Our undergraduate researcher, Hadley Blackwell, has been awarded a University of Utah Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) support. This highly competitive program supports students pursuing original research, scholarship, or creative projects under faculty mentorship. Hadley’s work will advance our efforts in developing biomaterials for bioelectronic systems. We are thrilled to support Hadley in this project and look forward to the contributions his research will make to the broader scientific community.

We are delighted to welcome our newest members to the BioMINTech Laboratory at the University of Utah. This Fall, our team has grown with talented researchers at the PhD, MS, and undergraduate levels who bring diverse expertise and enthusiasm to our interdisciplinary work on biomaterials and minimally invasive technologies:

PhD Students
Mohammadmajid (Sepanta) Sepantafar joins us with extensive experience in the design of regenerative bio-platforms. Before joining the University of Utah, he worked as a scientist at Cornell University developing micro- and macro-scale immunoengineering systems. His current research focuses on engineering conductive bioelectronic patches to improve patient quality of life.

Parnian Govahi earned her M.Sc. in Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology from Politecnico di Milano (Polimi) in 2024. Her research centers on the design and synthesis of advanced biomaterials for minimally invasive therapies. She aims to apply her background in materials science toward innovative medical applications.

MS Student
Samaher Shaheen completed her B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering at California State University, Chico in 2025. Her research interests include biomedical device design, materials engineering, and tissue engineering.

Undergraduate Students
Samuel Smith is a Biomedical Engineering student passionate about the use of hydrogels to make surgical and drug-delivery procedures less invasive.

Kara Nelson, studying Biomedical Engineering, is interested in tissue engineering and biotechnology, with a strong motivation to pursue research improving patient outcomes.

Isaac Robrecht, a Biochemistry major, focuses on conductive hydrogels for medical devices and wound monitoring, combining chemistry and engineering in his research.

Hadley Blackwell, a Biomedical Engineering student from Evanston, Wyoming, is passionate about biotechnology and the role of minimally invasive approaches in enhancing patient health.

We are excited to see the creativity, energy, and interdisciplinary insight each of these new members brings to the BioMINTech Lab.

Our undergraduate researcher, Jack Mortensen, has been selected to receive the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) award at the University of Utah! This competitive grant supports undergraduate students engaged in original research, scholarship, or creative work under the mentorship of a faculty member. Jack’s project will contribute to innovative work in the BioMINTech Lab, in turn, expanding our understanding of biomaterials and their uses. We’re excited to support Jack in this endeavor and look forward to the meaningful impact his research will bring to the scientific community!

We are excited to share that the BioMINTech Lab has been awarded pilot funding from the 2025 Bioscientific Innovations from Cancer Engineering Partnerships (BICEPS) program! This competitive seed grant, sponsored by the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, the Department of Radiation Oncology, and the Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies at the University of Utah, supports innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to solving major cancer challenges.

We look forward to our collaborative explorations with Dr. Hamid Ghandehari (Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Chemistry), and Dr. Ziga Cizman (Interventional Radiology, Huntsman Cancer Institute) to improve cancer treatment and care.

We’re grateful for this opportunity to pursue translational research at the intersection of biomaterials, drug delivery, and interventional oncology, and look forward to sharing our progress over the coming year!

Read more at https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/press-releases/2025/07/interdisciplinary-grants-awarded-cancer-focused-engineering-projects

We are thrilled to welcome Md. Asad-Ullah and Jack Mortensen as our first PhD and Undergraduate students, respectively, to the BioMINTech Lab! Md. Asad joins us as a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering. With a background in Biomedical Engineering from BUET and a recent MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Qatar University, he brings expertise in biomaterials and minimally invasive devices. His research will focus on advancing disease diagnostics and targeted treatments. Jack is eager to contribute to our cutting-edge research in synthesis of advanced hydrogels and his background in lacrosse and his passion for problem-solving make him a great addition to the team.

We are excited to have you both on board and look forward to the innovation, collaboration, and discoveries ahead!

Learn more about our new members on our Team page.

The BioMINTech lab has several open positions at different levels for students and scholars who are passionate about biomaterials and improving human health! Please find more information online at https://biomintech.mech.utah.edu/join-us/.

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of our new laboratory in Jan 2025 in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Utah. Led by Dr. Hossein Montazerian, this state-of-the-art facility will focus on developing innovative solutions that enhance patient care and improve outcomes in medical treatments. The lab will leverage interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced engineering techniques to push the boundaries of what’s possible in biomaterial applications.