Current Members

Principle Investigator

Image of Xinqiao Jia.
Xinqiao Jia, Ph.D.–Curriculum Vitae
Associate Professor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Biomedical Engineering Program
Center for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR)
Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI)
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Postdoctoral Researcher, Chemical Engineering, MIT, 2002–2005
Ph.D., Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 2002
B.S., Applied Chemistry, Fudan University, China, 1995

Office: 206 DuPont Hall
Tel: 302–831–6553
Fax: 302–831–4545
Email: xjia@udel.edu

Postdoctoral Researchers

Image of Shuang Liu.
Shuang Liu
B.S., Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China, 2001
M.S., Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Zhejiang University, China, 2004
Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, 2010
Email: lius@UDel.Edu

Project: Construction of dynamic and instructive matrices using bioorthogonal reactions
Samuel H. Lahasky
B.S., Chemistry, Tulane University, 2007
Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 2012
Email: slahasky@udel.edu

Project: Directing nanoscale assembly of peptide–containing multiblock polymers

Ph.D. Candidates

Image of Longxi Xiao.
Longxi Xiao
B.S., Macromolecular Materials Science and Engineering, Fudan University, China, 2007
Email: lxiao@udel.edu

Project: Mechano–responsive biomaterials with controlled architectures and improved mechanical properties via biomimetic strategies
Image of Xian Xu.
Xian Xu
B.S., Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, 2008
Email: xianxu@udel.edu

Project: Engineered tumor models for the evaluation of nanoparticle–based cancer therapeutics
Image of Zhixiang Tong.
Zhixiang Tong
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, 2008
Email: zhixiang@udel.edu

Project: Controlling stem cell function via the combination of fibrous scaffolds and biomechanical stimulations
Image of Vinu Krishnan.
Vinu Krishnan
B.Tech., Electronics & Biomedical Engineering, Cochin University of Science & Technology, India, 2004
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, 2008
Email: vinu@udel.edu

Project: Application of control release technology in the treatment of childhood leukemia
Image of Xiaowei Yang.
Xiaowei Yang
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, 2010
Email: yxw@udel.edu

Project: Bioactive scaffolds with elastomeric properties for the engineering of mechanically active tissues
Image of Kevin Dicker.
Kevin Dicker
B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2011
Email: kdicker@udel.edu

Project: Development of instructive matrices using multiblock hybrid copolymers
Image of Brad Paik.
Bradford Paik
B.S., Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 2011
Email: bapaik@udel.edu

Project: Peptide/polymer multiblock copolymers for cancer drug delivery
Image of Aidan Zerdoum.
Aidan Zerdoum
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, 2012
Email: azerdoum@udel.edu

Project: Tissue engineering of functional vocal fold lamina propria
Image of Kevin Cannon.
Kevin Cannon
B.S., Chemical Biology, St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, 2012
Email: kcannon@udel.edu

Project: Functional assembly of salivary cells to relieve xerostomia

Undergraduate Student

James Thomson
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Eric Levi
B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware

Past Members

  • Ph.D. Students
    • Lisa Gurski: 2007–2012
      • Dissertation: Hyaluronic acid–based hydrogel systems for mechanistic studies of prostate cancer metastasis
      • Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    • Sarah Grieshaber: 2006–2011
      • Dissertation:Tunable Elastin–Mimetic Multiblock Hybrid Copolymers for Biomedical Applications
      • Current Position: Scientist, SABIC Innovative Plastics
    • Alexandra Farran: 2005–2011
      • Dissertation: Tissue Engineering of Vocal Fold Lamina Propria
      • Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
    • Amit Jha: 2005–2010
      • Dissertation: Hyaluronic Acid–Based Hydrogel Particles and Doubly Crosslinked Networks for Soft Tissue Regeneration
      • Current Position: Scientist, Intel Corporation
  • M.S. Students
    • Xinyi Wang: 2010–2012
      • Dissertation: Hyaluronic acid–based hydrogels for cartilage repair.
      • Current Position: Chemist, General Separation Technologies, Inc.
  • Postdoctoral Researchers
    • Dr. Nurettin Sahiner: 2005–2007
      • Project: Synthesis and characterization of hyaluronic acid–based hydrogel particles.
    • Dr. Fang Jia: 2007–2009
      • Project: Effects of high frequency vibratory stimulation on stem cell differentiation.
    • Dr. Ting Nie: 2008–2009
      • Project: Assembly properties of alanine–rich, lysine–containing peptide in the presence of polymeric surfactants.
    • Dr. Xiaoying Wang: 2008–2010
      • Project: Amphiphilic block co–polyesters bearing pendant cyclic ketal groups as nanocarriers for controlled release of cancer theapeutics.
    • Dr. Chao Liu: 2008–2010
      • Project: Amphiphilic block copolymer micelles as microscopic crosslinkers for the formation of responsive hydrogels.
    • Dr. Anna Greene: 2009–2011
      • Project: Amphiphilic mutliblock copolymers via the combination of controlled radical polymerization and step growth, click coupling reaction.
    • Dr. Chengzhong Cui: 2010–2011
      • Project: Synthesis of functional polyesters with elastomeric properties.
  • Undergaduate Students
    • Michael Allerton
    • Meghan Woods
    • Christie Brandt
    • Aditya Bose
    • Michael R. Ruggieri
    • Christine Lummer
    • Lamoyne M. Habimana–Griffin
    • Kathryn Barber