Principal Investigator
Rebecca Wachs
Dr. Becky Wachs is an assistant professor in the Biological Systems Engineering Department at UNL. She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and her M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Biomedical Engineering. After completing her Masters degree that focused on conductive biomaterials, Dr. Wachs worked for Carl Zeiss Microimaging Inc. as a 3D imaging specialist. Dr. Wachs’ scientific curiosity drove her to return to academia and complete her Ph.D. focusing mechanisms of low back pain with Dr. Eric Ledet at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Biomedical Engineering. She then completed her post-doctoral research under Dr. Christine Schmidt at the University of Florida in neural engineering. At UNL, Dr. Wachs is excited to lead a team of talented students and researchers to engineer solutions to treat painful degenerative orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and low back pain. In her free time, Dr. Wachs likes to run, read, cycle, travel with her husband, and hike with their dog, Ziva.
Graduate Research Assistants
Fei San Lee
Fei San Lee is a fifth-year graduate student pursuing her PhD in Biological Systems Engineering from Kajang, Malaysia. She graduated with a dual degree in Chemical Engineering and Biological Engineering from Montana State University where she also got involved in research with the Standardized Biofilm Methods Laboratory at the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE). Her passion for learning and her drive to develop non-invasive treatments to heal people motivated her to join the ONE Lab with Dr. Wachs. When she is not studying or doing research, she enjoys playing badminton, exercising, baking, playing board games, hiking, traveling, making new friends and exploring what Lincoln has to offer.
Sydney Caparaso
Sydney Caparaso is a third-year graduate student pursuing her PhD in Biological Systems Engineering from Monroe, Connecticut. She graduated with a Biomedical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where she was worked as a student researcher in the Innovative Medical Devices Laboratory.
Her research interests include pain therapeutics, tissue engineering, and biomechanics. Outside of lab and coursework she enjoys running, painting, and working as a soccer referee.
Her research interests include pain therapeutics, tissue engineering, and biomechanics. Outside of lab and coursework she enjoys running, painting, and working as a soccer referee.
Adan Redwine
Adan Redwine is a second-year masters student in Biological Systems Engineering from Grand Island, Nebraska. He loves learning about the mechanisms of disease and how we can use biomedical engineering to help others. At UNL, Adan is a member of FarmHouse Fraternity and involved with Dance Marathon and the McNair Scholars program. Following school, he plans to pursue a career in the medical field, continuing research. His favorite classes so far have been Engineering Statics and Psychology. In his free time, Adan enjoys spending time with family, going to the lake, riding dirt bikes, and working out.
Benjamin Gane
Benjamin is a first year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering from Accra, Ghana. He graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Ghana, where he researched in the Regenerative Engineering Lab. He loves to study the causes of diseases and the ways that biomedical engineering might be applied to develop efficient therapies. His research interests include biomaterials and tissue engineering. Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, as well as playing and watching soccer.
Evie Barnett
Evie Barnett is a first-year masters student in Biological Systems Engineering from Lincoln, NE. Here at UNL, Evie is a member of Chi Omega Sorority and Biomedical Engineering Society, and her favorite classes so far have been Dynamics and Fluid Mechanics. Her research interests include learning how animal models can be used to investigate human diseases and biomedical devices. In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball with her friends, working out, and listening to podcasts.
Lydia Saltz
Lydia Saltz is a first-year graduate student pursuing a masters in Biological Systems Engineering from Bennington, Nebraska. She loves studying the role of biomedical engineering in providing non-invasive therapies for disease. In her free-time, Lydia enjoys listening to podcasts, running, and playing card games with friends.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Anna Levorson
Anna Levorson is a junior majoring in Biological Systems Engineering from Overland Park, KS. She loves learning about how biomedical engineering can be used to create therapeutics to help improve the lives of patients. At UNL, Anna is a member of the Women in Engineering Program, Biomedical Engineering Society, and is a peer mentor for the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. Her favorite classes so far have been Instrumentation I and Differential Equations. Following undergrad, Anna plans to pursue a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, playing disc golf, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Furqan Mahdi
Furqan Mahdi is a third-year undergraduate student in Biological Systems Engineering with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering from Baghdad, Iraq. She enjoys learning about the biology of the human body and how we can use biomedical engineering to cure diseases and discover new technology. Furqan is the president of the Middle Eastern and North African Student Association on campus, the Vice President of Inclusive Excellence at the College of Engineering, and an INBRE Scholar. After undergrad, she plans on attending grad school to continue working as a researcher in the Biomedical Engineering field. Her favorite classes so far have been organic chemistry and calculus 2. In her free time, Furqan enjoys reading, listening to true crime podcasts, watching Netflix, and spending time with friends and family.
Jordan Bollinger
Jordan is a senior majoring in Biological Systems Engineering from Tulsa, Oklahoma. After undergrad, she intends to pursue a graduate degree to continue doing research in the biomedical engineering field. She is interested in how biomedical engineering can be used to improve and develop new medical treatment approaches. Her favorite classes so far have been Organic Chemistry and Calculus I. Outside of the lab, Jordan holds leadership roles in Tau Beta Pi, an Engineering honor society, as well as Relay for Life, a club that raises funds for the American Cancer Society. She also works as a Manager at the Campus Rec Center. In her free time, Jordan enjoys working out, reading, spending time outdoors, and baking.
Research Technician and Lab Manager
Anjeza Erickson
Anjeza Erickson is a Research Laboratory Manager in the Biological Systems engineering Department at UNL. She graduated with her B.S and M.S in Biology from University of Nebraska Kearney. Anjeza has worked for the University of Nebraska for 15 years and has a diverse research background. She has a passion for research and mentoring students. Dr. Wachs leadership and vision is what attracted her to join ONE Lab. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, camping, running, hiking and swimming.
Alumni
Postdoctoral Researchers
Sarah Romereim, Ph.D. - Works at Allegiant Health as a Research Scientist
Graduate Students
David Lillyman, Ph.D. - Works at NeuraLink as a Study Manager
Logan Piening, M.S. - Works at Arthrex as an Engineer
Kayla Ney, M.S.
Undergraduate Students
Uyen Nguyen, B.S. Biological Systems Engineering - Works at Boystown Hospital as a Research Assistant
Alvaro Moreno Lozano, B.S. Biological Systems Engineering - Pursuing Ph.D. at Rice University
Henry Drvol, current undergraduate student at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Biology
Tyler Miller, B.S. Biological Systems Engineering - Pursuing Ph.D. at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ally Richardson, B.S. Biological Systems Engineering - Pursuing a M.S. at University of Minnesota
Caleb Johnston, B.S. Biological Systems Engineering - Works at Medtronic as a Quality Engineer
Lauren Hunt, B.S. Biological Systems Engineering - In graduate school to become a physician's assistant
Emmie Johnson, B.S. Biological Systems Engineering - Works at Smith Medical as an R&D Mechanical Engineer I