Meet our team

Principal Investigator

Dr. Yu Huang (PhD)

is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at the Utah State University (Logan, Utah). Office: ENGR 402q. Phone: 435-797-5379. Email: yu.huang@usu.edu

His research and his lab projects are focused on the bioMEMS. This interdisciplinary research area addresses biomedical needs/applications, using micro-engineered materials and devices. Heis particularly interested in the micro-tissue engineering of neuron, tumor and stem cell. The application includes neuroscience, neuro-engineering, regenerative medicine, cell assay, and cellular therapy. He has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles in journals, including Nature Biotechnology, ACS Nano, NanoScale, Lab on a Chip, Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, Biomicrofluidics, etc. His innovation has also led to one issued and licensed patent.

Previously, he studied chemistry and received a B.S. degree at Beijing University (Beijing, China). He did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and received two master degrees (Pharmaceutical Sciences and Material Science) and one PhDdegree (Material Science Engineering, 2011). The advisor is Dr. Justin Williams (Biomedical Engineering Department, UW-Madison). After graduation, he worked as Research Associate in the Houston Methodist Research Institute at the Texas Medical Center.

In his spare time, he likes to spend time with families. If time allows, he would also like to continue the hobbies of ski, tennis, photography, and sailing.

Postdoc and Visiting Scholars

Dr. Venkatakrishnan Rengarajan (Krish)

is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Microbrain Lab. Office: SANT 002a. Email: srikrish.venkat@gmail.com

Krish is currently involved in the engineering part of many projects, including brain cancer migration and organoid engineering. His focus is to fabricate the microfluidic devices and understand how to engineer the micro-environment for neural tissue engineering and cancer migration.

He completed his PhD at NJIT with his main research focussing on designing an optofluidic device coupled with 3D tissue engineering for biosensing applications. Previously, he worked with the Indian Defense Research Development and Organization on bio-nanomaterials. After that, he worked on 3D tissue Engineering and regeneration of islet cells using Gel-MA hydrogels in Brigham and Women Hospital (affiliated with Harvard medical school). He also did post-doctoral research at NJIT on glycosaminoglycan that facilitates the wound healing. He won a $50K grant from the I-Corps program and worked as an entrepreneurial-lead in this project to explore the different facets of product approval and marketing.

His hobbies are sketching, photography, and Netflixing.

Dr. Gaozhi Ou

is currently a visiting scholar in Microbrain Lab. He is also an Associate Professor in China University of Geosciences (Wuhan, China). Office: SANT002a. Email: ougz@foxmail.com

He currently studies the influence of mechanical impact to the brain using the microfluidic devices.

Previously, he has studied sports medicine and received a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree at Wuhan Sports University (Wuhan, China). He received his PhD (Biomedical Engineering) at Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology (Wuhan, China). After graduation, he worked in Department of Sports at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan, China) and became an Associate Professor from 2015. He also served as a part-time doctor for the China swimming team.

Outside of work, he likes to sing, climb Mountains, in-line-skating and swimming.

Graduate Students

Chen Cheng

is a research assistant and PhD student in Biological Engineering (since 2018 fall). Office: EL25. Email: awakerschen@163.com.

He is involved in multiple projects regarding 3D neural tissue engineering, including the organoid engineering. His projects focus on the growth and development of human neural stem cell, as influenced by 3D-engineered microdevices and biomaterials. He also uses the organoid platform as the model to study how viral infection and physical impact influences human brain.

Before joining the lab, Cheng received a Master degree from Nanjing Medical University, where he studied neurobiology.

Undergraduate Students

Angela Clyde

is a EURP research assistant and undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Email: angela.j.clyde@gmail.com.

She studies the cytotoxicity of 3D-printed materials, looking for an engineered method to make them biocompatible. She is also involved in the projects of 3D-engineering of organoid, by designing and fabricating the micro-engineered devices.

Before joining the lab, she has spent two years at the Institute of Antiviral Research (IAR) as a Select Agent lab technician. She has also worked under Justin Julander, studying on zika virus.

When not doing the science thing, you’ll find her rock climbing, painting, or Netflixing.

Gregory Jensen

is a EURP research assistant and undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Office: EL25. Email: gmjensen23@gmail.com.

He studies ZnO nanoparticle as a cell imaging and anti-cancer drugs in controlled release. He also started to investigate how anti-inflammatory compounds can be formulated and affect human cell behaviors, using models of 3D neural tissues and cancer cells.

Before joining the lab, Greg worked in Dr. Zhan's metabolic engineering lab for almost year, where he studies the antibiotic natural products.

Greg spends most of his free time playing basketball, fishing, and reading books.

Bailey Mcfarland

is a EURP research assistant and undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Office: EL25.

He studies 3D neural tissue engineering, by designing and fabricating the electrospun biomaterials, which is composed of spider silk proteins. He also works in the Justin Jones lab, where he has a. Before joining this lab, Bailey has two years’ research experience in spider silk lab.

Andrew Kjar

is an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Office: SANT002a.

He is involved in the research of 3D microfabrication for neural tissue engineering. Before joining the Microbrain Lab, he interned at Innova Bio, researching on potential medical implant materials. He is consistently on the Dean's List and a member of the USU honors program.

Having performed previously with Utah Symphony, Andrew continues to play bassoon and has appeared with the USU Symphony Orchestra and Cache Symphony Orchestra.

Sierra Julander

is an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Office: EL25. Email: sierranj97@gmail.com

She studies how indigoidine, an anti-inflammatory compound, can enhance the neural tissue engineering and cancer therapy.

Glen Scott

is an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Office: EL25. Email: glenscott927@gmail.com

He studies how Biliverdin and its derivatives, the anti-inflammatory compounds, can enhance the neural tissue engineering and cancer therapy.

Tyler O’loughlin

is an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Office: EL25. Email: oloughlin.tyler@gmail.com

He studies how anti-inflammatory compounds can be enhanced in tissue engineering through nanoparticles.

Jayce Bradley

is an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Office: EL25. Email: jayce.a.bradley@gmail.com

He studies how anti-inflammatory compounds can be enhanced in tissue engineering through nanoparticles.

Jaden Hasissues

is an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering. Office: EL25. Email: jadenhasissues@gmail.com

He studies how anti-inflammatory compounds can be enhanced in tissue engineering through nanoparticles.

Alumni

• Jefferson Pontsler was a Master student in Biological Engineering, USU (2016-2018).
• Christian Morrill was an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering, USU (2017-2018). Currently a medical student in the medical school at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Adam Talbot was an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering, USU (2016-2017). Currently a PhD student in BME UT-San Antonio.
• Kyler Albrechtsen was an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering, USU (2016-2017). Currently a design engineer at Northrop Grumman Rocket Propulsion Systems
• Chase Gabbitas was an undergraduate student in Biological Engineering, USU (2016-2018).