Undergraduate Researchers

ALUMNI

Principal Investigator

July 2022. Katie Whitehead, Kathy Fein, Namit Chaudhary, Mariah Arral, Sai Yerneni, Rose Doerfler, Daria Strelkova, and Alex Newby. Data not shown: Adam Lammi

Rose Doerfler

Department of Chemical Engineering

Email

B.S. Chemical Engineering - The University of Notre Dame, 2016

B.A. Chinese Language - Notre Dame University, 2016

A Pittsburgh native, Rose completed a Fulbright fellowship in Taiwan following graduation from Notre Dame. In Taiwan, she built microfluidic devices to detect genetically modified crops. At CMU, she is pioneering the group's study of breast milk cells as vehicles for drug delivery. Outside of lab, Rose likes the outdoors and exercise.

Postdoctoral Associates

Daria Strelkova

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Email

B.S. Biology (Honors) - Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2016

Daria was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, and recently moved with her family to U.S. Her undergraduate research focused on viruses and the molecular adsorption mechanisms of a short tailed N4-like bacteriophage. Her Ph.D. research focuses on delivery of mRNA to stem cells. In her free time, Daria enjoys running, yoga, and reading fantasy and science fiction.

Mariah Arral

Department of Chemical Engineering

NSF Graduate Fellow

Email

B.S. Chemical Engineering - Univ. of New Hampshire, 2018

Mariah hails from New England & developed an interest in drug delivery during an undergeraduate research experience in which she studied bacterial biofilms. At CMU, she is developing novel RNA delivery systems. In her free time, Mariah enjoys watching sports, reading, and cooking.

Saigopalakrishna (Sai) Yerneni

Department of Chemical Engineering

Email

B.S. Biotechnology - Anna University, 2012

M.S. Biomedical Engineering - Carnegie Mellon, 2015

Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering - Carnegie Mellon, 2021

Born and raised in India, Sai's Ph.D. research at CMU focused on the biology of extracellular vesicles and their application to medicine. As a postdoc in the Whitehead Lab, he is developing non-viral RNA delivery systems for agricultural and therapeutic applications. In his free time, Sai enjoys travel, immigration paperwork, and finding collaborators everywhere he goes, including the grocery store, the zoo, and Steelers games.

Prof. Kathryn A. Whitehead

Professor

Department of Chemical Engineering

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Email

H.B.Ch.E. - University of Delaware, 2002

Ph.D. - University of California, Santa Barbara, 2007

Postdoctoral Fellow - MIT, 2008 - 2012

More about Prof. Whitehead

Ph.D. Students

Alexandra Newby

Department of Chemical Engineering

Email

B.S. Chem Eng + Eng & Public Policy - Carnegie Mellon, 2016

M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering - Carnegie Mellon, 2019

Originally from Pittsburgh, Alex brings a wealth of experience from Procter & Gamble and her prior research at CMU on topics like desalination and waste water optimization. She returned to ChemE to pursue her goal of a Ph.D. and is studying the permeation modulating effects of fruits and natural products. When not immersed in lab work, she likes to bake, play the piano, and travel.

Katherine Fein

Department of Chemical Engineering

Email

B.S. Chemical Engineering - Cornell University, 2015

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering - Carnegie Mellon University, 2020

Kathy became involved in drug delivery and endosomal escape research during her undergrad at Cornell. Her Ph.D. research in the Whitehead Lab focused on intestinal permeation enhancers for oral protein delivery. She is excited to stay on for a postdoc investigating the influence of breast milk cells on the infant gut.  Kathy also enjoys reading, knitting, and horseback riding.

Staff

Maximus Tuna Whitehead

Quality Control

B.S. Meowing

Ph.D. Taste Testing

Max is an opinionated senior member of the lab who decides when experiments aren't up to snuff. In his free time, he enjoys overseeing the backyard and demanding petting.

Sir Sucralose Buff III

Tech Support

B.A. in Shedding Everywhere

With 16 years of experience in assisting humans in using the computer, Sukie is always available to lend a paw to the lab. He may steal your chair, though.

Princess Lilian of the Snow at Blackbird Pond

Human Resources

B.S. Mousing

M.S. Yowling

Lily is the biggest micro manager you’ll ever meet, and she wants to know everyone’s business. If she wants your attention, she will make it known. Otherwise she is happy to sit and play with her mice.