Our Team
Ph.D. Students
Hi! I’m Norma, a PhD candidate working on the development of functional bioinks for 3D bioprinting applications. I completed my undergraduate studies in Biotechnology Engineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico. In my free time, I enjoy reading, discovering new coffee shops and visiting museums.
Norma Garza Flores
Hello everyone! I’m Gurpreet, a Master’s student currently working on developing an anti-infective surface coating for medical devices and PPE to eliminate surface transmission of bacteria and viruses. I just completed my B.A.Sc. degree in Nanotechnology Engineering at University of Waterloo with a focus in nanobiotechnology and nanomaterials. In my free time I love roller skating, hiking to find beautiful views and creating new makeup looks!
Gurpreet Kaur Randhawa
Hi, I’m Hugo and I am currently a Master’s student in the Hoare Lab. I am working on extracting and integrating natural plant antimicrobial compounds into natural-based hydrogel structures for use as wound dressings. I previously completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University in Chemistry where I was also in the co-op program. Outside the lab, I love to travel, go to wine tastings and to go cycling.
Hugo Lopes
Hi, I’m Kayla! I’m a PhD candidate working on drug delivery vehicles focusing on controlled release triggered by external stimuli. I completed my undergraduate degree here at McMaster in Materials Science and Engineering, followed by a one-year accelerated master’s on the topic of polymer coatings for orthopedic implants. In my free time I love to play and coach soccer. I also enjoy reading and going on hikes.
Kayla Baker
My name is Cameron and I am a Master's student in the Hoare Lab working on using starch nanoparticles for drug delivery. I recently graduated from McMaster's Chemical and Biomedical Engineering program, and completed my undergraduate thesis in the Hoare lab. In my free time I love swimming, sailing and hiking!
Cameron MacDonald
My name is Evelyn and I am a biomedical engineering Ph.D. student in Dr. Hoare’s lab! My research focuses on anti-infective hydrogel based materials and my role in these projects is primarily in bacterial testing. Outside of the lab I love running, dancing, and hanging out with my hairless cat, Scarlet.
Evelyn Cudmore
Hi everyone! I'm Mya, a Master's student working on creating anti-infective coatings surgical masks and synthesizing antimicrobial microgels for drug delivery applications. I recently completed my undergraduate degree in the Integrated Science program, concentrating in Chemical Biology. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading and learning how to bake!
Mya Sharma
¡Hi! I'm Alexis a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at Hoare Lab. I am currently working on tissue engineering and drug release . My background is in Dentistry, having graduated in 2013, and the completing an MSc in Biomedical Sciences in 2017. I then went on to train as a Periodontist (Gum health and Dental Implant Surgery) all in Mexican Institutions. Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with friends, sightseeing and shopping.
Alexis Larios Cervantes
Hello! I'm Meghan, a Biomedical Engineering Master's student in the Hoare Lab. I am working on developing nanoassemblies based on chelator-functionalized starch nanoparticles for delivery of actinium-225 to tumor cells. I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University where I received my B.H.Sc. in Biochemistry with a specialization in Biomedical Research. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, hiking, and weightlifting.
Meghan Kostashuk
M.A.Sc Students
Hi! I’m Parizad, currently a Master’s student in the Hoare lab working on fabricating plant-based polymer hydrogel films to use as wound dressings for individuals with fragile skin conditions. I recently completed my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering with a minor in biology from McMaster. In my free time outside of the lab I enjoy hiking, cooking and playing Mario Kart!
Parizad Katila
Undergraduates
Alumni
Lei Zhang
Post-Doctoral Fellow (2023 - 2026)
Survanshu Saxena
Ph.D (2021 - 2026)
Tracy Nguyen
Undergraduate (2025 - 2026)
Manar Ali
Undergraduate (2023 - 2025)
Abby Benyair
Summer Student (2025)
Ridhdhi Dave
Ph.D (2019 - 2025)
Andrew Lofts
Ph.D (2019 - 2025)
Mackenzie Belchos
Undergraduate (2024)
Doren Singh
Ph.D (2018 - 2024)
Gurpreet Kaur Randhawa
M.A.Sc. Student (2021 - 2023)
Charlotte Fleet
Summer Student (2023)
Dr. Afshin Abrishamkar (he/him)
Post-Doctoral Fellow (2020 - 2023)
Trent Ignaczewski
Undergraduate (2022 - 2023)
Cam Macdonald (He/Him)
Undergraduate (2022 - 2023)
Eva Mueller
Ph.D (2017 - 2022)
Thomas Kalab
Undergraduate (2022)
Vivek Kannan
Summer Student (2022)
Chloe Wu (she/her)
Undergraduate (2021 - 2022)
Simranjeet Singh (he/him)
Undergraduate (2021 - 2022)
Dr. Madeline Simpson (she/her)
Diane Kim (she/her)
Jonathan Que
Zheng Fu Zhou
Isabelle Poulin (she/her)
Mina Yeganeh
Yang Lu
Dabeer Abdul-Azeez
Riyadh Baksh
Nicholas Carbonara
Pamela Schimmer
Parmida Amid
Olivia Waite
Yasamin Allahverdi
Ali Affar
Shalimar Ramos
Mosana Abraha
Dr. Somiraa Said
Alan Mo
Nicola Muzzin
Ana Arezina
Lauren Weir
Rabia Mateen
Gero Padberg
Karishni Ramamoorthi
Nazrin Azeez
Jacob Saunders
Ashlyn Leung
Michel Syriani
Seamus Ingram
Dr. Brandon Corbett
Meghan Rothenbroker
Sydney Bell
Francis Yavitt
Caleb Seo
Dr. Trevor Gilbert
Helen Dorrington
Dr. Jianfeng Zhang
Haiming Luo
Dr. Xudong Deng
Dr. Varvara Pokrovskaya
Spencer Imbrogno
Samuel Suntharalingham
Katya D’Costa
Sara Amjad
Jacqueline Chau
Mathew Patenaude
Danielle Maitland
Prabhnoor Kaur
Summer Student (2025 - 2026)
Nahieli Preciado
Ph.D (2019 - 2026)
Saeid Tayebi
Ph.D (2021 - 2025)
Julia Sulug
Summer Student (2025)
Elaina Piliouras
Summer Student (2024 - 2025)
Chelsey Ellis
Undergraduate (2023 - 2025)
Ben Kertesz
Undergraduate (2024)
Jake Raycraft (he/him)
Summer Student (2023 - 2024)
Dr. Lisha Zhao
Post-Doctoral Fellow (2014 - 2023)
Nils Nordstrom
Undergraduate (2023)
Laura Weiler
Summer Student (2023)
Nada Ibrahim
Undergraduate (2022 - 2023)
Samaneh Toufanian (she/her)
Ph.D (2018 - 2023)
Emma Chalupka
Undergraduate (2022 - 2023)
Melaina Del Grosso
Summer Student (2022)
Hadeel Abu-Jazar
Summer Student (2022)
Sophia Andru
Summer Student (2022)
Madeline Sain (she/her)
Undergraduate (2021 - 2022)
Cynthia Pham (she/her)
Undergraduate (2018 - 2022)
Dr. Ali Akbari
Dr. James Bodnaryk
Blake Patterson
Makenzie Lamb
Michael Majcher
Michael Kiriakou
Elizabeth Keane
Elizabeth Keane
Alexandra Colville-Reeves
Dr. Zhicheng Pan
Lucas Jarrett
Cecilia Tran
Coulter Montague Szakaly
Shilpa Bhardwaj
Sophia Emerson
Terrel Marshall
Kathryn Whitesell-O’Melia
Kevin De France
Vishrut Panchal
Kelli Johnson
Amy Ling
Juliana Onesi
Dr. Wenwen Xu
Dr. Lukas Sadowski
Haniah Shaikh
Ahmed Koasmh
Dr. Rabia Mateen
John Vairo
Troy Stoner
Trevor Gilbert
Dr. Vitaliy Kapishon
Katelyn Chan
Zixin Zhang
Ali Abu Helal
Henry Yu
Ashutosh Kulkarni
Ivan Urosev
Xudong Deng
Donovan Ramkishun
Dr. Scott Campbell
Juhina Elmajdoub
Dennis Kinio
2012, 2014-2015
Owen Barrigar
Juhina Elmajdoub
Danielle Maitland
Stephanie Truelove
Rowen Moon
Justin Piazza
Syed Umair
Summer Student (2025 - 2026)
Nate Dowdall
Ph.D (2019 - 2026)
Asha Bouwmeester
Undergraduate (2025)
Olivia Pino
Summer Student (2025)
Isabella Jun
Undergraduate (2024 - 2025)
Emily Gaylard
Undergraduate (2024 - 2025)
Mandana Tavakolian
Post-Doctoral Fellow (2023 - 2024)
Owais Amir
Undergraduate (2023 - 2024)
Matt Campea (he/him)
Ph.D (2018 - 2023)
Sofia Bordignon
Undergraduate (2023)
Julia Pona
Summer Student (2023)
Youssef Emam
Undergraduate (2022 - 2023)
Colin Stark
Undergraduate (2022 - 2023)
Chloe Dawson (she/her)
M.A.Sc. Student (2019 - 2022)
Lauren Choi
Summer Student (2022)
Rosalie Wang (she/her)
Summer Student (2022)
Amber Monteiro (she/her)
Undergraduate (2021 - 2022)
Kevin Gulo
Undergraduate (2019 - 2022)
Anthony Delfino
Melanie Chung (she/her)
Elizabeth Keane (she/her)
Couper Smith
Laura Neely
Angela Pollinzi
Dr. Xiaoyun Li
Maya Ziolkowska
Bridget Latka
Maggie Zhu
Dr. Zohreh Farsangi
Yulia Shcherbakova
Victoria Kirkness
Albert Stancescu
Ali Babar
Menatalla Ellag
Anna Basatskaya
Maryam Badv
Francesco Vito
Alexander McKay
Angus Lam
Laura Carter
Dr. Fei Xu
Dr. Emilia Bakaic
Ugonwa Echendu
Abigail Go
Jennifer Boughton
Jonathan Dorogin
Annika Yardy
Kaylie Lau
Dr. Julijana Milosevic
Maria Budi Hartono
Kaleela Kadir
Mimi Deng
Carter McInnis
Ashutosh Kulkarni
Helen Dorrington
Courtney van Ballegooie
Scott Campbell
Jenny Chen
Ivan Urosev
Ian Gough
Dr. Daryl Sivakumaran
Sahil Azeez
Cameron Shaw
Sahar Mokhtari
Andrew McMillen
Rebecca Chu












