Principal Investigator
Gregg Duncan
Associate Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Affiliate Faculty, Biophysics Program
Affiliate Faculty, Biological Sciences Program
Affiliate Fellow, Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
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 became a faculty member in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2017. He also currently serves as the Director of the 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.
Associate Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Affiliate Faculty, Biophysics Program
Affiliate Faculty, Biological Sciences Program
Affiliate Fellow, Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
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 became a faculty member in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2017. He also currently serves as the Director of the 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 candidate, UMD Clark and NIH/NHLBI Fellow
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 in vitro models of immune cell mediated airway dysfunction. Her work has been supported through a CFF Student Traineeship and a NIH/NHLBI F31 Fellowship.
PhD candidate, UMD Clark and NIH/NHLBI Fellow
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 in vitro models of immune cell mediated airway dysfunction. Her work has been supported through a CFF Student Traineeship and a NIH/NHLBI F31 Fellowship.
Yahya Cheema
PhD candidate, UMD Clark Fellow
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 barriers to adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy.
PhD candidate, UMD Clark Fellow
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 barriers to adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy.
Shadin Doski
PhD 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 biomaterial-enabled viral aerosol capture technologies.
PhD 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 biomaterial-enabled viral aerosol capture technologies.
Elizabeth Engle
PhD candidate
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 mucus barrier function towards respiratory viruses.
PhD candidate
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 mucus barrier function towards respiratory viruses.
Sahana Kumar
PhD candidate, UMD Anne Wylie Fellow
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 candidate, UMD Anne Wylie Fellow
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.
Sarah Nasr
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Sarah earned her PhD in Drug Delivery at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland under the guidance of Prof. Claus-Michael Lehr through a full PhD Scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education Egypt. Her PhD research focused on the development of protein/peptide and proteoid based carriers for nucleic acid vaccine delivery Her current work focuses on the development of nanocarriers for pulmonary nucleic acid delivery.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Sarah earned her PhD in Drug Delivery at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland under the guidance of Prof. Claus-Michael Lehr through a full PhD Scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education Egypt. Her PhD research focused on the development of protein/peptide and proteoid based carriers for nucleic acid vaccine delivery Her current work focuses on the development of nanocarriers for pulmonary nucleic acid delivery.
Alexa Stern
PhD student, UMD Engineering Dean's Fellow
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Alexa earned her Bachelor's degree in Biological Engineering from Purdue University. Her undergraduate research focused on the development of computational models for treatment of Mycobacterium avium, as well as improved delivery of injectable medicines for Eli Lilly. Her current research focuses on overcoming barriers to nanoparticle drug delivery using branched PEGylation.
PhD student, UMD Engineering Dean's Fellow
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Alexa earned her Bachelor's degree in Biological Engineering from Purdue University. Her undergraduate research focused on the development of computational models for treatment of Mycobacterium avium, as well as improved delivery of injectable medicines for Eli Lilly. Her current research focuses on overcoming barriers to nanoparticle drug delivery using branched PEGylation.
Owen Tabah
PhD student, UMD Clark Fellow
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Owen earned his B.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University. During undergrad, his research focused on polymeric nanoparticles, particularly PEG-b-PLA polymersomes, and design strategies to modulate their biological identity. His current research focuses on designing nanoparticles for inhaled gene delivery for chronic lung diseases and mucosal vaccination.
PhD student, UMD Clark Fellow
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Owen earned his B.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University. During undergrad, his research focused on polymeric nanoparticles, particularly PEG-b-PLA polymersomes, and design strategies to modulate their biological identity. His current research focuses on designing nanoparticles for inhaled gene delivery for chronic lung diseases and mucosal vaccination.
Taj Yeruva
Postdoctoral Research Associate, REFI Young Investigator
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 biomaterials for local drug delivery. Her work is supported through a Young Investigator Fellowship from the Robert E. Fischell Institute (REFI) for Biomedical Devices.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, REFI Young Investigator
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 biomaterials for local drug delivery. Her work is supported through a Young Investigator Fellowship from the Robert E. Fischell Institute (REFI) for Biomedical Devices.
Luke Zhao
Research Assistant
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Luke earned his B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. Luke conducted research in our lab as an undergraduate focused on injectable cell-encapsulating biomaterials. His current research focuses on developing new biomaterial and spray devices for intranasal drug delivery.
Research Assistant
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Luke earned his B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. Luke conducted research in our lab as an undergraduate focused on injectable cell-encapsulating biomaterials. His current research focuses on developing new biomaterial and spray devices for intranasal drug delivery.
Chloe Connolly
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Chloe's project focuses on biomaterial–enabled delivery of AAV.
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Chloe's project focuses on biomaterial–enabled delivery of AAV.
Haley Decker
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Haley's project focuses on polymeric nanoparticle-based gene delivery.
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Haley's project focuses on polymeric nanoparticle-based gene delivery.
Beatriz Dias De Sousa
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Beatriz's project is focused on lipid nanoparticles for inhaled gene therapy.
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Beatriz's project is focused on lipid nanoparticles for inhaled gene therapy.
Cadence Michels
Cell Biology undergraduate student
Cadence's project focuses on engineering an inhaled mucinase to treat asthma.
Cell Biology undergraduate student
Cadence's project focuses on engineering an inhaled mucinase to treat asthma.
Vaidehi Rathi
Bioengineering undergraduate student, ASPIRE fellow
Vaidehi's project focuses on mucus-bacteria interactions and antimicrobial resistance.
Bioengineering undergraduate student, ASPIRE fellow
Vaidehi's project focuses on mucus-bacteria interactions and antimicrobial resistance.
Pantea Vafaei
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Pantea's project focuses on branched PEGylation strategies for nanoparticle drug delivery.
Bioengineering undergraduate student
Pantea's project focuses on branched PEGylation strategies for nanoparticle drug delivery.
Group photo: post Devorah's defense (May 2024)
