Interdisciplinary NanoBioSciences Lab
Dr. Sk Arif Mohammad
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Biomedical Engineering
Email: smohamm1@olemiss.edu
Dr. Mohammad received his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from University of Calcutta, and M.Tech degree in Polymer Science & Technology from University of Calcutta. After that, he completed his Ph.D. degree from Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai under the supervision of Dr. Sanjib Banerjee. Currently he is working on stimuli-responsive polymers for a variety of drug delivery applications. In his free time, Arif likes to read novels and play badminton.
Dr. Saif Mohammad Ishraq Bari
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Biomedical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall D304
Email: sishraq@olemiss.edu
Dr. Saif Mohammad Ishraq Bari is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He is currently working on the design and fabrication of a novel biodegradable micro-drug delivery platform for patients suffering from treatment resistant depression (TRD). Dr. Ishraq Bari completed his Ph.D.(Micro and Nanoscale Systems Engineering) from Louisiana Tech University, USA in 2021. His prior education includes M.Sc. (Molecular Science and Nanotechnology, 2018) from Louisiana Tech University, USA; and B.Sc. (Mechanical Engineering, 2013) from Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Bangladesh. Ishraq Bari’s research interests and expertise include the design and fabrication of lab-on-a-chip biosensors for various biomedical applications, discover novel drug delivery platforms to treat depression, cancer, neurological disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases, and implement microfluidics in cell co-culture applications. For the extra-curricular part, Dr. Ishraq Bari is a sprots-enthusiast. If you are a soccer fan; especially Real Madrid-fan, do not hesitate to say hello!
To know more about Dr. Ishraq Bari’s professional and research experiences, please visit:
Lab Website: https://inbslab.olemiss.edu/lab-members/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6X7brYMAAAAJ&hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saif-mohammad-ishraq-bari-p-hd-b2b22b114/
Dr. Veeresh Toragall
Biomedical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall D304
Email: vbtoraga@olemiss.edu; veereshtoragall@gmail.com
Dr. Veeresh Toragall is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. His current research focuses on understanding the role of platelets in breast cancer metastasis. Dr. Veeresh Toragall completed his Ph.D. (Biotechnology/Biological sciences) from Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, India, in 2022. His prior education includes a B.E. Degree in Biotechnology from B. V. Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering & Technology, Hubli, India. Dr. Veeresh has a multidisciplinary area of expertise, including nanomedicine, drug delivery systems, cell culture and animal sciences. He has extensively worked on the design of nano drug delivery systems for various biomedical applications and he has also worked on pharmacological and toxicological aspects along with anti-angiogenic properties of nanocarrier systems in various animal models such as mice and rats. Outside the lab, Dr. Veeresh is a sports enthusiast and enjoys going to the gym, hiking and watching movies.
To know more about Dr. Veeresh Toragall’s professional and research experiences, please visit:
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?hl=en&user=IKh_SvwAAAAJ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-veeresh-toragall-707ab3a0/
Elizabeth Hale
Research Technician II
Biomedical Engineering
Email: ejhale@olemiss.edu
Elizabeth completed her BSc in Biomedical Engineering with a biomolecular emphasis from the University of Mississippi. During that time, she worked for Dr. Adam Smith developing natural magnetic surfactant systems for chemical separation processes, and Dr. Eden Tanner studying release kinetics of ionic liquid coated nanoparticles for drug delivery systems. In the iNBS lab she is currently investigating the role of Thromboxane A2-Prostanoid receptor in platelet mediated breast cancer metastasis. Elizabeth also enjoys painting and hanging out with friends and family outside of working in the lab.
Please feel free to reach out via email or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-hale-11788320a/
Graduate Students
Mehjabeen Hossain
4th Year Ph.D. Student
BioMolecular Sciences – Pharmacology
Email: mhossai2@go.olemiss.edu
Mehjabeen completed her BSc in “Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology” from University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. After that she flew to Netherlands to complete her masters in “Infection & Immunity” from Erasmus Medical Center. There she worked in checking different combination of immunotherapy targets for colorectal cancer. Currently, she is working in deciphering platelet mediated cancer metastasis. In her leisure time, she can be found watching Netflix or reading self-help books.
Oluwaseyi Shofolawe-Bakare
4th Year Ph.D. Student
Chemical Engineering
Email: otshofol@go.olemiss.edu
Oluwaseyi completed his M.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Tuskegee University in the Summer of 2019. He worked under his research advisor Dr Shaik Zainuddin to investigate the macro and nanoscale mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites. Prior to obtaining his master’s degree, Oluwaseyi obtained his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Tuskegee University. Oluwaseyi is working to design polymeric materials that improve drug delivery to tumor-associated macrophages and combat tumor immunosuppression in breast cancers. Aside from his academic interests, Oluwaseyi enjoys watching and playing soccer and basketball.
Alex Fortenberry
3rd Year Ph.D. Student
Chemical Engineering
Email: awforten@go.olemiss.edu
Alex obtained his B.S and M.S in Chemical Engineering from the University of Mississippi. He is currently working on his PhD at the University of Mississippi under the supervision of Dr. Adam Smith. His research focuses on stimuli-responsive polymers for drug and nucleic acid delivery applications.
Parker Brewster
3rd Year Ph.D. Student
Chemical Engineering
Email: prbrewst@go.olemiss.edu
Parker completed his M.S. in Engineering Science from the University of Mississippi in the summer of 2022. He worked with his research advisor Dr. Farhad Farzbod to investigate the effects of thermal cycling on bone (cold-blooded vs. warm-blooded). While working on his master’s degree and B.S. in Engineering Sciences, Parker started his own med-tech company with a flagship device that has now undergone two medical device accelerators. Beyond that, he held research positions in radiology, pharmacognosy, genetics, mechanical engineering, and bioinformatics as part of an NIH fellowship at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Parker is now working towards his PhD under his advisor Dr. Thomas Werfel. Though currently involved with several projects, Parker’s work in this lab focuses on the 3D printing of novel drug delivery devices. Outside of the lab, Parker enjoys cooking and playing disc golf!
Emily Rasmussen
1st Year Ph.D. Student
BioMolecular Sciences – Pharmacology
Email: erasmuss@go.olemiss.edu
Emily completed her B.S. in Biology and Chemistry with a minor in Physics at Concordia University, Nebraska. During her undergraduate studies, she completed an internship at the USDA- Agricultural Research Service in Lincoln, Nebraska, working with economically important wheat viruses. Currently, Emily is engineering multimodal biomaterials for sequential delivery of diverse immunotherapeutic cargos. In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, walking her dog, and shooting clay targets.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-rasmussen377/
Kenneth Hulugalla
1st Year Ph.D. Student
BioMolecular Sciences – Pharmacology
Email: hrhuluga@go.olemiss.edu
Kenneth obtained his Bachelor’s in Pharmacy from the University of Colombo Sri Lanka in 2020. His research interests lie in the areas of drug delivery via polymeric nanocarriers and cancer immunotherapy. Currently, he is working on biomimetic materials to modulate nano-immuno interactions via protein corona engineering. In his free time, Kenneth enjoys going to the gym, hiking, or watching his favorite shows on Netflix. He is also an avid soccer fan and tries not to miss a Manchester United game.
Undergraduate Researchers
James ‘Parker’ Douglas – Senior, Biomedical Engineering
Micaela Shields – Senior, Biochemistry
Macey Ross – Junior, Biomedical Engineering
Kate Nevils – Junior, Biomedical Engineering
Alyssa Brohawn – Junior, Biomedical Engineering
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Research Associates
Judith De Mel (2021) – Intel Corporation
Undergraduate Students
John ‘Cal’ Hendershot (2019) – Chemical Engineering Graduate Student, LSU
Shaunessey Burks (2020) – Public Health Graduate Student, University of Illinois, Chicago
Brianna Chambers (2021) – Medical School, VCOM
Ansley Myers (2021) – Medical School, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Blake Price (2021) – MBA Program, University of Mississippi
Larry Stokes (2021) – Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, NSF GRFP Fellow
Khadeeja Milloy (2021) – Alcorn State University
Jared Barnes (2022) – Medical School, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Shaunna George (2022) – Undergraduate at University of Mississippi
iNBS Lab 2021-2022
iNBS Lab 2020-2021
iNBS Lab 2019-2020
