Team
Dr. Allen Tu
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Allen Tu is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Florida. Milk tea in one hand and pipette in another and he’s good to go! He is 9 feet tall and famously breathes fire. In Dr. Lewis’ lab, his ongoing research involves using a microparticle-based strategy to modulate the immune system in rheumatoid arthritis, as well as exploring the cytotoxic capacity of the polymer poly propylacrylic acid to kill cancer cells. Allen earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of California-Davis. Allen did undergraduate research at UC Davis in Scott Dawson’s lab, GFP-tagging candidate cytoskeletal proteins in the parasitic protist, Giardia lamblia. After receiving his B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, he worked in Mark Nicolls’ Pulmonary and Critical Care lab at Stanford Medicine where he cultivated his passion for immunology. Here, he studied how immune dysregulation in the context of vascular biology contributes to lung disease – specifically lung transplant rejection, pulmonary hypertension, and lymph2edema. He also enjoys video games, reading sci-fi, and playing racquetball.
Dr. Krishna Gaddam
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Dr. Krishna Gaddam is a post-doctoral researcher in the Lewis lab. He did his Masters in organic chemistry at Osmania University, India and also earned his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from Kakatiya University. After his PhD, he worked for two-years as a post-doctoral researcher at Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and two years as an associate scientist in pharmaceutical. Where he worked for a novel drug discovery department that engaged in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and small molecules used for various diseases. He is currently working on the Synthesis of novel biopolymers (polypeptides and Polysaccharides) used for autoimmune diseases. During his academic research he carried out in the development of novel methods for the synthesis of substituted heterocycles and its bioactive natural products by alkyne chemistry. He was also awarded these fellowships during his academic career; CSIR–Junior Research Fellowship, 2009-2011 • CSIR–Senior Research Fellowship, 2011-2014 • CSIR-SPM fellowship-2009 (interview only)
Akhil Kandamkulathy
Undergraduate Researcher
Akhil Kandamkulathy is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in biomedical engineering at the University of Florida. In the Lewis lab, his research lies in fungal drug carriers, where his work concentrates on optimizing the synthesis of drug-loaded microparticles and the conjugation to fungi for targeted drug delivery. He is eager to learn more about the interface between immunology, biochemistry, and biomaterials for disease treatments. Following his undergraduate studies, Akhil intends to pursue medical school and earn a career in the field. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring coffee shops, playing tennis or pickleball, and training with the triathlon club after recently completing his first race at a sprint duathlon.
Dominic Clarke
Undergraduate Researcher
Dominic Clarke is a first-year undergraduate student majoring in Biomedical Engineering on the pre-med track. Dominic has deep interests in drug delivery, drug development, and surgery. He hopes to become a great cardiothoracic surgeon one day. Dominic focuses on the testing of microparticles and lipid nanoparticles through ELISA. Outside of the lab, he loves cycling, volleyball, and running.
Grace Fields
Undergraduate Researcher
Grace Fields is a fourth-year Honors undergraduate student at the University of Florida, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Her work focuses on optimizing the fabrication of microparticles used for drug delivery targeted to the brain. Grace has a long-standing passion of using engineering concepts to advance medicine and hopes to continue expanding her knowledge of biomaterials and drug therapies. In her spare time, Grace enjoys cooking, going for walks with her friends, and volunteering with YoungLife.
Amber Nguyen
Undergraduate Researcher
Amber Nguyen is a third-year undergraduate Biomedical Engineering student. Her research focus involves isolating Polysaccharide A particles to aid in Zhenyu Wang's project directed towards Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). She is also involved in Generational Relief in Prosthetics (GRiP) as a Research Team Captain as well as Phi Sigma Rho Engineering Sorority. She is also a BMentor for the J. Crayton Pruitt Department of Biomedical Engineering. In her free time, she reads and hangs out with her friends. Amber is eager to get involved in the research and development side of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.
Carmen Aubret
Undergraduate Researcher
Carmen Aubret is a first-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida majoring in Biomedical Engineering. She has a strong interest in microbiology, biomaterials, and drug delivery for autoimmune diseases. She is very passionate about research, studying under Graduate Researcher Clinton Smith, and hopes to eventually pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She enjoys playing violin, painting, crocheting, and biking in her free time.
Lab Alumni
Name
Role
Current Position
Riley Allen, Ph.D.
Amir Bolandparvaz, Ph.D.
Noah Pacifici, Ph.D.
Rian Harriman, Ph.D.
Allen Tu, Ph.D.
Rapeepat Sangsuwan, Ph.D.
Hamilton Kakwere, Ph.D.
Melissa Cruz-Acuna’
Karen Parra
Almog Gur
Daniel Osorio
Stephanie Miller
Jada Brown​
Collin Talbot​
Jeffrey Ma
Meghan Doherty
Paldin Bet Eivaz
Anna Jiang
Annie Jhou
Crystal Avila
Vishal Manickam
Nicholas Bachand
Kenneth Alvarez
Shahab Chizari
Svetlana Miakicheva
Nnamezie Ononuju
Hannah Kirkegaard
Kristen Chan
Jasmeen Saini
Luke Mckibbin
Bahieh Noorafkan
Zexi Zang
Ashley Mello
Jillian Strom
Hyunsoo Hun
Emilie Itvichenko
Abdul Tawana
Neeraj Senthil
Jake Wandro
Nidhi Talasu
Nicholas Radoc
Agustina Diener
Patricia Arizaleta
Emilie Ivtchenko
Luke McKibbin
Bahieh Noorafhan
Vishal Manickham
Jeffrey Ma
Annie Zhou
Nicholas Gregory Bachand
Mauricio Pirir
Pauldin Bet Aivaz
Ph.D. Researcher
Ph.D. Researcher
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Ph.D. Researcher
Postdoctoral Researcher
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Master’s Researcher
​Master’s Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
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Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
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Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
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Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Undergraduate Researcher
Summer Intern
Junior Specialist/Lab Manager
Undergraduate Researcher
Scientist at Lyell Immunopharma
Global Product Manager at Thermofisher Scientific
Scientist at Eikon Therapeutics
Senior Scientist at Seraxis
Post Doctoral Fellow at UFl
Scientist at Chulabhorn Graduate Institute
Research Advisor at Eli Lilly
Scientist II at AbbVie
Development Scientist at IncellDx
Electrophysiology Clinical Associate at Abbott
M.S. Researcher of UF
Medical Student at Mayo Clinic
M.S. Researcher of UF
Orthopedic Sales Rep at Agility Ortho
Ph.D. Researcher at U. Mich
Systems Engineer II at Alten Technology
Software Engineer at G2
Systems Engineer at Nevro
Ph.D. Researcher at UT Austin
R&D PMO at QuindelOrtho
Ph.D. Researcher at GaTech
Ph.D. Researcher at Stanford
Engineer at Knowles Precision Devices
Ph.D. Researcher at U. Penn
Ph.D. Researcher at Cornell
Medical Student at Howard U.
Senior Research Associate at Kite Pharma
Ph.D. Researcher at SFSU
Process Engineer at Synthekine
Sr. Quality Systems Engineer at JenaValve
Medical Assistant at Ketamine Center
Ph.D. Researcher at Brown U.
Ph.D. Researcher at U. Mich
Research Associate II at Antibodies Incorporated
Medical Assistant at South Bay Vascular Center
Clinical Development Engineer at Moon Surgical
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Medical Student
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Engineer at Intuitive Surgical
Engineer I at Thermo Fisher Scientific
Ph.D. Researcher at U. Mich
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Engineer at Cannon Quality Group
Researcher at GigaGen Inc
Undergraduate
Engineering Assistant, Reverence Eng
PhD Student at UT Austin
PhD Student
Program Manager at LakePharma
R&D Engineer at Corinth Medtech
Prof. Jamal Lewis
Principal Investigator
Jamal Lewis is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. Prior to his professorship at the University of California-Davis, Dr. Lewis was Senior Scientist at OneVax, LLC and a Post Doctoral Associate in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida, where he also received a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2012. Dr. Lewis completed his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Florida A&M University in 2004, and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 2007 from North Carolina State University. His research, educational and entrepreneurial efforts have been supported by the NIH. His honors and awards include the prestigious NIH Early Stage Investigator MIRA, Regenerative Medicine Workshop Young Faculty Award and the CMBE Journal Young Innovator Award.
Clinton Smith
Graduate Researcher
Clinton Smith is a fourth-year biomedical engineering Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida. His doctoral research focuses on the development of a hybrid drug delivery platform that utilizes fungi and biomaterials. Clinton obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. During his undergraduate studies, he engaged in research in Dr. Krishnendu Roy’s Cellular and Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, contributing to the development of synthetic nanoparticle antibodies and biomaterial-based vaccines aimed at modulating severe musculoskeletal trauma and SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Throughout his academic career, Clinton has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, the NIH National Research Service Award F31, and the 2024 Innovation of the Year award from the University of Florida. Following the completion of his doctoral studies, Clinton intends to pursue a career as a research professor and to establish a laboratory that integrates biomaterials, immunology, engineering, and synthetic biology to develop innovative solutions in targeted drug delivery and cell therapy. In his spare time, Clinton enjoys playing tennis, practicing piano, and collecting vinyl records.
Kevin R. Smith
Graduate Researcher
Kevin is a fourth-year PhD Candidate who received his bachelors in Biomedical Engineering from Alabama State University. At ASU, he worked in Dr. Dean's lab where he developed a passion for biomaterials. His undergraduate research entailed the investigation of the potential of various scaffolds composites to promote cell differentiation and proliferation. Kevin's current research involves the usage of particulate immunotherapy for modulating the immune system against autoimmune diseases. In his spare time, he enjoys playing & watching football, as well as the Olympics, listening music and watching anime.
Zhenyu Wang, M.S.
Graduate Researcher
Zhenyu Wang is a third-year Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering focusing on immune engineering. Zhenyu did his undergraduate research in Dr. Chengbing Yang’s lab, working on the development of antibacterial devices, where he cultivated an interest in the mechanism of the immune system. After receiving his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Shenzhen University, he came to the University of Florida, where he earned his master’s degree there under the guidance of Dr. Lewis. Currently, he continues studying at the University of Florida and conducting research in the Lewis lab. His research concentrates on the nanoparticle-based prophylactic for maternal autoantibody-related autism and the Polysaccharide A particles for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. In his spare time, Zhenyu enjoys exercising, playing basketball, music, and traveling
Daniel Stafstrom
Graduate Researcher
Daniel is a first year M.S. student at the University of Florida. His current research focuses on understanding and modifying the vomocytosis process in immune cells. Daniel obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering from UF. Some of his undergraduate research projects included modeling the electrode body interface, designing machine learning models for EEG analysis, and optimising fungal carrier viability and particle coating. Daniel was also awarded the best undergraduate poster presenter at the UF Biomaterials Day. In his spare time, he enjoys freediving, rock climbing, intramural sports, and endlessly searching for his next good read.
Reuben Abraham
Graduate Researcher
Reuben Abraham is a 1st year Master's student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. He previously completed his Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida as well. He is currently focused on researching the immune response of Bone Marrow derived Dendritic Cells to gut-derived microparticles. Previously, he worked with Dr. Krishna Gaddam on synthesizing nanoparticles based on molecules found in the tumor microenvironment. He plans on working in the field of pharmaceuticals after the completion of his degree. His hobbies include playing video games, watching shows and sports, as well as kayaking.
Grace Koch
Undergraduate Researcher
Grace Koch is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in biomedical engineering at the University of Florida. She is currently researching fungal drug carriers focusing on the conjugation of two microparticles for targeted drug delivery and fungal deactivation after delivery. She is looking forward to learning more about biomaterials and drug delivery advancing treatments for diseases. After earning her bachelor's, Grace plans on pursuing a Master's degree to gain more experience and knowledge before entering industry. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, reading, and playing with her cats. She also loves swimming whether it be lap swimming or snorkeling.
The Lewis Lab
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