Stoppel Lab Members

The Stoppel Lab has openings for PhD students, MS students, and undergraduate students.
The Stoppel Lab is not accepting applications for postdoctoral positions at this time.
Interested UF undergraduates in ChE or BME or those interested in the application of biochemistry and entomology to an engineering project should fill out an application.
Students interested in summer undergraduate REUs should apply.
Students with a BS in ChE or closely related fields interested in the PhD program should apply to the UF ChE Department with information here. Fee waivers are provided to all PhD applicants.

PhD Students

Marisa O. Pacheco, BS

2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
Named a 2022-2023 SEC Emerging Scholar
- This program helps prepare SEC trainees for roles in academia
- Mari will attend the SEC Emerging Scholar Conference and Workshop at the University of Missouri in September 2022
2022-2023 UF ChE 1st Year PhD Student Mentor Award Recipient
2021-2022 UF Chemical Engineering Excellence in Research Award Recipient
- Mari was recognized for her many accomplishments as a scientist and researcher with an award from the UF ChE department
Mari is committed to diversity and outreach in STEM and actively seeks out opportunities to share her science with others
Mari is leading a DoD CDMRP project on silk particles with our collaborator, Dr. Bruce Spiess in UF Anesthesiology and his research team
2020 HWCOE Kirkland Fellow
Joined the Stoppel Lab as a PhD student in Fall 2020 after completing a BS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder
- During summer 2019, Mari joined the Stoppel Lab as an REU student
- Mari is from Boulder, Colorado and when not in lab, likes to be outside either hiking, playing tennis or camping with friends and family.

Bryce D. Shirk, MS

Bryce is working on a project aimed at developing new functional silk fibroin biopolymers through genetic engineering strategies
Joined the Stoppel Lab as a UF BME PhD student in Spring 2021
- BS, Florida State University, Biochemistry & MS, University of Florida, Entomology
- Bryce is from Gainesville, FL and, when not studying silk fibroin proteins, he enjoys playing tennis, cooking, and spending time outdoors, especially with his 3 dogs

Elizabeth L. aikman, BS

2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
Elizabeth is working to build platforms and 3D tissues for investigating the progression of rare muscular dystrophies
Joined the Stoppel Lab in Fall 2021 as a PhD student in Chemical Engineering
- Graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas
- Elizabeth is from Wichita, KS and enjoys hanging out with friends and family, playing board games, and spending time outdoors

Lauren E. Eccles, BS

Lauren joined the Stoppel Lab in Fall 2022 as a PhD student in the Chemical Engineering department
Lauren will be working on leveraging silk materials from various sources for applications in environmental engineering
She is also contributing to a large NSF Grant focused on understanding the connections between the genome, proteome, and silk fiber structure in 13+ insects in collaboration with the Florida Museum and Dr. Akito Kawahara, and many collaborators across the US
Lauren obtained her Bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in May 2022
Lauren joined the Stoppel Lab for Summer 2021 as part of the UF ChE NSF REU program
- Click here to watch Lauren's summer video!

Jasmine B. McTyer, BS

Jasmine joined the Stoppel Lab in Fall 2022 as a PhD student in the Chemical Engineering department
Jasmine is working on biomaterials formulations from novel silk sources as part of our NIH NIGMS MIRA Award, looking to understand cell-material interactions in these new biomaterials
Jasmine is also working on a collaboration with local Florida industry, collaborating with scientists and engineers at NeXtGen, Inc.
Jasmine obtained her Bachelors degree from Clemson University in 2022

Tony Wiafe Frimpong, BS

Tony joined the Stoppel Lab in Fall 2023 as a PhD student in the Chemical Engineering department
Tony is working on genetic engineering in insect cell culture and in insects themselves to create novel biopolymers
Tony obtained his Bachelors degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana in 2022

William Gross IV, BS

Will joined the Stoppel Lab in Fall 2023 as a PhD student in the Chemical Engineering department
Will aims to analyze and modify new silk materials produced by his labmates Bryce, Tony, and Lauren, assessing their properties and structures, to better understand fundamental differences in silk biopolymer structure as a function of protein sequence
Will is also an UF NCAA Track and Field team member as a hammer thrower
Will graduated with his Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from the University of Akron in 2023

This Could Be You !!

The Stoppel Lab is actively seeking PhD students to join the lab in Fall 2023 and will be selecting 1-2 students from the Fall 2024 pool of candidates admitted by the Chemical Engineering PhD Program. Apply by Dec. 5th for priority consideration. Matching for these students will take place after arrival at UF.

Please apply to the UF Chemical Engineering Department if you are looking for Fall 2024 opportunities! We have fee waivers for all PhD applicants- sign up for the mailing list here!
Projects available include tissue engineering and regeneration of skeletal muscle, evaluation of rare skeletal muscle disorders, and development of novel silk-based biomaterials for applications in healthcare and medicine, genetic engineering in insects, and evaluation of scale-up/GMP methods for silk production

Masters Students

nisha Kotta, BS

MS Student in BME at UF
As a MS student, Nisha is continuing her work from undergrad on the degradation of silk scaffolds, working to understand the kinetics and transport mechanisms that guide degradation in vitro and in vivo
Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2022
2021-2022 UF University Scholar

Hai Doan, BS

MS Student in ChE at UF
Hai joined the Stoppel lab in Fall 2023 and will work on our skeletal muscle tissue engineering projects for her MS thesis!
Hai graduated from Penn State University in May 2023, with a BS in Chemical Engineering and minor in Biomedical Engineering, after serving as a research assistant in Hee Jeung Oh's research group
Hai enjoys working out and annoying her cat when she isn't in lab or working on her classwork

This Could Be You!!

On-going efforts within the lab are always in need of support from MS students
If you are interested in joining the lab, please reach out to Dr. Stoppel

Medical Students

Nickolas Davies

Summer 2022 Research Grant Award Recipient from the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA)
- This short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (T35) supports Nick's summer stipend and professional development!
- Nick won 3rd place in the MSRP Symposium!
President Elect of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Medical Student Component
Joined the Stoppel Lab in Spring 2022 to work on our DoD CDMRP funded project on oxygen therapeutics

UNdergraduate Students

Hannah Bagnis, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2025, 2023-2024 UF University Scholar and Summer 2023 NIH Scholar

Cathrine Beshay, Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2026

Llia Byron, Biochemistry Undergraduate Student, Class of 2027, Summer 2022 SSTP HS Lab Member

John Cabrera, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2026

Kevin Fernandez, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2025

Isabelle Gerzenshtein, Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2025

Rebecca Liwang, Biology Undergraduate Student, Class of 2026, Lab Technician

Isabel Matias Cruz, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2027, 2024 UF Emerging Scholar

Sarah Newcomb, Microbiology and Cell Science Undergraduate Student, Class of 2028

Andrea Orozcotorres, Chemistry Undergraduate Student, Class of 2025, Lab Technician and Researcher

Zachary Ostrander, Biology Undergraduate Student, Class of 2025, Lab Technician

Adelyn Richgels, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2026, 2023-2024 UF University Scholar

Liam Rodgers, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2026

Cecilia Rodriguez, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2025

Elena Rollins, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2025

Chelsea Smith, Exploring Science and Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2028

David Tran, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2028

Travis Truong, Biochemistry Undergraduate Student, Class of 2025, Lab Technician and Researcher

Anna Weaver, Chemistry and Innovation Undergraduate Student, Class of 2026, 2021-2022 High School Student Member

High School Students

Attisun Blackwell, class of 2024 from North Marion High School in Citra, FL joined the lab during Summer 2023 via the UF Summer Science Training Program. Attisun continues to work in the Stoppel Lab during the 2023-2024 academic year. Attisun is mentored by Lauren Eccles.

The UF Summer Science Training Program gives high school students the opportunity to stay on the UF campus and participate in research over the summer.
2023 Participants:

Rachel Oley
Attisun Blackwell
Qingyuan (Harry) Zhang

2022 Participants:

Isiri Kadambi
Llia Byron

Harry Zhang presenting is poster at the 2023 SSTP Symposium in July 2023

Rachel Oley presenting her work during the SSTP Final Presentations in July 2023

Stoppel Lab Alumni

PhD Alumni

Julie F Jameson

2021-2022 UF Graduate School Graduate Mentoring Award Recipient
- Julie discusses her mentoring philosophy here. Her impact on the growth and development of Stoppel Lab trainees will be felt for many years to come.
2021-2022 American Association of Women Emerging Scholars Dissertation Award Recipient from the UF AAW Chapter
2021-2022 UF Chemical Engineering Excellence in Research Award Recipient
- Julie was recognized for her many accomplishments as a scientist and researcher with an award from the UF ChE department, following nominations from Dr. Stoppel and Dr. Butler
2019-2020 Attributes of a Gator Engineer for Leadership Award Recipient
- The Attributes of a Gator Engineer Award is considered the most prestigious award bestowed on students within the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida
Julie joined the Stoppel Lab in Fall 2018 as a PhD Student in Chemical Engineering and defended her thesis on March 14, 2022. She graduated in May 2022
- Institute for Cell and Tissue Science and Engineering Robert C. Pittman Fellow 2017-2018
- HWCOE Graduate Preeminence Fellow
- Chair of the University of Florida Graduate Student Council, 2019-2020
- BS, University of Arkansas, Chemical Engineering
- Julie is from Oklahoma City, OK and enjoys playing soccer, sharing science and engineering concepts with kids in K-12, and hanging out friends and family

Master's Alumni

Cong Sun, MS December 2022 Graduate; Currently a PhD Student at UF in Chemistry

Neeharicka Measala, MS Fall 2021 Graduate

Parth Patel, MS Spring 2021 Graduate

Hanifah A. Yasin, MS Spring 2020 UF Graduate

Raul G. Cruz Quintero, MS Summer 2020 UF Graduate, Pfizer

Undergraduate Alumni

Annie Nguyen, Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2024. Annie is a PhD student at UConn BME.

Emily Fussell, Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate, Class of 2024, 2022-2023 UF University Scholar,. Emily is an MS Student at Cornell

Asha Rao, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2023, 2022-2023 UF University Scholar. Asha is working at Abbott in Chicago, IL.

Axianax Merone, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2023. Axi works at Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati, OH.

Jonathan Valentin, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2023

Jostin Armada, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2022. Jostin is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at Cornell University

Vy Ly, UF Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2022; Vy is an Associate Specialist at Merck (Elkton, VA)

Isabela Torres, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2022, 2021-2022 UF University Scholar; Isabela is a Product Owner at Radix Engineering & Software

Monique Bernier, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2022, 2020-2021 UF University Scholar; Monique is currently a Discovery Program Lead at AAB

Viviana Pinzon, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2021. Viviana is an Associate Scientist at Gillette (Procter & Gamble) in Boston, MA

Melissa Kolaci, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2021; Currently a Process Development Coordinator at Lacerta Therapeutics

Caroline Hamric, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, Class of 2021, 2020-2021 UF University Scholar; Caroline is an Associate Scientist at Catalent Pharma in St. Petersburg, FL

Kelly M. Bukovic, BS Spring 2020 UF Graduate; Currently a Chemical Engineering PhD Student at the University of Virginia

Christian V. Ore, BS Spring 2020 UF Graduate; Currently employed at Proctor and Gamble

Ali Lateef, BS Spring 2021 UF Graduate; Currently a PhD student at the University of Delaware

Summer NSF REU Student Alumni (funded by NSF EEC-1852111)

The UF ChE NSF REU program and UF HWCOE Summer Undergraduate Research at Florida Programs support undergraduate participation in summer research.

Alaura Cakley participated in Stoppel Lab summer research in 2022. Alaura is a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering undergraduate student at Clemson University working in the Larsen Lab!

Katie Leonard participated in Stoppel Lab summer research in 2022. Katie graduated with her BS from Auburn University in 2023 and is attending Rice University for her PhD!

Kayleigh Trumbull participated in Stoppel Lab summer research in 2023. Kayleigh is a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering undergraduate student at Clemson University working in the Larsen Lab!

Kristen Bennett participated in Stoppel Lab summer research in 2023. Kristen is a Chemical Engineering undergraduate at the University of Washington working in the Nance Lab!

Additional Lab Alumni

Rachel Oley, UF Summer 2023 SSTP High School Student Researcher (Summer 2023)
Marina Fernandez Campa, UF Biomedical Engineering Student (2019-Spring 2023)
Cori Holloway, UF Anatomy and Physiology Student (January 2022-December 2022)
Isiri Kadambi, UF Summer 2022 SSTP High School Student Researcher (Summer 2022)
Michael O'Brien, UF Chemical Engineering Masters Student (August 2021- May 2022)
Amin Suchedina, UF Biology Undergraduate, Spring 2022
Jack McNamara, UF Mathematics Undergraduate Student, CURE Program Spring 2022
Ashley Landry, UF Chemical Engineering Undergraduate, January 2021-December 2021
Adam Koff, UF Chemical Engineering Undergraduate, December 2020-December 2021
Yash Patel, UF Chemical Engineering Master's Student, January 2021
Alexa Espinoza, UF Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, October 2018-December 2019
Keri Clarke, UF Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Student, October 2018-May 2019
Jinbo Gong, UF Chemical Engineering Masters Student, March 2020-December 2020
Kayla Sutcliffe, UF MRET NSF-Sponsored Public School Teacher STEM Program, Glen Springs Elementary, Summer 2019
Mackenzie McNickle, UF MRET NSF-Sponsored Public School Teacher STEM Program, Stephen Foster Elementary, Summer 2019

How to join the Stoppel Lab as a PhD Student

Get accepted into the PhD program in the UF Chemical Engineering Department (Applications due December 5th)
- The Stoppel Lab is interested in both US students and International Students with UG (or MS degrees) in Chemical Engineering or related field
- The Stoppel Lab will take PhD students from other departments, pending available funding

How to join the Stoppel Lab as a MS Student

Get accepted into an MS or ME program within the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
The Stoppel Lab is currently open to discussing MS or ME thesis projects with interested Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering students

How to join the Stoppel Lab as an Undergraduate

Fill out an application and email it to Dr. Stoppel
- Check out the services provided by the UF Center for Undergraduate Research to understand what is expected from an UG performing research
- Priority will be given to Chemical Engineering UGs looking to complete an honors thesis
- Check out the requirements for an engineering undergraduate honors thesis
- Students are welcome to take EGN 4912 for credit after their first semester, usually 1 credit/semester in lab
Apply for funding from UF to support your work during the semester (ask Dr. Stoppel if you need help!)
- UF Emerging Scholars Program, for freshman and sophomore undergraduates without any research experience
- McNair Scholars Program, for 1st generation college students and underrepresented minorities
Students interested in working over the summe
- Take lab for course credit (EGN 4912)- make sure to discuss this with Dr. Stoppel as early as possible before the semester starts

Suggested funding mechanisms for PhD Students:

*Funding is not required to join the lab as a PhD student. However, in addition to strengthening your CV, funding provides students with:

More opportunities and freedom in their research during their PhD
More opportunities for networking and conference attendance
Flexibility in professional development activities

McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program for Minority Students, due Jan. 15th before starting grad school at UF
NSF GRFP- due October 23/24 during your senior year of undergrad and you can try a 2nd time during your first or second year of grad school
AHA Predoctoral Fellowship- due Nov. 1st, submission during your 1st or 2nd year of graduate school is advised
NIH F31- due 3 times a year, submission during 2nd/3rd year of graduate school is advised

Members of the Stoppel Lab should anticipate an inclusive and hardworking environment where:
- Intellectual merit, creativity, and diversity are celebrated
- Respectfulness and compassion are required
- Engagement with the community through outreach is encouraged
We welcome students of all backgrounds and identities and will not discriminate based on any group to which one might identify
Lab alumni go on to positively impact our society in a variety of future endeavors

LaB Members