A Collaborative & Diverse Group
We are a group conducting interdisciplinary research that values curiosity, collaboration, hard work, and a healthy amount of fun. Our group welcomes researchers at any level who share our enthusiasm for science.
Principal Investigator
randreseneguiluz@ucmerced.edu
Chaos coordinator
Ph.D. Student, MBSE szhai2@ucmerced.edu Bioinspired wet adhesion
B.S. Student, Bioengineering and Materials Science and Engineering
nicolasmendoza@ucmerced.edu
ECM-lubricin interactions
B.S. Student, Computer Science and Engineering
nroehrig@ucmerced.edu
Nanorheology
B.S. Student, Materials Science and Engineering
sgilberoneil@ucmerced.edu
Poisson’s ratio of hydrogels
Ph.D. Student, MBSE
mmontero7@ucmerced.edu
Endothelial mechanobiology
Ph.D. Student, MBSE
djaramillopinto@ucmerced.edu Nanobiotribology
Ph.D. Student, MBSE
nbelliodasilva@ucmerced.edu ECM-biofilm interactions
B.S. Student, Mechanical Engineering rstmartin@ucmerced.edu SFA instrumentation
B.S. Student, Chemistry and Biochemistry masonwong@ucmerced.edu
Sticky peptides on surfaces
We are currently looking for motivated, hard-working researchers. Previous experience in the topics listed is not required.
Alumni
Postdoctoral Scholars
Tajin Syeda Ahmed
Fall 2021 – Summer 2025 Scientist at Sangamo Therapeutics
Graduate students
Ariell M. Smith, Ph.D.
Fall 2020 – Fall 2025 Ph.D. in Materials and Biomaterials Science and Engineering – Postdoctoral scholar at the Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore
Ummay Honey
Fall 2023 – Spring 2025 M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering – Laboratory technician, Novolex
Grace Newman
Fall 2023 – Spring 2025 M.S. in Quantitative Systems Biology – TBD
Visiting scholars
Iago Peters
April 2025 – July 2025 – Ph.D. candidate at Vienna University of Technology
Martin Vilches
June 2025 – Student at Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria, Valparaiso, Chile
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Surbhi Salgarkar
Fall 2024 – Summer 2026 B.S. Student, BioE – TBD
Peyton Pettyjohen
Fall 2023 – Summer 2026 B.S. Student, Biology – Neurobiology Master’s graduate program, Oxford University
Tiffany Zheng
Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 B.S. Student, Biology – TBD
Louiegail Nazareno
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 B.S. Student, BIOE – Westmister Promotions, San Jose
Ramon Paez Reyes
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 B.S. Student, MSE – TBD
Isaac Sousa
Summer 2024 – Spring 2025 B.S. Student, CSE – Data management, Stanislaus County
Kaleb Cutter
Summer 2024 – Spring 2025 B.S. Student, Biology – Doctor of Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Brandon Pardi
Summer 2022 – Spring 2024 B.S. Student, CSE – M.Sc. student in Computer Science, UC Davis
Dominique Inocencio
Spring 2022 – Spring 2024 B.S. Student, BioE – Lead of Mechanical Testing, Zero Waste Energy LLC
Warren Flores
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 B.S. Student, BioE – TBD
Dion Deng
Summer 2022 – Spring 2023 B.S. Student, BioE – Assistant Scientist, Thermo Fisher’s PPD Clinical Research Group
Bianca Ortiz Larios
Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 B.S. Student, MSE – Engineer I, Silk Road Medical
Emily Junez
Spring 2023 B.S. Student, MSE – Hardware Engineer, General Motors Company
Tiffany Murga Duarte
Fall 2020 – Fall 2022 B.S. Student, BioE – Research Technician, Natera
Joyce O. Saltzherr
Fall 2019 – Spring 2022 B.S. Student, BioE – Solutions Engineer at Salesforce Tableau
Muhammad Ahmed
Summer 2021 – Spring 2022 B.S. Student, BioE – Twist Biosciences
Saigheeta Bhaskar
Summer 2020 – Spring 2022 B.S. Student, BioE – M.Sc. student in Clinical Research, UC San Francisco
Yekaterina Zhezherya
Fall 2021 – Spring 2022 B.S. Student, BioE – Comparative Medicine Technician, Sutter Health
Isha Saini
Summer 2021 – Spring 2022 B.S. Student, BioE – Apple Technical Support Advisor, Ceres, CA
Justin Pham
Summer 2021 – Fall 2021 B.S. Student, MSE – TBD
Amar Mann
Fall 2019 – Summer 2021 B.S. Student, BioE – M.Sc. student in Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis
Felipe Ramirez
Fall 2019 – Fall 2020 B.S. Student, BioE – AltaMed Health Services
Nicole Garza
Fall 2019 – Summer 2020 B.S. Student, Biological Sciences -Doctor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco
SUMMER REU STUDENTS
Sandra Oko-Umoh
Summer 2026 Boldly Forward REU fellow – Student at Texas A&M University
Dorian Noriega
Summer 2026 Boldly Forward REU fellow – Student at University of Arizona
Dalton Coleman
Summer 2025 NSF Sites I-BEST fellow – Student at Sonoma State University
Mayra Manzo
Summer 2024 UROC fellow – TBD
Katelyn Lunny
Summer 2024 NSF SITES I-BEST fellow – Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University
Breanna Remigio
Summer 2024 UC LEADS fellow – Ph.D. student in Computational Bioscience, University of Colorado Anschutz
Tejveer Bagri
Summer 2023 ACS SEED fellow – B.S. student in Computer Science, UC Berkeley
Shane Holmes
Summer 2022 NSF CREST CCBM fellow – Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona
Benjamin Reams
Summer 2021 NSF CREST CCBM fellow – Ph.D. student at Washington State University
Syndee Villa
Summer 2020 B.S. Student, MSE – SEM/Materials Analyst, Advanced Materials.
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