My name is Luis Miguel Medina. I am a 1st-year Ecuadorian PhD student who was born and raised in Newark, NJ. As an undergraduate, I pursued my bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at NJIT and am enthusiastic about continuing my education as a graduate student. Throughout my undergraduate years, I placed great value on my student involvement. I am a proud Hermano of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Incorporated, and was heavily engaged in volunteering and campus groups such as The Society of Hispanic Engineers (SHPE) and The Society of Musical Arts (SOMA).
My passion for research began as early as high school, and I was fortunate to secure various opportunities during my time as an undergraduate. While most of my skills were acquired within academia, they were refined through industry experiences with companies like MTF-Biologics and Merck, where I worked as a co-op. The skills I cultivated during my time at both these companies have proven invaluable in my work. I highly encourage those with the opportunity to pursue co-op experiences. Currently, my focus is on developing Vocal Fold (VF) scar treatments using biomaterials to construct an In-Vitro model of VF scarring. This model aims to replicate the organ outside of a live system. My work predominantly involves tasks such as 2D/3D cell culture, biochemical assays, rheology, and various forms of microscopy. Looking ahead, I anticipate receiving training to initiate an In-Vivo project with the same objective of enhancing VF treatment. If you’re interested in learning more about the lab or NJIT, please don’t hesitate to contact me at LMM48@njit.edu.

Ayda began her research in Biofabrication lab as a PhD student at NJIT in spring 2023. She received her Masters’s in nanostructure engineering from AmirKabir University of Technology. Her Masters’s research involved developing a silk biomaterial for nerve regeneration. She previously worked in biomaterials lab at the Florida Institute of Technology and has two years of experience working as an R&D researcher in a medical equipment manufacturing company. Currently, she is engrossed in developing a MEMS-enabled microfluidic device aimed at real-time screening of cellular responses.