Principal Investigator
Cole A. DeForest, Ph.D.Weyerhauser Endowed Professor
Associate Professor & Assoc. Chair for Graduate Studies, Chemical Engineering
Associate Professor, Bioengineering
Adjunct Associate Professor, Chemistry
Core Faculty, Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine
Faculty, Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute
profcole at uw dot edu
303.506.9725
CV (Updated 10/2018)
Postdoctoral Scholars
Yusuke Suita, Ph.D.
Joined Winter 2024
Co-mentored with Jim Olson (Seatle Children's)
Invent@SC Postdoctoral Fellow
yusuke dot suita at seattlechildrens dot org
Aakanksha Jha, Ph.D.
Joined Summer 2024
Co-mentored with Beth Lawlor (Seatle Children's)
Invent@SC Postdoctoral Fellow
aakanksha dot jha at seattlechildrens dot org
Graduate Students
Irina Kopyeva
Bioengineering PhD Student
Joined Fall 2019
NSF GRFP Fellow
Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Research Fellow (NIH T32)
ikopyeva at uw dot edu
Nicole Gregorio
Bioengineering PhD Student
Joined Fall 2020
NSF GRFP Fellow
negreg at uw dot edu
Ryan Francis
Chemical Engineering PhD Student
Joined Winter 2021
ITHS TL1 Fellow
ryfran at uw dot edu
Christina Yang
Chemical Engineering PhD Student
Joined Winter 2022
UW College of Engineering Dean's Fellow
syang35 at uw dot edu
Jack Hoye
Chemical Engineering PhD Student
Joined Winter 2022
jaho2148 at uw dot edu
Murial Ross
Bioengineering PhD Student
Joined Fall 2021
NSF GRFP Fellow
rossm789 at uw dot edu
Olivia Dotson
Molecular Engineering PhD Student
Joined Winter 2022
Co-advised with Kelly Stevens (UW Bioengineering)
NSF GRFP Fellow
opdotson at uw dot edu
Ryan Brady
Chemical Engineering PhD Student
Joined Winter 2023
John C. Berg Endowed Graduate Fellow
ITHS TL1 Fellow
bradyr18 at uw dot edu
Cyrus Haas
Chemical Engineering PhD Student
Joined Winter 2022
Co-advised with Neil King (UW Biochemistry)
NSF GRFP Fellow
cyhaas at uw dot edu
Hee Yun Jung
Bioengineering MS Thesis Student
Joined Fall 2023
elmo0213 at gmail dot com
Nicholas Lai
Chemical Engineering MS Thesis Student
Joined Winter 2024
lai1201 at uw dot edu
Michael Khawand
Applied Chemical Science and Technology MS Thesis Student
Joined Spring 2024
mk222 at uw dot edu
Undergraduates
Undergraduates are an integral and important part of the research taking place within the DeForest Research Group. Self-motivated students in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemistry, and Materials Science & Engineering are encouraged to contact Prof. DeForest by email with their CV and a short statement of interest. Preference will be given to underclassman with the intent of performing research over the duration of their time at UW, though all applicants will be considered.
Abhinav Adhikari
Chemical Engineering Major
Joined Spring 2021
abhinava at uw dot edu
Annabella Li
Chemical Engineering Major
Joined Winter 2022
UW MEMC Academic Year Research Accelerator Program Fellow
Goldwater Scholar, 2024
ali1325 at uw dot edu
Shivani Kottantharayil
Bioengineering Major
Joined Winter 2023
Washington NASA Space Grant Awardee
Mary Gates Research Scholar, 2024
shivapk at uw dot edu
Naomi Nam
Undeclared Engineering Major
Joined Spring 2023
Mary Gates Research Scholar, 2024
naominam at uw dot edu
Mimi Pham
Bioengineering Major
Joined Spring 2023
mpham02 at uw dot edu
Oumsri Priya
Bioengineering Major
Joined Spring 2023
UW COE Engineering Embassador
opriya at uw dot edu
Sammy Kravitz
Chemical Engineering Major
Joined Spring 2024
kravitzs at uw dot edu
Durva Patil
Chemical Engineering Major
Joined Spring 2024
durvap at uw dot edu
Lab Alumni
Koichiro Uto, Ph.D.
Bioengineering
Postdoctoral Researcher, 2015-2016
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow for Research Abroad, 2015-2016
flatronl1753s at gmail dot com
Current position: ICYS-MANA Researcher, MANA, NIMS
Ivan Batalov, Ph.D.
Bioengineering
Postdoctoral Researcher, 2017-2020
Co-advised with Kelly Stevens (UW BioE)
Gree Foundation Postdoctoral Research Scholar
batalov at uw dot edu
Current position: Machine Learning Research Engineer, Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence
Teresa Rapp, Ph.D.
Chemical Engineering
Postdoctoral Researcher, 2019 - 2023
Washington Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow
trapp2 at uw dot edu
Current position: Assistant Professor, University of Oregon, Department of Chemistry
Eric Nealy, Ph.D.
Molecular Medicine, Mechanisms of Disease Program
PhD Student, Co-advised with Jim Olson (Fred Hutch), 2016-2021
Postdoctoral Researcher, 2021 - 2024
Fred Hutchinson Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Research Fellow
HHMI Gilliam Research Fellow
enealy at fredhutch dot org
Current position: Technical Consultant, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati (WSGR)
Oksana Dudaryeva, Ph.D.
Joined Winter 2024
Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar, 2024
from Riccardo Levato's lab, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Materials-Driven Regeneration Young Talent Incentives Fellow
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Chris Arakawa
Bioengineering / MSTP
PhD Student, 2014-2018
NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellow
arakawa0 at uw dot edu
Current position: Resident Physician, Stanford University; NIH / JSPS Postdoctoral Scholar, NIMS, Japan; MSTP Student
Barry Badeau
Chemical Engineering
PhD Student, 2014-2019
bbadeau at uw dot edu
Current position: Bonderman Fellow; Scientist, NeuBase Therapeutics
Jared Shadish
Chemical Engineering
PhD Student, 2014-2019
shadij at uw dot edu
Current position: Postdoctoral Scholar, NIH
Steven Adelmund
Chemical Engineering
PhD Student, 2015-2019
adelmund at uw dot edu
Current position: Research Scientist, Facebook Research Labs
Emily Ruskowitz
Chemical Engineering
PhD Student, 2015-2020
Postdoctoral Researcher, 2020-2021
ruskowit at uw dot edu
Current position: Scientist, BioMarin Pharmaceuticals
Ross Bretherton
Bioengineering PhD Student
PhD Student, 2018-2023
Co-advised with Jen Davis (UW Pathology)
NSF GRFP Fellow
ISCRM Graduate Fellow
rbreth at uw dot edu
Current position: Scientist, Novo Nordisk
Mary Boit
Chemical Engineering PhD Student
PhD Student, 2019-2023
Co-advised with Charles Murry (UW Pathology)
Bioengineering Cardiovascular Training Grant Fellow (NIH T32)
NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellow
mokelly at uw dot edu
Jeremy Filteau
Chemical Engineering PhD Student
PhD Student, 2020-2023
Co-advised with Elizabeth Nance (UW Chemical Engineering)
ARCS Fellow
ITHS TL1 Fellow
jfilteau at uw dot edu
Current position: Scientist, Chroma Medicine
Ryan Gharios
Chemical Engineering PhD Student
PhD Student, 2020-2024
John C. Berg Endowed Graduate Fellow
rtg19 at uw dot edu
Current position: Consultant, Boston Consulting Group
Brizzia Munoz-Robles
Bioengineering PhD Student
PhD Student, 2019-2024
ISCRM Graduate Fellow
bmunozro at uw dot edu
Mike Comerford
Chemical Engineering
Thesis MS Student, 2014-2015
mpc24 at uw dot edu
Current position: Staff Engineer, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center
Prathamesh Gawade
Chemical Engineering
Thesis MS Student, 2015-2016
prathg at uw dot edu
Current position: Consultant, Wipro
Luman Liu
Chemical Engineering
Thesis MS Student, 2016-2017
liul23 at uw dot edu
Current position: Doctoral Candidate, Iowa State University, Chemical Engineering
Rossana Scavone
Chemical Engineering
Thesis MS Student, 2018-2019
Fulbright Scholar
rossas at uw dot edu
Current position: Research Scientist, General Biodiesel
Arbel Sisso
Bioengineering MS Thesis Student
Thesis MS Student, 2017-2019
Fulbright Scholar
arbels at uw dot edu
Current position: Research Scientist, Collplant LTD
Kun-Lin Wu
Chemical Engineering MS Thesis Student
Thesis MS Student, 2019-2020
kunlinwu at uw dot edu
Current position: Doctoral Candidate, UC Davis, BME
Fariha Rahman
Bioengineering MS Thesis Student
Thesis MS Student, 2019-2020
farihar at uw dot edu
Current position: Doctoral Candidate, UNC Chapel Hill, BME
Jennifer Bennett
Chemical Engineering MS Thesis Student
Thesis MS Student, 2019-2021
jirvin2 at uw dot edu
Current position: Scientist, Just-Evotec Biologics
Jinge Xu
Chemical Engineering MS Thesis Student
Thesis MS Student, 2019-2021
jingex at uw dot edu
Current position: Doctoral Candidate, UNC Chapel Hill, Chemical Engineering
Luke Orr
Chemical Engineering MS Thesis Student
Thesis MS Student, 2021-2022
leorr at uw dot edu
Current position: Staff Engineer, US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center
Hope Vaughan
Chemical Engineering MS Student
MS Student, 2021-2022
hvaugha1 at uw dot edu
Current position: US Army
Yu-Ting (Jasmine) Chang
Bioengineering MS Thesis Student
MS Student, 2021-2024
yting619 at uw dot edu
Claire Anderson
Material Sciences & Engineering BS/MS Thesis Student
BS/MS Student, 2022-2024
andercea at uw dot edu
Magdalene Ho
Joined Winter 2024
Visiting Graduate Scholar
from Ben Almquist's lab, Imperial College London
Royal Commission exhibition of 1851 Industrial Fellow
Current position: Doctoral Candidate, Imperial College London
Austin Im
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2016
austinim at uw dot edu
Current position: Shift Test Engineer, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (for the Department of Defense)
Mira Liu
Chemsitry Major, Claremont McKenna College
Undergraduate Researcher, Summer 2016
mliu18 at students dot claremontmckenna dot edu
Current position: Doctoral Candidate, UC Berkeley, Chemistry
Payam Farahani
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2016-2017
Mary Gates Research Scholar
Washington NASA Space Grant Awardee
NSF GRFP Awardee
payamf at uw dot edu
Current position: Doctoral Candidate, Princeton University, Chemical & Biological Engineering
Julie Wolfe
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2017
jvwolfe at uw dot edu
Current position: Chemical Engineering Senior, University of Washington
Gabrielle Benuska
Biochemistry Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2014-2018
Washington NASA Space Grant Awardee
Washington Research Foundation Fellow
Undergraduate Research Leader at the Undergraduate Research Program
gbenuska at uw dot edu
Current Position: Consultant, Point B
Hannah Locken
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2017-2019
hlocken3 at uw dot edu
Current position: Engineer, Boeing
Clark Fang
Biochemistry Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2019
cfang7 at uw dot edu
Current position: Graduate Student, Tulane School of Medicine
Eric Yang
Bioengineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2017-2020
Levinson Scholar
CoMotion Mary Gates Innovation Scholar
Husky 100 Recipient
Husky Empowerment Award
Undergraduate Research Leader at the Undergraduate Research Program
eyangs at uw dot edu
Current position: Graduate Student, Harvard Medical School - Bioinformatics
Sebastian Kurniawan
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2018-2020
Mary Gates Research Scholar, 2020
kurniseb at uw dot edu
Current position: Engineer, Gore
Qasim Anjum
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2019-2020
Bowen Design Award, 2020
anjumq at uw dot edu
Current position: Engineer, SABIC
Alder Strange
Biochemistry / Psychology / Musical Theater Triple Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2017-2020
UW Presidential Junior Medal Recipient
Mary Gates Research Scholar
alderstrange at hotmail dot com
Current position: Medical Student (MD), University of Pennsylvania
Annie Garner
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2019-2021
Mary Gates Research Scholar
amcg2 at uw dot edu
Current position: Associate Scientist, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Abigail Garcia
Undeclared Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2021
Alliances for Learning and Vision for Underrepresented Americans (ALVA) Scholar
agarc392 at uw dot edu
Current position: Undergraduate, University of Washington
Francesca Abraham
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2021
fabraham at uw dot edu
Current position: Associate Scientist, Just-Evotec Biologics
Sarina Vafa
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2022-2023
svafa at uw dot edu
Current position: Associate Scientist, Just-Evotec Biologics
Jonah Kern
Bioengineering Major
Japanese Minor
Undergraduate Researcher, 2020-2023
Mary Gates Research Scholar
Washington NASA Space Grant Awardee
jdkern at uw dot edu
Current position: Graduate Student, University of Colorado-Boulder, Chemical & Biological Engineering
Carson Butcher
Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Major
Applied Mathematics Minor
Undergraduate Researcher, 2020-2023
Mary Gates Research Scholar
Undergraduate Research Leader at the Undergraduate Research Program
chb13 at uw dot edu
Current position: Graduate Student, University of Colorado-Boulder, MCDB
Ethan Goldner
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2021-2023
Mary Gates Research Scholar
egoldner at uw dot edu
Current position: Medical Student (MD), University of Nebraska
Kaitlyn Vera
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2021-2024
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Scholar
kvera2 at uw dot edu
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Kentucky
Kathy Do
Chemical Engineering Major
Undergraduate Researcher, 2021-2024
kathydo at uw dot edu
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Michigan
