People
![Meni Wanunu](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/meni_faculty-e1630983803170-300x300.jpeg)
Meni Wanunu
Principal Investigator
Ph.D. Weizmann Institute (2005)
Office: +1-617-373-7412 (ISEC 329)
E-mail: wanunu@neu.edu
Google Scholar report
CV (as of Jan. 2022)
Recent Positions:
2023 – Present: Professor, Northeastern Univ.
2017 – 2023: Assoc. Prof., Northeastern Univ.
2011 – 2017: Asst. Prof., Northeastern Univ.
2009 – 2011: Research Associate, Univ. of Pennsylvania
2006 – 2009: Research Associate, Boston Univ.
Research Interests: The interface between biomolecules and nanomaterials.
What I do: I enjoy spending (too much?) time in the lab doing experiments, teaching physics/biophysics, and I don’t like to write grant proposals… but I do that also.
Postdocs and Staff
![Kevin Bardon](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2023/09/Kevin-e1695269468537.jpg)
Kevin Bardon
Post-Doctoral Associate - Ph.D. Bioengineering, Northeastern University
E-mail: bardon.k@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, bioconjugation, photophysics.
![Rik Dhar](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2023/11/rik-e1699400796118.jpg)
Rik Dhar
Post-Doctoral Associate - Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kansas
M.Tech. in Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India; B.Tech. in Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata, India.
E-mail: ri.dhar@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Nanopore-based sequencing of membrane proteins.
![Drew Bostrom](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2023/06/Drew-e1688156950296.jpg)
Drew Bostrom
Software Technician
E-mail: a.bostrom@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Software development, DNA and RNA sequencing data analysis
![Pascale Moon](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2024/07/Pascale.jpg)
Pascale Moon
Undergraduate Researcher / Visiting Student
Education: Physics B.S. student, University of Washington
E-mail: p.moon@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Evaluation of biological nanopores and novel membranes.
![Parker Hitt](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2024/07/Parker_c.jpg)
Parker Hitt
Undergraduate Researcher / Co-op
Education: M.S. student in Biotechnology, Northeastern University; B.S. in Biology.
E-mail: hitt.s@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: RNA sequencing diagnostic assay development.
![Dina Boyko](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2024/07/Dina.jpg)
Dina Boyko
M.S. Researcher / Co-op
Education: M.S. student in Bioinformatics, Northeastern University.
E-mail: boyko.d@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: RNA sequencing, data analysis.
Ph.D. Students
![Laxmi Pandey](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Laxmi.jpg)
Laxmi Pandey
Ph.D. Student, Physics - B.S. Tribhuvan University, Katmandu
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: pandey.l@husky.neu.edu
Scientific Activities: Nanoporous systems.
![Ali Fallahi](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Ali.png)
Ali Fallahi
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering - B.S. Bioengineering (Bioelectronics), University of California, Santa Cruz
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: fallahi.a@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Nanopore-based Sequencing, Nanofabrication, Electrical Engineering and DAQ systems, Machine Learning, Viral Particles.
![Amr Makhamreh](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Amr.jpg)
Amr Makhamreh
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering - B.S. Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: makhamreh.a@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Nanopore-based sequencing, RNA modifications, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics.
![Yuanyuan Shi](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2022/11/WhatsApp-Image-2022-10-04-at-3.19.29-PM-e1667368792635.jpeg)
Yuanyuan Shi
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering - M.S. Bioengineering, Northeastern University
E-mail: shi.yua@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Membrane protein expression and processing
![Zhuoyu Zhang](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2022/11/WhatsApp-Image-2022-09-10-at-1.28.51-AM-e1667369240879.jpeg)
Zhuoyu Zhang
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering
E-mail: zhang.zhuoyu@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Organic chemistry, Biomolecule modifications
![Seunghwan Noh](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2022/11/NSH-e1667369119404.jpg)
Seunghwan Noh
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering - B.S. and M.S. Nano-bioengineering, Incheon National University
E-mail: noh.s@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: DNA Sequencing, Nanofabrication, Nanocomposites, BioOptics and Bioelectronics
![Yvonne Yee](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2023/06/Yvonne-c-e1688156653203.jpg)
Yvonne Yee
Ph.D. Student, Chemical Engineering - M.S. Cornell University, Chem. Eng., B.S. UC San Diego Chem. Eng.
E-mail: yee.y@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Biooptics, RNA sequencing, RNA modifications, nanofabrication.
![Yu Chen (Viola)](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2023/09/viola-1-e1694440439339.jpg)
Yu Chen (Viola)
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering - B.S. Mat Sci and Eng, Sichuan University, and M.S. Mat Sci and Eng, Duke University
E-mail: chen.yu20@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: nanopore-based sensing and detection.
Former
![Xinqi Kang](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Xinqi.jpg)
Xinqi Kang
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering - B.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, China
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: kang.xin@husky.neu.edu
Scientific Activities: New platforms for nanopore-based sensing.
![Melissa Scanlon](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2023/12/Melissa-e1702400691140.jpg)
Melissa Scanlon
Undergraduate Researcher / Co-op
E-mail: scanlon.m@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Organic chemistry, molecular biology, RNA sequencing
![Sriram Velmurugan](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2023/11/sriram-e1699401312864.jpg)
Sriram Velmurugan
Part-time Technician
E-mail: velmurugan.s@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Protein expression and purification
![Luning Yu](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Luning.png)
Luning Yu
Ph.D. Student, Physics - M.S. University of Cincinnati
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 355)
E-mail: yu.lun@husky.neu.edu
Scientific Activities: articifical membranes, protein sensing and sequencing.
![Pengyu Zheng](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Pengyu.jpg)
Pengyu Zheng
Ph.D. Student, Physics - B.S. China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: zheng.p@husky.neu.edu
Scientific Activities: Optical probing of transport through nanopores.
![Fatemeh Farhangdoust](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Fatemeh.png)
Fatemeh Farhangdoust
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering - B.S. University of Tehran
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: f.farhangdoust@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Optical biopolymer sequencing.
![Dr. Prabhat Tripathi](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2021/03/Prabhat.png)
Dr. Prabhat Tripathi
Post-Doctoral Associate – PhD, UMass Amherst
Current position: Assistant professor in the chemistry department at IIT BHU (Varanasi, India).
Scientific Activities: Protein studies using synthetic and biomimetic nanopores.
![Mohammad Nabizadeh](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Nabi.jpeg)
Mohammad Nabizadeh
Ph.D. Student, Mechanical Engineering - M.S Mechanical Engineering, Koc University, Turkey, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: nabizadehmashhadto.m@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Nanopore-based sequencing, DNA storage.
![Mehrnaz Mojtabavi](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Mehrnaz.png)
Mehrnaz Mojtabavi
Ph.D. Student, Bioengineering - B.S. Sharif University of Technology
Defended her Ph.D. on Sep 20, 2021
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: mehrnaz.mojtabavi@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Protein channel pores.
![Libo Zhu](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Libo.jpg)
Libo Zhu
Visiting Ph.D. Student, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: lib.zhu@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Solid-state nanopore development.
![Hirohito Yamazaki](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/hiro.jpg)
Hirohito Yamazaki
Post-Doctoral Associate - PhD, Keio University, Japan
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: h.yamazaki@neu.edu
Scientific Activities: Optical observation of DNA transport through nanopores.
![Bedanga Sapkota](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Bedanga2.jpg)
Bedanga Sapkota
Ph.D. Student - Physics M.Sc. Univ. Memphis
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 359)
E-mail: sapkota.b@husky.neu.edu
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate at MSE Department, Tuskegee University.
![Mohammad Amin Alibakhshi](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/mohammad.jpg)
Mohammad Amin Alibakhshi
Associate Research Scientist - PhD, Boston University
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: m.alibakhshi@northeastern.edu
![Vivek Jadhav](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Vivek.jpg)
Vivek Jadhav
Post-Doctoral Associate - PhD, University of Pune, India
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: v.jadhav@neu.edu
Scientific Activities: Single-molecule biophysics has always fascinated me and I’m keen to learn and enhance my knowledge in the interdiciplinary fields of science. I will be working at the interface of biophysics and nanotechnology.
Current position: postdoc at Cornell, Michael Shuler lab.
![Anthony Vargas](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Anthony.jpg)
Anthony Vargas
Post-Doctoral Associate - PhD, Northeastern University
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 355)
E-mail: vargas.a@husky.neu.edu
Scientific Activities: 2D materials synthesis, CVD.
![Yinghua Qiu](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/yinghua.png)
Yinghua Qiu
Post-Doctoral Associate - PhD, Southeast University / UC Irvine
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: y.qiu@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Nanopore fabrication and particle analysis.
Current Position: Professor, Shandong University.
![Benjamin Cressiot](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Benjamin.jpg)
Benjamin Cressiot
Post-Doctoral Associate - PhD, University of Evry, France
E-mail: b.cressiot@neu.edu
Current Position: Professor, Université de Cergy-Pontoise, France.
![Haojie Yang](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Haojie.png)
Haojie Yang
Visiting Ph.D. Student - Southeast University, Nanjing, China
E-mail: ha.yang@northeastern.edu
Scientific Activities: Extreme nanopores for detecting objects.
![Rui Hu](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Rui.png)
Rui Hu
Visiting Scholar, Peking University
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: hooray@pku.edu.cn
Scientific Activities: Protein detection using nanopores.
![Xiaoqing Li](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Xiaoqing.jpg)
Xiaoqing Li
Visiting Scholar, Peking University
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: 329274746@qq.com
Scientific Activities: Virus detection using nanopores.
![Dr. Robert Y. Henley](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Robert2.jpg)
Dr. Robert Y. Henley
Former position in lab: Ph.D. Student
Current position: postdoc at Salk Institute, Joseph Ecker lab.
![Hannah Bialic](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Hannah.png)
Hannah Bialic
Former position in lab: Undergraduate student co-op
Currently at University of Glasgow.
![Kathryn Larkin](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Kathryn.jpg)
Kathryn Larkin
Undergraduate student, Northeastern University
![Dr. Pradeep Waduge](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/pradeep2.jpg)
Dr. Pradeep Waduge
Defended his Ph.D. on April 7, 2017
Expert on 2D materials, nanopores, nanofabrication and microfabrication, protein analysis using nanopores.
Current position: Global Foundries, Malta NY.
![Ana Vazquez-Pagan](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Ana.png)
Ana Vazquez-Pagan
Undergraduate, Biology
E-mail: vazquez-pagan.a@husky.neu.edu
Current: Internship at Purdue University.
![Dr. Spencer Carson](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Spencer2.jpg)
Dr. Spencer Carson
Defended his Ph.D. on Feb 1, 2016
Expert on nanopores, nanofabrication and microfabrication, DNA biophysics, data analysis, and DNA molecular biology.
Current position: Genedata, Lexington MA.
![Dr. Joseph Larkin](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Joe2.jpg)
Dr. Joseph Larkin
Defended his Ph.D. on Dec 7, 2015.
Expert on complex nanofabrication, single-molecule measurements, nanopores, and optical devices. Developed nanopore zero-mode waveguides as tools to focus individual biomolecules for single-molecule optical interrogation and DNA sequencing.
Current position: Postdoc with Gurol Suel, UC San Diego.
![Baram Sosis](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/baram.jpg)
Baram Sosis
Intern
Lab: +1-617-373-7818 (Egan 331)
E-mail: b.sosis@neu.edu
Work performed: Helped to build and maintain the website and running PCR and gel electrophoresis for various projects in the lab.
Current position: Undergraduate student at U Maryland.
![Cohavit Gil](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Cohavit.jpg)
Cohavit Gil
Intern, Summer 2013, 2015.
Worked on thin membrane characterization using AFM, ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements.
Current: Undergraduate student, UMass Amherst.
![Alec Mitkov](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/alec.png)
Alec Mitkov
Intern, Summer 2015. Designed nanopore fluidic cell using CAD software.
Current: Senior, Sharon High School.
![Dr. Andrey Ivankin](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Andrey.jpg)
Dr. Andrey Ivankin
Postdoctoral Associate, 2012 - 2014.
Current position: Mirkin Lab, Northwestern U. Fluent in instrumental design and software interface design (LabVIEW, Arduino), multi-project leadership and development, biochemical assay development, and other skills.
![Martin Langecker](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Martin.png)
Martin Langecker
Visiting student
Current: Ph.D. student in physics, TU Munich (Simmel Lab). Built various apparati, LabVIEW/electronics guru, and developed various types of new nanopore-based experiments.
![Lauren Moore](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/LaurenMoore.png)
Lauren Moore
Undergraduate co-op researcher, 2011 - 2012
Helped with setting up lab, used AFM to investigate self-assembly of peptides on various surfaces.
Current: Ph.D. student in neuroscience, University of Michigan
![Igue Moroke](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/IgueMoroke.png)
Igue Moroke
Undergraduate researcher, 2013
Purified DNA constructs using gel electrophoresis and other tools.
Current: Medical Student, University of Glasgow, Scotland
![Dr. Mirela Mustata](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/mirela-1.png)
Dr. Mirela Mustata
Postdoctoral Associate, 2011 - 2013
AFM guru, expert on amyloid peptides and biological AFM.
Current: Lecturer, Simmons College
![Carolyn Shasha](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Carolyn.jpg)
Carolyn Shasha
Undergraduate researcher, summers of 2013 and 2014
Measured biologically relevant viral RNA structures using nanopores.
Current: Ph.D. student in physics, University of Washington. NSF Graduate Fellow!
![Dan Stoloff](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Dan.jpg)
Dan Stoloff
Ph.D. candidate, 2012 - 2013
Used very small nanopores to probe various biomolecules and their shape.
Current: US Department of Labor
![Mike Toscano](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Michael.jpg)
Mike Toscano
Undergraduate researcher
Developed asymmetric PCR protocols, performed nanopore experiments, 2013-2014
Current: NYIT College of Medicine, NY
![Ingy Jabri](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/Ingy.png)
Ingy Jabri
Undergraduate researcher
Performed biochemical assays, 2013
Current: Intern, Neurology department, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
![Lukas Voortman](https://wanunu.sites.northeastern.edu/files/2020/09/LukasVoortman.png)
Lukas Voortman
Helped with setting up lab
Performed biochemical assays, 2011-2012. Current: Intern, Moderna Theraputics