Prof. David Gracias

David Gracias is a leading researcher, inventor and educator who has made pioneering contributions to micro/nanotechnology, self-folding materials, and physical intelligence described in over 200 technical publications, including 14 original research papers in Science, PNAS, Nature-X and Science-X and has a citation h-index of 81.

Prof. Gracias has a primary appointment in the Johns Hopkins School of Engineering, and secondary appointments in Johns Hopkins Medicine and the School of Arts and Sciences. His academic training includes undergraduate studies at the highly selective Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, and a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University in the labs of two scientific greats, Gabor Somorjai and George Whitesides, respectively.

Several prestigious awards have recognized Prof. Gracias, including the NSF Career, NIH Director’s New Innovator, Beckman Young Investigator, Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar, and the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Award. He is an elected Fellow of leading cross-disciplinary international scientific and engineering societies, including the APS (Physics), RSC (Chemistry), AAAS (Science), AIMBE (Biomedical Engineering), and IEEE (Electrical Engineering).

Prof. Gracias is a prolific inventor with 37 issued patents and is involved in engineering translation and technology-transfer to society for which he has been inducted into the National Academy of Inventors (FNAI), which is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors.

Post-doctoral Researchers

Wei-Chen (Harry) Chen
Derosh George (He/Him)

Students working towards a Ph.D. degree

Timothy Coyle
Wangqu Liu (He/Him)
Soo Jin Choi (She/Her)
Christopher Acha (He/Him)

Students working towards a M.S. degree

Yiwei (Jerry) Li
Arun Tailor
Armeen Singh
Ruihan Zhao

Students working towards a M.S. degree (Section 2)

Hrishita Shah

Students working towards a B.S. degree (Section 1)

Bryan Hijam
Joey Gurwin
Irene Sung
Geonwoo Tom Ko

Students working towards a B.S. degree (Section 2)

Yoojin Nam
Aarushi Manian
Kayley Sanchez Forbes
Ezra Ju

Students working towards a B.S. degree (Section 3)

Helen Zhang
Andrea Wat
Samantha Ho
Sumanth Mahalingam

Alumni

Over 100 post-doctoral fellows, graduate students (PhD & MS), undergraduate researchers, high school students and high school teachers did research in the Gracias laboratory. They are excelling in academia, industry, medical practice and government careers.

Non-exhaustive Gracias Lab Alumni List.

Wei-Chen (Harry) Chen

Biography:

Harry is an electrical engineer whose past research focuses on energy-efficient computing hardware that brings memory and logic closer together. His PhD work centers on tightly coupled compute and memory architectures for more efficient AI hardware, linking device innovation with circuit and system design across materials, algorithms, and architecture research. Currently, Harry focuses on building an energy-efficient bio-computing system with a brain organoid.

Education:

  • Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering — Stanford University

  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering — National Taiwan University 

Research:

Harry is developing a bio-computing platform that spans manufacturing, interface electronics, and system evaluation, with a focus on fabricating the biological hardware, building the electronics needed to communicate with it, and characterizing the computational capabilities of the underlying biological substrate.

Email: [email protected]

Derosh George (He/Him)

Biography:

Derosh received his doctoral degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, Irvine, and his bachelor’s and master’s from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He then joined Princeton University as a postdoctoral researcher before moving to the Gracias Laboratory. Some of his previous research works include exploring various biomimetic microfluidics systems, synthesizing carbon nanowires with tunable microstructure, and tailoring carbon morphology using self-folding and capillary origami. Building on these previous experiences, Derosh wants to focus his future research efforts on developing advanced manufacturing methods and exploring their applications in different domains.

Education:

  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering – University of California, Irvine
  • Bachelor of Technology and Master of Technology (Dual Degree) in Mechanical Engineering – Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

Research:

In the Gracias Laboratory, Derosh is working on exploring and applying various self-folding methods to study the electrophysiology of brain organoids and uncover unique gastrointestinal drug delivery applications.

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derosh-george-035540129/

Timothy Coyle

Biography: 

Tim is a first-year PhD student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department. He was born in Maine and completed his undergraduate studies at Union College in New York, where he developed a research background in protein engineering with a focus on purification, characterization, and structural modeling. Afterwards, he joined Sanofi’s mRNA Center of Excellence in Boston as a Research Associate, where he worked on mRNA-LNP product development and characterization before joining Johns Hopkins. Tim enjoys football, golf, and exploring new restaurants throughout Baltimore.

Education: 
  • Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry – Union College, New York
Research Project: 

Tim’s work centers on developing bioresorbable microinjectors and delivery systems for biomedical applications, including drug delivery and biopsy.

Wangqu Liu (He/Him)

Biography: 

Wangqu is a final-year Ph.D. candidate in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department. He was born and raised in Yunnan, one of China’s most geographically and culturally diverse provinces. He received a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from Beijing Forestry University, where he focused on developing biomass-based sustainable nanomaterials for water treatment. He later joined the Johns Hopkins University for his M.Sc., where he worked on developing 3D printing functional hydrogel materials and shape-changing structures. In his free time, Wangqu is a reefer who keeps a reef tank with pacific corals and fish and a botanical hobbyist having a small indoor plants corner, and he also enjoys cooking and snorkeling.  

Education: 

  • Master of Science in Engineering in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering – Johns Hopkins University, USA 
  • Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering – Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China 

Research Project: 

Wangqu is currently working on the development of shape-morphing microdevices and related systems for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and biopsy. 

 Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wangquliu/ 

Soo Jin Choi (She/Her)

Biography:

Soo Jin is a fifth year PhD student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department. She was born in Korea, raised in Hong Kong, and received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was involved in Engineers Without Borders and research on 2D transition metal dichalcogenides. In her free time, she enjoys exploring cafes, traveling, and hiking.

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering – Washington University in St. Louis

Research Project:

Soo Jin is currently developing microinjectors for macromolecule delivery and 3D microelectrode arrays for cardiac organoids.

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soo-jin-choi-9a386b165/

Christopher Acha (He/Him)

Biography: 

Chris Acha is a fouth-year doctoral candidate in The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Raised in Prince George’s County, off suburbs of Washington, DC, Chris has a background in computational and experimental chemistry and polymeric physics in his alma mater, University of Maryland, College Park. He has conducted research with the National Institute of Health in his study on the role of NOX4 in Retinal Pigment Epithelium cell migration. He is a National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) member. Chris enjoys exploring the vibrant atmosphere of Baltimore City and, in his spare time, keeps physically active with boxing as a personal trainer and coach.

Education: 

  • Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering – University of Maryland, A. James Clark School of Engineering 
  • Associate degree in Health Studies – Prince George’s Community College

Research Project: 

Chris’s work focuses on 3D micro-integrated bioelectronics for biomedical engineering, including, biocomputing and advanced biosensors.

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-acha-1b29b6168

Yiwei (Jerry) Li

Biography:

Yiwei is from China and is currently pursuing a master’s dual degree in Biomedical Engineering and Electronic Information Engineering. His previous research focused on lipid metabolism dysregulation and cryo-EM data analysis, and his current work explores organoid intelligence through machine learning. Outside of research, he enjoys photography, listening to music, and reading visual novels. He is also an avid Type-Moon fan.

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology — Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China

Research:

Micro-electro fluidic arrays for Organoid Intelligence (OI) 

Email: [email protected]

 

Arun Tailor

Biography:

Arun is a first-year graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Raised in Chandler, Arizona, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduating with a B.S. in Bioengineering and a minor in Business. His interests are in biomedical engineering, soft robotics, and surgical technologies, with a strong focus on biomechanics and patient centered innovation. ​Along with his studies, he works remotely at Intuitive Surgical as a Clinical Data Specialist and is also an active member of the American Society of Biomechanics for which he founded the student chapter at Johns Hopkins University. In his free time, Arun enjoys outdoor adventures such as kayaking, zip lining, and snorkeling, and he recently retired from dancing competitively.

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Grainger College of Engineering

Research:

Developing encapsulated microrobots for extended targeted drug delivery.

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/arun-tailor

Armeen Singh

Biography:

Armeen Singh is a first-year master’s student in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Raised in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, India, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering with a minor in Materials Science Engineering at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. His academic interests include electronic materials, microfabrication, bioelectronics, and optoelectronics. In his free time, he enjoys reading history, visiting museums and art galleries, and going to the gym.

Education:

  • Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering—Punjab Engineering College, India

Research:

Micro-integrated bioelectronics for biomedical engineering

Email: [email protected]

 

Ruihan Zhao

Biography:

Ruihan is from China and is currently pursuing an MSE degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Her previous research has primarily focused on natural product modification, the development of nitric oxide (NO) donor drugs to reduce intraocular pressure, and the enhancement of drug formulations. Outside of her research, she enjoys playing chess and creating digital art.

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Basic Pharmacy — China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China

Research:

Development of Untethered Microgrippers and Microinjectors, and the construction of a subsequent delivery platform.

Email: [email protected]

 

Hrishita Shah

Biography:

Hrishita Shah is from Mumbai, India, and is currently a first-year master’s student at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a degree in Biotechnology. She completed her undergraduate studies at Penn State, where she built a strong foundation in molecular biology, cancer biology, and statistics. Her previous academic experience has shaped her interest in cancer therapeutics, gene therapy, and translational research at the intersection of biology and engineering. Outside of research, she enjoys reading and exploring new places

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology — Penn State University

Research:

Microfluidic and electrophysiology-based approaches for studying brain organoids

Email: [email protected]

 

Bryan Hijam

Biography:

Bryan is a undergraduate research from Baltimore, Maryland, majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. During high school, he conducted research at the Zarif Laboratory at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he studied the targeting of signaling pathways for prostate cancer immunotherapies. On campus, Bryan is actively involved in Engineers Without Borders, Rockhoppers, and intramural sports, including flag football and basketball. In his free time, he enjoys working out, exploring new restaurants, and playing video games.

Education:

  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Johns Hopkins University

Research Project:

Bryan is research engineering bioresorbable micro-grippers for oral drug delivery

Email: 

[email protected]

LinkedIn: 

www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-h-66b6802b9

Joey Gurwin

Biography:

Joey is an undergraduate researcher majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and has professional experience working at Grant Medical Center as well as on his family’s farm. He is also a member of the varsity baseball team at Johns Hopkins University.

Education:

  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Johns Hopkins University

Research:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/joseph-gurwin-075372342

Irene Sung

Biography:

Irene is from Seoul, Korea and is an undergraduate researcher at Johns Hopkins University studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She is involved in GreenHacks and the Committee for Student Elections. In her free time, she enjoys reading and playing the oboe.

Education:

  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Johns Hopkins University

Research:

Developing microdevices for extended drug delivery

Email: 

[email protected]

 

Geonwoo Tom Ko

Biography:

Tom is an undergraduate researcher at Johns Hopkins University studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in Seoul, South Korea. He is involved in the Johns Hopkins Korean Student Association (KSA), Tau Beta Pi, and Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA). In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and listening to music.

Education:

  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering – Johns Hopkins University

Research:

Studying diffusion-reaction kinetics using microfluidic device

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geonwoo-ko-3a9a52279/

 

Yoojin Nam

Biography:

Yoojin is an undergraduate researcher at Johns Hopkins University majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She was born in Seoul, South Korea and has lived in Minnesota (US) and Belgium. Yoojin is a member of AIChE and Blue Jay Bhangra. In her free time, Yoojin likes to watch movies, make drinks (latte, macchiato, etc.), and bake.

Education:

  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Johns Hopkins University

Research Project:

Yoojin is currently working on bio-fabrication techniques

Email: 

[email protected]

 

Aarushi Manian

Biography:

Aarushi is an undergraduate researcher at Johns Hopkins University from Houston, Texas, majoring in Electrical Engineering. She is involved in Baltimore Robotics Mentoring and Eclectics and is a member of Astro Jays. In her free time, Aarushi enjoys baking, doing outdoor activities, and various crafts.

Education:

  • Electrical Engineering – Johns Hopkins University

Research Project:

Research focused on neural organoids robot control interface using an arduino controller

Email: [email protected]

Kayley Sanchez Forbes

Biography:

Kayley is from Sterling, Virginia, and is currently a undergraduate  researcher majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Computer Science at Johns Hopkins. She is currently involved in the JHU Speech and Debate team and volunteering for the Charm City Science League. In her free time, Kayley likes to read and play the piano.

Education:

  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Johns Hopkins University
Research project: Kayley is currently working on a review of origami microelectromechanical systems.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kayley–sanchez–forbes
Email: [email protected]

Ezra Ju

Biography: 

Ezra is an undergraduate researcher from New York studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He serves as a class representative for the Johns Hopkins American Institute of Chemical Engineers chapter and competes for the Hopkins Sport Taekwondo team. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar and mentoring a FRC team that serves the public high schools of Baltimore.

Education:
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering – Johns Hopkins University
Research: 
Developing ingestible micro-grippers for extended drug delivery.
Email: [email protected]
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezra-ju-a263032a4/

Helen Zhang

Biography:

Helen is from California, United States, and an undergraduate researcher at Johns Hopkins University majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She is involved in HSWET, and outside the lab, Helen enjoys mentoring students in STEM, cheerleading, and promoting sustainability initiatives.

Education:

  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Johns Hopkins University

Research Project:

Helen is currently working on bio-fabrication techniques

Email: 

[email protected]

 

Andrea Wat

Biography:

Andrea is an undergraduate researcher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, studying materials science and engineering at Johns Hopkins. Outside of research, she is involved with The HOP, Doctors Without Borders, Blue Key Society, and ABC Health. In her free time, she enjoys event planning, swimming, and trying new restaurants in Baltimore.

Education:

Materials Science and Engineering – Johns Hopkins University

Research:

Andrea is currently working on developing microdevices for extended drug delivery applications.

Email: [email protected]

Samantha Ho

Biography:

Samantha is an undergraduate researcher from Fredericksburg, Virginia. She is majoring in Biomedical Engineering. She is involved in the Homewood Chamber Music Seminar and her BME Design Team. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, drawing, running, and spending time with her friends.

Education:

  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Johns Hopkins University

Research Project:

Samantha is currently working on bio-fabrication techniques, self-rolling cellular biosensors in microtubes for pulmonary hypertension

Email: 

[email protected]

 

 

Sumanth Mahalingam

Biography:

Sumanth is a freshman undergraduate researcher from San Jose, California. He is double majoring in Biophysics and Applied Mathematics/Statistics. He is an active member of the Hopkins Debate team and the Sustainable Hopkins Innovative Projects. In his free time, Sumanth likes to read nonfiction, bake, go on a run, or listen to music.

Education:

  • Undergraduate Student at Johns Hopkins University. Majors: Applied Mathematics and Statistics (BS), Biophysics (BA)

Research:

Engineering orally bioavailable micro-grippers for the delivery of antibodies, as well as the design of hydrogels in drug delivery.

Email: [email protected]
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumanth-mahalingam-49bb08227