Trainee Directory
The Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) consists of 300+ graduate students from the Master of Engineering, Master of Applied Science, and Doctor of Philosophy programs. Below are some of our trainees who have agreed to have their profiles showcased. For privacy reasons, we have not shown the contact information of our students.
If you are a registered graduate student, or a trainee at BME and would like your information displayed on this page, please fill out a form here and we'll review your profile ASAP. If you have any questions, or would like to have your profile removed from this page, please email us at comm.bme@utoronto.ca.
For more student-related stories, please visit BME's blog for more detail: https://discover.bme.utoronto.ca/tag/graduate-student/.
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Jemila Abdulai is an MEng biomedical engineering student with experience spanning product design and development , regulatory affairs, and medical device compliance. She has contributed to several impactful projects, including the design and development of an open-source, body-powered prosthetic arm tailored for transradial amputees .She has gained practical knowledge of medical device regulations. Her recent internships at UCT MedTech Lab and Springborne Life Sciences have further enhanced her knowledge in product design and development,regulatory pathways, technical documentation, and quality management.…
Shana is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, where her research spans DNA nanotechnology, cancer immunotherapy, and molecular engineering. She is a member of Dr. Leo Chou’s lab who specializes in developing artificial, self-assembling molecular devices for biomedical applications. Shana recently published her work on origamiFISH-Flow, a sensitive and label-free technique for quantifying DNA nanostructures in cells and tissues.…
I have years of experience in a range of roles in academia, from researcher in a multitude of fields (e.g., particle physics, dentistry, biophotonics, medical physics, liver disease) to educator in various capacities for grade levels kindergarten to undergraduate (e.g., Teaching assistantships at the University of Toronto, Peer-leader at York University, volunteer with Let’s Talk Science, tutor, mentor).…
Reke is a PhD student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in Prof. Cristina Amon’s lab, where his research focuses on computationally modeling the cellular dynamics for the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into cardiomyocytes and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into alveolar epithelial cells. Before joining the University of Toronto, Reke earned a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and a BA in Mathematics from the University of Winnipeg.…
Reza Basiri, a biomedical engineering PhD candidate, is a dedicated researcher and academic with
a focus on diabetic foot ulcer treatments. He is working on innovative approaches to classify and
predict wound healing phases using advanced AI techniques. With a strong foundation in
biomedical engineering, Reza has contributed to numerous multicenter clinical trials and
collaborative projects across Canada and the United States.…
Stefanie is an interdisciplinary doctoral candidate studying the body-wide effects of gait therapy using a robotic exoskeleton for children with cerebral palsy. She is in the department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto and is doing her research at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, with the PRISM and Spark labs. During her time with BME, she has received significant funding from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation and numerous pediatric rehabilitation scholarship awards from Bloorview Research Institute.…
Qian (he/him) is a PhD candidate at the Max Planck – University of Toronto Centre (MPUTC) for Neural Science and Technology, advised by Taufik Valiante, José Zariffa, and Lucia Melloni (Max Planck Society). As a joint PhD student, he splits his time between Canada and Germany to conduct research on the cognitive mechanisms of human visual exploration and develop methods for it.…
The Gilbert lab has previously established methods to engineer murine skeletal muscle tissues that rapidly induce and sustain muscle stem cell quiescence. I am interested in using this platform to study the spatially and temporally complex signalling between muscle stem cells that enables niche repopulation.
I am a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, driven by a passion for harnessing technology to improve healthcare outcomes. My research at KITE – Toronto Rehab Institute focuses on automating in-home rehabilitation using cutting-edge technologies, computer vision, and artificial intelligence. My background spans clinical engineering, AI, and software development, with particular expertise in applied machine learning, deep learning, and biological signal processing.…
Jann (he/him) is a PhD student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. He is a member of the Lan Lab, which specializes in utilizing droplet microfluidic technology to study complex biological systems. He obtained his undergraduate degree also from the University of Toronto, where he pursued a double major in Biochemistry and Pharmacology.…
Graduated from Integrated Sciences at McMaster University specializing in Biomedical Physics. My PhD thesis is focused on using synthetic biology to design an inducible on/off system of gap junction proteins to reduce graft-related arrhythmias upon transplantation of stem cell derived cardiomyocytes.
Naomi Halder is a MASc student in Biomedical Engineering, working under the supervision of Dr. Alex Mihailidis at the Intelligent Assistive Technology and Systems Lab (IATSL). She has a strong interest in exploring how AI can be integrated into clinical settings to enhance patient care. Before joining IATSL, Naomi completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Computing Technology from the University of Ottawa.…
I am an enthusiastic Biomedical Engineering PhD student eager to learn new things across various scientific disciplines, including but not limited to Tissue Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Medicine, History, and Philosophy. I enjoy helping others, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you think I might be of assistance.
Amy is a MASc student from the University of Toronto at the ATOMS lab. Amy has a strong passion for the development and optimization of biomedical devices, and as a BME engineer, she is always inspired in connecting engineering approaches with biomedical concepts to solve problems in the healthcare sector. In the ATOMS lab, Amy is working on data-driven modeling and in vivo visualization of cardiovascular flow.
I’m Pedram, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto since Fall 2022, conducting research under the guidance of Dr. Tilak Dutta. As part of the EngineeringHealth team at KITE, I leverage my expertise in biomechanics for a project focused on slip prevention. My research explores how adopting safe walking strategies can mitigate the risk of slipping on icy surfaces.…
Gabriela Landim Araujo is a master’s student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in Dr. Michael Garton’s lab, where her research focuses on establishing a safe and efficient gene delivery platform in animal stem cells for applications in the cultivated meat industry. Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Gabriela earned a BSc in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto.…
Reagan earned his Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics from the University of Toronto. He is passionate about learning and applying new knowledge, particularly when it has a meaningful impact. It’s important to him that his work makes a difference to the world, especially when it can benefit clinical applications. He is working on combining computational techniques, such as machine learning, with wet-lab experiments to optimize the processes.
Lucy Ma is a biomedical engineering direct-entry PhD student whose research lies at the intersection of synthetic biology and regenerative medicine. Under the co-supervision of Dr. Michael Garton and Dr. Penney Gilbert, Lucy is working on engineering human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived skeletal muscle tissues to create a functional cure for chronic genetic diseases.…
Matthew is an MEng student with a strong academic foundation in bioinformatics, earning his HBSc from the University of Toronto-St. George. His undergraduate thesis focused on integrating multimer compatibility into macromolecular docking applications via a web-based Bio-Analytics Resource (BAR). Matthew’s research interests span structural biology, robotics, and the application of machine learning and deep learning to scientific data analysis.…
Minnie Menezes is a student at the University of Toronto doing her Master’s of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering. Her research is focused on human factors, workflow/process analysis, and leadership/communication skills. She completed her Bachelor’s of Applied Science at the University of Toronto in Mechanical Engineering, with minors in Biomedical Engineering and Mechatronics.
Azin is a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering specializing in preclinical cancer research, focusing on the use of experimental models and image-based methods to assess the impact of local and systemic cancer treatments on metastatic bone quality. Her work includes establishing a novel treatment approach combining nanoparticles and radiation therapy in a preclinical model of mixed metastases derived from prostate cancer cells.…
Pratik Kumar Mishra is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto specializing in privacy-preserving video analytics for detecting dementia-related behaviors of risk using deep learning. His research, supervised by Dr. Shehroz Khan and Dr. Alex Mihailidis, addresses critical challenges in healthcare privacy through innovative computer vision techniques. Pratik earned his M.S. in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology Indore.…
As a graduate student navigating the complexities of bioadhesion research, Angelico Obille (he/they) recognizes the importance of effective communication, both within the scientific community and to the broader public. Angelico’s participation in the 3MT competition and at Science is a Drag (performing his PhD research as a drag queen named ‘Kwaga Musselle’) served as testaments to their dedication to bridging the gap between technical expertise and accessible language, a skill he honed through years of interdisciplinary study.…
Since becoming involved with biomedical research at an early age, Janice Pang was intrigued about disease pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutics. At the University of British Columbia, she studied in the Integrated Sciences undergraduate program, focusing on molecular biology and immunology. Her undergraduate thesis investigated immunometabolism in macrophages. Her other projects included glucose metabolism in microvascular endothelial cells, inflammation and microRNA biomarker discovery in type 2 diabetes.…
MASc in Biomedical Engineering (University of Toronto) specializing in AI and health innovation. Passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technology to solve real-world healthcare challenges. Continually expanding my expertise through courses in advanced machine learning and health informatics.
Key achievements:
• Led end-to-end development of a $250,000 NFRF-funded virtual rehab platform at Toronto Rehab Institute-UHN.…
Saba Rafieian is a Biomedical Engineering PhD candidate specializing in clinical engineering, with a focus on craniomaxillofacial reconstruction and the development of innovative surgical devices using additive manufacturing techniques. Her research aims to improve surgical procedures by enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life. Through extensive industry experience and volunteer work, Saba has developed a deep appreciation for the role of engineering solutions in the biomedical field and the importance of promoting gender equality.…
Aisha holds an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. She is currently pursuing a direct-entry PhD, with her research centered on developing innovative robotic rehabilitation techniques aimed at improving upper extremity function in individuals with stroke or spinal cord injury.
She has received notable recognition, including the EPIC-AT Fellowship and the Mark Rochon Award, for her contributions to aging and rehabilitation technology.…
I am a Biomedical Engineering graduate student at the University of Toronto, conducting research at the Toronto Rehabilitation – Kite. My focus is on blending artificial intelligence with rehabilitation to enhance patient engagement and outcomes. I specialize in developing AI solutions, particularly in affective computing, to better understand and respond to human emotions for personalized care
I am Danielle Serra and I am a PhD Candidate in the Garton Lab. I am working in the crossroads of synthetic biology and regenerative medicine to validate genetic tools to reliably engineer human stem cells. Specifically, this cutting and pasting of DNA, allows me to create synthetic genes where I validate promoter strength characteristics in iPSCs. …
Fatemeh began her academic journey in Biomedical Engineering, with a focus on Biomechanics. After achieving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in this field, she is now a doctoral candidate researching the fundamental biomechanics and neurophysiology of the lower limbs, with a particular emphasis on postural stability in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Her work focuses on signal and image analysis for rehabilitation applications.…
Allison is a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering specializing in orthopaedic biomechanics with a focus on quantifying metastatic vertebral bone quality and the development of generative deep learning models for fracture location prediction. Her research aims to inform treatment planning for patients with spine metastatic disease to reduce fracture risk and improve quality of life.…
Brianna completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto focusing on immunology and physiology. Her current research focus is to build and deploy nucleic acid nanotechnology for applied immunology applications. Brianna comes from a small town in Northern Ontario where she spent most her life. In her spare time she enjoys exploring the city, cooking, kickboxing and watching sports.
