Alumni | Nia Laboratory

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Nia Laboratory · Boston University

Our alumni.

Former researchers and trainees who helped advance the science and technology developed in the Nia Lab, and the next steps in their careers.

Postdoctoral Fellows 2

Name Period Degree / role Research focus Next position
Muhamed Hadzipasic, MD/PhD 2022–2024 Postdoc Micromechanics of tumors Clinical Investigator, Neurosurgery, MGH
Yuqing (Celeste) Deng 2025–2026 Postdoc Neutrophil motility in the lung Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard School of Public Health

Doctoral Students 5

Name Year Degree / role Dissertation / research Next position
Rob LeBourdais 2027 PhD Mechanics-enhanced artificial intelligence for prediction of lung cancer Postdoctoral Fellow, Nia Lab
Gabrielle Grifno 2026 PhD Probing lung hemodynamics in health and disease in real time at cellular resolution Postdoctoral Fellow, Bhatia Lab, MIT
Kathryn Regan 2025 PhD The role of mechanical cues in biological systems: from tissue mechanics to immune cell motility Postdoctoral Fellow, Nia Lab, BU
Rohin Banerji 2025 PhD Developing the Crystal Ribcage for high spatiotemporal-resolution probing of the lung in health and disease Flagship
Sue Zhang 2024 PhD Tools and model systems to probe solid stress in fibrotic tumors Senior Scientist, Novartis

Master’s Students 9

Name Year Degree / role Thesis / project Next position
Elizabeth Fish 2026 MSc (project) Analyzing mouse locomotion —
Aman Shankardass 2026 MSc (project) Analyzing cleared lung tissues LifeCanvas
Dylan Smolen 2023 MSc (thesis) Developing the Crystal Ribcage for large animals Industry
Siyi Zheng 2022 MSc (thesis) Solid stress evolution from development to aging PhD program, BU
Azeo Torre 2022 MSc (thesis) Utilizing lung mechanical information to classify the malignancy of lung nodules Industry
Cate Eberman 2021 MSc Developing a flexible Crystal Ribcage PhD program, UW–Madison
Rachel Passaro 2021 MS (project) Solid stress measurement in tumor spheroids Industry
Vinson Chu 2020 MS (project) Developing models to apply solid stress Industry
Sunny Kapadia 2019 MS (project) Electromechanics of fibrotic tumors Industry

Undergraduate Researchers 16

Name Term(s) Support / recognition
Winita Wangsrikhun Fall 2024 UROP
Han Kahvecioglu Fall 2024 UROP
Thanadol (TT) Sangprasert Fall 2024 UROP
Victoria Travnik Fall 2024 UROP
Jung Won Park Fall 2023 UROP
Raghavan Ramaswamy Fall 2023 —
Johnathan Muhvich Spring 2022, Summer 2022 Dean’s Distinguished Summer Research Fellowship (Summer 2022); Directed Study (Spring 2022)
Juncheng Zhang Fall 2021 —
Brian Jung Fall 2021 —
Delaney Dow Spring 2021, Summer 2021 UROP
Aditya Jain Summer 2020 Dean’s Distinguished Summer Research Fellowship
Elizabeth Hanchar Spring 2020, Fall 2020 UROP (Fall 2020)
Tasneem Jivanji Spring 2020 —
Logan O’Connor Fall 2019, Summer 2020, Fall 2020 UROP
Scott Gaines Fall 2019 UROP
Sung Yeon Kim Summer 2019 UROP / STARS

Positions and research topics are shown as provided in the alumni records.