Lab Members

Xin Wang, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Berkeley

2024 Ph.D. Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Columbia University

2017 B.S. Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Xin brings 7+ years of expertise in immunoengineering, including her research at Columbia where she devised assays to study chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in patient-derived isolated T cells, developing assays of T cell spreading and proliferation. She brings additional expertise in cell therapy, deep learning & computer vision, and industry experience from a recent summer at Takeda.

Md Nazibul Islam, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Scholar, Berkeley Stem Cell Center Postdoctoral Fellowship (CIRM), University of California, Berkeley

2023 Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University

2015 B.S. Chemical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Nazibul is interested in developing easy to use diagnostic and analytical platforms to address unmet medical needs. During his Ph.D, he leveraged the insulating properties of paper fibers to demonstrate, for the first time, insulator based dielectrophoresis in paper. Currently, his work focuses on organoid based assays and on creating same cell, single cell resolution multiomic tools that enable integrated proteomic and genomic measurements from individual patient derived samples.

Maya Overton

Ph.D. Candidate, University of California, Berkeley

2020 B.A., Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, Yale University

2020 B.A., Economics, Yale University

Maya’s research interests are rooted in building analytical and diagnostic tools that provide higher resolution and are more streamlined than traditional techniques in molecular and cellular biology. Maya received her Bachelor’s degree from Yale University in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Economics. When she isn’t listening to relaxing tunes at the bench, she enjoys hiking, finding hidden swimming holes, and collecting comic books.

Iyla Rossi

Ph.D. Candidate, NIH Doctoral Fellow (2024-2025 Biology & Biotechnology of Cell and Gene Therapy T32 Training Grant), and Chancellor’s Fellow (2026), University of California, Berkeley

2023 B.A., Computational and Neural Systems, California Institute of Technology

2023 B.A., Business, Economics, and Management, California Institute of Technology

Iyla is interested in the development of diagnostic tools for precision health. During her undergraduate studies, Iyla developed a framework for wearable and portable neural imaging with dual-modality: ultrasound and photoacoustic computed tomography. Currently, Iyla is working on the optimization of the single cell Western Blot protocol for studying coral cells. Iyla is also investigating applications of machine learning for microfluidics.

Yaxuan (X) Sun

Ph.D. Candidate, Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

2012 BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

X’s expertise lies in advanced manufacturing, microfluidics, and environmental engineering, with a strong focus on leveraging cutting-edge fabrication techniques to address global sustainability challenges. Working now in the Herr Lab & the Hayden Taylor Lab, she has worked across disciplines, applying advanced manufacturing, soft materials engineering, and microfabrication to develop innovative solutions for a variety of applications.

Aparna Kamath

Undergraduate Lab Manager

2029 (expected) B.S., Bioengineering, UC Berkeley

Aparna has experience as an intern at the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science of Portland State University. She has volunteered at the Kaiser Permanente ICU and is also a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. 

Bhavya Sabbineni

Masters of Engineering Candidate, UC Berkeley

2025 BASc, Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia

Bhavya has experience as an intern at the UC Berkeley Coleman Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership, as a STEM Fellowship Associate Editor, and as a Research Assistant at UBC.

Maylee Tan

Masters of Engineering Candidate, UC Berkeley

2025 B.S., Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley

Maylee has experience as a Research Affiliate at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, at UC Berkeley, and as a student assistant at Orange Coast College.

Samantha Lee

Masters of Engineering Candidate, UC Berkeley

2024 B.S., Biology & Biological Sciences, Imperial College London

Samantha has experience as a research assistant at the NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation center, as well as an internship at InventisBio.