We are seeking motivated, enthusiastic, and collaborative people to join our team! Please contact Dr. Piotrowski-Daspit for more information. We have openings for postdocs.
Principal Investigator
Alexandra S. Piotrowski-Daspit, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Dr. Alexandra S. Piotrowski-Daspit, Ph.D. (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Internal Medicine – Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Michigan. She trained as a chemical/biological engineer at MIT, Princeton University, and Yale University, and has expertise in developing polymeric biomaterials for therapeutic delivery, primarily in the context of genetic therapies. Dr. Piotrowski-Daspit is the Principal Investigator of an interdisciplinary research group. Using high-throughput in vivo studies and computational pharmacokinetic models, her translational research program focuses on understanding how delivery vehicles behave in the body as well as developing strategies to influence biodistribution and optimize gene delivery to target tissues and cell types. To complement her research, Dr. Piotrowski-Daspit is committed to teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Graduate Students
Owen Kelly [CV]
Ph.D. Student (BME)
BS Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 2023
Research: targeted delivery using polymer-based nanomedicines
Interests: cooking, basketball
Peyton Panovich [CV]
Ph.D. Student (BME); GAANN Fellow
BS Chemical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2023
Research: decoys to evade phagocytic clearance of NPs
Interests: running, dancing, reading
Nicole Kormos [CV]
Ph.D. Student (MSE); NSF GRFP Fellow
BS Bioengineering, University of Michigan – Dearborn, 2025
Research: PEG-alternative polymers for NP stealth
Interests: trying new coffee shops, tennis, houseplants, dogs
Arianna Markey [CV]
Ph.D. Student (BME); RMF Merit Fellow
BS Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2024
Research: Quantitative image analysis of polymeric NP delivery across species
Interests: baking, playing video games, watching anime, going to Costco
Undergraduate Students
Aditi Ganesan [CV]
Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan
Class of 2026
Interests: tennis, reading, music
Varshini Kashyap
Biochemistry, University of Michigan
Class of 2027
Interests: crocheting, volunteering, trying new restaurants
Aishani Bajpai
Public Health Sciences, University of Michigan Class of 2028
Interests: reading, coffee, traveling
Maria Palacios
Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan
Class of 2027
Interests: crocheting, cross stitching, going to the gym, food/coffee, travel
Luciana Sweeney
Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan
Class of 2029
Interests: trail running, cooking, movies
Staff
Claire Law
Sr. Administrative Assistant (BME)
Interests: shopping, playing with my cat Fifi, going on walks, trying new restaurants
Parker Bennett
Research Laboratory Specialist Intermediate
BS Chemistry, Sam Houston State University, 2022; MS Chemistry, Michigan State University, 2025
Research: Novel polymer materials for nucleic acid delivery
Interests: knitting, reading, listening to metal music, archery
Emotional Support Staff
Rocket Daspit
PostDOGtoral Fellow
Interests: yogurt, squirrel control, home security
Luna Daspit
LAP Technician
Interests: boxes, hiding in plain sight, laps
Alumni
Karen Reynoso, UROP Student 2023
Amogh Angadi, Volunteer 2024-2025
Miriam Stevens, Research Lab Specialist Associate 2024-2025
