Who we are
Howdy! We are the Grunlan Biomaterials Lab. Polymeric biomaterials to develop new and improve existing medical technologies is our passion.
About Dr. Melissa Grunlan
Professor
Dr. Melissa Grunlan is the Charles H. and Bettye Barclay Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU). She holds courtesy appointments in the Departments of Materials Science & Engineering and Chemistry.
After completing her B.S and M.S., Dr. Grunlan was employed at the H.B. Fuller Company (St. Paul, MN) for four years where she held titles of Chemist and then Senior Chemist. Next, she completed her Ph.D. at the University of Southern California. Following a post-doc in the Department of Chemistry (TAMU), Dr. Grunlan was hired as an Assistant Professor [2005]. She was awarded tenure at promoted to Associate Professor [2011], and then promoted to Full Professor [2017].
For the last 17 years, Dr. Grunlan has built an internationally-recognized research program focused on the development of polymeric biomaterials for medical devices and environmentally-friendly coatings. Her technologies include osteochondral scaffolds, shape memory polymer bone scaffolds, synthetic cartilage, self-cleaning biosensor membranes, and antifouling silicones. Dr. Grunlan has received numerous awards from TAMU, including the prestigious Presidential Impact Fellow, and Chancellor EDGES Fellow. She is Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the ACS PMSE Division, and the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). She is a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
Dr. Grunlan served as Chair of the ACS Division of Polymeric Materials Science & Engineering. She is a standing member of the NIH Biotechnology and Surgical Sciences (BTSS) Study Section. Dr. Grunlan is an Associate Editor of ACS Macro Letters. Her research has been reported in 93 peer-reviewed publications, and has been sponsored by the NIH, NSF, DoD laboratories, and several companies.
Lab Members
Current Ph.D. Students
Alec Marmo
Alec Marmo
alecmarmo@tamu.edu
MSEN, Fall 2018 – present
Surface modifying additives for silicone-based medical devices
Connor Demott
Connor Demott
cjdemott15@tamu.edu
BMEN, Fall 2018 – present
Cartilage-mimetic, multinetwork hydrogels
Courteney Roberts
Courteney Roberts
ctroberts@tamu.edu
BMEN, Spring 2021 – present
Shape memory polymer scaffolds for orthopedic and gynecological…
Jenlyan Negron-Hernandez
Jenlyan Negron-Hernandez
jenlyan.negron@tamu.edu
CHEM; Fall 2021 – present
Shape memory scaffolds derived from silicon-based polymers
Carolina Martinez
Carolina Martinez
carolina.i.martinez@tamu.edu
CHEM; Fall 2021 – present
Polyelectroylete hydrogel membranes for biosensors
Brandon Nitschke
Brandon Nitschke
bmn37@tamu.edu
BMEN; Fall 2021 – present
Composite shape memory polymer scaffolds for bone defect…
Olivia Dingus
Olivia Dingus
ofdingus@tamu.edu
BMEN; Fall 2021 – present
Nanocomposite, multinetwork hydrogels for orthopedic tissue replacement
Harrison Koller
Harrison Koller
hkoller@tamu.edu
CHEM; Fall 2022 – present
Environmentally-benign anti-fouling marine coatings
Current Undergraduate Students

Caleb Chesney
BMEN; Spring 2020, Spring 2021
Cartilage-mimetic hydrogels

Ashley Hicks
BMEN; Spring 2020, Spring 2021
Bioactive siloxane-containing self-fitting scaffolds for CMF bone repair

Whitney Sloan
BMEN; Spring 2020, Fall 2021 – present
Shape memory polymer scaffolds for bone repair

Amelia Soltes
BMEN; Spring 2021
Self-cleaning membranes for implanted glucose biosensors

Jackson Pickett
BMEN; Fall 2021 – present
Amphiphilic silicones for intraocular lenses

Lucas Lott
BMEN; Fall 2021 – present
Electrically conductive silicones

Sarah Beck
BMEN; Fall 2021 – present
Shape memory polymer scaffolds for bone repair

Chiamaka Akparu
BMEN; Fall 2021 – present
Shape memory polymer scaffolds for bone repair
Former Post-Doctoral Scholars

Dr. Jakkrit Suriboot
June 2016 – July 2019
Silicones for 3D printing

Dr. Melissa Hawkins
January 2015 – May 2016
Anti-fouling coatings and polymers for drug delivery

Dr. Felipe Beltran
fbeltran@tamu.edu
January 2022 – May 2022
Former Ph.D. Students

Dr. Felipe Beltran
Graduated: December 2021 (Materials Science & Engineering)
Dissertation: “Bioactive, Self-Fitting Scaffolds Prepared from Siloxane Based Shape Memory Polymers”. Currently: national lab.

Dr. Ping Dong
Graduated: December 2021 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: “‘Self-cleaning’ Hydrogel Membranes for Fully Implantable Glucose Biosensors”. Currently: Post-doc at University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Michaela Pfau
Graduated: May 2021 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: “Self-fitting Craniomaxillofacial (CMF) Bone Scaffolds with Tunable Properties. Currently: Post-doc at University of Minnesota

Dr. Michael Frassica
Graduated: December 2020 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: Templated Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffolds for Osteochondral Repair. Currently: Senior Clinical Research Scientist at Abbott

Dr. Bryan Kai Ngo
Graduated: May 2020 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: “Thromboresistant Silicones and Polyurethanes Prepared with Amphiphilic Surface-Modifying Additives”. Currently: Senior Product Engineer at VenoStent, Inc.

Dr. Kristen Means
Graduated: May 2019 (Materials Science & Engineering)
Dissertation: “Ultra-strong, Double Network Hydrogels for Implantable Glucose Biosensors and Synthetic Cartilage”. Currently: Bioengineer at 3D Systems Corp.

Dr. Lindsay (Nail) Woodard
Graduated: Spring 2018 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: “Degradable PCL-PLLA Semi-IPN Network SMP Scaffolds for Cranial Bone Defect Repair”. Currently: Research Scientist, Principal Investigator; Luna innovations, Inc.

Guillaume Gillet
March – June 2018
University of South Brittany (France)

Dr. Marc Rufin
Graduated: Spring 2016 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: “PEO-Silane Amphiphiles as Surface-Modifying Additives to Improve the Protein Resistance of Silicone”. Currently: Principal Materials Engineer, Medtronic.

Dr. Ruochong “Raymond” Fei
Graduated: December 2014 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: “Self-Cleaning Membranes Based on Thermoresponsive Double Network Hydrogels”. Currently: Software Engineer at Google.

Dr. Melissa Hawkins
Graduated: December 2014 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: “Antifouling Silicone Coatings Prepared with PEO-Silane Amphiphiles”

Dr. Brennan Bailey
Graduated: August 2013 (Biomedical Engineering)
Dissertation: “Inorganic-Organic Hydrogel Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications”. Currently, Scientific Communication Manager, Roche (Switzerland)

Dr. Dawei “David” Zhang
Graduated: May 2013 (Material Science & Engineering)
Dissertation: “Shape Memory Polymers with Si-Containing Segments”. Currently: Professor, University of Science & Technology Beijing

Dr. Yaping Hou
Graduated: December 2009 (Materials Science & Engineering)
Dissertation: “Photocurable Inorganic-Organic Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications”. Currently: Vice President, International Business Development, Ziamen SINOPEG Biotech, Inc.

Dr. Ranjini Murthy
Graduated: May 2009 (Materials Science & Engineering)
Dissertation: “Enhancing Protein Resistance of PEO Modified Biomaterials”. Currently: Business Director, Stepan Company
Former M.S. Students
Cody Schoener
Cody Schoener
Graduated: August 2009
Thesis: “Biodegradable Si-Containing Elastomers for Tissue Engineering Scaffolds and Shape…
Former Undergraduate Students

Jessica Johnson
Spring 2019, Fall 2019 – Spring 2020, Spring 2021
Thromboresistant silicones

McKenzie Jones
Fall 2019 – Spring 2020, Spring 2021
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2021): “Hydrogels with Regional Mechanical Properties”

J Jesus Rodriguez Cruz
Fall 2019 – Spring 2020, Fall 2021 – Spring 2021
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2021): “Stability Assessment of PEO-Silane Amphiphiles for Use in Intraocular Lenses”

Emily Rayer
Fall 2018 – Spring 2019, Fall 2019 – Spring 2021
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2020): “Incorporation of Compatibilized Polypropylene Fumarate (PPF) into Polycaprolactone (PCL) Networks for Applications in Bone Regeneration”

Esteban Ramirez
Spring 2019 – Spring 2020
Hydrogel scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration

Emily Clark
Spring 2019, Fall 2019 – Spring 2020
Shape memory polymer scaffolds for bone defect repair

Rabia Ali
Fall 2018 – Spring 2020
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2020): “In vitro Real-time Degradation of ‘Self-fitting’ PCL-DA/PLA Semi-IPN Scaffolds for Cranial Bone Defects”

Chris Houk
Spring 2018 – Spring 2020
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2019): “The Effects of EtO Sterilization and Polydopamine on PCL-PLLA Scaffolds”

Sarah Jones
Fall 2017 – Spring 2019, Fall 2019 – Spring 2020
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2019): “Phosphonate Functionalized Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration”

Kendrick Lim
Fall 2016, Summer 2017 – May 2019
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2019): “Development of Anti-fouling Materials for Blood-Contacting Devices”

Kelly McKinzey
Spring 2017 – Spring 2018, Fall 2019 – Spring 2020
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2019): “Impact of Polymer Architecture on PCL-DA/PLLA Semi-IPN Properties”

Kayllie Lomeli
Spring 2019 – Fall 2019

Abigail Roth
abbeyroth@tamu.edu
Spring 2017 – May 2019
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2018): “Assessment of Degradation for Porous PCL-PLLA Semi-IPN Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) Implants for Cranial Bone Defect Repair”

Bradley Schott
bradleyjschott@tamu.edu
Fall 2017 – May 2019
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2019): “An Implantable Glucose Sensor Comprised of Fluorescence Assays a Self-Cleaning Hydrogel Membrane”

Courtney Shrode
Fall 2016 – Summer 2018
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2018): “Incorporating Electrospun Fibers into Ultra-Strong Hydrogels”

Andrea Brunal
Fall 2016 – Summer 2017
Anti-Clot and Anti-Infection Coatings

Lauren Whitney
Summer 2016 – Spring 2017
Hydrogel Membranes for Biosensors and Tissue Replacement

Mikayla Barry
Summer 2014 – Summer 2017
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2016): “Dynamic Whole Blood Study of Silicone Modified with PEO-Silane Amphiphiles”

Vanessa Page
Summer 2015 – Spring 2017
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2016): “PCL Shape Memory Polymer Scaffolds Prepared with Variable Cross-link Density”

Mallory Taylor
Spring 2017
Hybrid Hydrogels to Treat Osteochondral Defects

Bristin Rustenbeck
Summer 2016 – Summer 2017
Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffolds for Osteochondral Repair

Kevin Kmetz
Spring 2016 – Spring 2017
Self-fitting Scaffolds for Bone Repair

Luke Oaks
Spring 2016
Self-cleaning Membranes for Glucose Biosensors

Daniel Ehrhardt
Spring 2015 – Spring 2016
Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffolds for Osteochondral Repair

Rebecca Sehnert
Summer 2013 – Fall 2014; Fall 2015 – Spring 2016
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2016): “Macroporous PDMSstar-PEG-DA Hydrogels for Osteochondral Regeneration”

Erica Gacasan
Spring 2013 – Spring 2014; Fall 2015 – Spring 2016
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2014): “PDMSstar-PEG Hydrogels for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering”

Abigail Advincula
Summer 2015
Shape Memory Polymer Foams to Treat Bone Defects

Tyler Nichols
Spring 2015
Shape Memory Polymers to Treat Bone Defects & Self-Cleaning Membranes

Ala Yaser Tobeh
Spring 2014 – Spring 2015
Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Membranes for Biosensors

Paige Adair
Spring 2014 – Spring 2015
PEG-Silane Amphiphiles to Improve Clot Resistance

Alexandra Herrick
Spring 2014 – Spring 2015
Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Membranes for Biosensors

Jessica Reinhard
Spring 2014, Fall 2014
Biodegradable Shape Memory Polymers with Si-Containing Segments

Hanna Glidewell
Spring 2014
Biodegradable Shape Memory Polymers with Si-Containing Segments

Robert Hunt
Fall 2013, Fall 2014
Amphilic Silicones with Enhanced Blood Compatibility

Berkay Basagaolglu
Summer 2013 – Spring 2014
Inorganic-Organic Hydrogel Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Matthew Hurley
Spring 2013 – Spring 2014
PEG-Silane Amphiphiles to Improve Clot Resistance

Samantha Schott
Spring 2013 – Spring 2014
Amphilic Silicones with Enhanced Blood Compatibility

Olivia George
Fall 2012 – Spring 2014
Undergraduate Research Scholar Thesis (2014): “Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) Foams for Bone Defect Repair”

Daniel Callahan
Fall 2013
PEG-Silane Amphiphiles to Improve Carbothane Clot Resistance

Ryan Ng
Summer 2013
Amphilic Silicones with Enhanced Blood Compatibility

Dedeepya Puvvada
Spring 2013
Thermoresponsive Nanocomposite Hydrogels

Alex Quante
Spring 2013
Shape Memory Polymers with Si-Containing Segments

Bagrat Grigoryan
Fall 2012 – Spring 2013
Amphilic Silicones with Enhanced Blood Compatibility

John Gruetzner
Spring 2011 – Spring 2013
PEG-Silane Amphiphiles to Improve Carbothane Clot Resistance

Kristen Means
Fall 2011 – Spring 2014
Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Membranes for Biosensors

Lindsay Nail
Fall 2011 – Spring 2013
Inorganic-Organic Hydrogel Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Keri Peterson
Fall 2011 – Spring 2013
Inorganic-Organic Hydrogel Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Julie Strope
Summer 2011
Thermoresponsive Nanocomposite Hydrogel Membranes for Glucose Biosensors

William Burkes
Fall 2010 – Spring 2011
Shape Memory Polymers for Bone Defect Treatment

Jeehyun Park
Fall 2010 – Spring 2011
Thermoresponsive Nanocomposite Hydrogel Membranes for Glucose Biosensors

Jason George
Fall 2009 – Spring 2012
Honors Fellow Thesis (2012): “Thermoresponsive Double Network Hydrogel Membranes for Glucose Biosensors”

Vivian Hui
Fall 2009 – Spring 2011
Inorganic-Organic Hydrogel Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Rachel Unruh
Summer 2010
Inorganic Organic Hydrogel Scaffolds as Gradients

Stacy Prukop
Summer 2009 – Spring 2010
Shape Memory Polymers with Si-Containing Segments

Melissa Giese
Spring 2009 – Spring 2010
Shape Memory Polymers with Si-Containing Segments

Chris Weyand
Spring 2009 – Fall 2009
Shape Memory Polymers with Si-Containing Segments

Shin Duk Lee
Fall 2008 – Spring 2009

Tauseef Charanya
Fall 2008 – Spring 2009
Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds

Brennan Bailey
Spring 2008 – Spring 2009
Preparation of antifouling surfaces with novel PDMS-block-PEO copolymers

Jonathan Burkes
Spring 2008 – Spring 2009
Inorganic-Organic Hydrogels

Chris Perry
Spring 2008
Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds

Cody Schoener
Spring 2008

Courtney Shell
Spring 2007 – Spring 2008
Amphillic Silicones

Ashley Smitherman
Spring 2007 – Fall 2007
PDMS Nanoparticles for UHMWPE Composites

Casey Cox
Summer 2006 – Fall 2006
Preparation of antifouling surfaces with novel PDMS-block-PEO copolymers

Andrew Matthews
Summer 2006
Modification of hydrogels with PDMS nanoparticles

Katie Regan
Fall 2005 – Spring 2007
UV-curable PDMS/PEO polymers systems
Group Photos
Summer 2023: Left to right: (front row) Prof. Melissa Grunlan, Brandon Nitschke, Olivia Dingus, Harrison Koller, Jenlyan Negron-Hernandez, (2nd row) Dr. Damion Dixon, Kaylee Breining, Mabel Prejean, Courteney Roberts, Carolina Martinez, (back row) Theo Ferrell, Carter Lucas, Kaley Beach, Megan Bassinger
Spring 2023: Left to right: (front row) Prof. Melissa Grunlan, Olivia Dingus, Paola Chavarria, Carolina Martinez, Jenlyan Negron-Hernandez, Varshitha Krishnan, Courteney Roberts, Brandon Nitschke, Harrison Koller, Chiamaka Akpura, (back row) Jackson Pickett, Lucas Lott, Mabel Prejean, MaryGrace Wahby
Fall 2022: Left to right: (front row) Prof. Melissa Grunlan, Brandon Nitschke, Elizabeth Butchko, Carolina Martinez, Jenlyan Negron-Hernandez; (2nd row) Harrison Koller, Jackson Pickett, Chiamaka Akpura, Connor Demott; (3rd row) Lucas Lott, Cesar Ramirez, Alex Konz, Courteney Roberts, Olivia Dingus.
Spring 2022: Left to right: (front row) Connor Demott, Whitney Sloan, Sarah Beck, Amelia Soltes, Jenlyan Negron-Hernandez, Carolina Martinez, Varshitha Krishnan, Prof. Grunlan; (2nd row) Alec Marmo, Brandon Nitschke, Olivia Dingus, James Sampson, Ashley Hicks, Courteney Roberts, Chiamaka Akpura; (3rd row) Dr. Felipe Beltran, Lucas Lott
Fall 2021: Left to right: (front row): Courteney Roberts, Olivia Dingus, Amelia Soltes, Carolina Martinez, Jenlyan Negron-Hernandez, Connor Demott, Ashley Hickes, Prof. Melissa Grunlan; (back row) Alec Marmo, Lucas Lott, Whitney Sloan, Caleb Chesney, Brandon Nitschke, Jackson Pickett, Felipe Beltran. (Not pictured: Sarah Beck, Chiamaka Akpura)
Spring 2019: Left to Right: (bottom) Prof. Melissa Grunlan, Sarah Jones, Kristen Means, Abigail Roth, Emily Rayer, Ping Dong, Kendrick Lim, (middle) Jessica Johnson, Bradley Schott, Emily Clark, Esteban Ramirez, Rabia Ali, Connor Demott, Michaela Pfau (top): Alec Marmo, Chris Houk, Mike Frassica, Bryan Khai Ngo, Felipe Beltran, Dr. Jakkrit Suriboot.
Fall 2018: Left to Right: (bottom) Sarah Jones, Rabia Ali, Ping Done, Kristen Means, Kendrick Lim, (middle) Professor Melissa Grunlan, Emily Rayer, Abigail Roth, Michaela Pfau, Dr. Jakkrit Suriboot, Bryan Khai Ngo, (top): Alec Marmo, Felipe Beltran, Mike Frassica, Connor Demmot, Chris Houk, Bradley Schott.
Spring 2018: Left to Right: (bottom) Professor Grunlan, Kendrick Lim, Abigail Roth, Sarah Jones, Kelly McKinzey, Kristen Means, Michaela Pfau, Ping Dong, Lindsay Nail, Dr. Jakkrit Suriboot. (top) Mike Frassica, Bryan Khai Ngo, Christopher Houk, Courtney Shrode, Bradely Schott, Felipe Beltran, Guillaume Gillet.
Spring 2017: Left to Right: (bottom) Prof. Grunlan, Andrea Brunal, Lauren Whitney, Lindsay Woodard, Kristen Means, Abigail Roth, Ping Dong. (middle) Kevin Kmetz, Bryan Kai Ngo, Courtney Shrode, Bristin Rustenbeck, Mallory Taylor, Mikayla Barry, Michaela Pfau. (top) Mike Frassica, Dr. Jakkrit Suriboot, Kelly McKinzey, Felipe Beltran, Vanessa Page.
Fall 2016: Left to Right: (bottom) Prof. Grunlan, Ping Dong, Kristen Means, Lindsay Woodard, Mikayla Barry, Lauren Whitney, Kendrik Lim. (top) Bryan Khai Ngo, Michaela Pfau, Courtney Shrode, Kevin Kmetz, Vanessa Page, Bristen Rustenbeck, Michael Frassica. Not pictured: Dr. Jakkrit Suriboot, Andrea Brunal.
Spring 2014: Left to Right: (Bottom) Kristen Means, Melissa Hawkins, Rebecca Sehnert, Samantha Schott, Erica Gacasan, Paige Adair, Alexandra Herrick, Jessica Reinhard. (Top) Prof. Melissa Grunlan, Lindsay Nail, Matthew Hurley, Raymond Fei, Marc Rufin, Berkay Basagaoglu, Ala Tobeh. (Not pictured: Olivia George and Hanna Glidewell.)
Spring 2013: Left to Right: (Top) Prof. Melissa Grunlan, Dedeepya Pubbada, Alex Quante, Raymond Fei, Marc Rufin, John Gruetzner, Matthew Hurley, Bagrat Grigoryan. (Bottom) Lindsay Nail, Olivia George, Samantha Schott, Kristen Means, Brennan Bailey, Melissa Hawkins, Erica Gacasan, Keri Petersen. (Not pictured: David Zhang.)