Umut Gurkan, PhD
Wilbert J. Austin Professor of EngineeringDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringCase School of EngineeringMemberPopulation and Cancer Prevention ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: umut@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.6447
The Case Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Lab team is composed of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, visiting scholars, interns, and junior researchers under the direction of Umut Gurkan, PhD. We're also proud to have a number of lab alumni who have worked with us in the past.
Graduate Students
Yuncheng Man
BS, Dalian University of Technology, Mechanical Engineering
PhD student
Email: yxm278@case.edu
Biosketch:
Yuncheng Man received his Bachelor of Science degree in
Mechanical Engineering from Dalian University of Technology, China in 2016. His undergraduate work was focused on microfabrication, especially on fabricating microsensors for electrochemical detection. In fall 2016, he has joined CASE-BML in CWRU as a direct PhD student. His current research focus is on microfabrication, microfluidics, and biomedical devices.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Arwa Fraiwan, PhD
PhD, State University of New York-Binghamton, Electrical
Engineering
MS, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Electrical
Engineering
BS, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Electrical
Engineering
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Email: axf311@case.edu
Biosketch:
Arwa Fraiwan received her PhD in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 2016, During her PhD study she worked on the development of portable, low cost and disposable power supplies for powering biosensing platforms in resource-limited environments using paper-based microbial fuel cells. She has published 15 journal articles and 15 refereed conference proceedings. Her research interests include biofuel cells, and the development of affordable point-of-care biosensing and diagnostic tools for use in low-resource settings. She joined CASE-BML in summer 2016.
View Fraiwan's Google Scholar Citations
Interns
Grace Gongaware
Scientific Art Intern
Visual Design Artist at MIM Software
Email: ggongaware@student.cia.edu
Biosketch:
Grace Gongaware was a student at the Cleveland Institute of Art where she majored in Biomedical Art. As a biomedical illustrator, her goal is to communicate scientific subject matter visually. Through her studies she has created works under an array of scientific fields, including zoology, human anatomy, histology, anthropology, botany, and entomology.
Courtney Fleming
Scientific Art Intern
Email: cefleming@student.cia.edu
Lab Alumni
Yunus Alapan, PhD
PhD, Case Western Reserve University, Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering (2016)
MS, Yildiz Technical University, Mechanical Engineering
BS, Yildiz Technical University, Mechanical Engineering
Dissertation Title: Microfabricated Systems Integrated with
Biomolecular Probes for Cell Mechanics
Current Position: Postdoc at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Humboldt Fellow
Email: alapan@is.mpg.de
View Alapan's Google Scholar Citations
Ryan Ung, MS
MS, Case Western Reserve University, Biomedical
Engineering (2016)
BS, Case Western Reserve University, Biomedical Engineering
(2015)
Current Position: Technical Service Engineer at Epic
Email: ryan.ung@case.edu
Myeongseop (James) Kim, MS
MS, Case Western Reserve University, Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering (2016)
BS, Cedarville University in Ohio, Mechanical Engineering
Thesis Title: Micro-Gas Exchanger for Oxygen Tension Control in
Biological Microfluidic Systems
Current Position: Researcher at Agency for Defense Development in South Korea
Email: mykms0321@naver.com
Muhammad Noman Hasan
MS, The University of Akron, Mechanical Engineering
BS, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Mechanical Engineering
PhD candidate
Email: mnh38@case.edu
Biosketch:
Muhammad Noman Hasan received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh & Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Akron, USA in 2009 and 2014, respectively. His undergraduate work focused on computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer for convective heat transfer. The research was focused on convective heat transfer within complex enclosure. His MS work focused on numerical analysis of droplet and continuous filament deformation for direct print systems. In fall 2014, he has joined CASE-BML in CWRU as a PhD Student. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Noman has published five+ papers in peer-reviewed journals.
View Noman's Google Scholar Citations
Erdem Kucukal
MS, Case Western Reserve University, Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering
BS, Kocaeli University, Mechanical Engineering
PhD student
Email: exk238@case.edu
Biosketch:
Erdem Kucukal received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Kocaeli University, Turkey and Case Western Reserve University, USA in 2010 and 2015, respectively. He has been involved in the studies of several computational heat transfer projects as well as the use of PEM fuel cell technology in motorized vehicles for his undergraduate thesis work. His master’s work primarily focused on the numerical & experimental investigations of fluid flow within a hydrocyclone separator by means of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Computational Fluid Dynamics. In Spring 2015, he joined CASE-BML in CWRU as a PhD student. Some of his research interests include microfluidics, micro-PIV, CFD, biofluids, and applied math.
Mark Lewandowski
BS, Case Western Reserve University, Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering
MS student
Email: mark.lewandowski@case.edu
Biosketch:
Mark Lewandowski received his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in the spring 2016 and is currently working towards his masters in the BS/MS program. Mark joined CASE-BML in the fall of 2015 and has been developing a portable syringe pump and portable imaging system for micro-fluidic chips. Mark is interested in the design of medial devices, especially those which leverage mechanical properties of cells, bio-markers, tissue, etc.
Past Members
Ping He, MD, PhD
MD, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University
MS, School of Medicine, Fudan University
PhD, School of Medicine, Fudan University
Sr. Research Associate, Lab Manager
Email: pxh36@case.edu
Biosketch:
Dr. Ping He received her MD in School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. She received her Master degree and PhD degree from School of Medicine of Fudan University in Shanghai, China. Her Master study was Molecular Biology and gene engineering. Her PhD study was Gene therapy of cancer. She has 15+ years of experience in clinic as a physician in China. She also has many years of work experience on bone biology, molecular cardiology, and biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic. She joined CASE-BML in summer of 2014 as a Senior Research Associate & Lab Manager.
Birnur Akkaya, PhD
PhD, Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Science, Department of
Chemistry, Biochemistry
MS, Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Science, Department of
Chemistry, Biochemistry
BS, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of
Chemistry
Visiting Scholar, TUBITAK Fellowship
Email: bxa185@case.edu
Biosketch:
Birnur Akkaya received her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry from Cumhuriyet University, TURKEY in 2005 and 2009, respectively. Her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy theses are focused on Bioaffinity Chromatograsphy by using batch and continuous system which was supported by Prof. Dr. Adil Denizli at Hacettepe University Department of Biochemistry. Birnur also did research on Protein Purification, Enzymology, Metalloproteins, Preparation of Biodegredable materials. After Ph.D., she studied Microbial and Biochemical Technology which was supported by Prof. Dr. Ali Fazil Yenidunya at Cumhuriyet University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. She has published 16 papers in peer reviewed journals. In fall 2016, she has joined CASE-BML in CWRU as a visiting scholar supported by a TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) fellowship.
Ceonne Kim
BA, Case Western Reserve University, Biology and Psychology
Clinical Research Assistant
Email: cxk223@case.edu
Biosketch:
Ceonne received a Bachelor of Art degree in Biology and Psychology from Case Western Reserve University in 2014. During her undergraduate years, she worked both in a basic science laboratory and in clinical research, focusing on cancer biology and sickle cell diseases. She joined CASE-BML in the summer of 2014 to continue sickle cell research. Ultimately, she plans to pursue her career in medicine.
Anima Adhikari
BS, George Mason University, Biology
Clinical Research Assistant
Email: axa781@case.edu
Biosketch:
Anima received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from George Mason University in Virginia. During her undergraduate years, she worked in Molecular and Microbiology lab, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. She joined CASE-BML in summer of 2015.
Tolulope “Tolu” Rosanwo
BA, University of Chicago, Biological Sciences
Research Assistant
Email: tor4@case.edu
Biosketch:
Tolulope “Tolu” Rosanwo received her BA in Biological Sciences from the University of Chicago in 2014. Her undergraduate work focused on the role of Krüppel-Like Factor 1 in early erythroid differentiation. In July 2014, Tolu matriculated into CWRU School of Medicine, and she joined CASE-BML in CWRU in early 2015. Tolu is a member of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), a recipient of the ASH Minority Medical Student Award, and awardee of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Internship for the summer of 2015.
Collin Krebs
BS, Ohio State University, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Current Position: MD Student at University of Toledo
Email: jck124@case.edu
Biosketch:
Collin was a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University pursuing a master's degree in Medical Physiology. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from The Ohio State University in 2013. He is currently applying to medical schools in hopes of one day becoming a practicing physician.
Kaustav Bera
Undergraduate Student
Email: kaustav0bera@gmail.com
Biosketch:
Kaustav is a senior year student pursuing combined
B.Tech/M.Tech degree in Biotechnology and Biochemical
Engineering and minor in Chemical engineering at Indian institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. He joined CASE-BML as an exchange scholar (Khorana Program for Scholars, Indo-US Science and Technology Forum) and is developing a microfluidic rapid diagnostic system based upon RBC deformability. He likes working in interdisciplinary area involving biology and aspires to become a biomedical entrepreneur after his PhD.
Megan Romelfanger
Undergraduate Student
Email: mmr81@case.edu
Biosketch:
Megan Romelfanger is a second-year biomedical engineering student at Case Western Reserve University. She is specializing in biomechanics with a minor in mechanical engineering. Ultimately, she plans to pursue a career in the biomedical engineering industry. She joined the CASE-BML in the Spring of 2014.
Yumi Matsuyama
Undergraduate Student
Email: yxm128@case.edu
Biosketch:
Yumi is a third-year mechanical engineering student at Case Western Reserve University. Her past lab experiences were in the Department of Hematology and Oncology, and the Department of Ophthalmology. She joined the CASE-BML in the summer of 2014, and is planning on pursuing her master's at Case Western Reserve.
Aaron Tam
Undergraduate Student
Email: act48@case.edu
Biosketch:
Aaron Tam is currently a fourth year mechanical engineering student at CWRU. He is pursing a BS degree with an expected graduation date of May 2016. He joined CASE-BML in the Summer of 2015.
Kayla E. Gray
Undergraduate Student
Email: Kayla.Gray@case.edu
Biosketch:
Kayla Gray is an undergraduate research student currently pursuing her chemical biology and theater degrees at Case Western Reserve University. She has worked in a variety of lab settings for the past seven years with experience ranging from biochemistry to neurology to biomedical engineering. She is currently in the process of applying to medical schools with aspirations in clinical research.
Recent Publications: Belle V, Anka A, Cross N, Thompson Paul, Mott E, Sharmaa R, Gray K, Zhang R, Xu Y, Sun J, Flask CA, Oleinick NL, Dean D: Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Outcome and Associated Changes in the Blood-Brain Barrier Following Pc 4-PDT of Glioma in an Athymic Nude Rat Model. SPIE, Proceedings Photonics West 2012, 8207(82074T):1-9, 2012.
Rishe Sivagnanam
Undergraduate Student
Email: rxs621@case.edu
Biosketch:
Rishe Sivagnanam is a second-year biomedical engineer at Case Western Reserve University. He is specializing in biomechanics with a minor in mechanical engineering. He has previously worked at Cleveland Clinic in the Stem Cell Biology/Regenerative Medicine Lab. His eventual goal is to go into the biomedical engineering industry.
Alexander Weber
Undergraduate Student
Email: weber.594@osu.edu
Biosketch:
Alexander Weber is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering at The Ohio State University. He worked at CWRU as a summer 2013 undergraduate research student.
Paul Blumenkopf
Undergraduate Student
BS, Case Western Reserve University, Mechanical Engineering
Biosketch:
Paul worked on computer-aided design and microfabrication at CASE-BML in 2013.
Current Position: Equity Engineering Group
Ismail Sayin
MS, Case Western Reserve University, Biology
BS, Middle East Technical University, Molecular Biology
PhD student
Email: ixs115@case.edu
Biosketch:
Ismail is a PhD student in the Biology Department at Case Western Reserve University. His current research focus is on application of micro/nano technologies in understanding endothelial cell biology in physiological and disease states.
David Lin
Undergraduate Student
Email: dyl16@case.edu
Biosketch:
David Lin is currently a first-year biomedical engineering student at Case Western Reserve University. He is specializing in computational analysis with a minor in computer science, and is pursuing a BS degree at CWRU. He joined CASE-BML in the Spring of 2014.
Richang Shen
Undergraduate Student (Senior Design)
Email: rxs580@case.edu
Biosketch:
Richang Shen is a current senior mechanical engineering student at Case Western Reserve University. He has previously worked at Steris Corporation as a co-op student and is conducting his senior design project on 3D-printing for microfluidic chips at CASE-BML.
Zhenni Zhang
Undergraduate Student
Email: zxz222@case.edu
Biosketch:
Zhenni Zhang is pursuing Bachelor of Science degree in
Mechanical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. She is expected to graduate May of 2017. She started her first research experience at CASE-BML as of Fall 2013.
Junior Researchers
Asya Akkus
Middle School Student
Email: asyasroom@gmail.com
Biosketch:
Asya Akkus is a student at Stanford University online middle school. She is strongly interested in biosciences and physics. Asya pursues number of extracurricular activities including piano performance, Latin, and the study of formal logic.
Kevin Callanan
High School Student