People
SELECT: Nasim Annabi | Members | Gallery
Members
LABORATORY MANAGER
Ronak Afshari
Dr. Ronak Afshari received her B.Sc. in Chemistry from Tehran University (2010); M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Amirkabir University of Technology (2013) and Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry from Shahid Beheshti University (2019), Tehran-Iran, for studies concerning functionalization of carbonaceous nanomaterials as well as metal/polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery and catalysis. Meanwhile, she has been awarded the best researcher of 2019 among Ph.D. students at Shahid Beheshti University. She also pursued a postdoctoral course in the Department of Physics at the Sharif University of Technology with a focus on the synthesis and functionalization of nanobubbles as neoteric medicinal platforms. She has over 25 papers, reviews and science books and made over 5 announcements at international scientific conferences. Her current research interests lie in designing novel organic synthetic routes for the functionalization of nanomaterials including carbon nanostructures and biopolymers, in developing multifaceted and stimuli-responsive biomaterials. Her hobbies include reading, traveling and spending time with her friends/family.
POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS
Tess De Maeseneer
Dr. Tess De Maeseneer joined the Annabi lab in March 2024. She obtained a B. Sc. degree in Engineering Sciences from KU Leuven (Belgium) in 2017. Afterwards, she enrolled in a M. SC. program in Chemical Engineering at KU Leuven (Belgium). In 2019, she decided to join the Soft Matter, Rheology and Technology lab (KU Leuven,Belgium) as a PhD student. Her PhD work was centered around the development of a novel breast reconstruction method in close collaboration with UGent (Belgium), VUB (Belgium) and UZGent (Belgium). Her main research focus was on the structural characterization of injectable hydrogels intended to be used as scaffold materials. She currently works for the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Medicine at UCLA under joint mentorship of Dr. Nasim Annabi and Dr. Renea Sturm. The main focus of her work is on the use of advanced fabrication methods for the regeneration of a hierarchical blood vessel network in urological tissues. In her free time, she likes to do sports, meet with friends and travel to the world’s most famous surf spots.
Arpita Roy
Dr. Arpita Roy joined the research group of Prof. Annabi as a postdoctoral researcher in 2022. She obtained her B.Sc. degree from the University of Burdwan, India in 2014 and completed her M.Sc. degree in chemistry (Gold Medalist) from Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India in 2016. Then, she received her Ph.D. degree from Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, in 2022 under the supervision of Prof. Sagar Pal at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. Prof. Santanu Dhara from School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT KGP) was her external supervisor. Her research interests include the synthesis and design of various hydrogels/composites and their biomedical applications. In leisure time she likes to dance, travel, and spend time with her family and friends.
VISITING SCHOLAR
Daren Zhou
Daren has been a visiting scholar at the Annabi Lab since November 2024. He holds two bachelor’s degrees in materials engineering from Central South University in China and Monash University (Hons 1) in Australia. His research focuses on developing innovative biomaterials and advancing technologies in tissue engineering and biomanufacturing. Passionate about combining materials science and biofabrication, Daren aims to create impactful solutions for healthcare challenges. He is currently designing a conductive hydrogel for cardiac patch applications using 3D bioprinting. Beyond research, Daren enjoys exploring nature through activities like hiking and cycling and is keenly interested in trying diverse cuisines from around the world.
PhD STUDENTS
Marian Olewine
Marian Joined Dr.Annabi’s lab in 2024 as a PhD student of Chemical Engineering. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Her research is focused on cancer therapies using microRNA loaded nanoparticles and tissue regeneration using hydrogels. When she is not in the lab she enjoys cooking, traveling, and hanging out with her cats and friends.
Min-Hsun lin
Jessie joined Dr. Annabi’s lab in 2023 as a PhD student of Chemical Engineering. She received her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University (NTU) (2020). She then worked in Dr. Ying-Chih Chang’s lab at Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan, in which she helped develop an in vitro drug screening system for circulating tumor cells (CTCs). After that, she came back to NTU to study for her master’s degree with Dr. Jiashing Yu, focusing on the research of conductive biomaterials for tissue engineering. She is now interested in exploring biomaterials that have multifaceted applications and unlocking their potential to solve pressing real-world challenges. In her free time, Jessie enjoys watching comedies and animes and spending time with friends.
Zhanpeng (Jim) Liu
Jim joined Professor Annabi’s lab as a Ph.D. student in the fall of 2023. He received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, China (2023). For his undergraduate research, he focused on developing the microbially induced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) surface modification approach and investigating the unique mechanics of the generated structure, as well as fabricating the novel drug delivery system which could be used for bone regeneration. He is now interested in the design of biomaterials which is inspired by nature or could mimic the characteristics of bio-interface in human body, for example, the hard-soft tissue interface, for tissue adhesive or regeneration applications. In his free time, Jim likes reading books, listening to J-pop music, learning finger-style guitar, playing computer games and spending time with family and friends.
Yuting Zheng
Yuting began her research in Professor Annabi’s lab as a PhD student at UCLA in the Fall of 2020. She received her bachelor’s degree with a major of Chemistry from University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and received her master’s degree from University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Chemical Engineering. During her master’s degree, she worked in Prof. Phillip Messersmith’s lab as a student researcher. Her research fields mainly focus on developing functional biomaterials with tunable mechanics, self-healing properties and stimuli-responsive behaviors for a wide range of biomedical applications such as tissue regeneration, tumor therapy, wound healing, immunomodulation, etc. She aspires to develop these therapies to improve the quality of healthcare around the world by engineering smart hydrogels and nanocomposites for drug/cell delivery and dynamically crosslinked materials that suit their drug cargo and delivery needs on a molecular level. Yuting also worked as a full-time analytical assistant in Estee Lauder R&D center for half a year. In her free time, Yuting likes to travel, planting and enjoy her time with the family!
Saumya Jain
Saumya received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Seattle University in the spring of 2020. Three years of her undergraduate studies were dedicated to carbohydrate chemistry research in the lab of Dr. Joseph Langenhan. She worked on developing a novel synthetic route to produce a glycosylated asparagine residue that is vital in post-translational cellular modifications and, therefore, in many areas of drug development. Among various technical skills she has learned during undergraduate research, Saumaya most enjoys synthesis, analysis by NMR, and recombinant gene expression using PCR. Saumya joined Dr. Nasim Annabi’s lab in the fall of 2020 as she pursues her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at UCLA. Outside of the sciences, Saumaya loves listening to music, learning new songs on the guitar, hiking, teaching new crafts to her younger sister, and spending time with friends.
Master STUDENTS
Tiffany Jean
Tiffany graduated from UCLA in June 2024 with a B.S. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. She returned to UCLA to continue her research with Dr. Annabi in the Annabi Lab as a graduate student in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. Her research interests focus on functional biomaterials, specifically gene and drug delivery. She is passionate about the intersection of chemical engineering and healthcare. Outside of her academic pursuits, Tiffany enjoys spending time with friends, camping, snowboarding, and going to the beach.
Steven Vo
Graduating from UCLA in June of 2023 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Steven returned to his alma mater to continue his research with Dr. Annabi in the Annabi Lab as a graduate student in chemical engineering. His time as an undergraduate in the Annabi Lab primarily consisted of tough hydrogel optimization and characterization for ocular drug delivery and wound healing. As a graduate student, his focus has shifted into exploring tough hydrogels capable of supporting tissue growth. More specifically, he is working on utilizing hydrogels for creating neovaginas to assist in male to female bottom gender reassignment surgery. Outside of the lab, Steven’s hobbies include cooking new recipes around the world, playing competitive online games, spending time with family, and listening to music.
Fang Zhou
Fang became a member of Professor Annabi’s lab as a master student in the fall of 2023. She received her bachelor’s degree of Chemical Engineering from Soochow University in 2019 and studied the photo-induced self-assembly polymerization of biodegradable polyester as her undergraduate dissertation. After
working as a research assistant in a scientific corporation, Fang got familiar with the techniques to obtain polymer-stabilized metallic nanoparticles and their medical applications. Now she has great interest in electroconductive biomaterials for myocardial infarction repair, meanwhile, to achieve a combination with her
research background. In her spare time, Fang enjoys singing, watching anime and jogging.
Gayatri Patel
Gayatri received her B.Sc. in Bio-convergence in 2019 from Yonsei University, South Korea. Her undergraduate research was focused on the purification of surface receptor proteins. She is currently a master’s student in Bioengineering at UCLA. In Dr. Annabi’s lab she is working on a 3D bioprinting project for dental applications. Outside of the lab, Gayatri enjoys listening to music, cooking and spending time with family.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Edrees Mahmood
Edrees is a second-year Neuroscience student. He is interested in learning more about the field of Bio-adhesives/Sealants, and Elastin-Based Biomaterials and hopes to contribute alongside fellow lab members. In his free time, he enjoys spontaneous adventures with friends, watching T.V, cooking, reading, and trying new activities.
Parmida Abbasi
I am Parmida Abbasi. I am a third-year Biology major interested in learning more about 3D bioprinting and hydrogel applications. I am a dental assistant, and I love how the 3D printing relates to creating dental crowns. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with friends, movies, trying different restaurants, and going to the beach.
Lakshmi Mohan
Lakshmi Mohan is a second-year Bioengineering student who is interested in hydrogel applications specifically in the field of regenerative medicine. She is currently working under Saumya on the synthesis of a hydrogel that can aid with cardiac tissue regeneration. She is a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society as well as a Society of Women Engineers Family Head, and in her free time she enjoys drawing, reading, playing piano or video games, and spending time with friends and family.
Jacob Pearl
Jacob is a second-year Bioengineering student. He is working under Avijit with biomaterials and is creating a hemostatic patch. He is interested in learning more about biomaterials and other chemistry-based biomedical applications. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, photography, video games, sports, and hanging out with friends.
Khanh Tran
Khanh Tran is a second-year Bioengineering student with a specific interest in tissue regeneration through the use of conductive hydrogels for nerve repair. She hopes to pursue a career in medicinal research to help increase healthcare accessibility to low-resource communities. Khanh is currently involved in Medleys A Cappella and the Biomedical Engineering Society, and in her free time, she enjoys curating new recipes, playing racket sports, and bouldering.
Iris Qi
Iris Qi is a fourth-year student majoring in Human Biology and Society with a minor in Global Health. Her academic interests lie in tissue regenerative research and exploring the intersection between the sciences and humanities. Currently, she is working on nanogel and conductive hydrogel research under Yuting’s guidance. Outside the lab, Iris enjoys reading, listening to music, drawing, and exploring Los Angeles.
Ethan Mai
Ethan is a third-year Chemical Engineering major interested in learning more about biomaterials customization and integration. He is currently involved with UCLA SEA CLEAR as the retention coordinator. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, dancing, and going to the gym.
Cindy Wang
Cindy Wang is a third-year Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics student interested in learning more about Drug Gene Delivery. She is most excited to do meaningful work to help support the gaps in healthcare. Cindy is involved in the Los Angeles Health Initiative as the current President. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, hanging out with friends, and painting.
Ketan Yadav
Ketan is a third-year Psychobiology major looking to learn more about bioadhesives and their applications in the medical field. He is part of the Regent Scholar Society and works in EMS. He hopes to one day see the intersection between his work and the lab topics. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, playing videogames, and rock climbing.
Sara Nejad
My name is Sara Nejad. I am a third year undergraduate Psychobiology major at UCLA. I want to pursue a career in dentistry. I am curious in understanding how hydrogels can act as biocompatible scaffolds for tissue regeneration. In addition, I want to learn more about how biomaterials can accomplish wound repair in ways that sutures, and staples cannot. I am particularly interested in this research because tissue adhesives can be used for dental applications. I am looking forward to learning more about this field and developing my skills in research.
Enza Nikolic
Enza is a second-year Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics major interested in learning more about 3D Bioprinting. She will be working under Dr.Tess De Maesseneer to help with ELP synthesis and bioprinting for urological tissues. Enza hopes to pursue a career in emergency medicine and in her free time, she loves to bake, watch Netflix, and crochet.
Cristopher Navarro
Cristopher is a fourth-year Biology major in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. He is currently working under Yuting on various projects relating to hydrogel-based drug delivery, and wishes to one day pursue a career in research and academia. On the weekends he is fond of spending time with friends and family, playing video games, and creating art.
Sophia Lopez
Sophia Lopez is a fourth-year undergraduate Neuroscience major and Art History minor. She is interested in exploring the intersections of neuroscience, bioengineering, and materials science through her current projects in the Annabi Lab in addition to interests in museum work and art conservation research. Outside of lab, Sophia loves to run, longboard, discover new foods spots in LA, and explore every bookstore she comes across.
Romina Sadaghi
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Gilda Naraghi
Gilda is a third-year Biochemistry student with an interest in the intersection between polymers, nanoparticles, and regenerative medicine. She is planning to pursue a career in plastic and restorative surgery and is interested in increasing accessibility of healthcare to underprivileged communities. In her free time, she enjoys learning languages, tutoring kids, and photography
Armita Sarvi
My name is Armita Sarvi, and I am a fourth-year undergraduate Physiological Science major with aspirations of pursuing medicine and research. I am interested in the technological advancements that are revolutionizing the practice of medicine. I look forward to gaining more experience regarding the applications of hydrogels on tissue regeneration through aiding cell communication and repair, as well as drug-delivery through nanotechnology. In my free time, I enjoy playing the guitar, playing badminton, and I enjoy fashion and style.
Namdar Pouradib
I am a third-year undergraduate at UCLA studying neuroscience. I am interested in tissue regeneration, particularly neuro-regenerative materials, and I am pursuing a career in healthcare and medical research. Outside an academic setting, I love rock climbing, cooking, and watching old sitcoms
Giacomo Berti
My name is Giacomo, and I’m currently a freshman at UCLA with a major in Biochemistry. I was originally born in Milan, Italy, where I lived for six years before my dad’s work brought my family to the bay area. We eventually settled in San Diego, which is where I attended high school and where my family continues to live. From a young age, my biggest passions have been playing music and learning about anything science-related. Though I’m new to research, I’m most interested in studying pharmaceuticals and other medical applications of chemistry and chemical engineering. I’m really excited for the opportunity to be in and contribute to a community that shares my same passions!
Jonathan Britton
Jonathan Britton is a third year chemical engineering student with a biomolecular concentration from Santa Barbara, California. Outside of his academic pursuits, he enjoys running, going to the beach, and spending time outside. In the Annabi lab, he will be researching bioadhesives and tissue engineering.
Rayane Koubaa
My name is Rayane Koubaa. I’m Tunisian and French from Dubai, currently in my 3rd year of studying Chemical Engineering at UCLA with a Biomolecular concentration and a Teach Breadth in Materials Science Engineering. I joined the Annabi Lab in October 2024 and am currently under the supervision of Yuting and Marian on the Bioinspired Microneedle-Based Barrier Tunneling for Advanced Ocular Drug Delivery Project here in the Annabi Lab. I am super excited to start working within the Lab and eager to achieve groundbreaking results! Catch me in Lab, enjoying coffee, running outside or at the beach swimming!
ALUMNI
Postdocs
Yavuz Oz, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA
Rizwan Subhani, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA
Avijit Baidya, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA
Mahsa Ghovvati, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA
Reza Moonesirad, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA
Jharana Dhal, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA
Shima Gholizadeh, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA
Roberto Portillo Lara, Postdoctoral Fellow, Monterey Tech University (Mexico)
Iman Noshadi, Postdoctoral Scholar, Northeastern University
PhD
Hossein Montazerian, PhD, graduated from UCLA
Jonathan Soucy, PhD Student, graduated from Northeastern University
Ehsan Shirzaei Sani, PhD Student, graduated at UCLA
Brian Walker, PhD Student, graduated from UCLA
Andrew Spencer, PhD Student, graduated at Northeastern University
Ebrahim Mostafavi, PhD Student, Northeastern University (transferred to another PI after my move to UCLA)
Bahram Saleh, PhD Student, Northeastern University (transferred to another PI after my move to UCLA)
Sohyung Lee, PhD Student, UCLA (transferred to another PI after my move to UCLA)
MS
Zhonghong Kong, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Nanditaa Balachander, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Yimin Gu, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Annabella Budiman, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Albert Lee, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Yadi Huo, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Saumya Jain, MS student, graduated at UCLA, Transferred to PhD
Hamed Nilchi, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Daniel Booth, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Sevana Baghdasarian, MS student, graduated at UCLA
Gokberk Unal, Master’s Student, graduated at UCLA
Yangcheng Liu, M.S. Student, graduated at UCLA
Chen Xi, M.S Student, graduated at UCLA
Brijesh Hirani, Master Student, graduated at Northeastern University
Zheng Cao, Master Student, graduated at Northeastern University
Devyesh Rana, Master Student, graduated at Northeastern University
Jinzhao Fu, Master Student, graduated at Northeastern University
Visiting
Sabooh-ul-Ain, Visiting PhD student, Bahudin Zakirya University Multan, Pakistan.
Mahtab Bayani, Visiting MD, Internal Medicine Residency, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (Iran)
Azadeh Mostafavi, Visiting PhD student, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Pradeep Sharma, Visiting Scholar, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India
Mustafa Nakipoglu, Visiting Scholar, Middle East Technical University (Turkey)
Senne Seneca, Visiting Scholar, University of Hasselt (Belgium)
Marianna Cosentino, Visiting Scholar, University of Rome (Italy)
Sinziana Popescu, Visiting Scholar, Romanian Academy (Romania)
Islam Khalil, Visiting Scholar, University for Science and Technology (Egypt)
Abolfazl Akbarzadeh, Visiting Professor, Tabriz University (Iran)
Jakub Erben, Visiting PhD Student, Technical University of Liberec (Czech Republic)
Dina Mohsen, Visiting Master Student, The American University of Cairo (Egypt)
Nooshin Zandi, Visiting PhD Student, Sharif University (Iran)
Gustavo Hernánde, Visiting PhD student, Monterey Tech University (Mexico)
Paula Rodrigues Moraes, Visiting PhD Student, Sao Paulo University (Brazil)
Eulalie Leroux, Visiting Undergraduate Student, University Paris Descartes, (France)
Benjamin Houang, Visiting Master Student, Grenoble (France)
Soundarapandian Kannan, Visiting Professor, Periyar University (India)
Mingzhi Dai, Visiting Professor, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (China)
Mohammad Fares, Visiting Professor, Jordan University of Science and Technology (Jordan)
David Villiard, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Bastien Delaly, Visiting Master Student, Northeastern University
Nicholas Duva, Visiting Undergraduate Research Assistant, Northeastern University
Rhayza Oliveira, Visiting Undergraduate Research Assistant, Federal University of Sao Carlos (Brazil)
Mohammad Reza Aziziyan, Visiting PhD student, University of Sherbrooke (Canada)
Jamal Ashrafi, Visiting PhD Student, Tehran University (Iran)
Research Assistant
Chu-Hsiang Yu, Research Assistant, Brandeis University Undergraduate
Raha Jajali, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Heather Griffiths, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Cathy Lu, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Diya Kapur, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Nina Ofitserova, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Shea Zenker, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Lorin Danielsen, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Thomas Ho, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Esha Sharma, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Kaimana Lum, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Karina Bender, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Boyi Wang, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Edrees Mahmood, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Steven Vo, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Jose Chevalier, Undergraduate, UCLA
Emily Dunn, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Shameek Mitra, Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Mitchell Nguyen, Undergraduate, UCLA
Hojin Choi, Undergraduate, UCLA
Jessii Chun, Undergraduate, UCLA
Nicole Prusty, Undergraduate, UCLA
Yizhen Guan (Yvonne), Undergraduate, UCLA
Gabriela Djuhadi, Undergraduate, UCLA
Ashley Dickman, Undergraduate, UCLA
Ziqing Wang, Undergraduate, Central South University China (China)
Brenden Lee, Undergraduate, UCLA
Andrea Winslow, Undergraduate, UCLA
Hailey Konisky, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Shannon Joyce, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Jaiden Cruger, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Spencer Lake Jacobs-Skolik, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Shashank Madhu, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Bradley Priem, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Divya Vijayakumar, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Amy Sevigny, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
William Kimball, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Navin Jayaswal, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Asel Primbetova, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Jessie Gifford, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Amanda Bretti, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Fayez Ghazi, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Sophia Maciel, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Andi Shehu, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Jennifer Silva, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
David Villiard, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Lauren Tips, Undergraduate, Northeastern University
Wendy Yu, Undergraduate, Vanderbilt University
Hannah McFetridge, Undergraduate, Cornell University
Nayara Gomes, Undergraduate, New Mexico State University (Brazil)
Felipe Dias, Undergraduate, New Mexico State University (Brazil)
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles
420 Westwood Plaza, Boelter Hall 5531-H
Los Angeles, CA 90095
