University of North Texas 
People
Tae-Youl Choi
Principal Investigator
Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley (2002)
My research interest is in thermal and fluid science and engineering at small scales,
i.e., micro and nanoscale. I have developed a microthermal sensing technology to characterize
cellular thermal properties, which can be used for cancer detection and identification
of cancer boundaries during surgical procedure.
Denise Perry Simmons
Co-Principal Investigator
Ph.D. Biological Sciences UT Austin and UT MD Anderson; Postdoc Medicinal Chemistry.
UT Austin College of Pharmacy, Fellow NIH-National Cancer Institute
My expertise and interests span the spectrum of transdisciplinary to affect translational
outcomes. With a focus on leveraging the notion of the “cell as a material”, I seek
to inform the life cycle of the cell’s transition from normal to diseased at the intersections
of materials science and engineering, the physical sciences, and the biological sciences.
Ramesh Shrestha
Research Associate
Thermal characterization of thermal fluids, micro-nano materials, thin films, and
biological cells using micro-pipette thermal sensor and laser point heating. Develop
the numerical model for the experiment using COMSOL simulation and MATLAB Simulink.
Rohini Atluri
Ph.D. Candidate
My research is focused on thermal characterization of cancer cells, specifically,
glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; brain cancer) and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Research
interests also include developing 3D spheroid models representing tumor, to identify
the boundaries between normal and cancer cells based on thermal properties of the
cells and combination treatment for GBM using Silver nanoparticles and low-level laser.
Sebastiao Mira
Ph.D. Student
Detection and elimination of circulating tumor cells with magnetic Nanomaterials -
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are disseminated cancer cells through blood stream
(metastasis). The conceptual process design of my research work using magnetic Nano
Particle to catch CTC’s cells pulling them for a filter where they will be separated
of clean blood and these CTC’s Cell will be addressed to a Heater to be eliminated
while cleaned blood goes back to the body.
Andrew Jarrett
M.S. Student
I am pursuing my masters in Mechanical and Energy Engineering program at UNT. My research
is in fabrication of micropipette thermal sensors and the development of artificial
neural networks to solve for heat parameters.
Kaitlyn Nussberger
Undergraduate Student
I'm a biomedical engineering student with a focus in biology and chemistry. My research
interest focuses on the culturing and maintenance of cell lines used in the lab.
Jennifer Ai
TAMS Student
I am investigating MTS fabrication and optimization for an improved sensitivity in
distinguishing between stages in epithelial ovarian cancer. Alongside fabrication,
I have explored the statistics for MTS fabrication and calibration stages.