Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University
Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows
Claudia Collier
Ph.D. Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
Claudia is a fourth year PhD candidate in BME at Texas A&M University, a SMDP Scholar, and an NDSEG Fellow through the Army Research Office. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelors of science in Biomedical Engineering. In the past, she has worked on utilizing microdiscs to activate neurons remotely and wirelessly. In the Raghavan lab, Claudia unpacks neuroinflammation in combat exposures during Gulf War Illness and gut health. While not in the lab, Claudia loves to workout, explore new places and watch live shows.
Dr. Astha Lamichhane, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow, Biomedical Engineering
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Astha completed her PhD in Engineering at The University of Akron. Astha's graduate work was centered on investigating mechanics of cancer drug resistance using tumor models. In the Raghavan Lab, Astha leads our collaborative projects within the Gulf Coast Consortium where we democratize access to technologies invented in the Raghavan Lab for broader use in cancer. She also unpacks the mechanobiology of cancer using our peristalsis bioreactor devices. Originally from Nepal, Astha has a sweet tooth so she loves chocolates and ice cream. In her free time, Astha loves to cook, explore new places, listen to podcasts/songs and try new foods.
Lucy Nash
Ph.D. Student, Biomedical Engineering
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Lucy is a second year Ph.D. student in BME at Texas A&M. Lucy is from Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelors of science in bioengineering. her previous research experiences have focused on ultrasound imaging of liver cancer and immunoassay development. In the Raghavan Lab, Lucy engineers dormant metastatic cancers to investigate the role of extracellular matrix proteins in chemotherapy resistance. In her free time, Lucy loves to hike, travel, play video games, and cook!
Karla Ortega-Sandoval
MS Student, Biomedical Engineering
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Karla is a second year MS student in BME at Texas A&M. Karla completed her undergraduate degree at New Mexico State University in Chemical Engineering, where she studied drug resistance in breast cancer cells. In the Raghavan Lab, she studies how the uterus produces patterns of mechanics in response to oxytocin. Originally from Chihuahua, MX, Karla likes to ride horses, travel, bake and watch movies.
Abigail McCollum
Ph.D. Student, Biomedical Engineering
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Abbie is an incoming first year PhD Student in Biomedical Engineering! She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with both her BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering. Her previous research focused on developing graphene quantum dots for photodynamic therapy to treat endometrial cancer. In the Raghavan lab, Abbie will extend her expertise to endometrial cancer mechanobiology, and working to understand how uterine mechanics impact conditions like adenomyosis. Outside the lab, Abbie loves iced coffee, Diet Coke and anything with chocolate. In her free time, she enjoys making sourdough, baking, reading, and listening to Taylor Swift!