
Principal Investigator
Graduate Students

Bassam Smadi
bassam.smadi@ufl.eduBassam Smadi is a first year Master of Science student studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. Currently, Bassam is developing a nerve-graft using 3D printing under a joint-collaboration project with Axogen Inc. He is also working on the design and fabrication of Dura Mater testing apparatus. His research interests include neural engineering, stimulation and recording of the nervous system, electrochemical characterization, and 3D Printing. After his master’s degree, he intends to pursue a MD/PhD with a focus in Biomedical Engineering. He usually spends his free time leading the UF Men’s Gymnastics Team which entails being upside, flipping, and running at still objects at full speed.

Farid Elhaddad
farid.elhaddad@ufl.eduDesigning and 3D Printing Energy Mitigating Structures

Alex Kahn
alexkahn454@ufl.eduAlex Kahn is a Master of Science Student majoring in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. Alex completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida in the Spring of 2020. Alex is currently working to complete his master’s project and is studying the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on adolescent rats and the biological biomarkers found in the blood stream associated with TBI and Post-Concussion Syndrome.

Alex Knapp
a.knapp1993@ufl.eduAlexander Knapp is a third-year PhD student studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Florida. Currently, Alexander is developing a continuum-damage constitutive model of the anterior cruciate ligament for modeling purposes. His research interests include soft tissue biomechanics, non-linear elasticity, and finite element modeling of biological structures. When not in the lab, his main passion is choral music, and hopes to one day combine his degree and passions together in his research as a professor.

Ashma Sharma
ashmasharma@ufl.eduAshma Sharma is a fourth-year doctoral student under the advisement of Dr. Lakiesha Williams in Biomedical Engineering. Ashma is currently working at Tissue Mechanics, Microstructure, and Modeling Laboratory at University of Florida. Her research interest lies within studying the structure of tissue, cell culture, and mechanical property. She is currently working on the tissue engineered Dura project. Ashma received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Mississippi State University.

Jasmine Smith
ferrelljasmine@ufl.eduJasmine Smith is a second-year doctoral student in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Florida. She is currently working under the advisement of Dr. Lakeisha Williams in the Tissue Mechanics, Micro-structure, and Modeling laboratory. Jasmine previously attended Mississippi State University and obtained her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. Her research interest lies within the realm of studying injury mechanics of soft tissues, structure of soft tissues, and MRI technology application. She is currently working on the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) project where she is looking at the impact that mTBIs have on adolescents that are involved in sports. She is currently working with MRI to assess the brains of adolescent rats that have sustained mild head impacts. She will be working with MPI and nanoparticle technology soon.
Undergraduate Students

Dari Samson
dsamson@ufl.eduDari Samson is a third-year undergraduate Mechanical Engineering student. Her current project focuses on characterizing the mechanical properties of adipose tissue using a Digital Imaging Correlation system.

Maria Carbon
carbonmaria@ufl.eduMaria Carbon is a fourth-year biological engineering undergraduate student. She is originally from Panama City, Panama and loves everything fitness related. Currently, Maria is assisting mentor Alex Knapp in the mechanical testing of ACL tissue to develop a constitutive model.

Thapthim Bussararungsee
t.bussararungsee@ufl.eduThapthim Bussararungsee is a third-year undergraduate student studying biomedical engineering. She is from the panhandle of Florida so she loves the beach. Her hobbies include attending music festivals and trying a variety of enthic foods.

Bryce Chapman
chapmanb@ufl.edu
Bryce Chapman is a senior biomedical engineering student investigating the use of digital image correlation to characterize adipose tissue’s mechanical properties.
Name
Role in the lab
Where are they now?
Jennifer Bateman
Undergraduate Student
Mark Begonia
Graduate Student
Cameron Boswell
Graduate Student
Brenda Burke
Undergraduate Student
Kedisha Christie
Graduate Student
John Clemmer
Graduate Student
Erin Colebeck
Undergraduate Student
Debrah Davis
Graduate Student
William Dean
Undergraduate Student
Armoney Emmanuel
Undergraduate Student
Me’Lanae Garrett
Undergraduate Student
Ryan Gilbrech
Undergraduate Student
David Harbarger
Undergraduate Student
Jordan Hor
Undergraduate Student
Haden Johnson
Graduate Student
Julialake Landrum
Undergraduate Student
Michael Murphy
Graduate Student
Hemanth Nennapannini
Undergraduate Student
Adesola Oje
Undergraduate Student
Onyema Oyeka
Graduate Student
Renee Pietsch
Graduate Student
Samuel Pote
Graduate Student
Rahul Radhakrishna
Graduate Student
Sammira Rais Rohani
Undergraduate Student
Stephanie Ryland
Graduate Student
Emily Smith
Undergraduate Student
Taylor Szasz
Undergraduate Student
Nicholas Tilghman
Undergraduate Student
Kenyatta Washington
Graduate Student
Ashley Williams
Undergraduate Student
Thomas Cole Young
Undergraduate Student
Tissue Mechanics, Microstructure, and Modeling Lab
1275 Center Drive, JG-56
Biomedical Sciences Building
PO Box 116131
Gainesville, FL 32619