Students
Nastaran Alinezhad
- PhD candidate, Biomedical engineering
- M.S. Chemical Engineering, Michigan Tech, 2016
- B.S. Chemical Engineering, Amirkabir University of technology, Iran 2010
- CTE IGEP fellow, 2017
- BioTRANS IGEP Fellow, 2016-present
Research interests: Translational cancer research, Cancer models on chip, Pulsed electric fields for therapeutics
Kenneth Aycock
- PhD Student, Biomedical Engineering
- B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2018
- Pratt Fellow, Virginia Tech, 2018-2019
Research interests:
Josie Duncan
- M.S. Student, Mechanical Engineering
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Clemson, 2018
Research interests: Dielectrophoresis

Philip Graybill
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Grove City College, 2016
- BioTRANS IGEP Fellow, 2016-present
Research interests: Microfluidics, the blood-brain barrier, electroporation
Melvin Lorenzo
- B.S. Aerospace Engineering, 2016
Research interests: Finite element modeling, the blood-brain barrier
Tim O'Brian
- PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
- M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2015
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2013
- B.S. Mathematics, Roanoke College, 2011
- World Congress of Biomechanics Student Paper Competition, 3rd Place Oral Presentation, 2018
- Paul E. Torgersen Research Excellence Award, 2nd Place M.S. Oral Presentation, 2014
- Paul E. Torgersen Research Excellence Award, 1st Place M.S. Poster Presentation, 2015
Research interests: Medical Devices, Heat Transfer, Biosensors, BioHeat Transport, Organ Preservation
Elisa Wasson
- PhD Candidate, Mechanical Engineering
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico
- NSF Graduate Research Fellow
- Gold Poster Presentation, VT-GSA Symposium, 18
- Walts Fellowship, 17-18
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship, 13-18
- GEM University Fellow, 13-18
- New Horizon Graduate Scholar, 13-18
- ICTAS Doctoral Scholar, 13-15
- Lawrence Livermore Graduate Scholar
- NanoEngineering for Medical and Biology Conference (NEMB), Honorable Mention (Poster), 15
- ICTAS Doctoral Scholar
Research interests: Microfluidics, calcium irreversible electroporation, tissue engineering
Natalie White(CV)
- Direct PhD Student, Electrical Engineering
- B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 2016
- William E. Webber Fellow, 2016-present
Research interests: Medical Devices, Bioelectronics, Irreversible electroporation
Lab Alumni
- Dan Sweeney (PhD, 2018)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, 18 - present
- PhD Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2018
- B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, 2013
- Texas Instruments Engibous Prize Finalist, 2013
- MultiSTEPS Fellow (NSF IGERT, 2013-present)
- Andrea Rolong (PhD, 2018)
- PhD Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2018
- B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University
- MultiSTEPS Fellow (NSF IGERT, 2012-present)
- Alexandra Hyler (PhD, 2018)
- Lead Research Scientist, CytoRecovery, Inc, Blacksburg, VA, 18 - present
- PhD Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2018
- Virginia Tech Graduate Student of the Year, 18
- 1st Place Talk Award, SBES Symposium, VT-WFU, 18
- Gold Agent of Change Oral Presentation Award, GSA Symposium, 18
- VT College of Engineering Diversity Fellow, 16-17
- B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2013
- Fulbright Fellowship to Copenhagen, Denmark, 2015-2016
- NSF Interdisciplinary Program Fellow, 2013-2015
- Gold Poster Presentation, VT GSA Symposium, 2015
- MultiSTEPS Fellow (NSF IGERT, 2013-present)
- Suyashree Bhonsle (PhD, 2017)
- Electrical Engineer, Abbott, San Francisco Bay Area, 17 – present
- PhD Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2018
- David W. Francis and Lillian Francis Research Scholarship, Virginia Tech Graduate School, 15
- Ellen E. Wade Graduate Studies Fellowship, Virginia Tech Graduate School, 15
- M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles,
- B.E. Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Mumbai, India,
- Temple Douglas (PhD, Spring 2018)
- PhD Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2018
- A.B. Physics, Prinecton University, 2014, with certificates in Biophysics, Materials Science & Engineering
- Herbert A Pohl Student Presentation Award, 16
- MultiSTEPS Fellow (NSF IGERT, 2014-2016)
- College of Engineering New Horizons Graduate Scholar (2016-present)
- Adwoa Baah-Dwomoh (PhD, 2018)
- Lead Engineer, W.L. Gore and Associates, Newark, DE, 18 - present
- PhD Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2018
- M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, 2012
- B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2010
- Edwrd A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Inductee, 18
- Black Female Graduate Student of the Year, 18
- Outstanding Student Leader of the Year, 18
- MultiSTEPS Fellow (NSF IGERT, 2012-present)
- Mohammad Bonakdar (Post-Doc, 2016-2017)
- Sr. Research and Development Engineer, Helbling Precision Engineering, Cambridge, MA, 2018 - present
- PhD Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2016
- Paul E. Torgersen Student Research Excellence Award: Best PhD Presentation, 2016
- BSc (2004) and MSc (2007) in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Iran
- M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2007
- Eduardo Latouche (MS BME, Spring 2016)
- Senior Engineer, Research and Development Engineer, VoltMed Inc., 2016-present
- M.S. Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 2015
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2013
- Paul E. Torgesen Student Research Excellence Award: Best Masters Presentation, 2015
- Research Interests: Bioelectrics, Medical Devices, MEMS
- BMES-FDA Frontiers in Medical Devices, First runner up podium, 2016
- Kruthika Kikkeri (BS EE, Spring 2016)
- M.S. Electrical Engineering, Virginia Tech
- NSF Graduate Research Fellow
- Bindiganavele Prasad Fellowship, 2017
- William B. Webber Fellowship, 2016-2017
- Pratt Engineering Scholarship, 2013-2016
- Matt Dewitt(PhD BME, Spring 2016)
- Senior R&D Engineer, Abbott, Charlottesville, VA, 17 – present
- Cunningham Doctoral Fellowship, 11-16
- ASME Heat Transfer Conference: Invited Panelist on Thermal Medicine, 14
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP), 12-15
- B.S. Biomedical Engineering (University of Texas at Austin, 2011)
- Jaka Cemazar (Post-Doc, 2013-2016)
- Research Engineer, RenBio, NY, 2016 - present
- Postdoctoral Associate, Biomedical Engineering, 2013 - 2016
- Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2013
- B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 2008
- Research Engineer, RenBio, NY, 2016 - present
- Paulo A. Garcia (PhD BME, Fall 2010)
- Research Scientist, MIT, 16 - Present
- Postdoctoral Associate, Harvard-MIT, Prof. Cullen Buie, 13-15
- 1st Place Virginia Tech KnowledgeWorks Tech Transfer Challenge, 12
- Paul E. Torgersen Student Research Excellence Award: Best PhD Presentation, 10
- 26th Annual Research Symposium and Exposition Oral Competition: Second Place, 10
- SBES 9th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium: Best Presentation, 10
- IEEE EMBS Student Paper Competition: North American Finalist, 09
- Hadi Shafiee (PhD ESM, Fall 2010)
- Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School
- Post-doctoral, Harvard-MIT, Prof. Utkan Demirci, 11 - 14
- F32 NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, 12
- Paul E. Torgersen Student Research Excellence Award: PhD Finalist, 10
- 26th Annual Research Symposium and Exposition Poster Competition: First Place, 10
- Liviu Librescu Memorial Scholarship, 09
- GEM4 - Cellular and Molecular Mechanics: U Illinois – Urbana Champaign: Best Poster, 09
- John Caldwell (MS EECS, Spring 2010)
- Texas Instruments National Design Competition: First Place, 09
- Engineer, Leadership Development Program, Texas Instruments, 10-present
- Erin Henslee (MS BME, Spring 2010)
- Assistant Professor, Wake Forest University, 18 - Present
- Whitaker International Foundation Fellowship, 10-11
- Ph.D. University of Surrey, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Prof. Michael P. Hughes - Mike Sano (MS ESM, Spring 2009, PhD SBES, Summer 2012)
- Assistant Professor, UNC – NC State 17 - Present
- Post-doc, Stanford University, 14 – present
- DoD post-doctoral Fellowship, 15
- 1st Place Virginia Tech KnowledgeWorks Tech Transfer Challenge, 12
- CEO, VoltMed LLC, Blacksburg, VA, 12-present
- Paul E. Torgersen Graduate Student Research Excellence Award, 09
- Andrea Rojas (MS MSE, Spring 2012)
- Product Development, Terumo Medical Corporation, Elkton, MD, 16-present
- Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) NIH Fellowship, 10-11
- Engineer, W.L. Gore & Associates in Elkton, MD, 12-present
- Robert Neal II (PhD SBES, Fall 2011)
- Virginia Tech Outstanding Dissertation Award, 12
- Whitaker International Foundation Fellowship, 11
- Paul E. Torgersen Student Research Excellence Award: Best Poster, 11
- Post-doctoral, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne Australia, Dr. Ken Thomson
- Elizabeth Savage (MS BME, Spring 2013)
- MultiSTEPS IGEP Fellowship, 11-12
- Interdisciplinary Research Symposium Poster Award, 12
- Spotlight Speaker Chair, Interdisciplinary Research Honors Society, 12-13
- Consultant, Poly-Med, Inc. in Anderson, SC 13-present
- Chris Arena (PhD SBES, Spring 2013)
- Collegiate Assistant Professor, BME, Virginia Tech, 17 - present
- Assistant Professor of Engineering, Elon University, 15 – 17
- Elon University Hultquist Award for new faculty research, 16
- SPIRE Post-doctoral Fellow, Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, 13 - 15
- Editor's Choice Award, ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 13
- College of Engineering Graduate Student of the Year, 13
- 2nd Place Podium Ph.D. 12th Annual VT-WFU SBES Graduate Student Research Symposium, 13
- 1st Place Podium Ph.D. Student Paper Competition, ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, 12.
- 1st Place Virginia Tech KnowledgeWorks Tech Transfer Challenge, 12
- Virginia Tech Graduate Student Assembly Travel Fund Transfer Challenge, 12
- NSF John Chato Memorial Symposium Travel Award, 11
- 3rd Place Podium Ph.D. Student Paper Competition, ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, 11
- Alireza Salmanzadeh (PhD ESM, Spring 2013)
- Senior Engineer, BD Biosciences, San Jose,2016 - present
Working on Microfluidic and Fluidic System Management technologies for Flow Cytometry and Sample Preparation/Handling applications - Post-doc, University of California, Berkeley (Luke Lee), 14-15
- Paul E. Torgersen Student Research Excellence Award: Best PhD Presentation, 13
- Amir Chand and Dewki Bai Batra Scholarship, 13
- Virginia Tech Graduate Man of the Year, 12
- Outstanding Graduate Student Leader Award, 12
- American Electrophoresis Society: Poster Award, 12
- American Electrophoresis Society: Poster Award, 11
- Virginia Tech Cancer Symposium: Co-Chair, 11
- Manual Stein Scholarship, 10
- Senior Engineer, BD Biosciences, San Jose,2016 - present
- Harsha Kittur (BS BSE, Spring 2011)
- Postdoctoral Associate, UCLA, Prof. Dino Di Carlo, present
- Assistant Coordinator of the High School Summer Research Program, UCLA 12-16
- President of the Engineering Graduate Students Association, UCLA 15-16
- Biological Systems Engineering Outstanding Recent Alumnus, 17
- Biological Systems Engineering Outstanding Senior, 11
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Outstanding Junior, 10
PI: Rafael V. Davalos, Ph.D.
L. Preston Wade Professor
ASME Fellow, Coulter Fellow, AIMBE Fellow
CV
329 ICTAS Stanger Street (0298)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-1979