Adam R. Hall

Principal Investigator

arhall[at]wakehealth.edu

BS Physics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2002)

PhD Applied and Materials Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2007)

Postdoc, Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands (2007-2010)

Komal Sethi

Postdoctoral Associate

ksethi[at]wakehealth.edu

I was born and brought up in Delhi, India. I received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Delhi where I studied synthesis of hybrid nanoparticles for applications in targeted drug delivery, photothermal therapy, and diagnostic imaging for the treatment of cancer. Currently, I am using the solid-state nanopore platform for pathogen detection. My scientific interest is to develop translational approaches with direct applications to clinically-relevant diseases. Outside of lab, I like experimenting in my kitchen, listening to music, and exploring new places.

Dorothea Erxleben

PhD Student

derxlebe[at]wakehealth.edu

While originally from southern Germany, my family and I relocated to the Triangle of North Carolina when I was young, so it was the foothills and mountains of NC that I grew to love. In 2015, I graduated from NC State with my bachelor's in Chemical Engineering. I then worked in the pharmaceutical industry, primarily developing drug delivery systems, until joining the Hall Lab in 2020. My interests stem from my fascination with our relationship to this planet, and the "how and why" of our survival in such dynamic surroundings. My current research aims to utilize and advance the discipline of nanopores to study hyaluronic acid and its ubiquitous role in physiology and disease. When not in the lab, I like to hike and bike in the shaded outdoors and will forage wild food on confident occasions.

Bhoomija Hariprasad

PhD Student

bharipra[at]wakehealth.edu

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, but later moved to Louisiana and received my B.S. in Biological Sciences at Louisiana State University. I received my M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at University of Houston, during which I completed my master’s thesis on software-based optimization of coaxial electrospinning of drug-loaded nanofibers. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD in Biomedical Engineering through the VT-Wake Forest SBES program in Dr. Hall’s lab. My research interests include tissue engineering, microfluidics, and precision medicine technologies. My current project is focused on “organ-on-a-chip” devices to study and combat glioblastoma cell migration. Outside of the lab, I enjoy singing, running, and reading crime novels.

Sara Abu Jalboush

PhD Student

sabujal[at]wakehealth.edu

I am originally from Jordan. I received a B.Sc. degree in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and an M.Sc. degree in Applied Biology from Jordan University of Science and Technology. After that, I worked with StemCell-Innovations in Amman, Jordan where we used ultrasound cavitation technology to isolate autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) containing adipose tissue stem cells that can be used in a variety of clinical applications in the field of regenerative medicine. I am interested in using cutting-edge technologies to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets that can be utilized to improve the management and treatment of cancer patients.  Currently, I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences/Cancer Biology in the Hall lab. My current research aims to implement solid-state nanopore technology to selectively label and quantify epigenetic modifications and examine their role in radio-resistance. Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling and visiting new cities, hiking North Carolina’s gorgeous mountains and waterfalls, and watching movies in different languages.

Felipe Rivas

PhD Student

frivasdu[at]wakehealth.edu

I am originally from Bogotá, Colombia. I obtained a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois-Tech in Chicago), after which I worked as a new product development engineer for Boston Scientific and ConMed. I then continued to pursue my MEng in the joint program between Wake Forest University and Virginia Tech. Upon graduating, I then transitioned into a PhD position where my primary research is focused on the use of nanotechnology platforms for detection of disease biomarkers. Since joining the program, I have participated in internship opportunities as a project manager (Cook Medical) and most recently at Wake Forest Innovations in the technology transfer space where I gained experience in medical device commercialization. I am also actively involved in university student organizations focusing on student health and wellness and am a graduate student ambassador. Outside of the lab, I am an avid soccer and tennis player and enjoy good coffee and hiking on the weekends, for which North Carolina has the perfect weather and scenic trails to explore.

Ian Wadsworth

PhD Student

iwadswor[at]wakehealth.edu

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV and got my BS and MS degrees at Utah State University studying Biological Engineering. I am interested in nanotechnology, nanodrug delivery, and in vitro disease modeling. Currently, I am optimizing solid-state nanopore detection to probe for microRNA biomarkers in support of early cancer detection. Outside the lab, I play bass guitar, enjoy any live music, and play ice hockey.

Nathan Hauser

MS Student

nhauser[at]wakehealth.edu

I was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended undergrad at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and majored in biomedical engineering. While attending the University of Tennessee, I worked on evaluating wearable motion analysis sensors and their capabilities for post-stroke rehabilitation. I am now pursuing my master’s degree at Wake Forest and working in tissue engineering and microfluidics at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. My current focuses are on a multi-layer lung-on-a-chip system, a glioblastoma-on-a-chip system, and an immunity-on-a-chip system. Outside of lab I enjoy bouldering, hiking, and occasionally binging a show on Netflix.

Robyn Greissinger

MS Student

rgreissi[at]wakehealth.edu

Hi, my name is Robyn and I am from Virginia Beach, Virginia. I graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Systems Biology and I am now pursuing a M.S. in Biomedical Engineering. I am interested in research using regenerative medicine to look closer at diseases and disorders. The project I am currently working on is studying the immune system in response to different diseases, such as cancer, using organ-on-a-chip development. Outside of the lab, I enjoy going to the beach, working out, and drinking lots of tea.

Katherine Reiss

Undergraduate Researcher

reiskn18[at]wfu.edu

My name is Katherine Reiss and I am from New Canaan, Connecticut. I am a Junior Engineering Major at Wake Forest University and an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Hall's lab. I have been doing research in this lab since my first couple weeks as a student at Wake, about two years now. In my time here, I have been focusing on assembling flow cells and measuring diameters of solid-state nanopores. Classifying the diameter of the pores is the first step in using them for experimentation in the lab as samples of different amounts and materials require a variety of nanopore sizes. Recently, I have started analyzing DNA samples using the nanopores and I hope to continue this work in the lab. Outside of my academic coursework and research, I enjoy cooking and baking.

Lucy Vaughn

Undergraduate Researcher

vaugl17[at]wfu.edu

My name is Lucy Vaughn and I am from San Francisco, CA. I am currently a senior undergraduate student at Wake Forest University majoring in Engineering and minoring in chemistry. This is my third year working in Dr. Hall’s lab. My primary projects have been focused on tissue engineering, specifically fabricating and testing a microfluidic lung-on-a-chip model. Currently, I am working on a project using patient samples and body-on-a-chip technology. I am looking forward to graduating this May and continuing to pursue my interests in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In my free time I love to bake and hike at various state parks in North Carolina.