The Stevens Group - Group Members

		Professor Molly Stevens m.stevens@imperial.ac.uk
		Molly Stevens is currently Professor of Biomedical Materials and Regenerative Medicine and the Research Director for Biomedical Material Sciences in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. She joined Imperial in 2004 after a Postdoctoral training in the field of tissue engineering with Professor Robert Langer in the Chemical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to this she graduated from Bath University with a first class honours degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and was then awarded a PhD in biophysical investigations of specific biomolecular interactions and single biomolecule mechanics from the Laboratory of Biophysics and Surface Analysis at the University of Nottingham (2000). In 2009 she was awarded the Jean Leray Award from the European Society for Biomaterials, in 2007 the prestigious Conference Science Medal from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and in 2005 the Philip Leverhulme Prize for Engineering. She has also recently been recognised by the TR100, a compilation of the top innovators, under the age of 35, who are transforming technology - and the world with their work. Her previous awards include the Ronald Belcher Memorial Lecture Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry (2000) and both the Janssen Prize and the UpJohn Prize for academic excellence and research. She has a large and extremely multidisciplinary research group of students and postdocs/fellows. Research in regenerative medicine within her group includes the directed differentiation of stem cells, the design of novel bioactive scaffolds and new approaches towards tissue regeneration. She has developed novel approaches to tissue engineering that are likely to prove very powerful in the engineering of large quantities of human mature bone for autologous transplantation as well as other vital organs such as liver and pancreas, which have proven elusive with other approaches. This has led to moves to commercialise the technology (she is the co-founder of BioCeramic Therapeutics and InTiGen) and set-up a clinical trial for bone regeneration in humans. In the field of nanotechnology the group has current research efforts in exploiting specific biomolecular recognition and self-assembly mechanisms to create new dynamic nano-materials, biosensors and drug delivery systems.

Miss Maria Azevedo

Studying for PhD in Bioactive Materials For Cartilage Regeneration

Previously:

Researcher in Gastric Cancer and Infection by Helicobacter pylori, Institute of Pathology and Immunology, Universidade do Porto, Portugal [2005-2007]

Masters in Biochemistry, Universidade do Porto, Portugal, including final year research project "Phosphorylation of RIO2p, a protein involved in ribosomal synthesis" at Vrije Universitat van Amsterdam, The Netherlands [2001-2005]

Miss Pelin Çandarlıoğlu

Studying for PhD in new Bioactive Glass compositions for bone tissue engineering since 2009

Previously:

Engineer in Chemical Technologies and Analytics (Dipl. –Ing.), Technische Universität Wien (University of Technology Vienna), Austria [2007 - 2008]

Marie Curie Early Stage Training fellowship for “Bone tissue engineering with biological scaffold based on autolo gous cell transplantation”, Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für experimentelle und klinische Traumatologie, Vienna, Austria [2005 – 2006]

BSc in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Sabancı Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Turkey [2000 – 2005]

Miss Nia Bell

Studying for PhD in X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) characterisation of nanoparticles for their incorporation into biomaterials.

Previously:

MPhys Theoretical Physics, Durham University [2005-2009]

Miss Suwimon Boonrungsiman

Studying for PhD in Biological Nano-Structure of Bone. Joint with Dr. Alexandra Porter

Previously :

MSc in Biomaterials , Queen Mary University of London [2006-2007]

BSc in Biotechnology, Thammasat University, Thailand [2000-2004]

Mr Andre Chow

Studying for PhD in Developing Hydrogel Scaffolds for Stem Cell Transplantation.

Previously:

Surgical Trainee at Imperial College NHS Trust.

MRCS [2006]

MBBS [2004]

BSc [2003]

Mr David Clarke

Studying for a PhD in novel bioactive materials for bone tissue engineering

Previously:

MEng (Hons) in Aerospace Engineering, University of Sheffield [2005-2009].

Miss Kristy Cloyd

Studying for a PhD in Live Cell Raman Spectroscopy

Previously:

Placement Student conducting research into Live Cell Raman Spectroscopy under the Whitaker International Fellowship.

MSc in BioEngineering, University of Texas at Arlington jointly with The University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas

Mr John Dick

Studying for PhD in Self-Assembled Nanomaterials

Previously:

MEng in Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Canada
BEng in Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Canada

Mr Piotr Gryko

Studying for PhD in Gold-Peptide Nano-Aggregate Systems

Previously:

MSci in Physics, University College London, including final year project "Observation of interference effects in coherent diffraction of nanocrystals under X-ray standing-wave illumination" [2003-2007]

Joint with Dr Mary Ryan

Mr Matthew Hembury

Studying for PhD in Bio-functionalised Nanoparticles for Sensing and Cell Response [Joint with Dr Alexandra Porter]

Previously:

MSc in Engineering & Physical Science in Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London [2007-2008] Diplôme d'ingénieur de l'ENSEA, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l'Electronique et de ses Applications (ENSEA), France [2005-2008]

Miss Vanessa Lapointe

Studying for PhD in Nanostructured biomaterials for tissue engineering

Previously:

B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, USA [2003-2007]

Dr Nasrin Lotfibakhshaiesh

Studying for a PhD in Bioactive Materials for Bone Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Joint with Prof Robert Hill.

Previously:

Degree of Doctor in Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz, Iran.

Mr Stuart Lowe

Studying for PhD in Bioresponsive Nanoparticles

Previously:

MSc in Physics, University of Oxford [2004-2008]

Mr Oliver Mahony

Studying for PhD in Bioactive Scaffolds. Joint with Dr. Julian Jones

Previously:

MEng in Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London

Miss Jessica May

Studying for PhD in Tissue Engineering

Previously:

BS in Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, USA

Mrs Farina Muhamad

Studying for PhD in Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Previously:

MRes in Biomedical Research, Imperial College London [2006- 2007]

BSc in Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, USA [2002-2006]

Miss Elsie Place

Studying for PhD in Bioactive Materials in Bone Regeneration

Previously:

Anatomy Demonstrator, Birmingham University [2006-2007]

BSc in Anatomy, University of Bristol [2000-2003]

Miss Pinyuan Tian

Studying for PhD in Bioactive Materials for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Previously:

MSc in Biochemical Engineering, Northwest University [2006-2009]

Mr Ben White

Studying for PhD in Raman spectroscopy for tissue engineering

Previously:

MPhys Physics, University of Manchester [2005-2009]

Dr Michael Ball

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens’ Group from 2005-2008 researching Periosteal Stem Cell Differentiation

Previously:

Post-Doctoral Research Associate researching Biomaterials, National University of Ireland [2002-2005]

PhD in Biomaterials, Nottingham University [1998]

Dr Judith Belmonte

Post-Doctoral Marie Curie Research Fellow in Stevens’ Group since 2005 researching Electronic Micro-Machined Devices for Medical Applications

Previously:

PhD in Physics, University of Barcelona, Spain & Linköping Universitet, Sweden [1999-2003]

Dr Ian Bonzani

Graduated from Stevens' Group in 2008 with PhD in Tissue Engineering

Previously:

BSc in Biomedical Engineering, Worcester, USA

Miss Melissa Bovis

UROP student in Stevens' Group in 2007

Dr Nicholas Evans

Medical Research Council Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Stevens' Group from 2006 to 2009 researching Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation To Bone

Previously:

PhD in Diabetes Research, Kings College London [2000-2004]

Mr Yann Fredholm

Was studying for PhD in Bioactive Materials until 2009. Joint with Professor Robert Hill

Previously:

MEng in Materials Science and Engineering, Ecole polytechnique de l’universite de Nantes, France
MSc in Materials Chemistry, Universite de Nantes, France

Dr Julian H George

Graduated from Stevens' Group in 2009 with PhD in Nanostructured Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Previously:

MSc in Engineering and Physical Science in Medicine
BSc (1st Hons) in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science, Edinburgh University

Mr James Ghadiali

Studying for PhD in Bio-Responsive Nanomaterials

Previously:

MSc (1st Hons) in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Oxford

Dr Reza Ghazanfar

Studying for PhD in Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Previously:

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery), Guy’s & St. Thomas, London

Dr Shalini Gupta

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens' Group from 2008 to 2009 researching Bioresponsive Nanomaterials for Sensor Applications

Previously:

PhD in Chemical Engineering, NC State University, USA [2002-2007]
B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, IT-BHU Varanasi, India [1998-2002]

Dr Shoshanna Isaacson

Graduated from Stevens' Group in September 2007

Previously:

MRes in Nano Materials, Imperial College London
MChem (Hons) Chemistry, University of Leeds

Dr Gavin Jell

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens’ Group from 2003-2009 researching Tissue Engineering & Raman Spectroscopy

Previously:

PhD in Endothelial Cells and Orthopaedic Implant Failure, Queen Mary's University of London

Dr Liling Koh

Graduated from Stevens' Group in 2008 with PhD in Peptide-Based Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles

Previously:

BEng (1st Hons) in Materials Science & Engineering, Queen Mary's University of London

Dr Anna Laromaine

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens’ Group from 2005-2008 researching Peptide-Functionalised Nanoparticles for Sensing

Previously:

PhD in Chemistry, Inorganic Materials & Catalysis Laboratory, Institute of Materials Science CSIC-UAB, Barcelona, Spain [2005]

Mr Tomasz W Leja

Conducted MRes research project in 2007-2008 into the synthesis and characterization of monolayer protected gold nanoparticles for biomolecular interactions.

Previously:

MRes in Nanomaterials, Imperial College London [2008]

BSc (Hons) in Medical Sciences with Molecular Medicine, University College London [2007]

Mr James Liew

Exchange Student in Stevens' Group in 2008-2009 conducting research project into Protease Detection based on Microcantilever Array Technology in collaboration with the London Centre for Nanotechnology

Dr Erh-hsuin Lim

Was studying for PhD in Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Previously:

HF/BAPRAS Fellowship (Healing Foundation in partnership with British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons)
MRCS (Membership of The Royal College of Surgeons of England)
MB ChB (Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery), University of Dundee

Mr Michael Losak

Summer student from Yale conducting research project into electrospun scaffolds for tissue regeneration

Dr Caterina Minelli

Marie Curie Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Stevens’ Group 2006-2010 researching Self-Assembling Peptide-Polymer Systems

Previously:

International Center for Young Scientists, Japan [2005-2006]
PhD in Nanotechnology, Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne, Switzerland [2001-2004]

Mr Steve Mwenifumbo

Was studying for PhD in Nanostructured Materials for Cell Response

Previously:

MSc in Mechanical & Aerospace, University of Princeton, USA

Dr Rachel Osborne

Studying for PhD in Nanobiotechnology

Previously:

MEng in Material Science, Economics and Management, Trinity College, Oxford University

Mr Sameer Patankar

Conducted MRes research project into the effect of matrix stiffness on embryonic stem cell differentiation.

Currently:

Studying for PhD in Pharmacy, University of Nottingham

Previously:

MRes in Nanomaterials, Imperial College London
MSc in Advanced Neuro- & Molecular Pharmacology, University of Bristol [2002]
BSc(Hons) in Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham [2001]

Miss Alejandra Ruiz zapata

Conducted MSc research project into the angiogenic response to novel hypoxia mimicking bioactive glasses.

Previously:

MSc in Engineering & Physical Science in Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London [2007-2008]
BSc in Biomedical Engineering, Escuela de Ingeniería de Antioquia (EIA), Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud (CES), Colombia [1999-2003]

Dr Paulo Sardinha

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Stevens’ Group since 2007 researching Bioactive Materials & Bio-Inorganic Nanomaterials

Previously:

Post-Doctoral Research Assistant researching Specific Targeted Research or Innovation Project, University of Coimbra, Portugal [2006]
PhD in Biochemistry Technology, University of Coimbra, Portugal [2004]

Dr Robin Swain

Graduated from Stevens' Group in 2008 with PhD in Live Cell Raman Spectroscopy

Previously:

MSc in Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London [2004]
MSc in Applied Mathematics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada [2003]

Miss Ana Tiago Fernandes

Studying Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles assembly

Currently studying for her MSc in Biological Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

Mr Nick Walters

Biomaterials Technician & Laboratory Administrator in Stevens' Group from 2007-2009.

Previously:

BSc(Hons.) in Biochemistry, The University of Reading & Uppsala Universitet, Sweden [2003-2006]

Dr Daniel Aili

KAW Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Stevens’ Group since 2009 researching Functional Nanomaterials for Biosensing and Drug Delivery.

Previously:

Forum Scientium Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Linköping University [2008-2009]

PhD in Sensor Science, Linköping University [2003-2008]

Dr Heiko Andresen

German Research Foundation Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Stevens' Group since 2008 researching Bioactive Synthetic Peptides and the Bio-inspired Engineering of Artificial Receptor Structures in Polymers

Previously:

Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering [2003 - 2008]

PhD in Biochemistry, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering and University of Potsdam [2004-2007]

Engineer in Biotechnology (Dipl.-Ing.), Technische Universität Berlin (Berlin Institute of Technology)

Dr Helene Autefage

Post-doctoral research associate in Stevens Group since 2010 researching tissue-engineered constructs for bone and cartilage regeneration.

Previously:

PhD in Biomaterials science – Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France (2009) Development of osteoinductive calcium phosphate materials for bone healing.

Master in molecular, cellular and integrated pathophysiology – Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France (2004). Study of the role of a lysosomal enzyme in apoptosis.

Dr Anthony Callanan

Fellow in Stevens’ Group since 2010 researching extracellular matrix materials as tissue-engineered constructs for bone and cartilage regeneration.

Previously:

Post-Doctorial Research University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. 2009-2010.

PhD in Biomedical Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

Dr Lise de Jonge

Rubicon post-doctoral fellow in Stevens’ group since 2009 researching functional coatings for bone implantology.

Previously:

PhD in Biomaterials science – Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands.

Dr Yixiang Dong

Research assistant in Stevens' Group since 2008 researching electrospinning

Previously:

PhD in Bioengineering, National University of Singapore [2004-2008]

Dr Cristina Gentilini

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens' Group since 2008 researching Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Previously:

PhD in Chemistry, University of Trieste, Italy [2005-2008]

Dr Eileen Gentleman

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens’ Group since 2006 researching Bioactive Materials For Bone Regeneration

Previously:

PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, USA

Dr Silvia Goldoni

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens’ Group since 2010 investigating cell signalling regulated by mechano-sensing of substrates and scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Previously:

Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA

Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA studying the role of the extracellular matrix proteoglycan decorin in tumour growth and its potential as a therapeutic against malignancies.

Doctor in Medical Biotechnology, Universita’ di Modena, Italy

Dr Lijun Ji

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens' Group since 2008 researching Biomaterials

Previously:

Post-Doctoral Research Associate researching CNT Composite, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University of China [2005-2007]
PhD in Polymer Physics & Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences [2001-2005]

Dr Morgan Mager

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens' Group researching biological/inorganic interfaces for sensor and drug delivery applications.

Previously:

PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, California, USA

Dr Seth McCullen

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Steven's group researching bioactive scaffolds for osteochondral regeneration.

Previously:

PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University; North Carolina, USA

Dr Rekha Nair

Whitaker Foundation Post-Doctoral Researcher in Stevens' Group since 2010 researching the molecular signatures of induced pluripotent stem cells.

Previously:

PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Dr Eugene Pashuck III

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens’ Group since 2010.

Previously:

Tommy worked with peptide amphiphiles for applications regenerative medicine.

Dr Luis Rojo del Olmo

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens' Group since 2009.

Previously:

Institute of Polymer Science and Technology - Spanish National Research Council. Madrid, [2003 - 2009]

PhD in Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid [2008]

Master in Polymer Science [2004], Spanish Plastic and Rubber School - Institute of Polymer Science and Technology. Bachelor degree in Chemistry [2001]: Autonoma University of Madrid

Dr Nicolas Schaeffer

Post-doctoral Research Associate in Molly Stevens group since 2010, working on bio-responsive peptide coated gold nanoparticles.

Previously:

PhD in materials chemistry and nanoscale science with Pr. A.I. Cooper and Dr. R.Lévy, studying the formation of polymer coated gold nano-structures (University of Liverpool, Department of Chemistry.)

MsC in materials chemistry and analytical chemistry with Dr. J.L. Rehspringer and Dr. L. Charbonniere on the synthesis of magnetic organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures for biological imaging (Université Louis Pasteur, IPCMS, Cronenbourg)

BsC with Pr. M. Brust on the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles along DNA strands. (University of Liverpool, Department of Chemistry)

Dr Min Tang

Graduated from Stevens' Group in 2009 with PhD in Tissue Engineering. Joint with Dr C K Williams

Previously:

BSc in Chemistry, Tianjin University, China

Dr Olga Tsigkou

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Stevens' Group since 2008 investigating adult stem cell responses to bioactive glasses and nanocomposites & development of vascularised bone tissue using bioactive scaffolds. Joint with Dr Julian Jones

Previously:

Post-Doctoral Research Associate researching the Development of engineered vessels within a 3D porous scaffold, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA [2006-2008] Graduated from Stevens' Group in 2006 with PhD in Tissue Engineering

Miss Sabrina Skeete

Biomaterials Technician & Laboratory Administrator in Stevens' Group from 2009.

Previously:

MSc in Neuroscience, King's College London [2007-2008]

BSc(Hons.) in Neuroscience, University College London [2004-2007]

Mr Benjamin Simona

Exchange student from ETH Zurich (Switzerland) working for his Master’s thesis on monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles and lipid membranes.

Previously:

MSc in Molecular Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Switzerland [2009-present]. BSc in Life Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland [2005-2008].