Research
Graduate Research
My research focuses on studying serotonin and its role in the gut-brain axis. The gut-brain axis is the bidirectional communication network between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system, linking gut physiology to mental health and neurological conditions.
Serotonin has been implicated as a key biomarker in the gut-brain axis. Serotonin is a very important neurotransmitter, responsible for mood, homeostasis, and sleep. Additionally, it plays a key role in the gastrointestinal tract. It affects GI motility, secretions, and other important peripheral controls.
My research focuses on measuring the real-time dynamics of serotonin to help unravel some of the specific pathways in the gut-brain axis. I employ cleanroom and other MEMS fabrication techniques to create electrochemical sensors to detect serotonin in the gastrointestinal tract. Electrochemical measurements allow for real-time, sensitive, and selective measurements of serotonin which is very important to understanding the in vivo dynamics, providing a more complete pictures of serotonin in the gut.
I am extremely excited to share details of my sensors and device platforms as they are developed and characterized.
Undergraduate Research
Designed a three-layer microfluidic device to measure the impedance of the Blood Brain Barrier endothelial cellular membrane.
Designed a thin-film stack and completed layer deposition of nanotransducer thin-film layers with subsequent ellipsometry characterization.
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