprinting of Multi-Cellular, Multi-Material Tissue Models

dkilian at stanford dot edu

Fotis Christakopoulos

PhD Materials Science and Engineering

Conducting Peptide Nanowires for Hydrogel Scaffolds

christakopoulos at stanford dot edu

Sadegh Ghorbani

PhD Nanoscience & Biomedical Engineering

Engineering Advanced Immune-Responsive Biomaterials to Facilitate Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

sagh at stanford dot edu

Carla Huerta-López

PhD Biomaterials and Biomolecular Sciences

Engineered Protein-Based Materials for Tissue Engineering and Cell Mechanobiology

carlahl at stanford dot edu

Staff Scientists

Vanessa Doulames

PhD Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology

Physical Research Scientist

Bioengineering Novel Strategies to Improve Regeneration Following Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Injury

vanessad at stanford dot edu

Meghan Hefferon

Life Science Research Professional

Bioengineering Novel Strategies to Improve Regeneration Following Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Injury

hefferon at stanford dot edu

Annika Enejder

Adjunct Professor - Materials Science & Engineering

Nonlinear Microscopy (CARS, SRS, SHG, THG, 2-photon fluorescence and FLIM) with Applications in the Materials-, Bio- and Life Sciences

enejder at stanford dot edu

Undergraduate Students

Giselle Aviles

BS Psychology and Brain Science

On-Demand Drug Delivery System Targeting the Extracellular Matrix for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma

giaviles at stanford dot edu

Ruby Onsongo

BS Materials Science & Engineering

Bioengineering Novel Strategies to Improve Regeneration Following Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Injury

ronsongo at stanford dot edu

Holland Stacey

BS Biomechanical Engineering

Bioengineering Novel Strategies to Improve Regeneration Following Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Injury

hstacey at stanford dot edu

Sofía Ceva

BS Biology

Bioengineering Novel Strategies to Improve Regeneration Following Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Injury

sceva at stanford dot edu

Ricky Rios

BS Bioengineering

Bioengineering Novel Strategies to Improve Regeneration Following Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Injury

rjrios at stanford dot edu

Syed Ashal Ali

BS Bioengineering

Bioengineering Novel Strategies to Improve Regeneration Following Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Injury

ashal at stanford dot edu

Daniel Ramos Mejia

BS Biomedical Engineering

Material Design for 3D Bioprinting of Tissue Models

daniel.ramos01 at sjsu dot edu

Kristine Pashin

BS Symbolic Systems

Effect of Microenvironmental Cues on Neural Organoid Formation

kpashin at stanford dot edu

Isabella Martina Szabo

BS Mechanical Engineering

Design of Materials for 3D Bioprinting of Cell-Laden Vascular-Like Channels

iszabo at stanford dot edu

Bruklyn Williams

BS Materials Science & Engineering

Engineered Protein-Based Materials for Tissue Engineering and Cell Mechanobiology

bk10111 at stanford dot edu

Ara Omitowoju

BS Biomechanical Engineering

Engineered Protein-Based Materials for Tissue Engineering and Cell Mechanobiology

araomit at stanford dot edu

Riley Zwetsloot

BS Materials Science & Engineering

Bioengineering Innovative Strategies for Spatial Cell Adhesion in Multicellular Microenvironments

rzwet at stanford dot edu

Administrative Staff

Ruby Eka Dewi

Scientific Writer and Project Manager

redewi at stanford dot edu

Naomi Tudor

Administrative Associate

ntudor at stanford dot edu