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![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_6a134fc09ea34833a17d295e295ab517f000.jpg/v1/fill/w_288,h_162,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/11062b_6a134fc09ea34833a17d295e295ab517f000.jpg)
BIOINSPIRED MATERIALS LAB
Advanced Functional Materials for Robotics, Healthcare, and Sustainability
![door logo white.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_680068782e624ef7a16cda22cc7e37b2~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_2232,y_0,w_6195,h_4747/fill/w_119,h_91,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/door%20logo%20white.png)
![2023 BIM Lab](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_808334f8f5c64d9090abb21bb22c55f7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/38944d_808334f8f5c64d9090abb21bb22c55f7~mv2.jpg)
2023 BIM Lab
Zane, Cecelia, Yushen, Lakshman, Abdon, Chuqi, Caroline
![2023 MSE welcome picnic](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_4e7af5194fa14ca599309f9d77757cbe~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/38944d_4e7af5194fa14ca599309f9d77757cbe~mv2.jpg)
2023 MSE welcome picnic
Yiqun, Cecelia, Abdon, Zane, Caroline, Madison, Chuqi
![Summer 2021 - Rappourt Happy Hour](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_68ccd1b52cf5444cb44491438c73a10b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/38944d_68ccd1b52cf5444cb44491438c73a10b~mv2.jpg)
Summer 2021 - Rappourt Happy Hour
With the Loebel group
![2023 BIM Lab](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_808334f8f5c64d9090abb21bb22c55f7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/38944d_808334f8f5c64d9090abb21bb22c55f7~mv2.jpg)
2023 BIM Lab
Zane, Cecelia, Yushen, Lakshman, Abdon, Chuqi, Caroline
1/18
If interested in joining our team, see details here.
![53445062595_19e9072f0f_k.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_2ca0561470d24f42b0a5870ffecb3066~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_437,y_0,w_1383,h_1366/fill/w_231,h_228,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/53445062595_19e9072f0f_k.jpg)
Abdon Pena-Francesch ("Don")
Assistant Professor (2021-...)
Materials Science & Engineering
Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Robotics Institute
2018-2020 Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Stuttgart, Germany)
2013-2017 Ph.D. (Engineering Science and Mechanics), Penn State University (PA, USA)
2011-2013 M.Sc. (Chemical Engineering), Institut Químic de Sarrià (Barcelona, Spain)
2006-2011 B.Sc. (Mechanical Engineering), Institut Químic de Sarrià (Barcelona, Spain)
Bio & personal info here
Email: abdon@umich.edu
![Dezhong Tong.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_6ea5eb8acccd4f27892e4417ee950ac9~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_354,h_355/fill/w_231,h_231,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Dezhong%20Tong.jpg)
Dezhong Tong
Postdoctoral fellow
Research: robotics, simulation, machine learning, controls
Personal: basketball, swimming, hiking
2023 Ph.D. (ME), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
2018 B.Sc. (MSE), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU, CN)
Email: dezhong@umich.edu
![Lidia Kuo.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_0abf6d1490044da79e3f48100d99b29f~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_136,y_202,w_1335,h_1335/fill/w_231,h_231,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Lidia%20Kuo.jpg)
Lidia Kuo
Postdoctoral fellow
Research: bioinspired materials, solution processing, composites, sustainability
Personal: thrifting, sustainable fashion, singing, bass guitar
2023 Ph.D. (MSE), Northwestern University, IL
2018 B.Sc. (MSE), Rice University, TX
Email: lidiakuo@umich.edu
![Carlos Reyes Grande.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_3f05b60909924159bcb866a04fe99436~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_8,y_0,w_353,h_354/fill/w_231,h_231,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Carlos%20Reyes%20Grande.jpg)
Carlos Fitzgerald Grandes Reyes
Postdoctoral fellow
Research: zwitterionic polymers, RAFT polymerization, stimuli-responsive polymers, coatings.
Personal: cycling, soccer, gym.
2022 B.Sc. (Chem), University of Queensland (AUS)
2017 B.Sc. (BioEng), University of Queensland (AUS)
Email: carlor@umich.edu
![Sudeep Sharma.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_8840c3e0cd9642329668b818073e6355~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_356,h_356/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Sudeep%20Sharma.jpg)
Sudeep Sharma
Postdoctoral fellow
Research: 2D bioelectronics, stretchable and flexible electronics, wearable physical sensors, polymer nanocomposites
Personal: traveling, watching movies, gym
2023 Ph.D. (EE), Kwangwoon University (KR)
2015 B.Sc. (ECE), Tribhuvan University (NPL)
Email: sudeeps@umich.edu
![Jeong Eun.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_f1bebfb6bf984c75b074842b8909bf18~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_160,w_900,h_900/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Jeong%20Eun.jpg)
Jeong Eun Park
Postdoctoral fellow
Research: de-icing, surface modification, microfabrication, magnetic actuation
Personal: cooking, listening to music, watching drama
2023 Ph.D. (PSE), Inha University (KR)
2017 B.Sc. (PSE), Inha University (KR)
Email: jeunpark@umich.edu
![Hafeez Sumbul.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_6efc1f8c592e4026a7b178838ad4d650~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_163,y_0,w_960,h_960/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Hafeez%20Sumbul_JPG.jpg)
Sumbul Hafeez
Postdoctoral felow
Research: macromolecular architecture, polymers, surface modification, sensors, environmental and biomaterial applications
Personal: travelling, cooking, photography
2020 Ph.D. (MSE), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IN)
Email: sumbulhafeez03@gmail.com
Ph.D. Students
![Zenghao_photo.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_1b1918561e574e9096935846de101495~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_504,w_3024,h_3024/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Zenghao_photo.jpg)
Zane Zhang
Ph.D. student (MSE)
Research: soft magnetic materials, nanocomposites, soft actuators
Personal: road trips, cooking
2021 M.Sc. (MSE), UMich
2019 B.Sc. (MSE), Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT, CN)
Email: zzenghao@umich.edu
![Cecelia.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_cde3650df4f444fd89980107a5a96985~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_66,y_84,w_202,h_202/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Cecelia.png)
Cecelia Kinane
Ph.D. student (MACRO)
Research: polymer design, structure-property relationships, hydrogels, 3D printing
Personal: rowing, baking, camping, cats, museums
2019 B.Sc. (Chem), University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN)
Email: cakinane@umich.edu
![Chuqi Huang.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_20f892a1183140239854e79d498e9139~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_295,y_100,w_963,h_963/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Chuqi%20Huang.jpg)
Chuqi Huang
Ph.D. student (MSE)
Research: soft responsive materials, functional biopolymers, microrobotics
Personal: baking, cats, dogs, swimming, travel
2019 M.Sc. (MSE), Cornell University
2014 B.Sc. (MSE & ME), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST, CN)
Email: chuqi@umich.edu
![CHarmsLabHeadshot.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_7b30fd6153324929a092617125f58dae~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_908,h_907/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/CHarmsLabHeadshot.png)
Caroline Harms
Ph.D. student (MSE)
Research: functional polymeric coatings, bioinspired materials, polymer design and characterization
Personal: baking, running, writing, crocheting
2023 B.Sc. (MSE), Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
Email: cfharms@umich.edu
![Qiming Li.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_4476f730d924414bbad6333ba9e2e85f~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_39,y_30,w_288,h_288/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Qiming%20Li.jpg)
Qiming Li
Ph.D. student (MSE, co-advised with Tuteja)
Research: polymer synthesis, functional polymers, materials interfaces
Personal: cats, cooking, basketball
2021 M.Sc. (MSE), Cornell University
2017 B.Sc. (MSE), Donghua University (CN)
Email: qiming@umich.edu
![Nong.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_89a26c6e5ddd4ef6a6862503e12f953c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_107,w_596,h_595/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Nong.jpg)
Kanyarat Mantala (Nong)
Ph.D. visiting student (MSE, VISTEC, TH)
Research: polymer synthesis, self-healing materials, colloids
Personal: travelling, listening to music, cooking
2019 M.Sc. (Polym. Sci. Technol.), Mahidol University (TH)
2015 B.Sc. (Chem), Mahidol University (TH)
Email: kmantala@umich.edu
M.Sc. Students
![Yiqun Li.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_d9fac81088e14bb9a5e3823d4be158bc~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_93,y_0,w_3064,h_3024/fill/w_58,h_57,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Yiqun%20Li.jpg)
Yiqun Li
M.Sc. student (MSE)
Research: 3D printing of soft functional materials
Personal: soccer, traveling, cooking, gym
2023 B.Sc. (MSE), Ohio State
Email: yiqunli@umich.edu
![Lakshman.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_7043e4fe886d4d9db630bdb7e707a9d5~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_72,y_0,w_1647,h_1626/fill/w_58,h_57,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Lakshman.jpg)
Lakshman Sivakumar Vijay
M.Sc. student (MSE)
Research: self-assembly, proteins, functional polymers
Personal: motorsport, painting, history
2022 B.Tech. (ME), Vellore Institute of Technology (IN)
Email: lakshvj@umich.edu
![Yushen Liu.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_a91ff3b9611e4abc91f13a9e0923ca4a~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_7,y_0,w_802,h_802/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Yushen%20Liu.jpg)
Yushen Liu
M.Sc. student (MSE)
Research: polymer synthesis, soft mechanics
Personal: soccer, basketball, music
2022 B.Sc. (ESM), Penn State University
Email: nickliu@umich.edu
Undergraduate Students
![Ernesto.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_a376bd0f6e834c27b71058b3cc7513de~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_15,w_2003,h_1977/fill/w_58,h_57,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Ernesto.jpg)
Ernesto Gomez
B.Sc. student (EECS)
Research: embedded systems, electronics, controls
Personal: running, lifting weights, philosophy, travelling
Email: netog@umich.edu
![Madison Forstner.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_b2ea285bedda4226ae4e895f48907e90~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_33,w_693,h_683/fill/w_58,h_57,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Madison%20Forstner.jpg)
Madison Forstner
B.Sc. student (MSE)
Research: rheology, biofluids, soft matter physics,
Personal: hiking, rock climbing, reading, herpetology
Email: madifay@umich.edu
![NoahBlack_Photo.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_d79a8482c4cf4ab7a43386a6de89bdd3~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_37,y_189,w_532,h_532/fill/w_58,h_58,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/NoahBlack_Photo.jpg)
Noah Black
B.Sc. student (Biophys)
Research: protein dynamics, nanostructure, nanocharacterization, machine learning
Personal: gym, hiking, and travel
Email: noahbl@umich.edu
![Margot.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_60d72de7c8254b3eb2f08dbac5ab07e9~mv2.jpeg/v1/crop/x_0,y_26,w_661,h_652/fill/w_58,h_57,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Margot.jpeg)
Margot Helft
B.Sc. student (MSE)
Research: mechanical properties of biomaterials, microstructure analysis
Personal: violin, blacksmithing, hiking
Email: mhelft@umich.edu
![Hailey Kuncoro.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/38944d_8579ccb6922848479c2b8be7f6d70807~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_48,y_311,w_1529,h_1509/fill/w_58,h_57,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Hailey%20Kuncoro.jpg)
Hailey Kuncoro
B.Sc. student (ChE)
Research: hydrogels, 3D printing, self-healing materials, biopharmaceuticals
Personal: cooking, traveling, music, dance
Email: haileyku@umich.edu
Where are we from?
Alumni
Hyungwoo Kim, Ph,D. (MSE, visiting prof) - 2023
Now at: Chonnam National University, KR
Tiwa Yimyai, Ph,D. (ChE, VISTEC, visiting) - 2022-2023
Now at: PTT Global Chemical, Bangok, Thailand
Pol Cabanach, Ph.D. (Bioengineering, Max Planck Institute / IQS-GEMat) - 2021
Now at: ABLE Human Motion, Barcelona, Spain
Tathya Shinde, M.Sc. (MSE, UM) - 2022-2023
Now at: Owens Corning, OH
Shuo Zhang, M.Sc. (Macro, UM) - 2021-2023
Now at: UC Berkeley, CA
Yi-Hua Chen, M.Sc. (MSE, UM) - 2021-2023
Now at: Applied Materials, Santa Clara, CA
Leah Marks, M.Sc. (MSE, UM) - 2021-2022
Now at: Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH
Chia-Heng Lin, M.Sc. (MSE, UM) - 2021-2022
Now at: TSMC, Phoenix, AZ
Rich Kaplan, M.Sc. (Macro, UM) - 2021
Now at: UPenn, PA
Dario Perez Balaguer, M.Sc. (Max Planck Institute / IQS-GEMat) - 2020
Now at: Venair GmbH, Freiberg am Neckar, Germany (silicones team)
Laszlo Cline, B.Sc. (MSE, UM) - 2023
Now at: Argonne National Laboratory
Reegan Ketzenberger, B.Sc. (MSE, UM) - 2022
Now at: MSE, UM
Leela Mukherjee, B.Sc. (CS, UMich) - 2021-2022
Now at: SpaceX, FL
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