People
Principal Investigator
Dr. Mary Beth Monroe
Dr. Mary Beth Monroe, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Favorites
☞ Material: Polyurethanes
☞ Travel/Vacation Spot: South Fork, CO
☞ Childhood Book: The BFG
If you’re interested in working with the Monroe BioMaterials lab, reach out to Dr. Monroe at mbbmonroe@tamu.edu.
Postdoc
Prasanth
Prasanth Shanmughan
Research Project
Incorporation of bacteria-responsive peptides into shape memory polymers
Favorites
Food: Kerala-style Dosa (Indian cuisine)
Book: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Animal: Dogs
Graduate Students
Thalma
Thalma Orado, Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Research Project
Bacteria-responsive shape memory polymers
Favorites
Band: Hillsong United
Vacation Spot: Tsavo-Amboseli-Kilimanjaro (Kenya, Tanzania)
Childhood Book: The Very Impatient Caterpillar
Ernest
Ernest Obeng, Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Research Project
Shape memory polymer foams for hemorrhage control in traumatic wounds
Favorites
Food: Ghana Jollof Rice with Grilled Chicken
Book: The Brothers Karamazov
Games: Football and Tennis
Sevde Can, Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Research Project
Biodegradable and antimicrobial shape memory polymer foams for traumatic wound healing
Favorites
Food: Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)
Game: Sudoku
TV Show: Young Sheldon
Hossein Akhtar, Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Research Project
Multifunctional hydrogels for chronic wound healing
Favorites
Food: Ghormeh Sabzi (Iranian food)
Animal: Eagle
Vacation Spot: Miami, FL
Jingwen Zhao, Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Research Project
Bacteria-responsive shape memory polymers with microtopographies for biofilm inhibition
Favorites
Food: Hot Pot
Takeout in Bryan/College Station: Frice
Place in Bryan/College Station: HEB
Undergraduate Students
CLaIRE
Claire Trautman, B.S. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Research Project
Injectable porous hydrogels for Crohn’s fistula healing
Favorites
Book: The Little Prince
Thing to do in Bryan/College Station: Thrifting
Food: Cheesecake
Shaphia
Vibha
Vishnu Vasudev, B.S. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Research Project
Antimicrobial and antioxidant shape memory polymer foams
Favorites
Game: Catan
Animal: Gila monster
Beverage: Grapefruit soda
Alumni
Ph.D. Students
Syracuse University
Natalie Petryk, Bioengineering, May 2025; Dissertation: Biodegradable and Bioactive Polyurethane Foams to Improve Traumatic Wound Healing
LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Nghia Thai, Bioengineering, April 2025; Dissertation: Multifunctional Hydrogel Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering and Wound Healing Applications
LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Changling Du, Bioengineering, August 2023; Dissertation: Multi-Functional Phenolic Acid-Based Shape Memory Polymer Foams as Hemostatic Agents
Google Scholar
Maryam Ramezani, Bioengineering, June 2023; Dissertation: Design of Shape Memory Polymers for Infection Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment
LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Henry Beaman, Bioengineering, August 2022; Dissertation: Leveraging Isocyanate Chemistry for Low Cost and Highly Functional Hydrogels
LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Anand Vakil, Chemical Engineering, August 2022; Dissertation: Exploring the Biomedical Applications of Polyurethane-based Foams, Films, and Hydrogels
LinkedIn | Google Scholar
M.S. Students
Syracuse University
Avery Gunderson, Chemical Engineering, May 2024; Thesis: Electrospun Shape Memory Fibers for Chronic Wound Surveillance
LinkedIn
Kat Dong, Bioengineering, May 2024; Thesis: Non-Compressible Grade 4 Hemorrhagic Liver Injury Model for Assessment of Shape Memory Polymers as a Hemostatic Agent
LinkedIn
David Fikhman, Chemical Engineering, May 2023; Thesis: Shape Memory Polymers as Controlled Drug Delivery Vehicles
LinkedIn
Ellen Shepherd, Bioengineering, May 2021; Thesis: Blood-material interactions with degradable shape memory polymer foams
LinkedIn
Nakira Christmas, Bioengineering, May 2020; Thesis: In Vitro Characterization of Shape Memory Polymer Foam Hemostats
LinkedIn
Jingyi Liu, Bioengineering, December 2020; Thesis: Characterization of Phenolic Acids for Incorporation Into Shape Memory Polymer Foams
LinkedIn
Undergraduate Students
Syracuse University
Leo Saldanha, B.S. in Bioengineering, Fall 2023- Spring 2025; Project: Degradation of Shape Memory Polymer Foams for Traumatic Wounds
Shawn Sutherland, B.S. in Bioengineering, Fall 2023- Spring 2025; Project: Degradation of Shape Memory Polymer Foams for Traumatic Wounds
Owen Salius, B.S. in Bioengineering, Fall 2023- Spring 2025; Project: Hydrogels for Chronic Wounds
Samara Tomlinson, B.S. in Bioengineering, Spring 2024- Spring 2025; Project: In Vitro Model of Crohn’s Fistulas
Chelsey Antwi, B.S. in Public Health, Spring 2024- Spring 2025; Project: In Vitro Models of Hemorrhagic Wounds
Paris Smith, B.S. in Biotechnology/Neuroscience, Spring 2024- Spring 2025; Project: Antimicrobial Shape Memory Polymer Foams
Tony Tran, B.S. in Biotechnology, Fall 2024- Spring 2025; Project: Hydrogels for Crohn’s Fistulas
Eden Leavitt, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Fall 2023- Fall 2024; Projects: In Vitro Hemorrhage Model + Mechanochromic Shape Memory Polymers
Bethany Yashkus, Biomaterials REU Program, Summer 2024; Project: Mechanochromic Shape Memory Polymers
Emily Fittante, B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Spring 2022- Fall 2023; Project: Degradable Hydrogels for Crohn’s Fistula Filling
Anushka Joardar, Fayetteville-Manlius High School Student, Summer 2023; Project: Degradable Shape Memory Polymer Foams
Jessica Peterson, Biomaterials REU Program, Summer 2023; Project: Bacteria-Responsive Shape Memory Polymer Specificity
Megan Perlman, B.S. in Bioengineering, Spring 2022- Summer 2023; Project: Characterization of Hydrogels for Wound Healing
LinkedIn
Grace Haas, B.S. in Bioengineering, Spring 2021- Spring 2023; Project: Shape Memory Polymer Foams Synthesized with Off-the-Shelf Foaming Components
LinkedIn
Devanand Persaud, B.S. in Biotechnology, Fall 2022- Spring 2023; Project: Characterization of Antimicrobial Shape Memory Polymer Foams
Emily Labour, B.S. in Bioengineering, Fall 2022-Fall 2023; Project: Surface Characterization of Bacteria-Responsive Shape Memory Polymers
LinkedIn
Sapaydia Rosales, Biomaterials REU Program, Summer 2022; Project: Degradation of Starch-based Polyurethane Hydrogels
LinkedIn
Darnelle Stinfort, B.S. in Biotechnology, May 2022; Project: Antimicrobial Biomaterials Characterization
LinkedIn
Caitlyn Greene, B.S. in Biotechnology, May 2022; Project: Phenolic Acid-Containing PVA Hydrogels
LinkedIn
Bryanna Howes, Biomaterials REU Program, Summer 2021; Project: Biomaterial Degradation Characterization
LinkedIn
Priya Ganesh, B.S. in Chemical Engineering, May 2021; Project: Hydrogels for Crohn’s Fistulas
LinkedIn
Tyler Winegar, Biomaterials REU Program, Summer 2019; Project: Antimicrobial Shape Memory Polymer Foams