Lab Members
Dr. David K. Mills
Principal Investigator
I am on the ‘road less traveled’ and I have met few fellow travelers on my journey.
I have a BA degree in Ancient History and Classics from Indiana University, an MA degree in Biological Anthropology and a PhD. in Anatomy and Cell Biology from the University of Illinois.
I am a professor of Biology and Biomedical Engineering at Louisiana Tech. My research areas are targeted drug delivery, cancer biomaterials, and TMJ bioengineering.
Email: dkmills@latech.edu
Tel: 318-257-4573 (office)
318-397-3138 (home)
Fax: 318-247-4574
Address: Carson Taylor Hall, Room 128
1 Arizona, Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272
Jeffery Ambrose
5th year Ph.D. student
I am a New Orleans native. I have a bachelors degree in Biology from Southern University of New Orleans. Here at Louisiana Tech University I am working towards doctoral degree in biomedical engineering. My background is in advanced genetics and genetics engineering for gene replacement. At the Biomorph Laboratory, I work on fabrication and characterization of nanoparticulate systems for gene and drug delivery as for cancer therapy. We are developing dual layered nanoparticles which will have drugs loaded into each layer to show synergistic effects when applied in-vitro and in-vivo. We also plan to explore gene loaded scaffolds that induce proliferation for tissue regenerative capabilities.
Email: jambrose04@Gmail.com
Tel: 504-266-3846
Uday Bhanu
3rd year Ph.D. student
I come from India, one of the truly diversified countries. I have a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from my home country. Here at Louisiana Tech University, I earned my Master’s in Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology and currently working towards Doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering.
At BioMorph Laboratories, we are working towards fabrication and complete evaluation of novel Calcium phosphate bone cements. Bone cements are used in orthopedic and dental surgeries for implants and osteoportic bones. Contemporarily used Poly Methylmethacrylate cements suffer severe limitations of thermal necrosis at site of implants and monomer toxicity. To overcome these limitations we are developing nano enhanced bone cements that can incorporate wide range of growth factors for better healing.
Email: udayabhanuj@gmail.com
Tel:
Sonali Karnik
3rd Ph.D. student
Sonali Karnik earned her Master of Science degree in Cytogenetics and Plant Biotechnology from the University of Mumbai (India) in 2009. Later in 2012, she completed Master of Science in Biology from Louisiana Tech University. Her master’s thesis was based on “Bioactive Hydrogels for TMJ Repair”. Currently, she is pursuing her doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering.
Her research is focused on Hydrogels made from “green” materials that would be used to regenerate damaged tissues like bone and cartilage by enhancing body’s innate regenerative abilities. The target cells which will re built the damaged bone and cartilage are stromal stem cells, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts. She has presented her research work at various national and international conferences, such as BioMedical Engineering Society (2012), ACS (2013), Nanotek international Expo and conference (2013), and TMJ 2012 and 2014.
Email: sjk011@latech.edu
Tel:
Lin Sun
4th Ph.D. student
I was born in Sanmenxia in China. After graduated from a bachelor/master program of Medicine at Zhengzhou University, I came to the US to continue my education. Now, I am a Ph. D student in the program of Molecular Science and Nanotechnology at Louisiana Tech University. My research interest includes cancer biomaterials, targeted drug delivery, and cardiovascular diseases.
Email: lsu002@latech.edu
Tel:
Payam Khoshkenar
2nd year Ph.D. student
I am second year Ph.D. student of biomedical engineering at LaTech. I did my undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering (concentration on biomaterials) at Tehran Polytechnic University. In bioMorph lab, I work on design, fabrication and characterization of lipid/polymer hybrid nanocarriers for nano-theranostic applications. We are focused on combinatorial therapeutic formulations for cancer targeting. Our specific aim is modifying release rate of lipid/polymer hybrid nanoparticles for enhanced therapeutic index.
Email: payam.khoshkenar@gmail.com
Tel: 318-254-3714
Karthik Tappa
2nd year Ph.D. student
I am Karthik Tappa. I was born and brought up in India. After completing my Bachelors in Pharmacy from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Andhra Pradesh, India, I have decided it was time for a change of scenery (and weather) and moved to U.S.A, to seek Masters in Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnoloy at LaTech. Currently I am pursuing Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering and working on developing mechanical properties of biodegradable bone cements by using nanoparticle technology.
Email: kkt007@latech.edu
Tel:
Reid Grimes
3rd year Ph.D. student
I am currently working on my Ph.D in Molecular Science and Nanotechnology and a Masters in Business Administration. I have a B.S in Chemistry from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and a M.S. from Louisiana Tech. I currently work on drug delivery via Halloysite nanotubes. In addition, I work on polymer synthesis.
Email: rgrimes22311@gmail.com
Tel:
Ahmed Humayun
2nd year Ph.D. student
I am excited to be a part of Dr. David Mills research group at Louisiana tech University, I have a undergraduate degree in Bioengineering from VIT University (India) where I learnt a lot by working on a diversity of projects encompassing Nanotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Molecular biology, working in different projects has taught me the value of multidisciplinary research.
Currently I 3D print bone cells at the Biomorph Lab and aim to develop bioresorbable materials for next generation bone implant devices. In future I aspire to do more applied research and develop solutions that can help the community.
Email: ahu005@latech.edu
Tel: 216-333-6272
Shriya Das
2nd year Ph.D. student
I am a graduate student from India, I graduated from Bangalore University (India) with a BS in Genetics. I earned a MS in Medical Genetics from the MGM School of Biomedical Sciences (Mumbai, India). Later on I served as a Lecturer at Rungta College of Engineering (Rungta, India) where I realized the need for a higher degree for my intellectual progress and enrolled at Louisiana Tech University.
Louisiana Tech’s Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology program interested me specifically, because of its interdisciplinary nature. I was impressed by the collaborations that were occurring both within the department and with other departments, such as chemistry and biomedical engineering. I was convinced that I would be able to pursue a broad range of research and gain a wide variety of experimental skills.
My research at Dr. David Mills’ lab is focused on developing silica nanoparticles for targeted gene delivery against cancer, I am working towards developing a drug delivery vehicle which is both specific and at the same time biocompatible and in doing that I am learning many new experimental techniques every day, spanning from bioinformatics to nanotechnology characterization methods and this has helped me a lot to grow both as a student as well as a future researcher. I am excited to continue learning new skills and doing meaningful research at Louisiana Tech University and hope that one day my research can be applied for the welfare of the community.
Email: shriyadas513@gmail.com
Tel:
Jeffery Weisman
3rd year Ph.D. student
Jeff is a patent attorney and MD/PhD candidate in biomedical engineering with Louisiana Tech University and LSU Health Shreveport. Prior to entering the program Jeff worked as a corporate and intellectual property attorney for biotechnology companies in Chicago.
His current areas of research involve novel 3D fabrication techniques for drug delivery, nanotechnology for orthopedic bone cements and nano particle platforms for controlled chemotherapeutic release.
Email: jeffery.weisman@gmail.com
Tel:
Deepthi Yadav
2nd year Ph.D. student
I am Deepthi Yadav Chappidi. I am from the world’s largest democratic republic nation, India. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (India). While doing my Masters in Pharmacology from the same University, I realized what I really wanted to do and came over to Louisiana Tech University to pursue a graduate degree in Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology.
Presently, in Dr. David Mills’ BioMorph lab my research is focused on the nanoparticle drug delivery using Halloysite and anti-cancer chemotherapeutics.
Email: deepukoushikyadav@gmail.com
Tel:
Yangyang Luo
Master Student in MSNT
I am a happy girl come from the most relaxing city of China, Chengdu. Although the life in my home town is comfortable and addictive, but I am curious about the outside world and the mystery of science, so I come to American to continue my graduate study. I got BA degree from Sichuan Agriculture University (China) and Michigan State University (USA) in Golf Turfgrass Management, which is a joint program between these two university. Now I am studying in Molecular Science and Nanotechnology at Louisiana Tech University. My research project is focus on Titanium implants surface coating and modification.
Email: yangyang317luo@gmail.com
Tel:
Chris Boyer
2nd year Ph.D. student
Mr. Chris Boyer is currently pursuing a Ph. D. in molecular science and nanotechnology at Louisiana Tech University (LaTech). Prior to studying nanotechnology, Chris worked in health-care, as an x-ray film developer and medical assistant. His previous degree was a B.S. with a concentration in chemistry, from Midland University in Nebraska. Chris also previously received a certificate from the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) for molecular pathology. During his time at LaTech, Chris has received a LASPACE/NASA GRSA grant and has presented his research at the 2013 NanoTek meetings in Las Vegas, NV and at the Society for Biomaterials meeting in Denver, CO April 2014. Chris has been lead author on two Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation proposal centered on developing a new high tech condom. His current grant proposals are centered on nanoenhanced coatings for biomedical applications. During May 2014, Chris was a finalist for the Dept. of Defense’s National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship. Skills that he has obtained during the Ph. D. program include; leadership, scientific and grant writing, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance, dynamic light scattering, drug delivery methods, ultrasonication, atomization, cell culture, and nanofabrication techniques.
Email: cjb068@latech.edu
Tel:
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