Undergraduate Students

Focus Area:
Heart disease diagnosis using heart sounds. 

Research Interest:
Drug delivery and cardiovascular disease monitoring.

Awards:
PATHS-UP/OURS Program (January 2021-Present)
FIU IRES Award (2022)

Fun Fact:
Rebekah loves to travel, learn new languages, and she plays 3 different instruments!

Expected Graduation:
Summer 2023

Focus Area:
EGFR inhibition of vascular calcification.

Research Interest:
Working to develop a therapeutic and preventative option to treat VC by inhibiting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in vitro.

Expected Graduation:
Fall 2023

Fun Fact:
In Jazlyn’s free time, you can find her rock climbing or hiking.

Focus Area:
Sensor design.

Research Interest:
Understanding the mechanisms that lead to cardiovascular disease through the design of a magnetic particle based sensing platform.

Expected Graduation:
Summer 2023

Fun Fact:
Fernando wants to be a professor.

Focus Area:
The mechanobiological mechanisms behind bicuspid aortic valve related aortic valve disease progression.

Research Interest:
He would like to contribute to different aspects of cardiovascular research by studying mechanobiology, tissue engineering, pathological remodeling, and therapeutics.

Awards:
CURE Program (January 2023 – Present)

Expected Graduation:
Spring 2026

Fun Fact:
Lucas dances whenever he is bored. Also, he has a medical podcast called “The Operating Room”. Please like and subscribe!

Focus Area:
Cardiac tissue biomechanics.

Research Interest:
She would like to contribute to the field of cardiovascular engineering by studying mechanisms of pathological remodeling, developing novel therapeutics for heart disease, and/or using 3D bioprinting techniques and advanced biomaterials to promote regeneration.

Awards:
MARC U*STAR Fellowship (June 2022-Present)

Expected Graduation:
Summer 2024

Fun Fact:
She’s an avid Miami Heat fan and has a Labrador named “Buckets”.

Focus Area:
Vascular calcification (VC) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Research Interest:
Understanding the mechanisms that lead to medical calcification and how CKD progresses this in vivo. In addition, studying the effects of CKD and VC in Alzheimer’s and dementia development.

Awards:
Cure Program Researcher (August 2022 – Present)

Expected Graduation:
Spring 2024

Fun Fact:
Lorimar loves to attend conventions and concerts in her free time.

Focus Area:
Effect of Relaxin Receptor Agonist on Vascular Calcification.

Research Interest:
Currently, there is no existing treatment to resorb existing plaque in the cardiovascular system. Her project focuses on looking at the response of inflammation on vascular calcification.

Expected Graduation:
Fall 2023

Fun Fact:
Katelan enjoys baking in her free time.