Yellowstone

Research Group: Lab Members

Hamid Ghandehari, PhD

Principal Investigator

I received my B.S. in Pharmacy and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from The University of Utah. My PhD training was under Professor Jindřich Kopeček, a pioneer in macromolecular therapeutics. Currently our lab focuses on novel methods of controlled drug delivery and better understanding of the influence of physicochemical properties of nanoparticles on their toxicity. I spend most of my time doing research, teaching, and academic service. In my free time, I like to spend time with family, travel, hike, and ski. I grew up in Tehran-Iran before immigrating to the US.

Curriculum Vitae

Abby Pulsipher, PhD

Research Assistant Professor
My research is focused on developing and evaluating new disease models, therapeutics and drug delivery systems, and diagnostic solutions for upper airway diseases and head and neck oncology, as well as elucidating the pathophysiologic mechanisms underpinning these conditions. I head the UROC Innovations Lab Team members and collaborators [https://uroclab.com/]. I grew up in Centreville, Virginia, and got my B.S. from the University of Virginia. I got my Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and I completed my postdoc in Chemical Glycobiology at the California Institute of Technology. In my free time, you can find me rock climbing, hiking, and exploring the Mountain West, spending time with my adventure partner, Jeremy, and our two cats, Tug and Grizzy.
Lab website →

Nitish Khurana, PhD

Research Associate
My projects in the lab focus on improving patient quality of life at the interface of pediatric pharmacology, otolaryngology, biomaterials, and drug delivery. I grew up in Delhi, India, and received my B.Sc. from Delhi University, majoring in Chemistry. I received my M.Sc. from Pune University majoring in Medicinal Chemistry and my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutics Chemistry from The University of Utah. In my free time, you can find me cooking, listening to music, spending time with my friends, or simply spending a day inside with a book.

Cansu Ümran Tunç, PhD

Post Doctoral Researcher
My research focuses on design and synthesis of nanoparticles for mRNA delivery. I am from Turkiye; I received my B.S. from Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkiye, majoring in Molecular Biology and Genetics and my Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkiye. In my free time, you can find me spending time with my son, camping, swimming, and reading.

Priyanka Arunachalam

PhD Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
My research assesses the immunotoxicity of PEGylated silica nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. I am from Chennai, India. I received my Bachelor of Technology, majoring in Bioengineering, and my Master of Technology in Medical Nanotechnology from SASTRA University, India. In my free time, you can find me doing yoga, road biking, or practicing music.

Tanya Chhibber

PhD Gradute Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics

My research focuses on developing transdermal systems for delivering miRNAs and small molecule drugs as chemopreventive therapies against melanoma. I grew up at the foothills of the Himalayas in Chandigarh, the City Beautiful, India. I received my B. Pharm and M. Pharm from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. In my free time, I like to hike and explore the beautiful canyons around Salt Lake City, swim, work on my art and craft projects, or learn new techniques. I also enjoy cooking and baking or trying new places.

Kholod Elhasany

PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics
My research focuses on matrix-mediated delivery of glycosaminoglycans with silk-elastinlike copolymers for prophylactic treatment of radiation-induced proctitis. I am from Alexandria, Egypt. I received my B.S. in Pharmacy and my M.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Alexandria University. I like to hike, bake, and lift weights.

Debika Ghatak

PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics

My research project focuses on the prevention of drug adsorption in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) systems’ components. I grew up in India where I received my B. Tech in Biotechnology from the West Bengal University of Technology. I received my M. Tech in Industrial Biotechnology from the National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, Karnataka (NITK). In my free time, you can find me reading novels or practicing the Indian classical dance form Kathak.

Jason Grunberger

PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics

I research the immunotoxicity of silica nanoparticles. I grew up in Santa Cruz, California, and received my B.S. in Biology from Sonoma State University. In my free time, I like to fish.

Adnan Md

PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics

My research focuses on synthesizing and characterizing mesoporous silica nanoparticles and exploring the influence of their physicochemical properties such as shape on immunotoxic effects. I am from Chittagong, Bangladesh, a coastal area. I received my B.S. from International Islamic University Chittagong, Bangladesh, majoring in Pharmacy, and my M.S. in Biomedical Science from Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea. In my free time, you can find me doing outdoor activities like cricket, soccer, hiking, or fishing.

Prince Amankwah Baffour Minkah

PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics

My project focuses on synthetic glycosaminoglycans-based therapeutics to target locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. I grew up in Kumasi, Ghana. I obtained my PharmD from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. In my free time, I like to eat, sleep, watch movies and hang out with friends. You will always find me listening to music.

Nejra Mujkanović

PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics

I research controlled drug delivery for chronic rhinosinusitis. I was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I received my B.S. from San José State University majoring in Biomedical Engineering. When not in the lab, you can find me baking or exploring new places with my film camera!