Our People

We strive to develop compassionate innovators equipped to transform biomedical research.

INTERESTED
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS

We are no longer actively recruiting postdoctoral fellows at this time. 

Thank you so much for your interest.

INTERESTED
GRADUATE STUDENTS

We are actively recruiting Bioengineering Ph.D. students! Learn more about our program!

Be sure to submit your application: https://bioe.umd.edu/graduate/prospective-students/admissions by December 2024!


INTERESTED
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

We are always excited to work with undergraduate students! We are currently not accepting any new undergraduate researchers until Jan 2025. 

Thank you so much for your interest!

Assistant Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering,  the University of Maryland, College Park (Summer 2023- Present)

Erika is driven to change our focus in biomedical engineering. Beginning in immunology, she works to create biomaterial platforms to better understand the contribution of immune cells to tissue development and disease pathology with special care and attention given to health inequities. 

She also enjoys dancing (ZUMBA), planning (yes, really), reading, and creative writing.

Read about Dr. Moore's background  here! 

Dr. Moore is on social media! Connect with her on any of the following platforms!
X: @DrErikaMoore | Instagram: @DrErikaMooreTaylor | LinkedIn: erika-moore111 

Research Technicians

Miriam Tamano (she/her)

Miriam Tamano is joining the lab with 20+ years of experience focused on clinical sample collection and analysis. Miriam serves as our Senior Technician!

She also enjoys gardening, Zumba, and spending time with her dog!

Email: mtamano[@]umd.edu 

Zoe Turner (she/her/hers)

Zoe is interested in the development and application of biomaterials to engineer biologically representative models.

Zoe enjoys playing guitar, weightlifting, and spending time with her dog.

LinkedIn Profile

Postdoctoral Fellows

Nana Owusu-Boaitey, MA, PhD (He/Him)

After graduating from UMBC, Nana earned his PhD in Immunology at Washington University in St. Louis. After spearheading COVID-19 epidemiology studies and gaining his Masters in Bioethics, Nana joins the Moore Lab! Nana is a recipient of several awards including the NRSA Institutional Research T32 Training Grant.

Nana enjoys running (every day), watching movies, and listening to podcasts. 

Email: nana3[a]umd.edu

LinkedIn Profile

PhD Students

Alison Veintimilla (UMD) 

Alison received both their undergraduate and masters degree from Brown University. They are currently a Ph.D. student in the Moore lab in pursuit of utilizing biomaterials to leverage an understanding of autoimmune disorders, focusing on ancestral differences in lupus.

In their spare time, they enjoy activities such as rock-climbing, tennis, and video games.

Email: aveintim[a]umd.edu 

LinkedIn Profile

Lara Larson (UMD) (She/Her)

Lara has long had a passion for autoimmune disease research, specifically with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus work. After working in the Moore Lab as a Summer Undergraduate Researcher, Lara is BACK pursuing her PhD at the University of Maryland! 

Welcome back, Lara!

Email: larson[a]umd.edu

LinkedIn Profile

Ally Moses (UMD) (She/Her)

Ally joins the Moore Lab at UMD BIOE, after completing her Bachelors at UMD BIOE. Ally has been awarded the MPower Graduate Research Fellowship and is determined to apply her efforts to regenerative therapies focused in women's health! We are so excited to have her!

For fun, Ally loves calligraphy, reading, visiting coffee shops, taking care of her plants (#plantmom), and listening to music!

Email: amoses23[a]umd.edu

LinkedIn Profile 

Undergraduate Researchers

Varun Deshpande (He/Him/His) 

Varun is addressing health inequities through bioengineering.
He enjoy weightlifting, playing video games, listening to r&b, singing
LinkedIn Profile

Katriel Kasayan (Any pronouns) 

Katriel is a junior bioengineering student interested in synthetic biology and immunoengineering. They work with Nana focused on using 3D biomaterial models to understand cell-cell interactions under oxidative stress. Katriel is a Science Technology Scholar and a recipient of a UMD Undergraduate Research Award.
They enjoy learning new instruments, drawing and playing video games

Michael Olagbiyan (UF) (He/Him) 

Michael is a junior biomedical engineering student Interested in how materials interact with the body! He works with Justin focused on developing biomaterial models to replicate aging. Michael is a UF University Research Scholar!
He loves to explore new bike paths, listening to hip-hop, and playing video games!
LinkedIn Profile

Kelsey Afoakwa (She/Her) 

Kelsey is a junior bioengineering student interested in therapeutic development. She works with Ally, whose focus is on utilizing biomaterial models to ultimately advance scientific knowledge about women’s health disparities. Kelsey is a Banneker/Key, BIOE Honors Program, and Design Cultures and Creativity Honors College Scholar.
 In her free time, you can find her listening to audiobooks, dabbling in digital art, or playing Just Dance! 
LinkedIn Profile

Lab Mascots

Indigo Moses

Adopted in May 2024 by Ally, Indigo is a sweet and playful cat who loves chasing after her avocado toy and playing fetch. When she's done playing, she enjoys snuggling, making biscuits, and getting some sun!

Dr. SOCS Pepe Veintimilla

Dr. SOCS (Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling) Pepe Veintimilla joined the lab in December of 2023. Dr. Pepe is known for his PhD work on the fluid mechanics of churu and is currently part of the lupus research team. He enjoys late-night high pitched screaming as well as watching Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing and Tears of the Kingdom. His other hobbies include watching iPad videos of birds. 

We appreciate every researcher who has been apart of our journey!

INTERESTED
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS

We are no longer actively recruiting postdoctoral fellows at this time. 

Thank you so much for your interest.

INTERESTED
GRADUATE STUDENTS

We are actively recruiting Bioengineering Ph.D. students! Learn more about our program!

Be sure to submit your application: https://bioe.umd.edu/graduate/prospective-students/admissions by December 2024!


INTERESTED
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

We are always excited to work with undergraduate students! We are currently not accepting any new undergraduate researchers until Jan 2025. 

Thank you so much for your interest!

Where the Moore Lab works!