Juan grew up in Guatemala, and went to school there and in Italy. He graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in Molecular Biology, and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Ph.D. in Biology. He worked as an HHMI LSRF Fellow in the Melton Lab at Harvard University, studying the physiological maturation of pancreatic islets. His interests include regenerative medicine, circadian rhythms, and organoids. Outside of lab, Juan enjoys film, music, travel, skiing, and chess.

Sam graduated from University of Maryland in 2019 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He worked for three years at AstraZeneca in Bioprocess Development, where he researched N-linked glycosylation, Raman chemometric modeling, and perfusion technologies. Broadly, Sam’s interests lie in researching and developing technologies for unmet medical needs—currently, optimizing pancreatic islet maturation and scale-up for therapeutic application. Outside the lab, Sam enjoys rock climbing, romantic date nights, snowboarding, beach volleyball and kicking it with friends.

Mai graduated from Purdue University in 2020 with a major in biological engineering and minors in computer science and biotechnology. He completed his master of biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2022, where he studied cell-specific gene expression using deep learning-enabled tissue labeling in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. His interests lie in cell therapy and regenerative medicine, including current projects on epigenetic control of human pancreatic islet maturation. Outside the lab, Mai enjoys playing video games and hanging out with friends.

Zihan Graduated from Purdue University in 2020 with a degree in Biological Engineering and a minor in Biotechnology. From 2020 – 2022, she pursued her master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in the Johns Hopkins University, where she explored the epigenetic and mechanotransducive regulation of PD-L1 expression in breast cancer cells. Zihan’s professional interests include tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cell therapy. Her personal interests include watching Chinese costume drama, cooking, baking, hiking, and traveling with friends.

Stephen graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2017 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Most recently, he worked for two years at a biotech company using directed evolution to engineer N-terminal amino acid recognizers for use in a time-domain protein sequencing instrument. Before this, he worked in labs at Johns Hopkins and the National Institutes of Health, focusing on immunoengineering and molecular gerontology, respectively. Stephen’s scientific interests include functional genomics, molecular engineering, experimental automation, and open science. He is a student leader of the Graduate Association of Bioengineers (GABE) and a Research Council Representative of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA). Outside the lab, he enjoys cooking, traveling, backpacking, and live music.

Yu graduated from New York University in 2024 with a major in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. His interests lie in biotechnology that creates tangible, real-world impacts on people's lives, driving innovations that improve health and well-being. Outside of lab, he enjoys playing golf, badminton, snowboarding, traveling, and exploring new and interesting things.

Zhihui graduated from Peking University in 2023 with a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, where she researched the mechanism of ColGalT1 in regulating EMT transformation in hepatocellular carcinoma and its specific inhibitors. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in biotechnology at Penn. Her research interests focus on regenerative medicine, with current projects exploring how genes regulate pancreatic islet rhythms and immune responses. Outside the lab, Zhihui enjoys playing video games, listening to music, and reading.

Akshaya is a second-year MSE student in Bioengineering. She graduated from Oberlin College in 2024 with a B.A. in Biology and has a strong passion for regenerative medicine. Her research interests center on bridging the gap between scientific advances in the field and their application to real-world health challenges. Outside of lab, Akshaya enjoys traveling, painting, and discovering new restaurants

Felicia graduated from UC San Diego in 2025 with degrees in Biochemistry and Psychology. During her undergraduate study, she explored how lipid droplet accumulation in microglia is regulated using CRISPR-Cas9 screening, studied Purkinje neuron transcriptomics in spinocerebellar ataxia, and investigated therapeutic targets in stem and progenitor cells for neurodegenerative diseases. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of the lab, Felicia loves dancing, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her cat.

Jingyi graduated from the University of Michigan in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biotechnology here at Penn. Her major interests include understanding the molecular basis of diseases and transferring theoretical knowledge into real world impact. Outside of the academics, Jingyi enjoys music, trying out different restaurants, traveling, and cooking.

Chi is a fifth-year medical student from VinUniversity, Vietnam. She is currently a visiting research student at the University of Pennsylvania for a two-month exchange (October–November 2025). Her clinical interests lie in endocrinology and internal medicine, and during this exchange she is exploring the circadian rhythm of pancreatic function. Outside of the lab, Chi enjoys watching movies, hanging out with friends, traveling, and listening to music.

Isabella Jabbour is a sophomore from Scarsdale, New York, on the pre-med track at the University of Pennsylvania. A Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar and published researcher, she has conducted research at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Columbia University, Boston College, and Johns Hopkins University. Her work spans gene-editing technologies, neurodegenerative disease research, sustainable biomaterials, and behavioral modeling. Beyond the lab, she is involved with the Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club, PUBS Consulting, MUSE Digital Consulting, The Walk Magazine, and Penn Appétit.

Jeff is a current sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences studying biochemistry. When you don't find him studying, you can see him in the gym, hanging with friends, or playing various sports. In his freetime, he enjoys watching movies, finding niche eating spots, and visiting tourist spots.

Luisa is a student at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a B.A. in Biology with a minor in Anthropology. She is passionate about translational research and integrating mathematical and computational approaches into wet lab experiments. Outside of the lab, Luisa enjoys hiking, attending concerts, engaging in science communication with children, and spending quality time with her loved ones.