We are looking for individuals from diverse backgrounds to join our team.
We are looking for individuals from diverse backgrounds to join our team.
Head of Lab:
Mijo Simunovic, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
NYSCF Robertson Stem Cell Investigator
Department of Chemical Engineering
Department of Genetics & Development
Member, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative
Columbia University
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Bio
Born in a country that doesn't exist, Mijo was raised in the northeast region of Croatia in the oldest European urban settlement, and the site of the fictional murder in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. In a story similar to that of many immigrants, Mijo sought education in the West and moved to the United States and to France. There, Mijo obtained a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Physics from the Sorbonne Universities in Paris. Early in Mijo's scientific work, working first under Gregory Voth in Chicago then under Patricia Bassereau in Paris, Mijo developed computational and biophysical experimental models to study the physical basis of cell membrane reshaping relevant to chemical signaling. It led to the discovery of a new membrane cutting mechanism, friction-driven scission. Mijo became the 2017 laureate of the AAAS/Science and SciLifeLab Prize in Cell and Molecular Biology, awarded in Stockholm.
Mijo moved to the Rockefeller University in New York City to train with Eric Siggia and Ali Brivanlou as a Junior Fellow of the Simons Society of Fellows. While at Rockefeller, Mijo bioengineered one of the first stem cell models that mimics early human embryo development and proposed a molecular mechanisms of how the embryo might break symmetry to specify its body axis. These models are simple cellular approximations of development, and while they are not real embryos, such models are perhaps the only scientific alternative to revealing clues into the origins of early development. In January of 2020, Mijo joined Columbia, hoping to employ the ingenuity of chemical engineering and synthetic biology approaches to the field of stem cell biology, and in this way, to advance paradigms in reproduction and tissue regeneration.
Training
Junior Fellow of the Simons Society of Fellows at the Rockefeller University
PhD in Physics, Sorbonne Universities and Curie Institute, Paris
PhD in Chemistry, The University of Chicago
BS/MS in Chemistry, University of Zagreb
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Teaching at Columbia
Fall (2020--present) -- Engineering Thermodynamics
Spring (2020--present) -- Synthetic organs
Spring (2019--present) -- Guest lecturer in developmental biology courses
Notable Awards
2023 Allen Distinguished Investigator
2023 NYSCF Robertson Stem Cell Investigator
2023 Pew Biomedical Scholar
2023 Schaefer Research Scholar
2021 NIH New Innovator Award
2021 Burroughs-Wellcome Fund Award, Next Gen Pregnancy Initiative
2017 AAAS/Science and SciLifeLab Prize in Cell and Molecular Biology
2016 Prix de la Chancellerie des Universités de Paris
Members of the lab:
Elisa grew up in Bologna, Italy where she earned a BS in Biotechnology. Driven by a passion for stem cell biology, she relocated to London to pursue a Master’s in Regenerative Medicine at Queen Mary University. There, she investigated ways to enhance skeletal muscle regeneration in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy using CRISPR-engineered human iPSC models. After completing her degree, Elisa worked as a Researcher at King’s College, focusing on unravelling molecular pathways in iPSCs-derived hematopoietic stem cells. She then shifted her focus to stem cell regulations and quality control at the UK Stem Cell Bank, part of the Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Seeking new opportunities, Elisa moved to New York City and joined the Simunovic Lab as a Lab Manager in 2024. In her role, she ensures smooth laboratory operations, compliance with safety regulations, and coordinating multiple research projects. Outside of work, Elisa enjoys exploring New York City, running and travelling — catch her if you can!
Miaoci Zhang
PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering
Miaoci is from Zhengzhou, China and graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. There, she worked in Dr. Manish Kumar’s lab to develop biomimetic membranes and found her passion in applying chemical engineering principles to biological systems. She joined the Simunovic lab in 2019 and studies the mechanism of human embryogenesis with stem cell based organoid models. She has engineered an "embryomimetic" model of placenta development using only pluripotent stem cells, with hopes to contribute to the betterment of women’s reproductive medicine.
Corey Hansen
PhD candidate in Genetics and Development and NSF Fellow
Corey is originally from San Antonio, Texas and served in the Marine Corps as a signals intelligence analyst. He then worked on an organic farm in Hawaii before earning a BS in Biochemistry at Hawaii Pacific University. He made his way to New York City and worked as a research assistant in Dr. Angela Christiano’s lab. His primary project was on creating autologous gene-corrected iPSC-derived skin tissue organoids as a potential treatment for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) patients. Following this, he started his PhD at Columbia and joined the Simunovic Lab in 2020. He is now studying the signaling hierarchy involved in early human development by combining traditional cell culture with engineering techniques such as micropatterns and microfluidics. When he’s not looking down a microscope, Corey enjoys riding motorcycles, hanging out with his dog Nigel, and exploring the outdoors.
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Alice Reis, Ph.D.
Associate Research Scientist
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Alice is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she earned her PhD in Morphological Sciences and became fascinated by developmental biology and its mysteries. As a postdoctoral fellow at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she studied the role of Wnt signaling in Xenopus laevis embryogenesis. Now, as a research associate, she pursues her interests into early human embryonic development and its implications in reproductive health. She uses stem cells to build tissue culture models of the human uterus which she hopes to apply to engineering pre-clinical tools for reproductive and regenerative medicine.
Jessica Zhou
PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering and NSF fellow
Jessica Zhou is from Michigan and graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in Polymer Science. At CWRU she conducted research under Dr. Gary Wnek and pursued various internships relating to materials science and biology and biomaterials. She joined the Simunovic lab in 2020 and is engineering a biomietic platform to reconstitute human intestinal development. She is interested in understanding how the intestinal microenvironment impacts gut health and finding ways to translate it into personalized medicine. Her side projects include perfecting her mouth pipetting technique, hanging out with Corey's dog Nigel, and eating her way through NYC like a sentient gut organoid.
Wallis Boyd
PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering
Born and raised in central Connecticut, Wallis comes from the University of Connecticut where he worked in Prof. Leslie Shor’s lab on agricultural biotechnology. He joined the Simunovic lab in 2020 and now develops technologies for controlled stem cell differentiation through synthetic biology. He is interested in studying the genetic mechanisms of human development until his inevitable transformation into a mad scientist with dreams of killing Spiderman.
Baltasar Andrés Lopez Sardi
PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering
Baltasar grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to Florida where he ended up getting his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Florida. At UF, he studied potential methods to treat Type 1 Diabetes using oxygen generating biomaterials and islet cells under Dr. Cherie Stabler. After graduation, Baltasar moved to New York City to pursue a Chemical Engineering PhD. He joined the Simunovic Lab in 2021 and is interested in unraveling the mysteries surrounding organogenesis through tissue engineering and biomaterial research. Outside the lab, Baltasar enjoys exploring NYC, traveling, and trying to obtain tickets to a Bad Bunny concert.
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Walter Piszker
PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering
Walter is from Los Angeles, California and received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from U.C. Berkeley in 2019. He researched NMR spectroscopy under Dr. Alex Pines and Dr. Ashok Ajoy before pivoting to mathematical modeling of immune response under Dr. George Brooks. Following a stint in Boston as a patent agent for medical devices and biotechnology, Walter moved to New York and joined the Simunovic Lab in 2021. He leverages synthetic biology and tissue engineering to understand the genetic, epigenetic, and biomechanical regulation in cell fate specification, aimed at advancing tissue regeneration and rejuvenation. Walter enjoys going fast on his road bike and cooking culinary marvels.
Aviral Misra
Research assistant
Aviral is originally from Olathe, Kansas and graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined the Simunovic Lab as an undergraduate student in 2022 and is continuing on as a research technician. Aviral develops reprogramming approaches to generating precise tissues in a lab. In his free time, he enjoys reading, watching TV, hanging out with friends, and rooting for his hometown sports teams like the Jayhawks and the Chiefs.
Ryan Lim
PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering
Ryan was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and received his undergraduate degree from New York University in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a concentration in Business Studies. As an undergraduate, he worked under the guidance of Professor Jin Ryoun Kim and conducted research focused on studying the aggregation of β-glucosidase variants and their change in enzymatic activity under nondenaturing conditions. After graduation, Ryan joined the Simunovic lab in 2022 and is interested in utilizing stem cell models to elucidate the basic molecular mechanisms of lineage specification and tissue patterning in embryogenesis across mammals. Outside of the lab, Ryan enjoys chilling with the homies, making clothes, and traveling.
Athena Pagon
Research assistant
Athena is from Kingston, Jamaica and graduated from Columbia University in 2023 with a BSc in Biomedical Engineering and Dance. Her undergraduate research in the Cellular Engineering Lab under Dr Clark Hung involved optimising the decellularization of donor synovium tissue to develop in vitro disease model scaffolds for studying Rheumatoid Arthritis. She joined the Simunovic Lab in October 2023 to explore new topics in biomedical research and combine her interests in tissue engineering and organogenesis. When not breaking lab records for most qPCR plates in a day, Athena can be found dog-sitting, screaming her heart out at concerts, and chatting about Bluey with the kids she volunteers with at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.
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Olivia Teng
Undergraduate at Barnard College
Olivia grew up in Long Island but now calls Brooklyn, New York home. She is a junior at Barnard College majoring in Biophysics. Olivia started her undergraduate research journey at the Perinatal Pathways Lab where she studied how the physiological effects of life stress predict preterm birth risk. In 2023, Olivia joined the Simunovic Lab with an interest in understanding how mechanical cues direct early cell fate decisions in making the placenta. When not in lab or class, she enjoys training in ballet and trying cafes across the city in pursuit of identifying the best matcha latte.​
Aman Mahajan
Postdoctoral associate
Aman was born and brought up in India. He graduated from Punjab Technical University with a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology. He then completed his master’s and Ph.D. from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in the lab of Prof. Dhirendra S. Katti. At IIT Kanpur, he focused on developing injectable hydrogels and exploring the use of stem cells for tissue engineering applications. His doctoral research deepened his interest in applying the principles of material science in biological systems. Following this, Aman moved to New York and joined the Simunovic Lab in 2024 where he studies the development of placental vasculature through the integration of stem cell research and tissue engineering. Beyond the lab, Aman enjoys playing table tennis, represents Einstein XI in cricket and loves exploring new places and food in the streets of New York.
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Linlin Wu
Postdoctoral associate
Linlin comes from China where she obtained her PhD at the University of Science and Technology of China. During her graduate studies, she focused on somatic cell reprogramming induced by transcription factors, especially non-Yamanaka factors and small molecule compounds. She joined the Simunovic lab in 2024 to study the epigenetics of cell fate decisions in the placenta. She studies the regulatory mechanisms underlying the differentiation of intra- and extra-embryonic tissues using stem cell models of development.
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Mohsen Chaherli
Undergraduate at Columbia Engineering
Mohsen, originally from Tunisia, joined the Simunovic Lab in 2024 as an undergraduate majoring in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Applied Mathematics. His current research uses genetic engineering techniques (CRISPRa/CRISPRi) to reprogram cells and study human organogenesis. After graduating, he wants to pursue a PhD and develop biotherapeutics and gene therapies. Outside the lab, Mohsen enjoys traveling and spending time with his eight cats.
Rishab Kottooru
PhD student in Chemical Engineering
Rishab was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and got his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Arizona State University. As an undergraduate, Rishab pursued research in image reconstruction under Dr. Mirjeta Pasha. He additionally wrote an honors thesis titled “A Study on the Relationship between Data Leakage and the Overoptimistic Estimates of the Performance of Machine Learning Models.” whose thesis committee was Dr. Visar Berisha, Dr. Gautam Dasarathy, and Pouria Saidi. During his junior and senior years of college, Rishab pursued a year-long internship at Intel Corporation as an Ocotillo Technology Fabrication Process Engineer Undergraduate Intern. In the Simunovic lab, Rishab hopes to utilize his Machine Learning background in order to design human tissues, and to even further understand how human tissues are made. In 2024, Rishab was awarded the Avanessians Data Science Fellowship. Outside of research, Rishab likes to go to the gym, break dance, snowboard, and watch movies.