Principal Investigator
Narayan Bhattarai
Narayan Bhattarai

Narayan Bhattarai, PhD
Associate Professor of Bioengineering
Investigator, NSF-Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials
Principal Investigator of NSF-Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education Program
Director of Bhattarai Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Research Lab
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
Education and Training:
Postdoc, Materials Science & Engineering, 2008, University of Washington, Seattle
Ph. D., Advanced Materials Engineering, 2003, Chonbuk National University, South Korea
Associate Professor of Bioengineering
Investigator, NSF-Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials
Principal Investigator of NSF-Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education Program
Director of Bhattarai Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Research Lab
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
Education and Training:
Postdoc, Materials Science & Engineering, 2008, University of Washington, Seattle
Ph. D., Advanced Materials Engineering, 2003, Chonbuk National University, South Korea
Graduate Students

Sara Tatum (sdtatum@aggies.ncat.edu)
Sara Tatum is a PhD student in the Energy and Environmental System (EES) program at Noth Carolina A & T State University (NCATSU). She completed her Master of Science degree in Biology while conducting research in National Science Foundation-Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials (NSF-ERC-RMB) and animal sciences departments at NCATSU. She earned her Bachelor of Science in biology at Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. Sara has a background in respiratory toxicology and the study of oxidative stress inducers. Sara will be completing her dissertation research under the supervision of Dr. Bhattarai.
Sara Tatum is a PhD student in the Energy and Environmental System (EES) program at Noth Carolina A & T State University (NCATSU). She completed her Master of Science degree in Biology while conducting research in National Science Foundation-Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials (NSF-ERC-RMB) and animal sciences departments at NCATSU. She earned her Bachelor of Science in biology at Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. Sara has a background in respiratory toxicology and the study of oxidative stress inducers. Sara will be completing her dissertation research under the supervision of Dr. Bhattarai.

Shalil Khanal (skhanal@aggies.ncat.edu)
Shalil Khanal is a PhD student at North Carolina A & T State University in the Energy and Environmental System (EES) department. He completed his M.Sc. in Chemistry from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He is performing research under supervision of Dr. Bhattarai, and his research focuses on the development of 3D liver microtissue for toxicity testing and polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery.
Shalil Khanal is a PhD student at North Carolina A & T State University in the Energy and Environmental System (EES) department. He completed his M.Sc. in Chemistry from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He is performing research under supervision of Dr. Bhattarai, and his research focuses on the development of 3D liver microtissue for toxicity testing and polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery.

Udhab Adhikari (uadhikar@aggies.ncat.edu)
Udhab Adhikari received his B.S in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Durgapur, India. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and performing research in the National Science Foundation-Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials (NSF-ERC-RMB) at North Carolina A&T State University. His research focuses on development and characterization of tissue engineered scaffolds for peripheral nerve repair.
Udhab Adhikari received his B.S in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Durgapur, India. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and performing research in the National Science Foundation-Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials (NSF-ERC-RMB) at North Carolina A&T State University. His research focuses on development and characterization of tissue engineered scaffolds for peripheral nerve repair.

Christian Chavis (cchavis1@aggies.ncat.edu)
Christian Chavis is MS student of Bioengineering at NCA&T. Christian received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from UNCP with a Pre-Health concentration in 2016, subsequently gaining employment at LabCorp that summer. He is doing research under Dr. Bhattarai. His current research includes use of biocompatible polymers to engineer 3D micro-spheres for tissue engineering application.
Christian Chavis is MS student of Bioengineering at NCA&T. Christian received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from UNCP with a Pre-Health concentration in 2016, subsequently gaining employment at LabCorp that summer. He is doing research under Dr. Bhattarai. His current research includes use of biocompatible polymers to engineer 3D micro-spheres for tissue engineering application.

Erika Johnson(edjohnso@aggies.ncat.edu)
Erika received her Bachelors in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. After completing microbiology research with the joint UNC-NRI NCAT-CEPHT program, she began her masters in biomedical engineering and performing research in the National Science Foundation-Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials (NSF-ERC-RMB) at North Carolina A & T State University. She is currently working on micro-bead fabrication with applications in ex-vivo hepatocellular modeling and drug toxicity studies.
Erika received her Bachelors in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. After completing microbiology research with the joint UNC-NRI NCAT-CEPHT program, she began her masters in biomedical engineering and performing research in the National Science Foundation-Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials (NSF-ERC-RMB) at North Carolina A & T State University. She is currently working on micro-bead fabrication with applications in ex-vivo hepatocellular modeling and drug toxicity studies.
Undergraduate Students

Mary Omotoso (moomoto1@aggies.ncat.edu)
Mary Omotoso is a junior Bioengineering student at North Carolina A&T State University. She enjoys learning about new cultures and aspires to be a part of a global health initiative team. She is a NIH MARC scholar and plans to do research in the areas of nanotechnology, tissue engineering, and drug delivery while pursuing her Ph.D in Biomedical engineering. Her academic achievements have granted her invitations to become a member of both Alpha Lambda Delta and Tau Beta Pi honor societies. She has conducted research on implant coatings at Wake Forest School of Medicine during summer of 2016.
Mary Omotoso is a junior Bioengineering student at North Carolina A&T State University. She enjoys learning about new cultures and aspires to be a part of a global health initiative team. She is a NIH MARC scholar and plans to do research in the areas of nanotechnology, tissue engineering, and drug delivery while pursuing her Ph.D in Biomedical engineering. Her academic achievements have granted her invitations to become a member of both Alpha Lambda Delta and Tau Beta Pi honor societies. She has conducted research on implant coatings at Wake Forest School of Medicine during summer of 2016.

Alessia Stewart (acstewa2@aggies.ncat.edu)
Alessia Stewart is a sophomore Bioengineering student at North Carolina A&T State University. She had prior experience of working as an undergraduate Research Lab Assistant in NCA&T’s Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Research Lab. She is a Secretary of the BMES e-board and selected as a participant of the Global Leaders in Engineering Program. Currently, she is involved in research that addresses one of the NAE Grand Challenge Summit, Engineering Better Medicine, by analyzing 3D microenvironments of liver cells.
Alessia Stewart is a sophomore Bioengineering student at North Carolina A&T State University. She had prior experience of working as an undergraduate Research Lab Assistant in NCA&T’s Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Research Lab. She is a Secretary of the BMES e-board and selected as a participant of the Global Leaders in Engineering Program. Currently, she is involved in research that addresses one of the NAE Grand Challenge Summit, Engineering Better Medicine, by analyzing 3D microenvironments of liver cells.
Alumni
Graduates
Shalil Khanal (Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry-2019 Summer)
Kalene Johnson (M.S. in Bioengineering-2019 Summer)
Oreoluwa Alonge (M.S. in Bioengineering-2019 Summer)
Udhab Adhikari (Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-2018 Fall)
Sunghyun Jun (M.S. in Bioengineering-2018 Spring)
Erika Johnson (M.S. in Bioengineering-2017 Spring)
Jaclynn Dearring (M.S. in Bioengineering-2017 Spring)
Nava P. Rijal (M.S. in Bioengineering-2016 Spring)
Sandeep Pasam (M.S. in Bioengineering-2015 Fall)
Shekh M. Rahman (M.S. in Bioengineering-2015 Summer)
Zanshe Thompson (M.S. in Bioengineering-2015 Spring)
Roman P. Blount, IV (M.S. in Bioengineering-2014 Fall)
Maame Boakye (M.S. in Bioengineering-2014 Summer)
Princeton Carter (M.S. in Bioengineering-2013 Spring)
Shakiri Jones (M.S. in Bioengineering, Major Advisor-Dr. Matthew McCullough )
Mark Gomes (M.S. in Bioengineering, Major Advisor-Dr. Matthew McCullough)
Angela Edwards (M.S. in Bioengineering-Spring 2012)
Chris Mahoney (M.S. in Bioengineering-Spring 2012)
Undergraduates
Mary Omotoso (BMEN)
Joshua Lee (BMEN)
Dominique Saddler (BMEN)
Chad Chesley (BMEN)
Jared Slaydon (BMEN)
Christina Fenwick (MEEN)
Leanna Almarines (BMEN)
David Jarvis (BMEN)
Amber Brown (CHEN)
Brittany M. Hewlin (BMEN)
Summer Interns (2015)
Roslyn Vansickle (Undergraduate Student, Washington State University)
Mark Case (High School Teacher, Southern Guilford High)
Summer Interns (2016)
Alan Brown (Undergraduate Student, North Carolina State University)
Chandler Mason (High School Student, Southwest Guilford High School, High Point, NC)
Graduates
Shalil Khanal (Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry-2019 Summer)
Kalene Johnson (M.S. in Bioengineering-2019 Summer)
Oreoluwa Alonge (M.S. in Bioengineering-2019 Summer)
Udhab Adhikari (Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-2018 Fall)
Sunghyun Jun (M.S. in Bioengineering-2018 Spring)
Erika Johnson (M.S. in Bioengineering-2017 Spring)
Jaclynn Dearring (M.S. in Bioengineering-2017 Spring)
Nava P. Rijal (M.S. in Bioengineering-2016 Spring)
Sandeep Pasam (M.S. in Bioengineering-2015 Fall)
Shekh M. Rahman (M.S. in Bioengineering-2015 Summer)
Zanshe Thompson (M.S. in Bioengineering-2015 Spring)
Roman P. Blount, IV (M.S. in Bioengineering-2014 Fall)
Maame Boakye (M.S. in Bioengineering-2014 Summer)
Princeton Carter (M.S. in Bioengineering-2013 Spring)
Shakiri Jones (M.S. in Bioengineering, Major Advisor-Dr. Matthew McCullough )
Mark Gomes (M.S. in Bioengineering, Major Advisor-Dr. Matthew McCullough)
Angela Edwards (M.S. in Bioengineering-Spring 2012)
Chris Mahoney (M.S. in Bioengineering-Spring 2012)
Undergraduates
Mary Omotoso (BMEN)
Joshua Lee (BMEN)
Dominique Saddler (BMEN)
Chad Chesley (BMEN)
Jared Slaydon (BMEN)
Christina Fenwick (MEEN)
Leanna Almarines (BMEN)
David Jarvis (BMEN)
Amber Brown (CHEN)
Brittany M. Hewlin (BMEN)
Summer Interns (2015)
Roslyn Vansickle (Undergraduate Student, Washington State University)
Mark Case (High School Teacher, Southern Guilford High)
Summer Interns (2016)
Alan Brown (Undergraduate Student, North Carolina State University)
Chandler Mason (High School Student, Southwest Guilford High School, High Point, NC)