Group Members

Principal Investigator

Post-Doc Members

Bio: Moldir Kuatova graduated from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan) with a Master’s of Science in Material Science and New Materials Technology and a Ph.D. in Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering.  She is continuing her research at Ohio University as a visiting scholar.

Research: Her current research focus is on developing materials for medical service robots, studying their properties of materials through experiments, and mastering the research methods of new materials and their selection.

Graduate Students

Bio: David Merckle is a graduate of Marietta College with a degree in environmental science and is continuing his education at Ohio University by pursuing his PhD in translational biomedical science.  He comes from rural Appalachian Ohio and has worked as a substitute teacher, as well as analytical environmental chemist, and a quality assurance officer for Microbac Laboratories Inc.  

Research: His current research focus is on the development of a degradable shape memory polymer that mimics adipose tissue and promotes tissue regeneration and can be used for void filling in patients who have had significant tissue loss, whether in an accident or surgery.  Additionally, he is working on a project aimed at recycling discarded poly(styrene) into a 3D printable resin as well as aiming to develop a polymer that can be used as an implantable device that degrades in a controlled release of gabapentin thereby reducing the necessary dosage normally prescribed and thus reducing the risk of opiate dependency.   

Bio: Eric Constant is a graduate of University of Charleston with a B.S. degree in Biology and minor in Business Administration. He is continuing his education at Ohio University by pursuing his master’s in biomedical engineering and then PhD in translational biomedical science. His interests are in 3D printing and material science and has the long-term goal of starting a research and develop company aimed at 3D printer development and implementation into the biomedical device manufacturing field. 

Research: Eric’s current research focus is on the development of various 3D printer modality such as DIW, VAM, inkjet, and SLS to allow utilization of biomaterials towards biomedical device manufacturing. In addition to the 3D printing, he is working on projects involving the production of material system using natural terpenes to produce photopolymers for resin-based 3D printing.  

Bio: Olivia King is a graduate of Walsh University with a degree in biology and is continuing her education at Ohio University by pursuing her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Her interests are in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and bioprinting, with a long-term goal of working for a national or government lab. 

Research: Olivia’s research focuses on the development of degradable drug eluting 3D printed polymers utilizing selective laser sintering (SLS) and bioprinting. The goal is to incorporate drugs, proteins, and/or amino acids into an implantable polymeric scaffold to reduce inflammation and pain surrounding the implantation site while enhancing the cellular response around it. Along with this, she is characterizing poly(β-hydroxythioether) foams and evaluating how different pore sizes, thermal properties and mechanical properties can affect cellular proliferation and promote tissue growth with the end goal being able to combine all the aspects together in one single device customizable for different applications. 

Bio: Scott graduated from Hope College in 2020 with a degree in biomechanical engineering and continuing his education pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering at Ohio University. Scott’s interests are in polymer synthesis and characterization along with 3D printing with an application for degradable orthopedic medical devices and implantable batteries. He has a long-term goal of heading his own research and development company specializing in material science and medical device design. 

Research: Scott’s research focuses on polymer synthesis, specifically polyesters, and characterization for photocrosslinking 3D printing methods such as digital light processing and direct ink writing. The goal is to design printable polymer systems to be applied for degradable orthopedic medical devices, specifically bone tissue scaffolds and long bone plates. To enhance these materials, many undergo post-fabrication functionalization to enhance their material properties and create better device performance. In tandem with these projects, Scott works to design naturally derived polymeric systems for these applications in effort to create sustainable material sources for these devices. Recently, Scott has been working on a naturally derived conductive polymeric system for an implantable battery application. 

Bio: Grant Guggenbiller graduated from Ohio University, Russ College of Engineering and Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He is continuing his education at OU to pursue a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering. 

Research: Grant’s current research focus in on the electrospinning of polymers for biomedical applications including implantable device creation and modification. Grant’s interests are in tissue engineering, biomedical devices, and biocompatibility of developed materials.  

Bio: Charles Casa is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and is continuing his education at Ohio University at both the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Russ College of Engineering as part of the DO/MS-BME dual degree program. His interests are in prosthetics and orthopedics with the hope of developing new joint replacements with clinical applications.

Research: Charles’s research focuses on fabrication of a total ankle joint replacement and the coating of that joint to give it specific biocompatibility and mechanical properties that would allow it to be used in a clinical application.

Undergraduate Students

Bio: Caleb Lawson is an undergraduate student at Ohio University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has intention to continue his education and pursue a graduate degree in either Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering.  

Research: Caleb’s research currently focuses on producing filament with controllable foaming, and antimicrobial additives, to be used in FDM printing. 

Former Students