College of Engineering & Science - Louisiana Tech University

Dr. Guilbeau develops thermoelectric methods for applied biotechnology and biosensors. Activities include the development of microfluidic devices that utilize thermoelectric sequencing by incorporation methods to sequence DNA for SNP detection and to detect DNA hybridization events. He also uses thermoelectric methods to design novel biosensors for the detection of biologically active substances that are important for normal and abnormal biological and physiological function and to create gas sensors that can detect biologically important substances in the breath or toxic substances in the environment. Both experimental and modeling approaches are used as part of the design, development and characterization activities.

Dr. DeCoster's laboratory is designed for biochemical and digital imaging analysis of cellular events in the brain. Current planned activities include brain cell inflammatory responses, digital imaging of apoptosis in normal and brain tumor cells and response of brain glial cells to injury. Major equipment includes PC- and Mac-based imaging workstations (4); motorized inverted fluorescence microscope with digital camera (Leica).

Jamie Newman, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Conducting Research with Dr. Mark DeCoster in the Cellular Neuroscience Lab, Location: BEC 235

Dr. Newman’s research interests center around understanding gene expression during cellular differentiation and transformations.  She has a particular interest in using stem cells to better understand patterns of differentiation in mammalian development using a variety of molecular biology techniques, imaging, and collaborations with people in areas of biomedical engineering.  

Cellular Neuroscience Research Assistant

In addition, she works with Dr. Mark DeCoster on similar areas of research pertaining to the regulation of gene expression in the development and progression of brain cancer in Dr. DeCoster’s Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory.

Sumeet Dua, Ph.D., Upchurch Endowed Professor and Coordinator of IT Research, Location: NH 235

Dr. Dua's research specialization is Data Mining, Computational Decision Support, Structural Bioinformatics Biological System Modeling, Multi-modality Fusion, and Biomedical Imaging. Dr. Dua’s laboratory designs and implements high-performance algorithms and software “Cybertools” for data mining and computerized learning. These algorithmic tools discover, classify, and exploit trends, patterns, and anomalies in large volumes of data. The laboratory also develops unsupervised and supervised algorithmic routines for sequential, temporal, and associative pattern discovery in spatio-temporal spaces. These algorithmic routines have applications in gene expression and protein sequence/structure datasets based analytics (supported by NIH). Recent efforts have focused on extracting and isolating protein structural features that sustain invariance in evolutionary-related proteins through the integrated and localized analysis of hydrophobicity and other physico-chemical properties. Dr. Dua’s team is currently investigating such methods to computationally characterize biological resistance to freezing, desiccation, and radiation, to improve technologies for the detection and sampling of microorganisms under conditions similar to those found on the surface of Mars. Other applications of such data-mining methods include automated detection, identification, and tracking of patterns of (hostile) “targets” using multi-sensor satellite imagery and network data (for the U.S. Air Force).

Dr. Eklund's research interests involve biosensors for use in monitoring of extracellular cell metabolism in various environments. Sensors are based on electrochemical or fluorescent signals and can measure multiple analytes simultaneously in real-time (glucose, lactate, oxygen, pH, Ca²⁺, etc.)  This work also examines miniature biofuel cells for implantation in vivo to power miniature silicon microdevices; and electrodeposition, the use of ionic liquids for the deposition of tantalum for coating of medical implants.

Rebecca Giorno-McConnell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of the School of Biological Sciences, Location: CTH 120

Dr. Giorno-McConnell's research interests involve the protein coatings that encase bacterial spores and allow them to survive harsh environments. She studies the assembly of the coat and the exosporium in the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Her work is done in the attenuate Sterne strain of B. anthracis.

Patrick Hindmarsh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of the School of Biological Sciences, Location: CTH 201

Dr. Hindmarsh's research interests are Mycology/Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Chromosomal Loss and Genome Regulation, and Virulence Activation.

The oxidative stress research lab studies proteins that are prone to oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases. One of the things we seek to determine is the interplay beween these proteins and other biomacromolecules. The ultimate goal is to discover new protein therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Vlachos’s research interests are time series analysis, stochastic processes, chaotic dynamic systems, and biomedical signal processing. Research is mainly directed towards understanding the epileptic brain through analysis of the EEG signal and tackling various epilepsy related problems such as prediction of epileptic seizures, localization of the epileptogenic focus and differential diagnostic procedures.

Dr. Jones' research interests stem from biomedical applications of fluid dynamics.  Applications include the improvement of Doppler ultrasound instruments for velocity measurement, modeling of pressure-flow relationships in the vascular access grafts used for dialysis, and modeling of the effects of transport and flow on the positive feedback and negative feedback control mechanisms for platelet activation and adhesion.  The laboratory includes laser Doppler velocimetry equipment, a cone-in plate viscometer, a data acquisition computer, various PC computers, ultrasonic equipment, an anti-vibration table, a spectrum analyzer, physiological pressure transducers, Carolina Medical electromagnetic flow meters, a transit time flow meter, model manufacturing facilities, a single syringe infusion pump and a 10-syringe infusion pump.

David Mills, Ph.D., Professor of the School of Biological Sciences, The BioMorph Laboratory, Location:  BEC 238 and The NERO (Nanoscience Education and Research Outreach) Laboratory, Location: BEC 151

The BioMorph Laboratory

Dr. Mills' BioMorph Laboratory is used for designing novel and dynamic nanofilms (biodegradable, bioactive, micropatterned) for cell adhesion, differentiation and functionality; nanoassembly for dental & orthopedic implants; layer-by-layer assembly for cell encapsulation; application of nanoscale topographic and chemical cues for controlling chondro- and osteogenesis; understanding complex soft tissue modeling during development and remodeling in response to altered joint mechanics; structure-function relationships in TMJ soft tissues, engineering tissues for TMJ repair or replacement.

The NERO Laboratory

Dr. Mills' NERO Laboratory supports a K-16+ outreach program that provides solid educational content and a strong technical foundation in the molecular sciences and bionanotechnology. Current activities of the lab include engaging K-12 teachers and students through summer and academic year research experiences and technology workshops, guiding teachers in translating their increased understanding of the research process into classroom learning experiences, improving understanding of the scientific research process and engineering design to teachers, students and the community, and increasing interest of  K-16+ students in pursuing careers in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (SMET) fields.

Stanley A. Napper, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Engineering and Science,and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Location: BH 201A

Dr. Napper's role as Dean of Engineering allows him to participate at various levels in Engineering Education research. Earlier research activities have included Biomedical Engineering applications of artificial intelligence and mathematical modeling of physiological systems.

Randal E. Null, Ph.D., Director of The Institute for Micromanufacturing, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Location: IfM 203

 Michael K. Shipp, M.Ed., CDRS

Department: Biomedical Engineering-Center for Rehabilitation Engineering Science and   Technology (CREST)

Areas of Responsibility:  Director, Center for Rehabilitation Engineering, Science and Technology, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist

Jeff Shultz, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the School of Biological Sciences,Location: CTH 120

Dr. Shultz's research interests are Biochemical pathway mapping, comparative genomics, and combining research and education at the undergraduate level.

Dr. Voziyanov's research interests include advanced genome engineering, DNA recombination: Protein-DNA Interactions. There are two main directions of our current research: advanced genome engineering using tailor-made sit-specific DNA recombinases and cell replacement in tissues using genetically modified adult stem cells.

Dr. Wang's research interests involve cell therapy and the nanoengineering of biomolecules.  Activities include single DNA dynamics, microrheology and flow-guided assembly using biopolymers along with development of nano particles and nanodevices for non-viral cell therapy. Microfluidics and nanofluidics are integrated to offer such studies excellent platforms. Major equipment includes a CNC mill, an electroporator, a fluorescence microscope, and an atomic force microscope.

William Wolf, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of the School of Biological Sciences, Location: CTH 123

Dr. Wolf's research interests are serine proteases in cancer biology, developmental biology, and cancer gene therapy.

The Animal Care Facility

Location: BEC 129 through 148

The Animal Care Facility is a controlled-access facility located in the Biomedical Engineering building. These laboratories (BEC 129 through 148) occupy a total of 4,430 sq. ft., and the director's office and animal-related research laboratories occupy 1,700 sq. ft. A surgical suite, a cage washing area/autoclave room, storage, a necropsy laboratory, and nine individual animal housing rooms with ventilated cage racks that have individual electronic access control occupy 2,730 sq. ft. of space. The animals are monitored on a daily basis by the director or his designated employee. The university has a veterinarian on staff who is a member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). He and the director provide training to research animal users. The University has an arrangement with the Licensed Laboratory Animal Veterinarian at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport for specialized assistance, when needed.

The Histological Techniques Laboratory (Animal Care Facility)

Location: BEC 134

This laboratory contains equipment for the preparation of specimens for light microscopy including paraffin ovens, an embedding station, a paraffin microtome, a vibratome, and staining equipment and supplies. The laboratory also contains equipment for the preparation of specimens for transmission electron microscopy, including an epoxy embedding area, epoxy oven, ultra microtome, and grid staining equipment and supplies. The room is equipped with a surgical table for collection of specimens and a chemical hood for safe use of toxic chemicals. 

The Neuro Physiology Laboratory (Animal Care Facility)

Location: BEC 132

This laboratory houses a 1' x 7' Faraday cage for electromagnetic isolation, an inverted microscope and amplification equipment.  

The Imaging and Nanopatterning Laboratory

Location: BEC 239

This laboratory contains a Bioforce Nanoscience Nano-Enabler for patterning biological substances with nanoscale precision onto substrates. The room also contains an Olympus MTV-3 stereo microscope with a Leica DFC500 camera, three Dell Precision imaging workstations, and a Suss MicroTeck micropositioning station. 

The Tissue Engineering and Cell Culture Laboratory

Location: BEC 220B and 240

This laboratory has been designed to investigate the effects of hemodynamic phenomena on the behavior of vascular cells, (endothelial cells, platelets, smooth muscle cells, osteoblasts) as related to atherosclerosis, intimal hyperplasia, thrombosis, bone growth, and micromanufactured cell substrates. The laboratory includes a laminar fume hood, an environmentally-controlled flow chamber, an imaging microscope, an injection-flow apparatus (syringe pump), an incubator, a centrifuge, a refrigerator, and a plate reader. The laboratory is jointly funded by The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science (CBERS) and the School of Biological Sciences.

The Biomedical Engineering Common Laboratory

Location: BEC 221

This laboratory houses a set of shared equipment that is available to all of the faculty and students performing research in the Biomedical Engineering Center. Major pieces of equipment in this laboratory are a PC digital image analysis workstation, two refrigerator-freezers (to '20 ˚C), a chemical hood, a lyophilizer, a streaming potential instrument, a tensile strength instrument, a liquid scintillation counter, a centrifuge, a microbalance-scale, a pH meter, sn AKTA Prime Protein Purification System, an Advanced Chemtech Apex 396 protein synthesizer, and an upright microscope.