{"id":191,"date":"2013-04-30T23:23:31","date_gmt":"2013-04-30T23:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/testlab.bme.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/?page_id=191"},"modified":"2026-02-21T13:59:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T17:59:55","slug":"alumni","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/people\/alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Schmidt<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Schmidt Lab Alumni LinkedIn Group
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Postdocs, Research Associates, and Visiting Scientists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Ethan McMillan<\/strong><\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Eleana Manousiouthakis<\/strong>
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Florida, 2019-2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current: <\/em>Novel Farms (Berkeley, CA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Young Hye Song<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Florida, 2016-2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Assist. Professor, BME, U. Arkansas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Rebecca A. Wachs<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Florida, 2014-2016<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Assist. Professor, U. Nebraska<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hyma Durgam<\/strong>
Research Associate II and Lab Manager
University of Texas at Austin, 2000-2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Joo-Woon Lee<\/strong>
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Texas at Austin, 2005-2006
Current:<\/em> Professor, Korea National University of Transportation (KNUT)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Dr. Jorge A. Mojica Santiago<\/strong>
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Florida, 2018-2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em>3D Systems (Houston, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stacy L. Porvasnik<\/strong>
Research Coordinator 3 and Lab Manager
University of Florida, 2013-2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Zin Khaing<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Research Assist. Scientist\/Postdoctoral Assoc.
UT Austin and UF, 2006-2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Instructor\/Research Faculty, U. Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Scott Zawko<\/strong>
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Texas at Austin, 2011-2012<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Kymanox (Durham, NC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Rebecca Sheller<\/strong>
Visiting Professor
University of Texas at Austin, 2001-2002<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Dr. Nora Hlavac<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postdoctoral Associate
University of Florida, 2019-2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Charleston County School District in South Carolina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Sahba Mobini<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Florida, 2016-2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Cuenta oficial del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas (CSIC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. John Hardy<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Postdoctoral Associate
UT Austin and UF, 2010-2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Lecturer\/Assist. Professor, Lancaster University (UK)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Eduardo (Lalo) Pena<\/strong>
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Texas at Austin, 2008-2009<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Ph.D. Graduates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Mary Kasper<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Aqua Cultured Foods (Chicago, IL)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benjamin Spearman<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Axogen (Tampa, FL)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chase Cornelison (<\/strong>Website<\/strong><\/a>)<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current: <\/em>Assist. Professor, BME, U. Massachusetts, Amherst<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Derek Hernandez<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> ION Biosciences (San Marcos, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryan Nagao<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Nova Nordisk (Seattle, WA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Fonner<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2011<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Texas Advanced Computing Center (Austin, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jae Lee<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2010<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Assoc. Professor, Gwangju Inst. of Science and Tech. (GIST; South Korea)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathalie Guimard<\/strong>
Chemistry
University of Texas at Austin, 2008<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Smith and Nephew (Zurich, Switzerland)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalia Gomez<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Amgen (Thousand Oaks, CA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jennie Baier Leach<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2003<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Associate Professor, Univ. of Maryland \u2013 Baltimore County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyrell Rivers<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2001<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> AstraZeneca (Gaithersburg, MD)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Deanna Bousalis<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Food and Drug Administration, FDA (Washington, DC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christopher Lacko<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Integra LifeSciences (Scotch Plains, NJ)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sydney Geissler<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Straumann Group (Basel, Switzerland)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richelle Thomas<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, Dec.2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Owens Corning (Columbus, Ohio)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hieu Nguyen<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2012<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Research Scientist, University of Texas at Austin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leandro (Leo) Forciniti<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2011<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Becton Dickinson (Franklin Lakes, NJ)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shalu Suri<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2010<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Associate Director of the NSF Cell Manufacturing ERC, Georgia Institute of Technology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scott Zawko<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2008<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Kymanox (Durham, NC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archit Sanghvi<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2005<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Pearl Hospitality (Houston, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terry Hudson<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2003<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Denali Therapeutics (Draper, UT)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Michaela Mertz McCrary<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> National Institutes of Health, NCI (Bethesda, MD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nikunj (Nik) Agrawal<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Axogen (Tampa, FL)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richelle Thomas<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, Dec.2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Owens Corning (Columbus, Ohio)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarah Mayes<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Co-Founder, Alafair Biosciences (Austin, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eric Spivey <\/strong>(website<\/a>)
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2012<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Assist. Research Professor, Vanderbilt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephanie Seidlits<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2010<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Nickels <\/strong>(website<\/a>)
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2009<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curt Deister<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Axogen (Tampa, FL)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Winter <\/strong>(website<\/a>)
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2004<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Distinguished Professor, The Ohio State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beth Furnish Oehrtman<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2001<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Business Entrepreneur (Chandler, AZ)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

M.S. Graduates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Bryan Ibarra<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syed-Mustafa Jamal<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Hyyti<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida at Gainesville, 2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Hixson<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2001<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prachi Dixit<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 1999<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Nicole Bohmann<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brittany Russ<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2016<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Francisco (Kiko) Serna<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2007<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Carnagey<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 1999<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie Fischbeck<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 1998<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Jonathan Griffin<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida, 2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shangjing Xin<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida at Gainesville, 2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Assistant Professor, Zhejiang University (China)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdel Abdel-Barr<\/strong>
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 2005<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aruna Kotwal<\/strong>
Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 1999<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joel Collier<\/strong> (website<\/a>)
Biomedical Engineering
University of Texas at Austin, 1998<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current:<\/em> Theodore Kennedy Professor of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biomedical Engineering, Duke University<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Schmidt Lab Alumni LinkedIn Group Postdocs, Research Associates, and Visiting Scientists Ethan McMillanBiomedical EngineeringUniversity of Florida, 2025 ……………….. Dr. Eleana ManousiouthakisPostdoctoral AssociateUniversity of Florida, 2019-2023 Current: Novel Farms (Berkeley, CA) ……………….. Dr. Young Hye Song (website)Postdoctoral AssociateUniversity of Florida, 2016-2019 Current: Assist. Professor, BME, U. Arkansas ……………….. Dr. Rebecca A. Wachs (website)Postdoctoral AssociateUniversity of Florida, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1183,"featured_media":0,"parent":37,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page-sidebar-none.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"featured_post":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-191","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1183"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7887,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/191\/revisions\/7887"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/schmidt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}