Tomei Lab celebrating Summer 2021!
AT WORK...
LAB MEMBERS
Alice A. Tomei, Ph.D.
Knight Career Development Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Immunology and Surgery
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Miami
1251 Memorial Drive, McArthur Annex 208
Coral Gables, FL-33146
Office: 305-284-8194
atomei@miami.edu
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-3469
Dr. Tomei is an Associate Professor in the departments of Biomedical Engineering, Immunology and Surgery and the director of the Islet Immunoengineering Laboratory at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami Millers School of Medicine.
Dr. Tomei holds a MS in Materials Engineering from the Politecnico of Milan (Italy) and a PhD from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland). In her current position, she is applying her unique background in bioengineering and immunology to develop novel immunoengineering platforms to prevent rejection after islet transplantation and to promote antigen-specific tolerance for a cure of type-1 diabetes.
Dr. Tomei has secured and successfully administered grants from the NIH, Iacocca Family Foundation, JDRF and from companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Semma Therapeutics. She has established strong collaborations with investigators within the University of Miami and at other institutions, including Drs. Weber and Safley at Emory University, Dr. Zustiak at Saint Louis University and Dr. Creusot at Columbia University. She has presented her research work as invited speaker at the annual meetings of the ADA, IPITA, BMES, TERMIS and at UC Irvine, Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Mayo Clinic. She has been a member of the JDRF beta cell replacement consortium since 2012, a standing member of the NIH BMBI study section, a member of grant working groups for both the JDRF and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and she has served as ad hoc reviewer for the NIH (R01s, SBIRs, DP2s) and the DoD grant study sections. For her research innovation and productivity, she was awarded the 2015 Marc S. Goodman Prize to an Outstanding Young Scientist, the JDRF career development award, the Eliahu I. Jury Early Career Research Award in 2016, the Johnson A. Edosomwan Researcher of the Year Award from the College of Engineering (CoE) in 2019, and the Young Innovator in Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering in 2020. For her teaching achievements, she was awarded the Alexander Orr Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018.
Knight Career Development Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Immunology and Surgery
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Miami
1251 Memorial Drive, McArthur Annex 208
Coral Gables, FL-33146
Office: 305-284-8194
atomei@miami.edu
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-3469
Dr. Tomei is an Associate Professor in the departments of Biomedical Engineering, Immunology and Surgery and the director of the Islet Immunoengineering Laboratory at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami Millers School of Medicine.
Dr. Tomei holds a MS in Materials Engineering from the Politecnico of Milan (Italy) and a PhD from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland). In her current position, she is applying her unique background in bioengineering and immunology to develop novel immunoengineering platforms to prevent rejection after islet transplantation and to promote antigen-specific tolerance for a cure of type-1 diabetes.
Dr. Tomei has secured and successfully administered grants from the NIH, Iacocca Family Foundation, JDRF and from companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Semma Therapeutics. She has established strong collaborations with investigators within the University of Miami and at other institutions, including Drs. Weber and Safley at Emory University, Dr. Zustiak at Saint Louis University and Dr. Creusot at Columbia University. She has presented her research work as invited speaker at the annual meetings of the ADA, IPITA, BMES, TERMIS and at UC Irvine, Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Mayo Clinic. She has been a member of the JDRF beta cell replacement consortium since 2012, a standing member of the NIH BMBI study section, a member of grant working groups for both the JDRF and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and she has served as ad hoc reviewer for the NIH (R01s, SBIRs, DP2s) and the DoD grant study sections. For her research innovation and productivity, she was awarded the 2015 Marc S. Goodman Prize to an Outstanding Young Scientist, the JDRF career development award, the Eliahu I. Jury Early Career Research Award in 2016, the Johnson A. Edosomwan Researcher of the Year Award from the College of Engineering (CoE) in 2019, and the Young Innovator in Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering in 2020. For her teaching achievements, she was awarded the Alexander Orr Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018.
Grisell Gonzalez, B.S.
Research Associate II
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
g.gonzalez29@umiami.edu
Grisell has a bachelor of science degree in Biology from the University of Miami and over two years of experience in molecular and cellular biology research.
Research Associate II
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
g.gonzalez29@umiami.edu
Grisell has a bachelor of science degree in Biology from the University of Miami and over two years of experience in molecular and cellular biology research.
Post-docs
Aaron Stock, Ph.D.
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
aas249@miami.edu
2013: Associate of Science in Mathematics and Physics (Third Major: Chemistry) at Saint John's College (Belize)
2016: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (Second Major: Chemistry, Minor: Engineering Mathematics) at Saint Louis University (Missouri)
2021: PhD in Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
aas249@miami.edu
2013: Associate of Science in Mathematics and Physics (Third Major: Chemistry) at Saint John's College (Belize)
2016: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (Second Major: Chemistry, Minor: Engineering Mathematics) at Saint Louis University (Missouri)
2021: PhD in Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami
Graduate Students
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Flavia Zisi, M.S.
Diabetes Research Institute 1450 NW 10th Avenue Miami, FL-33136 Office: 305-243-7867 fxz106@miami.edu Flavia earned her BS in Biochemistry from the Florida Institute of Technology (May 2016) and her MS in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering from the University of Miami (May 2018). On May 2018 Flavia started her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the Diabetes Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Tomei. |
Teresa De Toni, B.S.
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
txd332@miami.edu
Teresa De Toni received a BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology from University of Padua, Italy, in 2018. She specialized in the field of “Science and Development of Drugs”.
In 2017, she joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute to conduct her BS thesis on drug delivery systems for pancreatic islet transplantation. In May 2018, Teresa started her PhD in Biomedical Engineering the Islet Immunoengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Alice Tomei.
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
txd332@miami.edu
Teresa De Toni received a BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology from University of Padua, Italy, in 2018. She specialized in the field of “Science and Development of Drugs”.
In 2017, she joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute to conduct her BS thesis on drug delivery systems for pancreatic islet transplantation. In May 2018, Teresa started her PhD in Biomedical Engineering the Islet Immunoengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Alice Tomei.
Leonor Teles, B.S.
lnt273@miami.edu
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
Leonor earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester in May 2021. Leonor started her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in the Islet Immunoengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Tomei in August 2021. In her free time, Leonor likes to garden, hike and attend music festivals.
lnt273@miami.edu
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
Leonor earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester in May 2021. Leonor started her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in the Islet Immunoengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Tomei in August 2021. In her free time, Leonor likes to garden, hike and attend music festivals.
Chris M Li, B.S.
cml229@med.miami.edu
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
Chris earned his BS in Biology from the University of Florida in 2017. In 2018, he began medical school as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. In June 2022, Chris started his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at the Islet Immunoengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Alice Tomei.
cml229@med.miami.edu
Diabetes Research Institute
1450 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, FL-33136
Office: 305-243-7867
Chris earned his BS in Biology from the University of Florida in 2017. In 2018, he began medical school as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. In June 2022, Chris started his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at the Islet Immunoengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Alice Tomei.
Undergraduate Students
Kailyn Nunez
kxn235@miami.edu
Kailyn graduated from high school with her Associate of Arts degree from Broward College and is working towards her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Biomaterials and Tissue and a minor in Mathematics. She is expected to graduate from the University of Miami in May 2023 and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. Kailyn joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab in June 2021 as an undergraduate student.
kxn235@miami.edu
Kailyn graduated from high school with her Associate of Arts degree from Broward College and is working towards her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Biomaterials and Tissue and a minor in Mathematics. She is expected to graduate from the University of Miami in May 2023 and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. Kailyn joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab in June 2021 as an undergraduate student.
Erin Omana Ravindran
eor12@miami.edu
Erin is working towards her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Art and Art History. She is expected to graduate from the University of Miami in May 2023. In June 2021, Erin joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab as an undergraduate student assisting Ph.D. students and lab members.
eor12@miami.edu
Erin is working towards her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Art and Art History. She is expected to graduate from the University of Miami in May 2023. In June 2021, Erin joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab as an undergraduate student assisting Ph.D. students and lab members.
Michelle Argy
mta98@miami.edu
Michelle is an international undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Biomedical engineering with a concentration in tissues and biomaterials. She is expected to graduate from the University of Miami in May 2024. In May 2022, Michelle joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab as an undergraduate student assisting Ph.D. students and lab members.
mta98@miami.edu
Michelle is an international undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Biomedical engineering with a concentration in tissues and biomaterials. She is expected to graduate from the University of Miami in May 2024. In May 2022, Michelle joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab as an undergraduate student assisting Ph.D. students and lab members.
Giana Vitale
giv7@miami.edu
Giana Vitale is an undergraduate student pursuing a BS in biomedical engineering with a concentration in biomaterials and tissue engineering. She is expected to graduate in May of 2023. Giana joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab in 2021 and is currently assisting Ph.D candidate Leonor Teles with her research on the production of gelatin scaffolds that mimic the lymph node reticula.
giv7@miami.edu
Giana Vitale is an undergraduate student pursuing a BS in biomedical engineering with a concentration in biomaterials and tissue engineering. She is expected to graduate in May of 2023. Giana joined the Islet Immunoengineering Lab in 2021 and is currently assisting Ph.D candidate Leonor Teles with her research on the production of gelatin scaffolds that mimic the lymph node reticula.
International Exchange Students
Previous Members
Diana Velluto, Ph.D.
2015-2022; Scientist, Islet Immunoengineering Lab
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor
Samantha Nicole Fitzgerald
2019-2022 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Research Technician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Michael Lupp, M.S.
2017-2021; Senior Research Associate , Islet Immunoengineering Lab
Current Position: Business Intelligence Developer at ChenMed
Freddy Gonzalez-Badillo, M.S.
2015-2020 PhD Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Process Development Engineer, Regeneron
Shuaicheng Yu (Jason)
2018-2020 Master Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Sophia Pete
2017-2020 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Research Associate, PlateletBio
Spencer Reid
2018-2020 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Cell Culture Associate, Lung Biotechnology Inc
Laura Harwell
2017-2019 Master Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Quality Engineer, Stryker
Joshua Sussman
2017-2019 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Exact Sciences
Jay Wasserlauf, B.S.
2017-2019 Research Associate III
Current Position: Laboratory head
Luis Sosa Villegas
2017-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Shane Wright
2016-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, Boston University
Nicholas De Angelis
2016-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Laura Morales
2015-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, Yale University
Mackenzie Scully
2017-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Delaware
Molly Beggs
2016-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Sofia Vignolo
2016-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: MD-PhD student, Oregon Health & Science University
Vickie Zhang, Ph.D.
2017-2018 Assistant Scientist
Vita Manzoli
2011-2017 Senior Research Associate II / Graduate Student
Current Position: Research Manager, XOStem Inc.
Maria Abreu, Ph.D.
2014-2016 Postdoctoral Fellow
Current Position: Research Health Science Specialist at the Miami VA Medical Center
Chiara Villa
2012-2014 Graduate Student
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Italy
Mejdi Najjar
2012-2014 Research Associate I
Current Position: Pediatric Neurology Fellow, Children's National Hospital
Connor Walsh
2015-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Medical Student, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Kalina Paunovska
2014-2016 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, Georgia Institute of Technology
Connor Verheyen
2014-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: PhD Student, Harvard-MIT Health Science and Technologies
Joseph Reda
2015-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Chicago
Divya Ranjan Sha
2014-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, Boston University
Michael Seskin
2016-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Associate R&N Engineer, Covidien (Medtronic Minimally Invasive Therapies Group)
Jason Truong
2016-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Microbiology & Immunology
Current Position: Applying for Medical school
Stephen Bell
2016-2017 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, 3rd year medical student
International Exchange Students
Annelisa Valente Perrone, B.S.
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
Sept 2021 - Apr 2022 MS student
Lorenza Recchione, B.S.
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
Sept 2021 - Apr 2022 MS student
Alessandro Luca
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
2018-19 MS student
Alessandro Fasani
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
2017-18 MS student
Marco Marziani
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
2017-18 MS student
Alessandra Collà Ruvolo
Giuseppe Caputo
Lorena Chietti
Summer 2017 - B.S student - University of Naples - Department of Mechanical Engineering
Current Position: MS students - University of Naples - Department of Mechanical Engineering
Riccardo Masina
Imperial College of London, Biomedical Science, junior
Current Position: Medical student - Cambridge
Federica Colombo
Tommaso Cazzato
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
MS students
Andrea Dossena
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
MS students
Hermann Fruner
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
MS students
2015-2022; Scientist, Islet Immunoengineering Lab
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor
Samantha Nicole Fitzgerald
2019-2022 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Research Technician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Michael Lupp, M.S.
2017-2021; Senior Research Associate , Islet Immunoengineering Lab
Current Position: Business Intelligence Developer at ChenMed
Freddy Gonzalez-Badillo, M.S.
2015-2020 PhD Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Process Development Engineer, Regeneron
Shuaicheng Yu (Jason)
2018-2020 Master Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Sophia Pete
2017-2020 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Research Associate, PlateletBio
Spencer Reid
2018-2020 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Cell Culture Associate, Lung Biotechnology Inc
Laura Harwell
2017-2019 Master Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Quality Engineer, Stryker
Joshua Sussman
2017-2019 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Exact Sciences
Jay Wasserlauf, B.S.
2017-2019 Research Associate III
Current Position: Laboratory head
Luis Sosa Villegas
2017-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Shane Wright
2016-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, Boston University
Nicholas De Angelis
2016-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Laura Morales
2015-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, Yale University
Mackenzie Scully
2017-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Delaware
Molly Beggs
2016-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Sofia Vignolo
2016-2018 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: MD-PhD student, Oregon Health & Science University
Vickie Zhang, Ph.D.
2017-2018 Assistant Scientist
Vita Manzoli
2011-2017 Senior Research Associate II / Graduate Student
Current Position: Research Manager, XOStem Inc.
Maria Abreu, Ph.D.
2014-2016 Postdoctoral Fellow
Current Position: Research Health Science Specialist at the Miami VA Medical Center
Chiara Villa
2012-2014 Graduate Student
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Italy
Mejdi Najjar
2012-2014 Research Associate I
Current Position: Pediatric Neurology Fellow, Children's National Hospital
Connor Walsh
2015-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Medical Student, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Kalina Paunovska
2014-2016 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, Georgia Institute of Technology
Connor Verheyen
2014-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: PhD Student, Harvard-MIT Health Science and Technologies
Joseph Reda
2015-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Chicago
Divya Ranjan Sha
2014-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Graduate Student, Boston University
Michael Seskin
2016-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Biomedical Engineering
Current Position: Associate R&N Engineer, Covidien (Medtronic Minimally Invasive Therapies Group)
Jason Truong
2016-2017 Undergraduate Student, University of Miami, Microbiology & Immunology
Current Position: Applying for Medical school
Stephen Bell
2016-2017 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, 3rd year medical student
International Exchange Students
Annelisa Valente Perrone, B.S.
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
Sept 2021 - Apr 2022 MS student
Lorenza Recchione, B.S.
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
Sept 2021 - Apr 2022 MS student
Alessandro Luca
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
2018-19 MS student
Alessandro Fasani
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
2017-18 MS student
Marco Marziani
Politecnico di Milano, Biomedical Engineering, Italy
2017-18 MS student
Alessandra Collà Ruvolo
Giuseppe Caputo
Lorena Chietti
Summer 2017 - B.S student - University of Naples - Department of Mechanical Engineering
Current Position: MS students - University of Naples - Department of Mechanical Engineering
Riccardo Masina
Imperial College of London, Biomedical Science, junior
Current Position: Medical student - Cambridge
Federica Colombo
Tommaso Cazzato
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
MS students
Andrea Dossena
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
MS students
Hermann Fruner
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
MS students
