The biggest long-term impact of our NSF engineering research center is our students. They are critical not only to the current state of our center, but also our future.
CMaT has graduate students working on CMaT research in their labs, going on cross-CMaT (national and international) sabbaticals, attending the annual CMaT retreat, presenting at poster sessions, etc.
2025 Summer Program Spotlight
Oluwatomisin Adebayo completed an eight-week research placement at Trinity College Dublin, where she worked with Dr. Michael Monaghan. She studied stem cell–derived neural rosettes using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and Brillouin microscopy, gaining hands-on experience quantifying metabolic state and probing mechanical properties in stem cell cultures. This work deepened her understanding of how metabolism and mechanics interact during early neurodevelopment. Beyond technical training, the experience strengthened her ability to communicate across disciplines, adapt in a new research environment, and build lasting collaborations that will shape her PhD trajectory. She returned with new skills, new partnerships, and clear plans to integrate FLIM- and Brillouin-based approaches into her ongoing research.
Gianna Slusher completed a six-week research program at University of Osaka in Professor Masahiro Kino-oka’s laboratory, mentored by PhD student Naruse Riku. She investigated how operator variability affects quality metrics in the filling stage of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) manufacturing workflow. Her work included harvesting and suspending hiPSCs in cryoprotectant media, calibrating an automated dispensing system, and filling 100 vials at a constant flow rate while monitoring vial weight. She assessed cell viability before and after dispensing and post-thaw, then cultured thawed cells and performed microscopy 24 hours after seeding. Beyond the technical training, the experience was personally transformative. Immersed in Japanese research and daily life, she developed a deep appreciation for the culture and gained new clarity about her academic and professional direction.
2024 Summer Program Spotlight
Carolina Colón participated in an 8-week research experience at Osaka University’s Biotechnology lab in Japan. She collaborated with Dr. Masahiro Kino-oka’s lab, which consisted of over 20 graduate students across five different projects. Her research focused on microgravity culture effects on cells using a specialized instrument called the GRAVITE, available in limited labs, including those in Japan and the Kennedy Space Center. Carolina's work explored the effects of microgravity and cryopreservation on cell therapies, particularly for long-term space missions, honing into her research interest of intersecting the fields of biology and aerospace engineering. She is currently working on a paper to publish the findings from this experience and has improved her Japanese!
2019 Summer Program Spotlight
Three of our graduate students participated in international sabbaticals in 2019. Our first CMaT international research exchange student arrived in Japan in June of 2019. Brian Liu partnered with Osaka University and worked under the guidance of Dr. Masahiro Kino-oka.
Our second CMaT international research exchange student, Emily Pendleton, traveled to Ireland in the fall of 2019. Emily partnered with the National University of Ireland-Galway under Dr. Frank Barry.
Our third and final international research exchange student of 2019 was Nicole Piscopo. Nicole partnered with the University of British Columbia in the Stem Cell Bioengineering Lab of Peter Zandstra.
