DIDAR LAB - Key Persons
Akansha obtained a Bachelor of Engineering & Biomedical Engineering (B.Eng BME) in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering from McMaster University, in 2022. She has been a member of the Didar Lab since 2018, working as an undergraduate researcher. Following her undergraduate studies, she transferred into a direct entry PhD program in Biomedical Engineering at the Didar Lab, under the co-supervision of Dr. Tohid Didar and Dr. Carlos Filipe. Her research focuses on tackling the food insecurity crisis through the development of biosensor and artificial intelligence-based food monitoring platforms. Akansha is also an avid student leader, serving as one of two selected engineering student representatives on the University's Graduate Council, Team Lead for the Student Wellness Centre's Graduate Wellness Team, Academic Officer for the Engineering Graduate Society (EGS), and as an executive member of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Association (BMEGA). Outside of these involvements and her research, Akansha enjoys hiking, playing board games, painting, trying new recipes and planning events.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ali Mohammad is a 3rd-year Biochemistry student. He joined the Didar Lab in September 2022 and is currently exploring different protocols to produce omniphobic sprays that are environmentally friendly, and do not require substances like fluoro silane. Outside the lab, Ali loves to tutor, work out, and watch Netflix. He also loves to travel and hopes to explore the world.
Job Titles:
- Thesis Course Undergraduate Student
Andrew joined the lab in September 2023 and is studying in the Bachelor of Health Science Honours program at McMaster University. He started his interest with synthetic biology and biosensors alongside the iGEM McMaster team while leading the microbial biosensor project. He is now working on his senior project course under the supervision of Noor Abu Jarad to initiate the phage display project to design a bacteriophage sensing system to detect bacterial vaginosis in complex fluids. Outside of his academics he enjoys cooking, climbing/bouldering, and is trying to learn how to sketch and paint.
Azin obtained her BSc and MSc in Biomedical Engineering-Biomaterials from Tehran Polytechnic in 2019 and 2022, respectively. During her master's education, she focused on on developing novel cancer treatment method by designing nano-in-nano composite delivery system. She has published several papers in prestigious journals such as Advances in colloid and interface science. After joining the Didar Lab in 2024 as a PhD student, she looks forward to conducting research in the area of medical micro- and nano-robots. In her free time, she enjoys baking and yoga.
Dr. Martin Villegas successfully defended his doctoral dissertation with distinction in October 2023. His dissertation, titled "Multifunctional Liquid-Infused Surface Coatings to Prevent Implant-Associated Infections," culminated in a ground-breaking project focused on the development of a surface coating for titanium implants aimed at preventing infections and enhancing osseointegration. This innovative coating underwent rigorous testing in a sepsis animal model, demonstrating a remarkable prevention of all mortalities within the test group, in stark contrast to control groups that experienced mortality rates as high as 90%.
Throughout his academic journey at McMaster University, Dr. Villegas has assumed various leadership roles both within the university and externally. Over the past six years (2017-2023), he served as the President of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Association (BMEGA). Presently, he has been the Safety Officer for the Didar Lab for the last 5 years and is also appointed as the treasurer of the Board of Directors at the Olympia Condominium-a role he has maintained for the past five years.
Prior to pursuing his Ph.D., Dr. Villegas garnered valuable industry experience working as an electrical technician and control systems engineer at Rowan Companies Inc. During his tenure, he gained hands-on expertise in diverse working conditions, with assignments taking him to the UK, Holland, Norway, and the USA. Despite his primary focus on engineering, his commitment to medicine remained evident through volunteer work at a Texas clinic, where he gained insights into medical tests and point-of-care instrumentation.
Currently serving as a postdoctoral fellow in the Didar Lab, Dr. Villegas's primary project involves the development of an innovative coating for medical catheters to prevent blood coagulation. This collaborative initiative includes partnership with FendX Technologies Inc (fendxtech.com).
Job Titles:
- Principal Investigator
- Research Chair
Dr. Tohid Didar holds Canada Research Chair (CRC) in NanoBiomaterials and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and a member of the Institute for Infectious Disease Research (IIDR) at McMaster University. Before joining McMaster in January 2016, Dr. Didar was a postdoctoral fellow at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University in Professor Donald Ingber's lab. There he designed and developed a robust and clinically relevant extracorporeal dialysis-like treatment (DLT) device for sepsis. Since joining McMaster in 2016, he has established a world class interdisciplinary research platform on smart, multifunctional nano-biomaterials, and has fostered strategic industry collaborations within the biomedical and food sectors. Due to his contributions to this field, he was awarded the Ontario Early Researcher Award in 2019 and the Engineering Innovation Award of the Year by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers in 2020. In 2019, Dr. Didar co-invented a pathogen repelling plastic wrap (RepelWrap). This technology won the 2020 Grand Prize for the Create the Future Design Concept by Tech Briefs magazine. Dr. Didar has also co-founded FendX (a McMaster spin off) to commercialize pathogen repellant and antimicrobial coatings developed in his lab. Dr. Didar has published over 50 journal papers, over 12 patent applications and has presented over 30 national and international invited talks and keynote speeches.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Farbod Azaripour Masooleh is a second-year student in Honours Life Sciences program. He is a curious and outgoing person with a lot of plans for the future which may seem a bit too ambitious to others. He is planning on continuing my education in the medical field as a doctor but, he also want to be able to use biomedical engineering in manufacturing and designing novel equipment and software to make diagnosing and treatment of patients in hospitals easier. In free time he enjoys playing the piano, reading books, watching movies, and hanging out with friends.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Fatima is a 2nd year student in Honours Life Sciences, and she joined the lab in October 2021 as an undergraduate research volunteer. She is working on the development of printable DNAzyme based sensors to be implemented onto food wraps under Shadman's supervision. Ever since starting in the lab, Fatima has found a special interest in research because she likes the idea of delving deep into one topic and understanding it thoroughly. In her free time, Fatima enjoys running, painting, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Fereshteh has a Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, with a focus on ceramic materials. In her Masters, she looked at the self-assembly of surfactants and its use for synthesizing mesoporous Tin dioxide. After graduation, she worked as a Research Assistant to investigate the structural, magnetic, and photocatalytic properties of doped Zinc and Bismuth Ferrites. Now, she is a PhD student in the School of Biomedical Engineering, co-supervised with Dr. Didar and Dr. Hosseinidoust. In her PhD, she is focused on developing a high throughput phage-based bioassay for diagnostics and screening purposes.
Hannah is a fourth-year undergraduate student at McMaster, in the Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering program. She is an undergraduate student research assistant working on the DNAzyme bacterial sensors for food packaging project. In her free time, Hannah's hobbies include board games, sewing, and cross-country skiing.
Hareet Sidhu is a third year student in Biomedical Discovery and Commericalization. She is interested in the relationship between science and innovation. In Dr.Didar's, she is a part of the SQI project which is focused on developing bio-sensors for clinical diagnostics. She is focused on the print procedure optimization and inkjet printing. In her free time, she likes to read, watch TV shows and explore the outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Inaam Chattha is a third year student in Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization. He was always intrigued by the idea of research and developing novel solutions to everyday problems. In Dr.Didar's, he is a part of the SQI project which is focused on developing bio-sensors for clinical diagnostics purposes using biomolecules printing techniques. He is involved in automation and optimization of the procedure. In his free time, he loves to play soccer, basketball and watch movies.
Job Titles:
- Microbiology Lab Technician
Jinal completed her Bachelors of Science (Honours), majoring in Microbiology with co-op at University of Guelph. As part of co-op she worked as a Quality Control Laboratory Technician at Gay Lea Foods and as a Research Assistant at Environment and Climate Change Canada. After gaining her Bachelors, she completed her Masters of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from University of Guelph in June of 2023 under Dr. Cezar Khursigara. Her research focused around characterizing the role of P. aeruginosa hypothetical proteins in adhesion, biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. She is currently working in the Didar lab and the Soleymani lab as a Microbiology Lab Technician and her project includes assisting in creating and testing the omniphobic surfaces against various bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, MRSA and E. coli. Apart from work, Jinal likes cooking, reading, listening to podcasts, swimming and watching k-dramas.
Lubna is currently a Research Associate in the Didar Lab, working on the Bfree Cup research project in collaboration with Women's Global Health Innovation (WGHI). She completed her MASc in Biomedical Engineering at the Didar Lab, working on the fabrication of novel protein-pure hydrogel biosensing microarrays and optimizing biosensor microcontact printing protocols. She has previously worked with the industry partner SQI Diagnostics. Outside of research, Lubna is passionate about teaching, mentorship, and expressing herself creatively. In the past, she has been a tutor, volunteer editor, Artists at McMaster VP Events Administrator and Poetry and Creative Writing Society co-founder.
Job Titles:
- Microbiology Lab Technician
Mackenzie obtained a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Microbiology in 2021 from the University of Guelph and a Master of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Guelph in 2023. The focus of her thesis research was on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) adhesion to the human host. Understanding host adhesion is central to the development of novel anti-adhesive therapeutics as ways to control life-threatening bacterial infections. In the Didar lab, she is currently helping manufacture and assess omniphobic surfaces against microbiolgical and environmental conditions. Outside of the lab, she enjoys horseback riding, badminton, squash, reading, art, and board games.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mahum Javed is a third-year student in the iBiomed program, specifically the Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) stream. She joined the Didar Lab in January as an undergraduate research volunteer. She is currently working under the supervision of Shadman Khan to incorporate bacteriophages onto food bacterial sensors. She is passionate about improving the status quo in healthcare and is fascinated by how science and engineering often intersect to do just that. She hopes to gain the expertise needed to address current and future problems in healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and watching television.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Manasi is a 4th year student in the Honors Biology program. She is interested in the area where healthcare meets technology and nanobiotechnology. Throughout her time at undergrad, she has come to appreciate the complexity of biology and its applications in medicine and bioengineering. She is especially passionate about the application of science and technology in solving real-world problems within healthcare to make a direct impact in the lives of patients across the world. In Dr. Didar's lab, she is involved in a droplet-based microfluidic project for cancer immunotherapy. In her free time, Manasi enjoys working out, playing badminton, watching movies and spending time with her dog!
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Nilasha Mohan is a second-year undergraduate student in the Chemical Biology Program. She joined the Didar Lab in January as an undergraduate research volunteer. She is currently working under the supervision of Shadman Khan to incorporate bacteriophages onto food bacterial sensors. She hopes to graduate with the expertise needed to address current and future problems in the biotechnology industry. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and writing poetry.
Noor Abu Jarad obtained her BSc in Biomedical Engineering from the German Jordanian University in Amman, Jordan in 2017. During her undergrad, she spent 18 months in Germany, whereby she did an exchange semester at Ulm University of Applied Sciences, then an internship at Stryker Company in Freiburg, and finally completed her graduation project at ATMOS Medizintechnik in Lenzkirch. During her bachelor thesis, she constructed an optical fluorescence-based device to facilitate the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Furthermore, she was a student council for one year and the face of the university for four years. She then worked as a research assistant at the German Jordanian University where she researched glucose sensors. Noor is currently pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Didar and Dr. Soleymani. She is a very motivated young biomedical engineer and is excited to be part of the Didar lab.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Course Student
Patricia is a third-year student in the Biochemistry program. Her growing interest in research and laboratory work persuaded her to join Dr. Didar's lab in Fall 2023. She is currently working on the B Free Cup project to develop hydrogels. Working at Dr. Didar's lab has expanded Patricia's horizons on graduate opportunities and has made her open to pursuing research, particularly in biosensing. Patricia continues to be curious about biochemistry and its relationships with bioengineering and medicine. In her free time, Patricia enjoys dancing, cooking, and finding unique, up-and-coming coffee shops.
Raheleh Ashkar has an educational background in electrical engineering, with a bachelor's degree from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2011 and a master's degree from the University of Birjand in 2014. She has a strong foundation in electrical engineering, specifically in the field of power electronics.
After completing her master's degree, Raheleh gained valuable experience by working as an electrical engineer in the power electronics industry for seven years. However, she always had a keen interest in biomedical engineering, which led her to pursue further studies in this field.
Currently, Raheleh is a master's student in biomedical engineering at Didar Lab. In her academic pursuits, she is focusing on microfluidics and biosensors.
Outside of her academic life, Raheleh enjoys a variety of hobbies and activities, including traveling, swimming, playing badminton, hiking, biking, and spending quality time with her friends and family. These interests and activities reflect her well-rounded and active lifestyle, showing her passion for both her professional and personal life.
Rana received her bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Balikesir University, Turkey in 2019. After graduation, she has been awarded a job-guaranteed scholarship by the Turkish Ministry of Education for her postgraduate studies in Canada. She would like to expand her knowledge in the field of biology into engineering to have a broader perspective and deep understanding of biomedical applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. As a new member, she is very excited to participate in interdisciplinary research and looks forward to diving into the bionanotechnology world in Didar Lab. In her free time, Rana enjoys hiking, camping, yoga and doing anything that feeds her creativity and curiosity."
Roderick MacLachlan obtained his BSc in Engineering Physics from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada in 2018. In 2023, Roderick obtained his PhD in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Didar and Dr. Soleymani. Currently, Roderick is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Didar Lab working on the development of superhydrophobic surfaces with anti-biofouling and anti-pathogenic properties as well as electrochemical biosensing. Outside of his academic life, Roderick enjoys biking, rock climbing and playing guitar.
Saeid obtained his BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tehran in Iran. During his undergraduate studies and after, he was involved in industrial projects involving analog and digital circuit designs, micro-controllers, and PC software development. He also completed his MSc at the University of Tehran. As a part of his thesis, he developed a system and a biochip for detecting metastatic cancer cells in biopsy fluid (Metas-Chip). He has published several papers and patents in prestigious journals such as Nature Communications and the US Patent office related to cancer detection. Afterward, he worked as an Electronics Engineer developing cancer detection devices. In 2021 he joined the DidarLab as a Ph.D. student and is looking forward to researching and developing microfluidics, cancer diagnosis, and state-of-the-art biomedical devices.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sakina Hussain is a third year Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) student working with Didar Labs. She started in June 2022 with the SQI team working primarily on microcontact printing and automation, testing new conditions and parameters to optimize prints. She hopes to introduce these applications to clinical settings in the future. Outside of lab, Sakina enjoys painting, working out and listening to music.
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Assistant
Samantha Dacalos is a 3rd year student in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program. She joined DidarLab in May 2022 and is currently working on the SQI project, focusing on conducting profilometry on various samples obtained from microcontact printing, along with optimizing print parameters. In the future, she hopes to further explore the role technology plays within clinical diagnostics. Outside of the lab, she enjoys watching shows, working out, and loves photography.
Sara Imani obtained her BSc in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran in July 2016, her MSc from Didar Lab at McMaster and finally her PhD in the School of Biomedical Engineering from the Didar lab and Soleymani Lab in 2022. As an engineering student, she was inspired by biology and wanted to focus on research at the junction of engineering and biological sciences. Currently, Sara is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Didar Lab. Other than her academic life, Sara enjoys calligraphy, basketball, and playing guitar.
Sara is a recipient of the prestigious McMaster Dean's Excellence Engineering Doctoral Award. She obtained her BSc in Chemical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnique), Iran. She then joined department of Chemical Engineering at University of Waterloo to pursue her Master's degree. Her master's research was focused on engineering environmentally-responsive coated magnetic nanogels for controlled and prolonged drug delivery systems. This experience made her excelled at polymer science, synthesis, and chemistry. After graduation, she worked at the University Health Network, Toronto, as a part of a multi-disciplinary team of surgeons, scientists, and engineers to work on a variety of clinical problems to improve patient care. There, she investigated the engineering aspects of the minimally-invasive endovascular surgery applied in abdominal aneurysm repair. To follow her passion for working at the interface between engineering and applied biology, Sara decided to pursue her PhD studies in Biomedical Engineering at the Didar land Verdu Labs, where she can address real problems in human health with bio-inspired technologies. Her PhD research is focused on engineering organ-on-chip platforms to facilitate drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and point-of-care diagnosis and treatment. Outside academic life, Sara enjoys travelling, mountain hiking/climbing, swimming, and flying a Cessna.
Shadman joined the lab in June 2019 as an undergraduate thesis student. His project involved the development of surface structuring methods to induce biological repellency. He began his direct-entry PhD in September 2020. He is currently working on the development of printable DNAzyme-based bacterial sensors to be implemented onto food packaging, repellent surfaces for biosensing applications and assays that provide improved detection sensitivity for key clinical markers. Outside of his academics, he enjoys watching documentaries, writing poetry and cooking.
Shaghayegh is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Didar Lab. Shaghayegh obtained her bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering at Sharif University and her master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at Sharif University. In her master's program, she worked on drug delivery systems for bone cancer and simulation of osteochondral defects by cell therapy. She loves tissue engineering. Outside of her academic life, Shaghayegh enjoys cooking and also watching movies. She loves walking during autumn and spring as nature helps her to feel refreshed.