SYSTEMS MECHANOBIOLOGY LAB

Amir Yeganegi
Email: ayegane@clemson.edu

Education
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), 2016

Amirreza Yeganegi received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Tehran in 2013 and his M.Sc. in biomedical engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic) in 2016. His research in Amirkabir was focused on designing hydroxyapatite scaffolds with 3D printers under the supervision of Dr. N. Abolfathi before starting research in the Systems Mechanobiology Lab. Amir’s current work focuses on the effect of mechanical loads on collagen degradation by MMPs and how we can utilize these effects for therapeutic benefit. Besides research, Amir enjoys reading novels and playing soccer and video games in his leisure time.

Kelsey Watts
Email: kmwatts@clemson.edu

Education
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2017

Kelsey Watts, originally from Cincinnati, OH, received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2017. As an undergrad, she studied the effect of fibroblast activity on breast cancer cell migration and invasion under the guidance of Dr. Ghadiali. Upon joining the Systems Mechanobiology Lab she began to investigate the role of extracellular mechanical factors on the development of scar tissue by cardiac fibroblasts. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys reading, working out, and traveling with friends.

Jake Potter
Email: mjpotte@clemson.edu

Education
B.S. Bioengineering, University of Tennessee, 2017

M. Jake Potter received his B.S. in biomedical engineering in 2017 from the University of Tennessee in his hometown of Knoxville, TN. He previously worked in the Heart Valve Mechanobiology Lab of Dr. Zannatul Ferdous on research focusing on the sex-related differences in early osteogenic marker expression in valvular interstitial cells. Jake’s current work investigates the capabilities of fibroblasts to detect, respond to, and manipulate their local environment in conditions relevant to post-myocardial infarction healing. Reading, hiking, exploring new towns, and watching Tennessee football are a few of the activities Jake enjoys when time is found outside of research.

Sam Coeyman
Email: scoeyma@clemson.edu

Education
B.S.

Samuel Coeyman was born and raised in Charleston, SC. He is currently obtaining his Ph.D. in Bioengineering designing and testing a high-throughput, myocardial micro-tissue reactor to study the mechanobiology of cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. Outside of his research, Sam enjoys football and fly fishing around Clemson.

Brendyn Miller
Email: brendym@clemson.edu

Education
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, 2016

Brendyn Miller grew up in New Hampshire and obtained his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of New Hampshire in 2013. After graduation, he spent some time working with a medical missionary in the Dominican Republic and decided to pursue an advance degree in Biomedical Engineering. In 2016, he completed his M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology, focusing on biomechanics and bone biology. He worked as a laboratory technician for the Cima lab at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer research prior to joining the Systems Mechanobiology Lab in the Fall of 2018. Currently, he is building an agent-based model of fibroblast activity to predict the physical remodeling of collagen fibers in a patch designed to help repair physical defects in the annulus fibrosus that occur during intervertebral disc degeneration. Some of his extra-circular interests include: trying new things, playing sports, hiking, and reading.

Jonathan Heywood
Email: jheywoo@clemson.edu

Education
B.S., Bioengineering, Clemson University, 2011

Jonathan Heywood, raised in Charleston, SC, received his B.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University in 2011. After graduating, he spent more than 5 years at the Medical University of South Carolina researching systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), extracellular matrix remodeling, and the effects of pharmaceutical compounds on the biochemical pathways of fibrosis progression. He is currently pursuing his M.S. in Bioengineering, focusing his efforts on creating a high-throughput model for analyzing heart tissue response to external stimuli, such as myocardial infarction injury and repair. When not in the lab, Jonathan enjoys disc golf, martial arts, and just about anything that gets him outdoors.

Jess Batista      2017-2018

Jesse Rogers      2016-2021

Michael Ward      2019-2021