Principal Investigator
Gregg Duncan
Assistant Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Affiliate Faculty, Biophysics Program
Affiliate Faculty, Biological Sciences Program (Molecular & Cellular Biology)
Gregg earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering under the guidance of Michael Bevan at Johns Hopkins University. His Ph.D. research focused on developing novel microparticle-based measurements and complementary models of multivalent biomolecular interactions. During his postdoctoral training, he developed nanoparticle-based diagnostic and viral gene therapy approaches for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Center for Nanomedicine directed by Justin Hanes. Gregg was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2017. He also currently serves as the Director of Bioengineering Honors program. He is the recipient of several honors and awards including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface, BMES-CMBE Rising Star Award, BMES Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award, ORAU Ralph E. Powe Jr. Faculty Enhancement Award, and the NSF CAREER award.
Assistant Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Affiliate Faculty, Biophysics Program
Affiliate Faculty, Biological Sciences Program (Molecular & Cellular Biology)
Gregg earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering under the guidance of Michael Bevan at Johns Hopkins University. His Ph.D. research focused on developing novel microparticle-based measurements and complementary models of multivalent biomolecular interactions. During his postdoctoral training, he developed nanoparticle-based diagnostic and viral gene therapy approaches for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Center for Nanomedicine directed by Justin Hanes. Gregg was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2017. He also currently serves as the Director of Bioengineering Honors program. He is the recipient of several honors and awards including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface, BMES-CMBE Rising Star Award, BMES Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award, ORAU Ralph E. Powe Jr. Faculty Enhancement Award, and the NSF CAREER award.
Group members
Allison Boboltz
PhD student
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Allison earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Her undergraduate research focused on using synthetic biology to disrupt microbial biofilms and to develop new bio-pesticides for the agriculture industry. Her current research focuses on genetically engineered in vitro models of airway dysfunction in asthma.
PhD student
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Allison earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Her undergraduate research focused on using synthetic biology to disrupt microbial biofilms and to develop new bio-pesticides for the agriculture industry. Her current research focuses on genetically engineered in vitro models of airway dysfunction in asthma.
Devorah Cahn
PhD candidate, UMD Clark and NIH/NCI CRTA Fellow
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Devorah earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her undergraduate research focused on formulating nanoparticles for hemostatic and drug delivery applications. Her current research focuses on methods to overcome extracellular barriers to nanoparticle-based drug delivery. Her work is supported through the UMD-NCI Partnership graduate training program in collaboration with Dr. Matthew Wolf at NCI.
PhD candidate, UMD Clark and NIH/NCI CRTA Fellow
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Devorah earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her undergraduate research focused on formulating nanoparticles for hemostatic and drug delivery applications. Her current research focuses on methods to overcome extracellular barriers to nanoparticle-based drug delivery. Her work is supported through the UMD-NCI Partnership graduate training program in collaboration with Dr. Matthew Wolf at NCI.
Yahya Cheema
PhD student
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Yahya earned his B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Maryland. His undergraduate research focused on nanoparticle based photodynamic therapy as well as the 3D bioprinting of hydrogels. His current research focuses on adeno-associated viral gene therapy.
PhD student
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Yahya earned his B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Maryland. His undergraduate research focused on nanoparticle based photodynamic therapy as well as the 3D bioprinting of hydrogels. His current research focuses on adeno-associated viral gene therapy.
Shadin Doski
MS student
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Shadin earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to joining the lab, Shadin worked as an ORISE intern in the National Germplasm Research Laboratory at the USDA. Her current research focuses on developing new biomaterial-enabled viral aerosol capture technologies.
MS student
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Shadin earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to joining the lab, Shadin worked as an ORISE intern in the National Germplasm Research Laboratory at the USDA. Her current research focuses on developing new biomaterial-enabled viral aerosol capture technologies.
Elizabeth Engle
PhD student
Biological Sciences Program
Liz earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland. Her undergraduate research focused on binding interactions of a SARS-CoV-2 protease, PLpro, to Ubiquitin and ISG15. Her current research focuses on glycan-mediated mucus barrier function towards respiratory viruses.
PhD student
Biological Sciences Program
Liz earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland. Her undergraduate research focused on binding interactions of a SARS-CoV-2 protease, PLpro, to Ubiquitin and ISG15. Her current research focuses on glycan-mediated mucus barrier function towards respiratory viruses.
Logan Kaler
PhD candidate, NIH/NIAID T32 Fellow
Biophysics Program
Logan earned her B.S. in Biology from Bay Path University. Her undergraduate research focused on understanding biochemical and structural features of protein acetyltransferases and the structural design of novel protein acetyltransferases. Her current research focuses on the mechanisms by which influenza virus penetrates through airway mucus. Logan has been supported through the Host-Pathogen Interactions NIH/NIAID T32 fellowship and graduate training program.
PhD candidate, NIH/NIAID T32 Fellow
Biophysics Program
Logan earned her B.S. in Biology from Bay Path University. Her undergraduate research focused on understanding biochemical and structural features of protein acetyltransferases and the structural design of novel protein acetyltransferases. Her current research focuses on the mechanisms by which influenza virus penetrates through airway mucus. Logan has been supported through the Host-Pathogen Interactions NIH/NIAID T32 fellowship and graduate training program.
Sahana Kumar
PhD student
Biological Sciences Program
Sahana earned her Bachelor of Technology in Bioengineering at SASTRA University. Prior to joining the lab, Sahana worked as a Research Scholar at University of Massachusetts Amherst where her research focused on immunomodulatory nanotherapeutics for cancer. Her current research focuses on developing gene therapies for chronic lung diseases.
PhD student
Biological Sciences Program
Sahana earned her Bachelor of Technology in Bioengineering at SASTRA University. Prior to joining the lab, Sahana worked as a Research Scholar at University of Massachusetts Amherst where her research focused on immunomodulatory nanotherapeutics for cancer. Her current research focuses on developing gene therapies for chronic lung diseases.
Sydney Yang
PhD candidate, UMD Clark and NSF Fellow
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Sydney earned her B.S. in Bioengineering from Lehigh University. Her undergraduate research focused on developing glycosaminoglycan-based hydrogels for promoting tissue regeneration. Her current research focuses on developing mucin-based hydrogels for antimicrobial therapy. Her work is supported by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
PhD candidate, UMD Clark and NSF Fellow
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Sydney earned her B.S. in Bioengineering from Lehigh University. Her undergraduate research focused on developing glycosaminoglycan-based hydrogels for promoting tissue regeneration. Her current research focuses on developing mucin-based hydrogels for antimicrobial therapy. Her work is supported by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Taj Yeruva
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Taj earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Missouri, Kansas City under the guidance of Prof. Chi Lee. Her PhD research focused on designing polymeric, stimuli-responsive biomaterials for HIV prevention. Her current research focuses on developing mucin biomaterials for local drug delivery.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Taj earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Missouri, Kansas City under the guidance of Prof. Chi Lee. Her PhD research focused on designing polymeric, stimuli-responsive biomaterials for HIV prevention. Her current research focuses on developing mucin biomaterials for local drug delivery.
Nikki Nguyen
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Nikki's project focuses on mucin biomaterials for drug delivery applications.
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Nikki's project focuses on mucin biomaterials for drug delivery applications.
Meron Yonas
Bioengineering undergraduate student, LSAMP Scholar
Meron's project focuses on nanocarrier design for inhaled drug delivery.
Bioengineering undergraduate student, LSAMP Scholar
Meron's project focuses on nanocarrier design for inhaled drug delivery.
Harry Zou
Bioengineering undergraduate student, ASPIRE Scholar
Harry's project is focused on developing new high-throughput methods to evaluate inhaled nanomedicines.
Bioengineering undergraduate student, ASPIRE Scholar
Harry's project is focused on developing new high-throughput methods to evaluate inhaled nanomedicines.
Group photo (August 2022)
Interested in joining our group? See available positions for details.
To see what our past members are up to, go to our lab alumni page.
To see what our past members are up to, go to our lab alumni page.