Roderick MacLachlan obtained his BSc in Engineering Physics from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada in 2018. In 2023, Roderick obtained his PhD in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Didar and Dr. Soleymani. Roderick was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Didar Lab working on the development of superhydrophobic surfaces with anti-biofouling and anti-pathogenic properties as well as electrochemical biosensing. Outside of his academic life, Roderick enjoys biking, rock climbing, and playing guitar.

Noor Abu Jarad obtained her BSc in Biomedical Engineering from the German Jordanian University in Amman, Jordan in 2017. During her undergrad, she spent 18 months in Germany, whereby she did an exchange semester at Ulm University of Applied Sciences, then an internship at Stryker Company in Freiburg, and finally completed her graduation project at ATMOS Medizintechnik in Lenzkirch. During her bachelor thesis, she constructed an optical fluorescence-based device to facilitate the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Furthermore, she was a student council for one year and the face of the university for four years. She then worked as a research assistant at the German Jordanian University where she researched glucose sensors. Noor was pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Didar and Dr. Soleymani. She was a very motivated young biomedical engineer and was excited to be part of the Didar lab.

Mackenzie obtained a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Microbiology in 2021 from the University of Guelph and a Master of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Guelph in 2023. The focus of her thesis research was on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) adhesion to the human host. Understanding host adhesion is central to the development of novel anti-adhesive therapeutics as ways to control life-threatening bacterial infections. In the Didar lab, she was helping manufacture and assess omniphobic surfaces against microbiolgical and environmental conditions. Outside of the lab, she enjoys horseback riding, badminton, squash, reading, art, and board games.

Shadman joined the lab in June 2019 as an undergraduate thesis student. His project involved the development of surface structuring methods to induce biological repellency. He began his direct-entry PhD in September 2020. He was working on the development of printable DNAzyme-based bacterial sensors to be implemented onto food packaging, repellent surfaces for biosensing applications and assays that provide improved detection sensitivity for key clinical markers. Outside of his academics, he enjoys watching documentaries, writing poetry and cooking.

Sara is a recipient of the prestigious McMaster Dean’s Excellence Engineering Doctoral Award. She obtained her BSc in Chemical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnique), Iran. She then joined department of Chemical Engineering at University of Waterloo to pursue her Master’s degree. Her master’s research was focused on engineering environmentally-responsive coated magnetic nanogels for controlled and prolonged drug delivery systems. This experience made her excelled at polymer science, synthesis, and chemistry. After graduation, she worked at the University Health Network, Toronto, as a part of a multi-disciplinary team of surgeons, scientists, and engineers to work on a variety of clinical problems to improve patient care. There, she investigated the engineering aspects of the minimally-invasive endovascular surgery applied in abdominal aneurysm repair. To follow her passion for working at the interface between engineering and applied biology, Sara decided to pursue her PhD studies in Biomedical Engineering at the Didar land Verdu Labs, where she addressed real problems in human health with bio-inspired technologies. Her PhD research was focused on engineering organ-on-chip platforms to facilitate drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and point-of-care diagnosis and treatment. Outside academic life, Sara enjoys travelling, mountain hiking/climbing, swimming, and flying a Cessna.

Devinne received her Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Life Sciences at McMaster University. Following graduation, she worked for two years at the Population Health Research Institute, where she worked on a randomized controlled trial that discovered that the use of rivaroxaban reduces cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary or peripheral artery disease. In 2017, she returned to McMaster University to complete her Master’s degree in Medical Science, where she studied the relationship between gut microbiota, metabolites, and brain neurotrophic factors in the expression of anxiety and depression. She recently joined the Didar Lab as a Research Assistant and is excited to work on bio-inspired related technologies. Outside of academia, Devinne likes to travel, practice yoga, and explore hiking trails in Hamilton with her dog.

Maryam was a postdoctoral fellow in DidarLab. Maryam did her undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering in University of Tehran, Iran. Following her passion in biomedical sciences and biology she joined McMaster’s School of Biomedical Engineering for her Masters in 2011. In her Master’s thesis she looked at the effect of in utero and postpartum exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) on bone properties. Before joining Didar’s lab as a PhD student, she worked for 3 years on a research project where she was designing physical targeted “smart” nanoparticles for drug delivery to tumors. Throughout this project she gained extensive experience in different fields such as polymer synthesis, characterization, nanoparticle preparation and optimization and performing in vitro and in vivo experiments. During her PhD in DidarLab, Maryam focused on creating unique surface coatings on medical implants to improve their hemocompatibility and targeted binding. Her postdoc continued work on biosurface coatings for different applications.
Outside the lab Maryam enjoys playing the piano, making art pieces and climbing stairs!

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Amid Shakeri received his bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from University of Tehran in 2010. He also pursued his master’s education at University of Tehran and obtained his master degree in 2013. After graduation, he continued his research in Nanostructured Materials and Composites Laboratory, University of Tehran, as a research assistant and supervised a number of projects on synthesis and characterization of thin and thick films of hydroxyapatite composites as well as piezo MEMS. During his tenure at the University of Tehran, Amid published over 5 Journal papers as well as several conference papers and abstracts. Amid joined Didar Lab in 2016 as a PhD student with a particular interest in bio-inspired technologies. Amid’s hobbies include playing guitar, singing, and playing soccer.

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Esra was a visiting PhD student with the Didar Lab, testing the performance of her superhydrophobic surfaces against various biological agents.

Danial was a visiting PhD student in Didar Lab. Danial is a member of Procare Health Iberia Company as a research fellow and medical affair. Procare Health was created in Spain with the vision of providing best innovative solutions to improve women’s health and well-being. He was a  Ph.D. student in School of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain. He has experience of working at the Harvard-MIT’s Division of Health Science and Technology, Harvard Medical School, and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). At Didar Lab, he worked on developing the first Human uterine Cervix-on-a-chip. He is going to examine new opportunities for the application of organ-on-chip technologies in a range of areas in preclinical drug discovery, such as target identification and validation, target-based screening, and phenotypic screening. His investigations are mainly focused on Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) infection and the immune response of Human epithelial cells. The dynamic interactions between the uterine tissue cell types within the cervix can be precisely controlled and examined the effect of Papilocare® –a brand new product of Procare Health Iberia Company- as the first treatment to prevent and treat the HPV-Dependent cervical lesions, and also to check the condition of cells in cervical cancer, and cervical infection.

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Matthew hails from Montreal, where he obtained a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering at McGill University. After completing his undergrad, he joined the Didar Lab at McMaster’s School of Biomedical Engineering in September 2016. Having been introduced to biomaterials, molecular biomechanics and medical devices during his time at McGill, he was interested to tackle these subjects in greater depth during his Master’s studies. In his own time, Matt enjoys engaging in a variety of sports, namely sailing, skiing, volleyball, and broomball, as well as cheering on his hometown Montreal Canadiens.

Yuxi obtained her bachelor‘s degree in Materials from Qingdao University of Science&Tech, China. In January 2018, she joined the Didar‘s lab. She has knowledge in both Metallic Materials and biomaterials, involving Metals’ property, processing methods, biomedical materials as well as some characterization and definition methods. During her undergraduate period, she accumulated experimental experience through research in applications of bio ceramic coatings on alloy prothesis, drug delivery systems and GBR (Guide Bone Regeneration Membrane). She was gradually attracted by biomedical materials. She hopes to further explore in this area and make unique innovations based on original products. In her free time, she enjoys sports such as roller skating, tennis, ping pong, badminton and pool.

Liane Ladouceur completed her MASc in Biomedical Engineering in the Didar Lab. She joined this group while completing her final year of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. As part of this program, she has gained industry experience through co-op positions with Mackenzie Innovation Institute and Siemens Healthineers. She also holds a BSc in Neuroscience from Carleton University, which allowed her a first taste of research experience in 2012. Throughout her studies Liane has sustained her passion for the medical field by volunteering in hospitals and related part time jobs. In her spare time she enjoys running, having most recently completed the Toronto Waterfront half-marathon.

Veronica joined Didar lab in September 2019 as a Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering. She completed her undergraduate studies in Physics at McMaster and was awarded prestigious Summa Cum Laude academic status upon graduating. She now looks forward to applying her knowledge to advance the interdisciplinary biomedical field through her efforts in the lab. In addition to her academic studies, Veronica is an internationally recognized equestrian athlete who was crowned the national champion, and won both individual bronze and team silver medals at the North American Youth Championships in 2017.

Lubna is currently a Research Associate in the Didar Lab, working on the Bfree Cup research project in collaboration with Women’s Global Health Innovation (WGHI). She completed her MASc in Biomedical Engineering at the Didar Lab, working on the fabrication of novel protein-pure hydrogel biosensing microarrays and optimizing biosensor microcontact printing protocols. She has previously worked with the industry partner SQI Diagnostics. Outside of research, Lubna is passionate about teaching, mentorship, and expressing herself creatively. In the past, she has been a tutor, volunteer editor, Artists at McMaster VP Events Administrator and Poetry and Creative Writing Society co-founder.

Cassandra is currently a Microbiology Laboratory Technician in the Didar Lab, helping manufacture omniphobic surfaces and test their antibacterial activity. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Florida International University and her master’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of Guelph in 2023. Her research focused on optimizing the proliferation process of persistently quiescent cell populations for lab-grown meat production. Outside of the lab, Cassandra enjoys sewing and creating new garments from scratch. She enjoys drawing and painting as it helps relax and explore her creativity.

Jinal completed her Bachelors of Science (Honours), majoring in Microbiology with co-op at University of Guelph. As part of co-op she worked as a Quality Control Laboratory Technician at Gay Lea Foods and as a Research Assistant at Environment and Climate Change Canada. After gaining her Bachelors, she completed her Masters of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from University of Guelph in June of 2023 under Dr. Cezar Khursigara. Her research focused around characterizing the role of P. aeruginosa hypothetical proteins in adhesion, biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. She is currently working in the Didar lab and the Soleymani lab as a Microbiology Lab Technician and her project includes assisting in creating and testing the omniphobic surfaces against various bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, MRSA and E. coli. Apart from work, Jinal likes cooking, reading, listening to podcasts, swimming and watching k-dramas.

Liane Ladouceur recently completed her MASc in Biomedical Engineering in the Didar Lab. She joined this group while completing her final year of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. As part of this program, she has gained industry experience through co-op positions with Mackenzie Innovation Institute and Siemens Healthineers. She also holds a BSc in Neuroscience from Carleton University, which allowed her a first taste of research experience in 2012. Throughout her studies Liane has sustained her passion for the medical field by volunteering in hospitals and related part time jobs. In her spare time she enjoys running, having most recently completed the Toronto Waterfront half-marathon.

Farhaan obtained a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2017 from McMaster University and a Master of Science in Biology from Western University in 2020. He focused on microbiology themes for his co-op and thesis works with specific focuses on antimicrobial resistance and fungal ecology. In the Didar and Soleymani labs, he is currently helping manufacture and test superhydrophobic surfaces against environmental and microbiological conditions. Having first stepped on the McMaster campus as an undergrad in 2012, Farhaan has explored Hamilton extensively along with almost every building on campus. Outside of the lab, he enjoys jogging and keeping up with psychology and tech.

Nusrat Helali received her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2014. Afterwards she gathered industry experience while she served in multinational Agro chemical company, Syngenta Crop protection Ag. She pursued her master’s degree at University of Alberta in Mechanical Engineering in 2020. Her reasearch was based on Development of Superhydrophobic and underwater oleophobic membrane development foil oily waste water treatment. Nusrat has joined Didar and Soleymani Labs in 2022 as a laboratory technician and continuing her work on hierarchical structured repel wrap development. Nusrat has also interest in travelling and exploring in spare time.

Amid Shakeri received his bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from University of Tehran in 2010. He also pursued his master’s education at University of Tehran and obtained his master degree in 2013. After graduation, he continued his research in Nanostructured Materials and Composites Laboratory, University of Tehran, as a research assistant and supervised a number of projects on synthesis and characterization of thin and thick films of hydroxyapatite composites as well as piezo MEMS. During his tenure at the University of Tehran, Amid published over 5 Journal papers as well as several conference papers and abstracts. Amid joined Didar Lab in 2016 as a PhD student with a particular interest in bio-inspired technologies. Amid’s hobbies include playing guitar, singing, and playing soccer.

Cédric Pattyn graduated in 2015 from the University of Orléans with an optoelectronics engineering diploma along with a materials science master degree. The expertise he developed was focused on plasma science and engineering. Following graduation, he did his PhD in the GREMI laboratory (University of Orléans / CNRS) on the topic of biosensor development and extensively studied the synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotubes, carbon nanowalls, graphene and ultra-thin polymer coatings by PECVD. After two years postdoc in Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) on the topic of nitrogen fixation by green chemistry and one year postdoc in Polytechique Montréal (R&D, Startup Company) focused on surface engineering by plasma for bio-applications, he joined Didar and Soleymani labs in 2022 as postdoctoral fellow. In his spare time, he enjoys artistic activities such as music, drawing, painting and cooking but also sport (football, ski, hiking…) and he is very enthusiast about travelling and discovering other cultures.

Robert was a 3rd year undergraduate student studying biotechnology at McMaster University, in the Bachelor of Technology program. Robert is originally from Vaughan, Ontario and enjoys reading novels, playing and watching sports such as hockey, soccer and Ultimate Frisbee, and playing video games. In Didar lab Robert’s research focused on developing novel coatings on biomedical devices through implementing self assembled monolayers (SAMs). In the future he looks to acquire the P.Eng status and to possibly complete further education by acquiring a MBA or a graduate degree in engineering.

Emma Rogers was an engineering student at McMaster in electrical and biomedical engineering. She has been apart of McMaster’s Women Lacrosse Team, the engineering musical and a welcome week leader. The opportunity to work at Didar lab arose from Emma being a recipient of the Dean’s Excellency Scholarship. She was first introduced to the medical field during her time working at a chiropractic clinic in Toronto. She has a keen interest in botany, lab work and the human body. In Didar’s lab she focuses on developing novel coatings and applying them to biosensors used for magnetic cell separation.

Claire Fine was a 2nd year chemical and bioengineering student at McMaster Faculty of Engineering. Initially Claire received the opportunity to work in Didar lab as part of the Dean’s Excellency Scholarship. She worked on improving biosensors with micro-contact printing. Her passion is medicine and improving lives, making the Didar Lab a perfect fit. Outside of the lab Claire enjoys playing soccer, hiking, working out and reading.

Nick was a third year Biotechnology student enrolled in the Bachelor of Technology program in the McMaster Faculty of Engineering. He was involved in two different research projects at the Didar Lab. In his first project he was involved in the design and fabrication of microfluidic devices which can be utilized for various medical applications. He is also worked with Robert Fisher and Emma Rogers to create an omniphobic protective layers for various devices, including an oxygen sensor and medical catheters. At the end of his undergraduate studies he plans to attain his P. Eng while working in the biotechnology industry. When not in the laboratory, he enjoys playing soccer, reading literature, and hiking.

Kim Rivera was a third year undergraduate Bachelor of Technology student at McMaster University in the Biotechnology stream. Originally from Etobicoke, Ontario, Kim has had a passion for biology from a young age and a fascination with the ever-growing advancement of technology and its potential benefits. In Didar lab, as an undergraduate research assistant, she worked on applying omniphobic surface coatings on magnetic cell separation chips. On her spare time, she enjoys watching movies with her family, fishing in the summertime, and exploring nature. At the end of her undergraduate studies, she will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University, as well as obtain P.Eng. status.

Darren Yip was a third year undergraduate student at McMaster University studying Bachelor of Technology in the Biotechnology stream. Darren’s research in didar lab focused on implementing micro-contact printing to produce bio-functional interfaces. He is from Pickering, Ontario where he found that he had a strong passion for biology and engineering. He enjoys soccer, photography, graphic design and travelling. After his undergraduate degree he plans on pursuing a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering or Clinical Engineering.

Sara Imani obtained her BSc in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran in July 2016, her MSc from Didar Lab at McMaster and finally her PhD in the School of Biomedical Engineering from the Didar lab and Soleymani Lab in 2022. As an engineering student, she was inspired by biology and wanted to focus on research at the junction of engineering and biological sciences. Currently, Sara is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Didar Lab. Other than her academic life, Sara enjoys calligraphy, basketball, and playing guitar.

PhD. McMaster University (Biomedical Engineering), MASc, B. Eng

Dr. Martin Villegas successfully defended his doctoral dissertation with distinction in October 2023. His dissertation, titled “Multifunctional Liquid-Infused Surface Coatings to Prevent Implant-Associated Infections,” culminated in a ground-breaking project focused on the development of a surface coating for titanium implants aimed at preventing infections and enhancing osseointegration. This innovative coating underwent rigorous testing in a sepsis animal model, demonstrating a remarkable prevention of all mortalities within the test group, in stark contrast to control groups that experienced mortality rates as high as 90%.
Throughout his academic journey at McMaster University, Dr. Villegas has assumed various leadership roles both within the university and externally. Over the past six years (2017-2023), he served as the President of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Association (BMEGA). Presently, he has been the Safety Officer for the Didar Lab for the last 5 years and is also appointed as the treasurer of the Board of Directors at the Olympia Condominium—a role he has maintained for the past five years.
Prior to pursuing his Ph.D., Dr. Villegas garnered valuable industry experience working as an electrical technician and control systems engineer at Rowan Companies Inc. During his tenure, he gained hands-on expertise in diverse working conditions, with assignments taking him to the UK, Holland, Norway, and the USA. Despite his primary focus on engineering, his commitment to medicine remained evident through volunteer work at a Texas clinic, where he gained insights into medical tests and point-of-care instrumentation.
Currently serving as a postdoctoral fellow in the Didar Lab, Dr. Villegas’s primary project involves the development of an innovative coating for medical catheters to prevent blood coagulation. This collaborative initiative includes partnership with FendX Technologies Inc (fendxtech.com).
Beyond his academic pursuits, Dr. Villegas maintains a keen interest in travel, exploring diverse cultures and languages. In his leisure time, he actively engages in the Brazilian martial art of capoeira and contributes to the creation of three-dimensional assets for websites and video game development.

Raed was a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University. He has a wide range of academic interests but was most fascinated by Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, and Consciousness. His research at Didar Lab focused on investigating novel methods for the biofunctionalization of microfluidic channels.

Melanie Lysenko-Martin was a fifth year Life Sciences student completing the Bachelor of Science program at McMaster University. Throughout her research-intensive degree, she has nurtured her ability to perceive problems from a unique perspective and learned to apply solutions drawing from her interdisciplinary background. In the Didar lab, worked on human organs-on-chip technologies used for drug discovery facilitation and disease modeling.

Eric Ferreira was a third-year biotechnology student in the Bachelor of Technology program at McMaster University. Eric has spent his first two co-op positions working as a Research Analyst at DIG Insights and a Technical Assistant for the B-Tech program. Eric is passionate about medicine with special interests in autoimmune and infectious diseases, spending his spare time as the President of the Hamilton Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada.

Zachary was a 3rd-year undergraduate student studying chemical biology at McMaster University and worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Didarlab.

Ethan was a third-year undergraduate student in McMcaster Universities Bachelor of Technology program and worked as an undegraduate research assistant in Didarlab. His previous coop position was at Butcher Industrial Finishing’s Incorporated, where he developed and tested paint processes. After completing his undergraduate studies, he plans on pursuing a career in the biotechnology industry. In his spare time, he enjoys, snowboarding, hiking and soccer.

Dimpy was a second year Biotechnology student in the Bachelor of Technology program at McMaster University. With a passion in biomedical engineering, she was excited to be involved in bio-inspired research with the Didar lab. She is focused her research on improving self-cleaning surfaces. Outside of the classroom and laboratory, Dimpy enjoys playing tennis and exploring the outdoors. Within the McMaster community, she is an active executive member of the Bachelor of Technology Association and Women in Engineering Committee. Following her undergraduate studies in biotechnology, she will be acquiring her P.eng status and pursuing graduate studies in biomedical engineering.

Roderick MacLachlan obtained his BSc in Engineering Physics from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada in 2018. After graduation Roderick began his direct-entry PhD in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Didar and Dr. Soleymani. His current work is focused on the development superhydrophobic surfaces with anti-biofouling and anti-pathogenic properties as well as electrochemical biosensing. Outside of his academic life, Roderick enjoys biking, rock climbing and playing guitar.

Eric was an undergraduate research assistant in Didarlab and a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Electrical and Biomedical engineering at McMaster University. He joined Didar Lab during the summer of 2018 due to his interest for micro/nanotechnology. His research project involved using microfluidics to develop a point of care test for Von Willebrand disease.

Cherrie is iBioMed student going into the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering specialization at McMaster University.

Samer was a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences program and worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Didarlab. As a student of the Honours Biochemistry program, Samer has applicable knowledge and expertise pertaining to scientific research, specifically relating to biological systems. His project dealt with improving the functionality of low retention pipette tips through treatment with fluorosilane.

Dalya Al-Mfarej was an undergraduate research assistant at Didarlab. She is majoring in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Guelph and has a strong interest in biomaterials and implants. She is currently researching surface modification of pipette tips.

Jeremy was a 2nd-year undergraduate student in the process of obtaining his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University and worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Didarlab. Jeremy was primarily focused on the design of microfluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip applications, as well as the implementation of bacteria-detection mechanisms.

Gaby was an undergraduate research assistant in Didarlab majoring in the Integrated Science program at McMaster University, concentrating in Physics. Her current research project involved the immobilization of biosensors onto functionalized surfaces for bacterial detection. Following her undergraduate studies, Gaby plans to obtain a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. Her hobbies include reading, swimming, and skiing.

Maryam did her undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering in University of Tehran, Iran. Following her passion in biomedical sciences and biology she joined McMaster’s School of Biomedical Engineering for her Masters in 2011. In her Master’s thesis she looked at the effect of in utero and postpartum exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) on bone properties. Before joining Didar’s lab, she worked for 3 years on a research project where she was designing physical targeted “smart” nanoparticles for drug delivery to tumors. Throughout this project she gained extensive experience in different fields such as polymer synthesis, characterization, nanoparticle preparation and optimization and performing in vitro and in vivo experiments. Her main focus in Didar’s lab is surface modification of medical catheters and heart valves in order to make them biocompatible and to prevent blood coagulation.
Outside research she’s a part-time artist, plays basketball and tennis and is currently the president of the Engineering Graduate Society of McMaster (EGS) and the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Association (BMEGA).

Ashlyn was a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Chemical Biology Co-op program at McMaster University. Before joining the Didar Lab, she completed an 8-month work term at EcoSynthetix assisting in various research projects on the synthesis, characterization, and application of sustainable bio-polymers. Her research investigated the use of lubricant-coated surfaces for biomedical applications. At the end of her undergraduate studies, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

Jack was a research assistant with the Didar Lab for multiple years, working on the development of organ on chip platforms under the supervision of Sara Rahmani.

Mina was a third year student in the Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences program. Her project focused on microfluidic cell cultures under the supervision of Amid Shakeri and Dr. Didar. In her spare time, she enjoys going on hikes as well as learning different languages.

Abbas was a second-year undergraduate student in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences program in the Health Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship specialization. His current project focused on the detection of target DNA using Bio-engineered microarray glass surfaces. Outside the lab, he loves everything about cars, driving them and is a huge food lover. He hopes to someday pursue a career in dentistry.

Parisa was a fourth year undergraduate student in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) program at McMaster University. Due to the diversity that her program offers, Parisa is knowledgeable in various scientific topics as well as commercialization process of new discoveries. Cardiology research has been an interesting area of research throughout her undergraduate studies, and she is passionate to continue with this topic by utilizing the organ-on-chip platform. Parisa plans to pursue further education to become a physician-scientist, with a focus on transnational science.

Gabriel completed his 4th year undergraduate thesis in the Didar Lab. His current research was based on the patterning of chemical groups onto biological interfaces. He joined the lab in 2019 and completed a project on DNA detection using bio-engineered microarray glass surfaces. Gabriel has aspirations for dental school and his research on biological interfaces has extension into dental chemistry. During his spare time, Gabriel enjoys playing basketball and woodworking.

Christopher was a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) program. Prior to entering this program, Chris completed an HBSc. degree in Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Toronto. He now looks forward to applying his multifaceted knowledge and interests to complete his senior thesis project in the Didar Lab. Outside the lab, Chris is a nationally-ranked powerlifting athlete and coach who has represented Ontario twice at the Canadian National Championship.

Shadman joined the lab in June 2019 as an undergraduate thesis student. His project involved the development of surface structuring methods to induce biological repellency. He began his direct-entry PhD in September 2020. He is currently working on the development of printable DNAzyme-based bacterial sensors to be implemented onto food packaging, repellent surfaces for biosensing applications and assays that provide improved detection sensitivity for key clinical markers. Outside of his academics, he enjoys watching documentaries, writing poetry and cooking.

Amber was a fourth-year Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences student at McMaster University and completed a thesis project jointly between Dr. Didar’s and Dr. Verdu’s lab in the development of two dimensional, organoid-derived epithelium from humanized mouse models

Sophie was a first-year undergraduate student in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences Program. As a recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Undergraduate Summer Research Award, Sophie transferred the skills she learned throughout her projects in first year, focused on artificial implants, biosensors, and other medical devices. She has also gained experience working in a research environment through a co op she completed at her local hospital in Nova Scotia during her senior year of high school.

Ama Simons completed her Electrical and Biomedical Engineering degree at McMaster University.

Saeid obtained his BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tehran in Iran. During his undergraduate studies and after, he was involved in industrial projects involving analog and digital circuit designs, micro-controllers, and PC software development. He also completed his MSc at the University of Tehran. As a part of his thesis, he developed a system and a biochip for detecting metastatic cancer cells in biopsy fluid (Metas-Chip). He has published several papers and patents in prestigious journals such as Nature Communications and the US Patent office related to cancer detection. Afterward, he worked as an Electronics Engineer developing cancer detection devices. In 2021 he joined the DidarLab as a Ph.D. student and is looking forward to researching and developing microfluidics, cancer diagnosis, and state-of-the-art biomedical devices.

Rebekah will start third year of the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences program in fall 2019, with a focus on Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering. As a recipient of the Undergraduate Students Research Award, she joined the Didar lab in May 2019 and conducted research in the areas of antimicrobial coatings for prosthetics and centrifugal microfluidics. Apart from research, she enjoys camping, classic literature, and volunteering with children and youth.

Karen was a third year undergraduate student in the Health Sciences program and is pursuing a project course in the Didar Lab. Her project investigated the use of bacteriophages in removing biofilms from membranes under the supervision of Fereshteh Bayat and Dr. Didar. Outside of the lab, Karen enjoys building puzzles and spending time with her cat!

Lubna is a fifth-year undergraduate student in the Health Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship program. She is conducting her 5th-year thesis project in the Didar Lab. Her research focuses on the development and optimization anti-body or cytokine based bio-sensors for clinical diagnostics purposes using biomolcule printing techniques. Lubna’s future aspirations after graduation are complete graduate studies and become a professor in the biomedical engineering field. Lubna loves adventures and learning, always eager to try new things and explore. Outside of the lab, Lubna enjoys teaching, mentoring, creative writing, art, and reading.

Taylor is in her second year of studies in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University, in the Undergraduate iBioMed program. She is currently working under the supervision of Martin Villegas on his project for surface modification of materials to enhance osseointegration and biocompatibility of medical implants. Outside the lab, she is a second-degree black belt in Kan Ryu Jiu Jitsu, and enjoys spending time with friends.

Hiba is a fourth year Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization student completing her undergraduate thesis in the Didar Lab. She is currently working under the supervision of Noor on the fabrication of omniphobic surfaces. Outside of the lab, she holds an open water scuba diving license, and enjoys reading historical fiction.

Simrun was a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences program. She completed her thesis in the Didar Lab. She worked on the development of printable DNAzyme based sensors to be implemented onto food wraps. Simrun plans on pursuing a career in medicine upon graduation. In her spare time Simrun loves to paint and hike.

Mahrukh was a third-year undergraduate student in the Biochemistry program at McMaster University. She worked on the development of printable DNAzyme-based bacterial sensors to be implemented onto food packaging. Outside the lab, she enjoys sketching, writing fiction and baking.

Raheleh Ashkar has an educational background in electrical engineering, with a bachelor’s degree from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2011 and a master’s degree from the University of Birjand in 2014. She has a strong foundation in electrical engineering, specifically in the field of power electronics.

After completing her master’s degree, Raheleh gained valuable experience by working as an electrical engineer in the power electronics industry for seven years. However, she always had a keen interest in biomedical engineering, which led her to pursue further studies in this field.

Currently, Raheleh is a master’s student in biomedical engineering at Didar Lab. In her academic pursuits, she is focusing on microfluidics and biosensors.

Outside of her academic life, Raheleh enjoys a variety of hobbies and activities, including traveling, swimming, playing badminton, hiking, biking, and spending quality time with her friends and family. These interests and activities reflect her well-rounded and active lifestyle, showing her passion for both her professional and personal life.

Elise is a second-year undergraduate student in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. She is currently working as an undergraduate research assistant in the lab, under the supervision of Martin Villegas on his project modifying surfaces to enhance osseointegration and biocompatibility of medical implants. Outside of the lab, she loves playing piano, hiking, and paddle boarding.

Jonathan is a third-year student in the Biochemistry – Biomedical Research Specialization. He joined the lab in May 2021, as an NSERC USRA student working with Shadman on the DNAzyme-based biosensing food project. In the future, he wants to explore how he can use biomedical engineering to manipulate the interface between transplant and host in organ transplantation and regenerative medicine. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys cooking, reading horror stories, and swimming.

Lubna is a fifth-year undergraduate student in the Health Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship program. She is conducting her 5th-year thesis project in the Didar Lab. Her research focuses on the development and optimization anti-body or cytokine based bio-sensors for clinical diagnostics purposes using biomolcule printing techniques. Lubna’s future aspirations after graduation are complete graduate studies and become a professor in the biomedical engineering field. Lubna loves adventures and learning, always eager to try new things and explore. Outside of the lab, Lubna enjoys teaching, mentoring, creative writing, art, and reading.

Fiorelle was a third-year student who started volunteering at the lab in July 2021. Here, under the supervision of Sara Rahmani, he started his research career for his Biomedical Research Specialization in Honours Biochemistry. During the summer, he made organ-on-chip devices that will help explore in-vitro interactions of immune cells in the context of celiac disease, over at the Verdu Lab. His integration into both of these labs has sparked Fiorelle’s interest in bio-technologies and into the field of immunology. He hopes that in the future, he can explore more areas of research, such as that of personalized treatments. In his spare time, Fiorelle likes to listen to music, play video games, and spend as much time outdoors.

Kevin is a third-year undergraduate student in the health sciences program at McMaster. He is currently working on optimizing surface modifications that attach DNAzymes to food wrap surfaces. In his free time, Kevin enjoys playing badminton, working out, and playing piano.

Fiorelle is a fourth-year student who started volunteering at the lab in July 2021. Here, under the supervision of Sara Rahmani, he started his research career for his Biomedical Research Specialization in Honours Biochemistry. During the summer, he made organ-on-chip devices that will help explore in-vitro interactions of immune cells in the context of celiac disease, over at the Verdu Lab. His integration into both of these labs has sparked Fiorelle’s interest in bio-technologies and into the field of immunology. Currently, he is working in the Didar Lab under the supervision of Fereshteh Bayat to complete his final year thesis project. He hopes that in the future, he can explore more areas of research, such as that of personalized treatments. In his spare time, Fiorelle likes to listen to music, play video games, and spend as much time outdoors.

Arwa is currently a third-year student studying Health Sciences at McMaster University. She is co-supervised by Dr. Didar and Dr. Hosseinidoust, and has been a member of both labs since August 2021. Working alongside Fereshteh, her research is focused on developing high-throughout lytic bacteriophage screening assays for therapeutic applications. In the future, she hopes to apply the knowledge she’s gained from the Didar lab and focus on developing cancer therapeutic tools.

Nadine Al-Jabouri is a 4th year undergraduate student in the Health Sciences, Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program. She joined DidarLab in May, 2022 for her thesis. In her free time she enjoys being outdoors and embroidering.

Inaam Chattha is a third year student in Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization. He was always intrigued by the idea of research and developing novel solutions to everyday problems. In Dr.Didar’s, he is a part of the SQI project which is focused on developing bio-sensors for clinical diagnostics purposes using biomolecules printing techniques. He is involved in automation and optimization of the procedure. In his free time, he loves to play soccer, basketball and watch movies.

Samantha Dacalos is a 3rd year student in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program. She joined DidarLab in May 2022 and is currently working on the SQI project, focusing on conducting profilometry on various samples obtained from microcontact printing, along with optimizing print parameters. In the future, she hopes to further explore the role technology plays within clinical diagnostics. Outside of the lab, she enjoys watching shows, working out, and loves photography.

Hareet Sidhu is a third year student in Biomedical Discovery and Commericalization. She is interested in the relationship between science and innovation. In Dr.Didar’s, she is a part of the SQI project which is focused on developing bio-sensors for clinical diagnostics. She is focused on the print procedure optimization and inkjet printing. In her free time, she likes to read, watch TV shows and explore the outdoors.

Sakina Hussain is a third year Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) student working with Didar Labs. She started in June 2022 with the SQI team working primarily on microcontact printing and automation, testing new conditions and parameters to optimize prints. She hopes to introduce these applications to clinical settings in the future. Outside of lab, Sakina enjoys painting, working out and listening to music.