CENTER FOR ADVANCED
REGENERATIVE ENGINEERING

CURE Members

Execs

Ophelia Tong, Co-President, Bioactive Glass Team Lead

Ophelia is a senior undergraduate student at Northwestern University majoring in biomedical engineering and minoring and data science. She is interested in regenerative engineering and biomaterials. She enjoys fencing, baking, and loves to explore new bookstores and bakeries.

Angel Guo, Co-President, Bioactive Glass Team Lead

Angel is a junior undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience and Statistics. She is a current member in the Kiskinis Lab studying ALS using patient derived induced pluripotent stem cells. She’s excited to explore research outside of neuroscience by studying regenerative engineering. Outside of academics, she enjoys listening to jazz r&b, traveling, sailing, and snorkeling.

Karina Vasile, Menstrual Stem Cell Team Lead

Karina is a second-year undergraduate student at Northwestern University majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering. She is interested in tissue and organ engineering and their application to regenerative medicine. Karina is also a member of the Hisey Lab where she focuses on developing an in vitro placental model to study how placental extracellular vesicles can be used for fetal diagnosis. In her free time, she enjoys photography, traveling and running.

Riley Thornburgh, Treasurer, Menstrual Stem Cell Lead

Riley is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Chemical Engineering and Global Health. She is interested in biotechnology and regenerative engineering. On campus, she also is involved in AIChE, SWE, and club tennis. 

Debbie Silverstein, Menstrual Stem Cell Team Lead

Debbie is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Material Science and Engineering. She is a current member of the Sustainable Polymer Innovation Lab.

Will Collins, Hydrogel Team Lead

 Will is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in biomedical engineering with a minor in Psychology. In addition to his interests in medical technologies, he also enjoys running track and playing basketball.

Bioactive Glass Members

Pritika Jakka

Pritika is a first-year student majoring in biomedical engineering and on the pre-med track. She is interested in exploring more about regenerative engineering, along with the other aspects of BME.

 Emma Vinokour    

Emma is a second-year student majoring in Biological Sciences with minors in Biotechnology & Biochemical Engineering and Data Science.

 Andrew Kang    

Andrew is a sophomore studying neuroscience and music! In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, watching sports, and playing the clarinet!

Nidhi Thirthamattur    

Nidhi is a first-year student studying biomedical engineering and sociology. She is on the premed track and is excited to learn more about regenerative engineering in regard to wound healing. She enjoys trying new foods, exploring different places, and baking tasty recipes.

 Menstrual Stem Cell Members 

Jenny Chen    

Jenny is a second-year studying biomedical engineering and global health. She is currently a member of the menstrual stem cell team, researching the efficacy of menstrual stem cell exosomes in diabetic wound healing and exosome transport simulation. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating and biking by the lakefront.

Rose Saavedra    

Rosa is a first-year student studying Neuroscience on the pre-medical track. She is particularly interested in exploring how stem cell incorporation in regenerative medicine intersects with brain function, human behavior, and communication. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, staying active, reading, and trying all types of food.

Hydrogel Members

Natalia Barna    

Natalia is a second-year undergraduate majoring in Chemical Engineering and Neuroscience with a minor in Biotech & Biochemical Engineering. She’s really interested in synthetic biology and regenerative engineering research, and besides CURE, does research at the Tullman-Ercek lab. Some of her hobbies include playing violin and tennis!

Jonah Khersonsky

Jonah is a first-year studying biomedical engineering. He is on the hydrogel matrix team in CURE, where he is exploring the intersection of his two main interests: tissue regeneration and dermatology. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking.

Connor Lucido

Connor is a first-year student studying chemical engineering. He is especially interested in biotechnology and regenerative medicine.

team photos

CURE Alumni

                  Alex Beres

                  Taylor Brown

                  Elizabeth Campisi

                  Kate Chambers

                  Nora Chambers

                  Catherine Chen

                  Priya Dave

                 Joel Goh

                 Youssef Ibrahim                

                 Kira Jeffris

                 Susan Jeon

                 Ethan Lane

                  Eric Li

                  Lindsay Lipschultz

                 Serena Lyou

                 Ramon Neira

                 Katelynn Nguyen

                 Aashna Patel

                 Olivia Prado

                 Emma Rens

                 Palak Shah

                 Tristan Svoboda

                 Christopher Woodard

                 Kevin Xian