Current Members

Bio: I received my B.Eng. and M.Eng from the Harbin Institute of Technology. I further obtained my Ph.D. in Professor Wenxin Wang’s group at University College Dublin. I completed my postdoctoral training in Professor Samir Mitrigotri’s group at Harvard University. I joined the faculty in Bioengineering at The University of Texas at Dallas in August 2023. In my free time, I enjoyed building toys for my son, writing grants, and cooking (poorly).

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Bio: I received my B.Eng. from Tiangong University and M.Eng from Tianjin University. Then I further obtained my Ph.D. in Prof. Dezhong Zhou’s group at Xi’an Jiaotong University. Now I am mainly engaged in the research of hemostatic biomaterials and gene delivery in Prof. Yongsheng Gao’s group. 

Bio: I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Jinan University, China, and finished my MSc at the National University of Singapore. I was working to design a genetically encoded GTP metabolic biosensor for my MSc capstone project under the supervision of Prof. Thorsten Wohland and Dr. Cathleen Teh. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD in Gao lab to investigate the role of platelet-like materials in hemostasis and other diseases. I am good at Chinese calligraphy and enjoy traveling in my spare time.

I am a freshman undergraduate currently pursuing a degree in Biochemistry at UTD. I joined the Gao lab because of my interest in the mechanics and applications of drug delivery via hydrogel construction. In my free time, I enjoy working out, reading science fiction, and listening to music.

Hello! My name is Sihao and I go by Eric. I am an undergraduate student in the biomedical engineering department, and I’m also on the pre-med track. I enjoy learning different topics related to healthcare and human body, and I plan to go to medical school after I graduate. I love watching movies, and I like playing tennis.

My name is Sai, and I am an undergraduate student studying Neuroscience on the Research track. I love learning about the fields of Neuropharmacology and Neuroplasticity, and plan to pursue Oncology research upon graduation. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball and watching TV.

As an undergraduate biomedical engineer with a desire to pursue an MD/PhD program, I am particularly interested in the field of regeneration, rejuvenation, and senescence, with a goal to someday achieve biological immortality. I am very adventurous and have a passion for learning new things. In my leisure, namely, I enjoy reading, calisthenics, martial arts, playing chess, cooking, playing piano, and working on some fun personal projects, among many other hobbies. I can’t wait to see what amazing new things we will accomplish together!

Hi! I’m Dhvani Sharma, currently pursuing a B.S. in Healthcare Studies as an undergraduate student. Upon graduation, I hope to attend dental school or continue research. The intricacies of the human body never cease to amaze me. Through Gao Lab, I get a chance to explore biomaterials and their applications in hemorrhage control. Beyond academics and research, I love to dance, watch TV shows, and cook. 

In short, I’m a proud Colombian, a natural dreamer, a driven learner, a hands-on researcher, a polyglot, and, dare I say, a bit of a comedian. Life has shown me that it’s not just about what you know; it’s about the impact that knowledge can have on a community. Although my background is in developing optimized fMRI protocols, and machine learning focused on sequence design and motion correction at the UTSW Biomedical Imaging Research Lab (BiMIR), I utterly believe that research is a holistic endeavor. As such, before pursuing my dream of earning a PhD, I joined the Gao Lab to gain experience in a wet lab setting and to seek all the mentorship I can from my colleagues and Dr. Gao.

Hello! My name is Tiffany, and I’m currently an undergraduate pursuing a B.S in Biomedical Engineering. I’m very excited to gain more research and lab skills, as well as learning more about targeted drug delivery! I hope that the skills I gain in this lab will aid me in industry post-graduation. In my free time, I enjoy crafting, 3D modeling, and going on adventures with my friends and my dog.

Hello, my name is Anagha Murthy, and I am currently a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering along with a fast-track degree in Systems Engineering. What I plan on doing after my graduation is either pursuing research or entering the industry. Within research, I like researching drug delivery therapies. In my free time, my hobbies include doing karate, playing disc golf and ultimate frisbee, watching TV shows, baking, rock climbing, and reading.

Hi! My name is Emma Mihaila and I’m an undergraduate pursuing my B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. After graduation, I am going to graduate school in the EU for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. I plan to pursue a career in academia and research. In my free time, I enjoy reading, painting, and traveling.

Hello! My name is Christina Baklenova, and I am currently an undergraduate majoring in Biomedical engineering and minoring in nanoscience and nanotechnology. After graduation, I plan to pursue a PhD in Material Science Engineering, primarily focusing on biological applications of polymers, which led me to join the Gao lab. Some fun facts about me are that I have over 60 plants, I was a gymnastics coach for 6 years, and I grew up in North Carolina!