Our Team
Dr. Rouzbeh Amini
Principal Investigator
Hometown: Tehran, Iran/Minneapolis, MN
Hobbies: Hiking and cross-country skiing
Rouzbeh Amini completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota in the field of ocular biomechanics and biotransport. He then continued his research work on the mechanics of soft tissue as a postdoctoral trainee at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Bioengineering. Rouzbeh Amini has served as an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and the Department of Bioengineering at Northeastern University since January 2020.
Fun fact: Presented my ARVO 2007 poster and got married on the same day!
Ana Vargas
Graduate Student, Ph.D.
Hometown: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Hobbies: Gymnastics and running
Ana graduated from Lehigh University with her bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering in 2020 and a minor in Mechanics of Materials. She is currently a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in Bioengineering in the biomechanics track. Current research interests include the mechanical properties of the cardiovascular system during pregnancy.
Fun fact: I did gymnastics for 13 years, and competed in multiple different countries.
Julia Clarin
Graduate Student, Ph.D.
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Hobbies: Skateboarding, sewing, or tending to her plants, typically with an iced latte in-hand.
Julia graduated from The University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering in 2020. She is currently a fifth year PhD candidate in Bioengineering investigating the biomechanics of the tricuspid valve in response to mitral valve repair, with the goal of improving clinical outcomes for patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation.
Fun fact: Picked up making hand-tufted rugs as a pandemic hobby.
Turner Jennings
Graduate Student, Ph.D.
Hometown: Madbury, NH
Hobbies: Hiking, running, and board games
Turner is a fourth year PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering co-advised by Prof. Sinan Müftü. Turner is investigating the biomechanics of traumatic brain injury and high strain rate mechanics of soft materials, with the goal of developing better protective helmets.
Fun fact: People forget my name a lot so I also answer to Taylor, Tyler, Tucker, or Tanner.
Sean Harrington
Graduate Student, Ph.D.
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hobbies: Enduro Racing, Snowboarding, Thrifting
Sean earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. His research was focused on shock wave propagation in explosive detonations. He is a third year Ph.D. student at Northeastern University in the Mechanics and Industrial Design Department
Fun fact: I missed my own graduation for a Baja SAE race.
Farnaz Feyli
Graduate Student, Ph.D.
Hometown: Shiraz, Iran
Hobbies: Hiking, Rock climbing, Running
Farnaz is a second-year PhD studeny in Mechanical Engineering, co-advised by Professor Francis Loth. She is investigating the biomechanics of brain tissue motion during the cardiac cycle by analyzing MRI images.
Fun fact: Lived in 3 different countries, and can speak 3 language
Hayden DelCiello
Undergraduate Student
Hometown: Berwyn, PA
Hobbies: Game development, running, and squash
Hayden is a third year BS student in Northeastern University’s honors program, studying Computer Science with a concentration in Systems. Current interests include Rust compiler development and voxel rendering.
Fun fact: If I have the time, I will always walk somewhere instead of using any other transportation.
Aidan Tillman
Undergraduate Student
Hometown: Decatur, Georgia
Hobbies: Table–top Roleplaying games, going on walks
Aidan is a third year BS student majoring in Bioengineering with a concentration in Systems, Synthetic, and Computational Bioengineering and a minor in Mathematics. His interests include Statistical Analysis and Data Modeling.
Fun fact: I once wore flip–flops on a fishing trip to the Arctic Circle
Diego Acosta
Undergraduate Student
Hometown: Houston, TX
Hobbies: Running, biking, comic books, watching the Houston Astros
Diego is a third year undergraduate student at Northeastern studying Mechanical Engineering. Diego is currently on co-op at Vaxess Tech. in Cambridge, MA working on the manufacturing R&D team. His current research interests include the use and development of finite element models for biomechanics application, specifically in regards to the impact of varying natural brain vibrations.
Fun fact: I ran a half marathon with two other people on this page.
Collaborators
Syril K. Dorairaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Ophthalmologist, Mayo Clinic
Vanita Pathak-Ray, M.B.B.S.
Centre for Sight, Hyderabad, India
Koroush Asgarian, D.O.
Hackensack University Medical Center
Ian A. Sigal, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Ocular Biomechanics, University of Pittsburgh
Sinan Müftü, Ph.D.
Professor, Northeastern University
Chiara Bellini, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Northeastern University
Francis Loth, Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University
Nic Leipzig, Ph.D.
Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering/Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron
Rolando J. J. Ramirez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biology, The University of Akron
Undergraduate Students
Gabrielle Bailey – BS Student in Bioengineering
Anthony Hurgoi – BS Student in Mechanical Engineering
Malcolm Schaenen – BS Student in Mechanical Engineering & Physics
Harsh Shailesh Shah – BS Student in Mechanical Engineering
Darren Ng – BS Student in Mechanical Engineering
Katrina Le – BS Student in Computer Engineering
Victoria Rivera – BS Student in Bioengineering/Biochemistry
Bianca Dimailig – BS Student in Mechanical Engineering & Design
Alumni
Anup Pant – Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Keyvan Amini Khoiy – Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Vineet Thomas – Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Blaise Simplice Talla Nwotchouang – Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
S. Cyrus Rezvanifar – Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
Sam Salinas – Ph.D. Student in Bioengineering
Frederick Sebastian – Ph.D. Student in Bioengineering
Mina Pakzadmanesh – Ph.D. Student in Bioengineering
Neda Rashidi – MS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Geoffrey Lin – MS Student in Mechanical Engineering
Sara Capella – MS Student in Bioengineering
Omar Rizk – MS Student in Bioengineering
Matthew Wojcik – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Kelly Haslett – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Anthony Black – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Lucas Gsellman – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Allie Stanley – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Chidiebere Aninweze – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Taylor Verba – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Logan Neidert – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Jennifer Bulgrin – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Tyler Schimmoeller – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Thomas Decker – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Ivanna J. Ross – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Evan Littlejohn – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Kole Williams – BS Student in Mechanical Engineering
Stephen Cross – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Maggie Clark – BS Student in Biomedical Engineering
Antony Fuleihan – BS Student in Mechanical Engineering