Meet the People
We are constantly growing and evolving, which results in new opportunities for ambitious people to work in a positive work environment. Whether you are just starting out or an experienced professional, a great future starts here.
Principal Investigator
Ishan Barman
Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Russell Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science
Email: ibarman [at] jhu.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Russell Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science
Email: ibarman [at] jhu.edu
Ishan Barman is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University with joint appointments in the Departments of Oncology and Radiology and Radiological Science. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, before moving to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for his M.S. and Ph.D. During his doctoral research, he investigated non-invasive blood glucose sensing using vibrational spectroscopy under Professor Michael Feld. He leads an interdisciplinary research group that is focused on the development of cutting-edge biophotonics technologies with the goal of disease detection at early, manageable stages, monitoring therapeutic effects and treatment outcomes, and guiding interventions. The optical tools generated from these investigations have been leveraged in diverse biomedical environments including in automated recognition of biopsy specimen, real-time diagnosis of middle ear pathology, and as a customized monoclonal antibody identification platform.
Post Doctoral Researchers
Dr. Peng Zheng
Dr. Swati Tanwar
PHD Students
Pooja Anantha
Employing quantitative phase imaging and Raman spectroscopy, I delve into the morphological and molecular intricacies of cellular processes. Specifically, my focus is on studying the effects of various conditions on rat cortical astrocyte morphology. Additionally, I explore human adipocyte morphology, lipid formation, and composition during the differentiation process.
pananth1 [at] jhu.edu
Lintong Wu
Saransh Arora
Arnab Chatterjee
Anoushka Gupta
Currently, my research aims towards understanding cartilage degradation and morphomolecular changes in cancer cells with help of optical techniques. In my free time, I like to play table tennis and read books.
agupt130 [at] jh.edu
Michael Ka Ho Lee
I am a 1st year Ph.D. student in the Barman Lab. I am interested in combining MEMS with Biophotonics for medical applications. My current research focuses on using Quantitative Phase Imaging and Raman Spectrometer for biochemical detection. In my free time, I enjoy playing sports and weightlifting.
mlee327 [at] jh.edu
MSE Students
Sunwoo Kim
My main academic interest centers on artificial intelligence, particularly long-term autonomy, embodied machine learning, and computer vision. I like to play instruments like guitar and sports in my free time.
skim561@jh.edu
Jason Zhong
I’m a 5th-year combined BS/MSE Master’s student studying mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace and incoming Flight Controls engineer at Boeing, where I spent the past two summers working with the 777X Autoflight team. Experience in multidisciplinary design, where my team developed a novel winning solution to access the untapped hydropower potential of America’s dams. Nationally ranked powerlifter, coach, and former president of the Hopkins Barbell Club.
jzhong19@jh.edu
Ray Chen
Passionate about product design & development. Currently designing and building prototypes for a novel autonomous UAS system using finite element analysis, 3D printing, and all that fun stuff. I like to spend my free time doing photography, practicing or learning recipes, and playing video games.
rchen72@jhu.edu
Undergraduate Students
Zuriel Erikson Joven
My research interests include low-cost and non-invasive diagnostics, intersections of optics and medical robotics, quantitative and statistical methods for biological modeling and spectroscopy, and applications of architected materials in biomechanics. In my free time I enjoy firespinning, tennis, game development, and playing Minecraft.
zjoven1 [at] jhu.edu
Owen Bartlett
My research interests are focused on efficient UAV swarm control and communication. I work with the software development of mission scripts, computer vision, and precision landing as well as the testing of any physical development. I play on the Hopkins Waterpolo team and my hobbies include working out, travel, listening to music, surfing and skiing.
obartle1[at] jhu.edu
Eloise Martenson
My research interests include robotics, subsystem mechanical design, and the integration of vision systems with robotics. I love breaking down and solving system level engineering challenges. In my free time I enjoy hiking, running, fishing, and reading.
emarten2@jh.edu
Gabriel Ruiz
My research interests mainly surround mechanical design, robotics, and botany. I am to develop robotics for medical applications and maybe build novel renewable energy sources. In my free time I enjoy taking care of orchids and succulents, designing products, and sometimes playing videogames.
gruiz4@jh.edu
Andrew Gilbert
I am a second-year student studying Computer Science and Applied Mathematics & Statistics. My research and academic interests include multi-agent reinforcement learning, deep transfer learning, and optimization. In my free time, I enjoy discussing philosophy, skiing, and playing the guitar.
agilbe36@jh.edu
Louis Lapp
My research interests lie in unifying mechanical systems with data analytics. My work includes developing Arctic sea ice forecasts by combining machine learning, Fourier transform, and data visualization techniques. I am currently focusing on autonomous swarm drones. Outside of research, I enjoy mountain biking, hiking, photography, and astronomy.
llapp1@jh.edu
Visiting Scholars
Marwan El Chazli
I'm a visiting scholar from EPFL, Switzerland with a background in microengineering & biomedical technologies. My research interests include the use of Raman spectroscopy for the detection of pathogenic bacteria.
melchaz1 [at] jhu.edu
Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows
Gagandeep Kaur (Sept 2023 - March 2024)
Santosh Paidi (May 2020 – May 2021)
Current Position: Technical Development Principal Scientist , GenentechDebadrita Paria (Mar 2018 – Janu 2022)
Current Position: LTD FE Process Integration Engineer, Intel Corporation, Hillsboro, OregonLe Liang (Oct 2017 – Sep 2021)
Current Position: Professor, The Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, ChinaZufang Huang (Dec 2015 – Dec 2017)
Current Position: Associate Professor, College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fujian, ChinaSoumik Siddhanta (Mar 2015 – Nov 2019)
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, IndiaMing Li (Jan 2014 - Feb 2017)
Current Position: Professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, China
Doctoral Students
Piyush Raj (Aug 2019 - Aug 2024)
Thesis title: Innovative Approaches in Quantitative Phase Imaging and Raman Spectroscopy for Enhanced Biomedical Analysis
Current position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) with Prof. Andy YunJeong Hee (Jenn) Kim (Aug 2018 – August 2023)
Thesis title: Label-free morpho-molecular cellular analysis with Raman and quantitative phase imaging
Current Position: Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MAZhenhui Liu (Aug 2017 – March 2023)
Thesis title: Cellular Biophysics in Cancer and Malaria ProgressionChi Zhang (Sept 2015 – Sep 2019)
Thesis Title: Harnessing label-free Raman spectroscopy for metastatic cancer diagnosis and biologic development
Current Position: Bioanalytical Process Analytical Method Development Scientist, GSK, Philadelphia, PASantosh Paidi (Sept 2014 – April 2020)
Thesis Title: Molecular analysis of cancer progression with label-free Raman spectroscopy
MSE Students
Abhinaya Shankar (Aug 2017 – Jan 2019)
Current Position: Scientist, Varex Imaging Corporation, Salt Lake City, UTYujia He (Jan 2016 – May 2016)
Yaozheng Li (Sept 2015 – May 2017)
Current Position: Software Development Engineer II, Amazon, Seattle, WAChi Zhang (Jan 2014 – Aug 2015)
Visiting Scientists
Annalisa Convertino, Ph.D. (Feb 2019) (National Research Council (CNR), Italy)
Maciej Roman, Ph.D. (Sept 2017 – Dec 2017) (Institute of Nuclear Physics, Krakow, Poland)
Ram Prasad, Ph.D. (Sept 2014 – Aug 2015) (Amity University, India)
Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, BiharChao Zheng, M.D. (Sept 2014 – Aug 2015) (First Hospital of Jilin University, China)
Current Position: Breast Cancer Surgeon, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
Visiting Graduate and Undergraduate Students
Bhaskar Jha (May 2023 – July 2023) (Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India)
Vardhan Basnet (May 2023 – August 2023) (City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)
Marcin Marzejon (October 2019 – March 2020) (Gdansk University of Technology, Poland)
Irfan Ahmed (February 2019 – July 2019) (City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)
Vaani Shah (May 2018 – Aug 2018) (University of Maryland, College Park)
Arun Nagpal (May 2017 – Dec 2017) (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
Current position: PhD student, California Institute of TechnologyAkilan Meiyappan (May 2017 – Aug 2017; June 2018 – Aug 2018) (University of Maryland Baltimore County)
Current position: MS student, Johns Hopkins UniversityMaciej Wrobel (March 2015 – June 2015; Jan 2017 – July 2017) (Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland)
Current position: Assistant Professor, Department of Metrology and Optoelectronics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, PolandNicolas Mesyngier (June – Aug 2016) (INBT REU Intern) (Pennsylvania State University)
Current position: PhD student, University of Michigan, Ann ArborWeihao Li (March – June 2016) (South University of Science and Technology, China)
Current position: PhD student, National University of Singapore, SingaporeSidarth Dasari (May - August 2014) (Indiana University)
Current position: Resident physician, The University of Vermont Medical Center
Undergraduate Research Advisees
Rah Bhatt (2022 - 2024)
Evan Edelman (2022 - 2024)
Vighnesh Ginde (2022 - 2024)
Arushi Tandon (2022 - 2023)
Felicity Li (2022 - 2024)
Siddhi Date (2022 - 2023)
Linika Goel (2022 - 2023)
Lauren Conway (2023 - 2024)
Esther Wu (2022 - 2023)
Noah Zahn (2023 - 2024)
Vinay Ayyappan (Jan 2019 – May 2020)
Current position: MD/PhD student, University of PennsylvaniaRachel Rex (February 2018 – June 2019)
Current position: PhD student, University of California, BerkeleyEmily Headley (September 2016 – December 2016)
Jonathan Yi (September 2014 – May 2016)
Michael Lysak (June – August 2014)