CURRENT MEMBERS
Dr. rer.nat. Veronika Magdanz, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Veronika Magdanz is biotechnologist and Assistant Professor in Systems Design Engineering since 2022. She obtained her Diplom-Biotechnology degree (MASc equivalent) from TU Braunschweig in 2010, and doctorate from the University of Dresden in 2016 for the development of sperm-driven microrobots performed at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, IFW Dresden in Germany. Subsequently, she conducted research in metabolic and kinetic studies of sperm as well as sperm-templated microrobots at the Applied Zoology department of the TU Dresden. During her time as Humboldt Fellow at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia she explored medical applications of flexible magnetic small scale robots and the 3D bioprinting of muscle tissue. Her main research interest is in magnetic microrobotics for medical applications, which includes biohybrid and bioinspired approaches for innovative solutions in medicine. Further, she studies collaborative behaviour of sperm and novel sperm diagnostics. In her spare time, Dr. Magdanz loves gardening, hiking, running, baking and backcountry camping.
Motahareh Dargah Shabani, PhD student, Systems Design Engineering
Motahareh is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, specializing in biomaterials. She holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Amirkabir University. Her current research focuses on the quantum sensing of free radicals produced in sperm cells using nano-diamonds, as well as developing biohybrid microrobots for drug delivery applications. Outside the lab, she enjoys watching movies, reading books, and practicing Pilates.
Noah Franco, MASc student, Systems Design Engineering
Graduating from the University of Waterloo with a BSc, he is currently continuing his research career at the university to dive into medical micro-robotics, drug delivery, and 3D printing at the Medical Microrobotics Lab. He’s had the privilege of working in a range of different industries through co-op, including cancer therapeutics, bioremediation, clinical research, and biotechnology. In that time, he published his first research article in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and developed a CRISPR electrochemical strategy for microbial fuel cells. He enjoys playing intramural soccer at the university and collecting sneakers.
Rahul Menon, PhD student, Biomedical Engineering
Rahul has a masters in Physics with a specialization in Quantum Technology from the University of Waterloo. He worked for 2 years as a research assistant under Prof. David Cory where he studied nitrogen vacancy centres and phosphorus defects in silicon. His current work focuses on exploring the use of quantum sensing for detecting the build up of reactive oxygen species in sperm cells using nano-diamonds and electron spin resonance. Outside of the lab, he is an amateur magician and have put up a few shows. He also love calisthenics, playing and listening to music, swimming, videography, writing, and cooking.
Mu Yun Zhang, PhD Student, Biomedical Engineering
Mu Yun completed undergraduate study life science from the University of Toronto, double majoring in human biology and physiology. Her previous research focused on understanding the physiology of oocyte survival and death in mice models. Her current research interests focus on leveraging microrobots in assistive reproductive technology. Outside the lab, she enjoys cooking and baking to destress and enjoy food.
Dr. Nikita Gahoi, Postdoctoral Researcher
Nikita Gahoi is a postdoctoral researcher working on the development of an AI-powered, aptamer-based microfluidic platform for automated sperm health analysis, integrating DNA aptamers with biosensors to enable efficient and high-throughput assessment of sperm quality. She received her PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, where she gained extensive experience in biomolecular analysis and data-driven research. Beyond research, Nikita unwinds through doodling and craftwork.
Narenkrishna Thambidurai, MASc student, Systems Design Engineering
Narenkrishna Thambidurai holds a BEng in Biomedical Engineering and is currently pursuing an MASc in Systems Design Engineering. His research combines robotic control and ultrasound-based imaging of microrobots to precisely guide and control their movements for biomedical applications. He also works in biotechnology, focusing on discovering highly specific DNA and RNA binding molecules for diagnostic and therapeutic use, combining wet lab experiments with computational analysis to optimize aptamer libraries.
Ethan Batiste, BASc student, Engineering Science at the University of Toronto.
Ethan is an undergraduate student in Engineering Science at the University of Toronto planning to specialize in Biomedical Engineering. He is currently working on developing a bovine sperm-based solution to disrupting biofilm. Ethan’s previous research was at the Medical Microrobotics Lab where he focused on drug delivery using sperm cells. Outside of the lab, he likes to rock climb and play soccer.
Aarya Bandi, BASc student, Chemical Engineering
Aarya is an undergraduate student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. His research experience includes projects related to quantum sensing in sperm biology, sperm bundling, UTI treatment, and biofilm disruption. During high school, Aarya carried out a science fair project in Prof. Magdanz’s lab for the Waterloo Wellington Science Fair, focusing on disrupting biofilms using biohybrid microrobots.
He is particularly interested in applying core chemical engineering concepts such as mass transfer, reaction kinetics, microfluidics, materials engineering, and bioprocessing to biomedical systems. Through his research, he continues to explore how these principles can be used to design and optimize microscale devices and biological experiments.
Outside of the lab, Aarya enjoys listening to and making music, playing tennis, and staying active.
Melissa Schulze, MASc student, Systems Design Engineering
Melissa completed her undergrad in chemical engineering at McMaster University. She has worked as a design/project engineer in the oil fields, water treatment, and semi-closed greenhouse design. Her research applies knowledge of fluid dynamics and mass transport to microfluidic systems as she develops physics models for organ-on-a-chip devices. Melissa enjoys mountain biking, rock climbing, and snowboarding.
Jamie Neufeld, B.Eng student, Bioengineering at McGill
Jamie is an undergraduate student in Bioengineering at McGill University, with a focus on biomolecular and cellular engineering. Her research explores microrobotic approaches for targeted drug delivery in the female reproductive tract, including hydrogel and sperm-biohybrid systems. Jamie is passionate about women’s reproductive health and hopes to contribute to the development of more effective treatment options. In her spare time, Jamie likes art, cooking, watching hockey, and staying active.
Emma Li, BASc Student, Biomedical Engineering
Emma Li is currently working as a Spring 2026 co-op in the lab. As an undergraduate student who recently completed her first year of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, she hopes to gain experience across multiple areas of medical micro-robotics. Her work focuses on targeted drug delivery for gallstones in the biliary system and testing biocompatibility of 3D printed resin for microfluidics. Additionally, she is creating customized 3D models to conduct imaging experiments. Outside the lab, Emma enjoys spending her free time crocheting, playing video games, and cooking.
Lauren Kwong, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Lauren is an undergraduate Biomedical Engineering student at University of Waterloo specializing in medical devices. She is currently involved in research on gallstone dissolution, building on prior experience in kidney stone dissolution and targeted drug delivery at the Medical Microrobotics Lab, as well as research on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) conducted at Health Canada. Outside the lab, Lauren enjoys playing board games and staying active through sports with friends.
ALUMNI
Tiffany Yang, BASc Student, Systems Design Engineering
Chloe Cho, BASc Student, Biomedical Engineering
Caitlyn Luck, BASc student, Biomedical Sciences
Sarah Mae Sparkes, MASc Student, Systems Design Engineering
Edward Nian Zhang, Senior honours thesis project (BIOL 499) student, Biology
Josiah Lodewyk, Research Associate, Mitacs Intern
Afarin Khabbazian, MASc Student, Mechanical Engineering
Arnima Shrestha, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Lauren Kwong, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Ava Natali Carli, BASc student, Biomedical Science
Lydia Griffiths, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Mathilda LaBrash-White, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Noura Abdelrazec, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Samantha Schwartz, BASc student, Nanotechnology Engineering
Vicente Garrido Portilla, BASc student, Nanotechnology Engineering
Yasaman Rahimidarestani, Research Associate, Chemical Engineering
Lena Kunert, Visiting scholar from TU Braunschweig
Laura Daniela Serrano, Visiting scholar from Colombia
Andrew Fata, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Megheti M. Bekmezian, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Salma Abdelfattah, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Catie Balasubramanian, BASc student, Biomedical Engineering
Erica Liu, Co-op student spring 2023, Biomedical Engineering student
Yusra Pervez, Co-op student spring 2023, Biomedical Engineering student
Lee Cheng, Co-op student spring 2023, Biomedical Engineering student
Aaron Lewis, Co-op student winter 2023, Chemistry student, University of Waterloo
Paula Morcillo i Soler, TFG student, University of Girona, Bsc in Biology
Guillem Lopez-Grado i Salinas, PhD student, Bsc in Human Biology, Msc in Biomedical Research
Clara Ridzewski, Research Assistant, Biotechnology Bachelor Student.
Johannes Gebauer, Research Assistant, Biology Bachelor Student
Samar Eltoukhy, Master Student in Nanobiophysics. Graduated 09/2018
Medical Microrobotics Lab 