People

Tae-Youl Choi

Position: Principal Investigator

Email: Tae-Youl.Choi@unt.edu

Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley (2002)

My research interest is in thermal and fluid science and engineering at small scales, i.e., micro and nanoscale. I have developed a microthermal sensing technology to characterize cellular thermal properties, which can be used for cancer detection and identification of cancer boundaries during surgical procedure.

Denise Perry Simmons

Position: Co-Principal Investigator

Email: denise.simmons@unthsc.edu

Ph.D. Biological Sciences UT Austin and UT MD Anderson; Postdoc Medicinal Chemistry. UT Austin College of Pharmacy, Fellow NIH-National Cancer Institute

My expertise and interests span the spectrum of transdisciplinary to affect translational outcomes. With a focus on leveraging the notion of the “cell as a material”, I seek to inform the life cycle of the cell’s transition from normal to diseased at the intersections of materials science and engineering, the physical sciences, and the biological sciences.

 

Ramesh Shrestha

Position: Research Associate

Email: rameshshrestha@my.unt.edu

Thermal characterization of thermal fluids, micro-nano materials, thin films, and biological cells using micro-pipette thermal sensor and laser point heating. Develop the numerical model for the experiment using COMSOL simulation and MATLAB Simulink.

Rohini Atluri

Position: Ph.D. Candidate

Email: rohiniatluri@my.unt.edu

My research is focused on thermal characterization of cancer cells, specifically, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; brain cancer) and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Research interests also include developing 3D spheroid models representing tumor, to identify the boundaries between normal and cancer cells based on thermal properties of the cells and combination treatment for GBM using Silver nanoparticles and low-level laser.

Sebastiao Mira

Position: Ph.D. student

Email: sebastiaomira@my.unt.edu

Detection and elimination of circulating tumor cells with magnetic Nanomaterials - Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are disseminated cancer cells through blood stream (metastasis). The conceptual process design of my research work using magnetic Nano Particle to catch CTC’s cells pulling them for a filter where they will be separated of clean blood and these CTC’s Cell will be addressed to a Heater to be eliminated while cleaned blood goes back to the body.
 

Kailash Chandra Shivaji Paturi

Position: Ph.D. student

Email: ChandraShivPaturi@my.unt.edu

Andrew Jarrett

Position: Graduate student

Email: andrewjarrett@my.unt.edu

I am pursuing my masters in Mechanical and Energy Engineering program at UNT. My research is in fabrication of micropipette thermal sensors and the development of artificial neural networks to solve for heat parameters.
 

Kaitlyn Nussberger

Position: Undergraduate Student

Email: Kaitlynnussberger@my.unt.edu

I'm a junior biomedical engineering student with a focus in biology and chemistry. My research interest focuses on the culturing and maintenance of cell lines used in the lab.

Jennifer Ai

Position: High School Senior UNT Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science

Email: jenniferai@my.unt.edu

I am investigating MTS fabrication and optimization for an improved sensitivity in distinguishing between stages in epithelial ovarian cancer. Alongside fabrication, I have explored the statistics for MTS fabrication and calibration stages.