Faeze Shiralipour is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at Kent State University (KSU), USA, since 2022. Her primary research focus lies in tissue engineering, specifically investigating neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and exploring the molecular mechanisms behind demyelination and remyelination. Prior to joining KSU, Faeze completed her Master's in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the National Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology in Tehran, Iran, in 2020, where her thesis work focused on the development and evaluation of bio-composites for bone tissue engineering. This work laid the foundation for her current interest in biomaterials and neurobiology. In addition to her academic achievements, Faeze has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications, including "Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Polycaprolactone/Brushite Scaffolds to Promote Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells" (2022). She is a recipient of prestigious awards, such as the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute's (AMLCI) Devices and Materials Challenge, the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) Research Award for Spring 2024, as well as the Lennon Fellowship. Faeze has also presented her work at various international conferences and actively engages in academic mentorship as a graduate teaching and research assistant.

Yeganeh Nik Akhtar is a Ph.D. student in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at Kent State University (KSU), USA, since August 2023. She previously earned her master’s degree in cellular and molecular biology from the National Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology in Tehran, Iran, in 2020. During her master's program, Yeganeh conducted research on polycaprolactone scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications, evaluating the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. Her academic work is complemented by her research experience, including a position as a research assistant (2020-2022), where she investigated osteogenic differentiation in human bone marrow-derived cells. Her expertise spans biomaterials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, with a foundation in cell culture and scaffold fabrication. Yeganeh has co-authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals, including works on electrospun polycaprolactone/brushite scaffolds and their role in promoting osteogenic differentiation.

Ashley Gilmor received a B.S. in Physics at the University of Akron, followed by a M.Sc. in Materials Science from Kent State University (KSU). She is currently a Ph.D. candidate student in the Materials Science Graduate Program at KSU. Her research interests include the development of advanced materials for biomedical applications, with a focus on tissue engineering and wound healing.

Gisele Pegorin is a Ph.D. candidate in the Materials Science Graduate Program at Kent State University (KSU). Her Ph.D. project is in developing elastomeric liquid crystals (LCEs) for use as bioink in 3D-printed biomaterials. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Brazil while completing an academic exchange program at KSU. Upon returning to Brazil, she worked in the biofuels industry, where she developed activities related to quality control and management for more than five years. During her very multidisciplinary career, she has participated in research projects related to the selection of yeasts for second-generation ethanol production (University of São Paulo), the development of LCEs for application in films (KSU), and transcription and gene regulation for cell protection (Purdue University).

Abraham Valerio Aguilar obtained his bachelor's degree in physics at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) in 2022. In 2019, he started working on projects related to theoretical physics in fields such as the utilization of chaos theory for data encryption and reconsidering metrics for the general relativity theory solutions. In 2021, he joined Dr. Leonardo Lesser-Rojas Laboratory at the CICANUM (Nuclear and Molecular Atomic Sciences Research Center, UCR) as an undergraduate student to research the field of tissue engineering with bone cells and microfluidic devices. In 2024, he received his master’s in science at Kent State University (KSU). He is now a Ph.D. candidate in the Materials Science Graduate Program under the supervision of Dr. Elda Hegmann at the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute (AMLCI). His Ph.D. project focuses on the synthesis of liquid crystal elastomers as scaffolds for cell culture, the creation of microneedles as drug delivery systems, and synthesizing more biocompatible materials to use in the tissue engineering field.

Elda Hegmann obtained an M.Sc. in Mexico from Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila and CIQA and her Ph.D. at Université Laval in Québec (Canada). After postdoctoral research positions at Queen’s University, University of Manitoba, and the National Research Council Canada (NRC), and as a research officer at the NRC, she moved to the USA to join AMLCI (formerly known as LCI) at Kent State University in 2011 and BSCI in 2017. Dr. Hegmann’s research in biomaterials has produced several peer-reviewed articles and 4 patents. Dr. Hegmann serves as the CEO of two start-up companies, TOREL LLC and Biostica LLC. She is a member of the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute (AMLCI)/Materials Science Graduate Program (MSGP), the Biomedical Sciences (BMS) program, and the Brain Health Research Institute (BHRI). Her research is divided into three main directions. The first direction focuses on tissue regeneration, such as to shorten wound healing times. The second direction aims at the development of microneedles/micropillars as biodegradable and effective transdermal drug delivery systems, as well as vesicles/liposomes (based on lyotropic liquid crystal systems) as a means for early detection of diseases and for drug delivery systems. The third direction aims at using LCs and polymer membranes that are used in the development of devices for toxic gases and vapor sensors.