Mohammad A. Qasaimeh, PhD

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering, NYU Abu Dhabi
Global Network Associate Professor, Tandon School of Engineering, NYU, Brooklyn, USA
Engineering Faculty Diversity Liaison, NYU Abu Dhabi
Director and Principal Investigator of the AMMLab, NYU Abu Dhabi

Dr. Mohammad Qasaimeh directs the Advanced Microfluidics and Microdevices Laboratory (AMMLab), and his current research interests include developing microfluidic and MEMS devices for biomedical applications and point of care diagnostics. During his PhD work, he received several prestigious fellowships and awards including the NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Scholarship (CGSD3), and the FQRNT Students-Researchers Stars Award. His research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals including Nature Communications, Lab on a Chip, and Biomedical Microdevices. Mohammad joined NYUAD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Prior to that, he served as a Research Assistant at McGill University and as a Research Fellow at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. Mohammad received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology; the M.A.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Concordia University; and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from McGill University.
Contact: maq4@nyu.edu

Pavithra Sukumar, M.Tech, M.Sc

Research Assistant, Lab Manager (2016–present)

Ms. Pavithra Sukumar joined the AMMLab in June 2016 as Research Assistant to develop Microfluidic based biosensor for Immune Cell Phenotyping. Earlier to join up our group, she was working as a researcher at KIST-Europe branch lab for 2 years and at the centre for bio-micro-systems for 1.5 years at Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul. She has experience working on Template based self assembly of lipid tubes. She has received her M.Tech. degree in Nanoscience and Technology from Anna University Coimbatore, India and M.Sc. degree in Biotechnology from Vellore Institute of Technology, India as well her B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Dr.G.R.Damodaran College of Science, India.
Contact: ps157@nyu.edu

Muhammedin Deliorman, PhD

Research Scientist (2016–present)

Dr. Muhammedin Deliorman joined the AMMLab in November 2016. He obtained his doctorate degree in Physics in 2012 from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, USA. During his Ph.D studies, he gained technical and practical knowledge in the areas of surface science, linker chemistry, biological physics and advanced analytical techniques (e.g., ToF-SIMS, XPS, AES, FESEM, and AFM) for surface analysis and materials characterization. He also developed various algorithms in MATLAB that had been used for various kinds of research applications, such as processing AFM force volume images and analyzing force curves. Prior to joining the AMMLab, he worked as a postdoctoral research associate at Washington State University in Pullman, WA, USA, where he investigated nanoscale interaction of pathogenic biofilms with wounds in the presence of hyperosmotic agents combined with antibiotics; and at the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, a research institute associated with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Orsay, France, where he studied real-time dynamics of skeletal muscle cell morphology and orientation in the presence of mechanically-induced stresses.
Contact: md3886@nyu.edu

Ayoub Glia, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2022–present)
NYUAD Global PhD Student (2017–2021)

Dr. Ayoub Glia joined the AMMLab, in January 2022, to work on advancing the technology of cryopreservable arrays of paper-based 3D tumor models. Previously, he was with the AMMLab as a PhD student (NYU), focusing on developing open microfluidic concepts and blending the concepts of Atomic Force Microscopy with Microfluidics. During his PhD, he developed the technology of the herringbone-based microfluidic probes, as well as developed multiple innovative AFM tips using 3D printing. Prior to the AMMLab, Ayoub was working for the military survey department in Abu Dhabi. Ayoub obtained his Master’s degree in Material Science and Engineering at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, where his research domain was ranging from materials characterization to the development of vital AFM techniques.
Contact: ag6042@nyu.edu

Wael Othman, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2024–present)
NYUAD Global PhD Student (2019–2023)

Dr. Wael Othman joined the AMMLab in January 2024 to work on the development of miniaturized devices for the mechanical stretching of bacterial biofilm. He obtained his Ph.D. from NYU Tandon School of Engineering in 2023, during which he developed miniaturized soft tactile sensors integrated with surgical instruments, aimed at restoring the lost sense of touch in minimally invasive surgery. Prior to this, he received his M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering from Khalifa University (Abu Dhabi) in 2019, where he designed and developed the first low-cost desktop electrochemical metal 3D printer. Before that, he obtained his B.Sc. in Physics from United Arab Emirates University (Al Ain) in 2013, gaining strong research skills in metal-ion batteries, hydrogen storage, and gas sensing using Ab-initio methods.
Contact: wo345@nyu.edu

Waqas Waheed, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2023–present)

Dr. Waqas Waheed joined the AMMLab in September 2023, aiming to advance the open-microfluidic-based probes previously pioneered by the lab. His research is centered on integrating key technologies such as 3D printing, microfluidics, and electrokinetics to develop lab-on-a-chip platforms capable of studying, stimulating, and manipulating biological entities at the single-cell level. Before joining AMMLab, Waqas served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Microfluidics Lab at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. His research interests encompass numerical modeling and the development of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms for diverse biological applications.
Contact: ww2653@nyu.edu

Safieh Almahmoud, PhD Student

NYUAD Global PhD Student (2023–present)

Ms. Safieh Almahmoud joined the AMMLab in August 2023 as a PhD student to develop microfluidic devices for biomedical applications and point of care diagnostics. Prior to joining, she was a research associate at Khalifa University where she worked on designing and developing 3D-printed metamaterial honeycomb structures for radar waves absorption in stealth aircraft applications. She obtained her master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, UAE in 2017. During her Masters thesis, she worked on designing and developing magnetic fiber optic-based sensing technology for real-time monitoring of internal corrosion in pipelines.
Contact: sja9861@nyu.edu

Aghyad Al Tahhan, PhD Student

NYUAD Global PhD Student (2024–present)

Mr. Aghyad Al Tahhan joined the AMMLab at NYU Abu Dhabi in August 2024 as a Global PhD Fellow in Mechanical Engineering, where he is focused on developing innovative microfluidic platforms for biomedical applications. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2022 and his master’s degree in 2024, both from Abu Dhabi University. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research on carbon nanotubes, investigating their structural, thermal, and electrical properties to better understand their potential in enabling next-generation nanotechnologies. His work contributed to the growing interest in carbon-based materials for advanced electronics and sensing applications. For his master’s thesis, Aghyad focused on the smart monitoring and thermal management of lithium-ion batteries. He developed and validated multiple machine learning models capable of predicting thermal states and identifying potential failure risks in real time. His research aimed to enhance the safety, reliability, and efficiency of energy storage systems, with implications for electric vehicles and portable electronics..
Contact: aba9694@nyu.edu

Layan Alkasaji,

Undergraduate NYUAD (2024–present)

Ms. Layan Alkasaji is currently a third-year bioengineering student at New York University Abu Dhabi. She joined AMMLab in the summer of 2024 to contribute to a project focused on enhancing minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Her primary focus is on optimizing intelligent systems that offer artificial tactile sensation to surgeons during laparoscopy, to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes. Layan is interested in the fabrication of biomedical devices and is dedicated to advancing medical technology.
Contact: lwa2008@nyu.edu

Noor Haddad,

Undergraduate NYUAD (2024–present)

Ms. Noor Haddad is a junior majoring in Bioengineering at New York University Abu Dhabi. Since joining AMMLab in 2024, Noor has developed a keen interest in nanotechnology, device fabrication, and 3D printing. She is particularly fascinated by the fusion of healthcare and technology, focusing on creating point-of-care medical devices and methods to bring about better, more efficient diagnoses. Noor’s passion lies in research that aids in surgeries and improves the quality of life for patients, making healthcare more accessible and effective. In addition, Noor serves on the Bioengineering Society E-Board at NYUAD, where she actively contributes to the community and brings innovative and collaborative opportunities to fellow bioengineers.
Contact: nta4054@nyu.edu

Omar Alkhateeb,

Undergraduate NYUAD (2024–present)

Mr. Omar Alkhateeb is currently a third-year bioengineering student at New York University Abu Dhabi. Omar is deeply fascinated by the applications of engineering in the medical field. Under Dr. Mohamad Qasaimeh’s guidance in the AMMLab, he is currently working on a project designing a laparoscopic surgery tool by testing the functionality of the force feedback system and other integrated features.
Contact: owe203@nyu.edu

 

Alumni

Dima Ali, PhD Candidate

NYUAD Global PhD Student (2020–2024)

Ms. Dima Ali joined the AMMLab in August 2020 as a PhD student to work on microfluidic point of care diagnostic tools. Dima has obtained her Master degree from Khalifa University (KU) in Abu Dhabi in 2017. Before joining us, she was the lead Research Engineer at KU working on a space project funded by the UAE Space Agency to develop MEMS devices for space applications. The goal of the project was to design, fabricate, test, and simulate the sensors of the inertial mass unit (IMU) for nano-satellites. She specifically worked on developing miniaturized MEMS Gyroscopes to achieve high scale factors, low non-linearity, with the least cost and power consumption.
Contact: dsa337@nyu.edu

Houda Tabbaa,

Visiting Student from McMaster, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Summer 2024)

Ms. Houda Tabbaa, a fifth-year undergraduate student at McMaster University, is passionately immersed in the world of Biotechnology. She sought out the AMMLab as a visiting research assistant to further hone her research skills. Prior to her position at NYUAD, Houda held a role at Thermofisher Scientific as a production coordinator Co-op, as well as a Teaching Assistant, illustrating commitment to both industry and academia. She looks forward to leveraging her expertise within pharmaceutical and healthcare domains. Excited to embark on this journey at NYUAD, she eagerly anticipates making meaningful contributions throughout her role and beyond.
Contact: houdatabbaa123@gmail.com

Kojo Vandyck,

Undergraduate NYUAD (2021–2022), Capstone Project Student (2022–2023)

Mr. Kojo Vandyck is a final year Ghanaian Mechanical Engineering student at New York University Abu Dhabi. Kojo is interested in the intersection between healthcare and technology and how best to use technology and engineering principles to solve health-related problems. He joined the AMMLab in 2021 to pursue a research project involving the enhancement of the precision and sensitivity of laparoscopic grasper systems to aid surgical practitioners in better assessing the stiffness of internal organs. Furthermore, Kojo has participated in a couple of regional and international competitions including the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) and the Siemens Healthineers competition both of which his team was a finalist. His future interests is at the intersection of microtechnologies and soft robotics, for biomedical applications.
Contact: kev276@nyu.edu

Ma-sum Abdul-Hamid,

Undergraduate NYUAD (2021–2022), Capstone Project Student (2022–2023)

Mr. Ma-sum Abdul-Hamid is a final-year student researcher majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Design at New York University Abu Dhabi. With a keen interest in biological systems and the fabrication of medical devices, he joined the AMMLab in September 2021 to work on electromechanical stretching of red blood cells of diabetic patients (dielectrophoresis-based) using a MEMS device made up of interdigitated electrodes. Currently, Ma-sum is working on his final year capstone project (the incorporation and redesign of smart force sensors in laparoscopic tools for tactile sensing in minimally-invasive surgeries) in the lab. He aims to leverage his experience in design and fabrication of MEMS devices in the lab to pursue biomedical engineering in his graduate studies.
Contact: mah1034@nyu.edu

Zuzanna Bak,

Undergraduate NYUAD (2021–2023)

Zuzanna Bak is a third-year student at New York University Abu Dhabi majoring in Bioengineering. Since joining AMMLab, Zuzanna has been working on a project that aims to create a wax paper-based microfluidic point of care assay for early detection of Alzheimer. Apart from biochips, Zuzanna is also interested in bioinformatics and she is currently part of NYUAD iGEM team 2022.
Contact: zab2006@nyu.edu

Safeeya Al-Awadhi,

Capstone Project Student (2022–2023)

Safeeya Al-Awadhi is a fourth-year Bioengineering student from Dubai. For her capstone she is working on paper-based cryopreservation of cell lines and tumor models in the AMMLab. Her current objective is to build her toolkit to help contribute to the biotech space in the UAE. Her interests lie at the intersection of healthcare and technology. She also has a passion for autoimmune disease research and hopes to one day make an impact in the field.
Contact: sa4911@nyu.edu

Khaoula Achab,

Undergraduate NYUAD (2022–2023)

Ms. Khaoula Achab is a Moroccan first-year student at NYU Abu Dhabi planning to major in Bioengineering. In joining the AMMLab at this early stage, Khaoula wants to gain hands-on experiences that will enable her to better understand how new technology can assist the biology field, along with gaining research skills.
Contact: khaoula.achab@nyu.edu

 

Emmanuel I. Fashae,

Undergraduate NYUAD (Summer 2022)

Mr. Emmanuel Fashae is a Nigerian senior at NYU Abu Dhabi majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He has joined the AMMLab in Summer 2022 to work on the development of a concentration gradient oscillator. Prior that, Emmanuel worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at NYU New York, where he researched balance stability regions for inverted pendulum models, and performed DARwin-OP robot simulations, among other topics. Emmanuel is also interested in applying robotics and automation for developing programmable microfluidic assays.
Contact: eif213@nyu.edu

Alla Saleh, MSc

Research Assistant (2020–2022)

Ms. Alla Saleh joined the AMMLab in April 2020 to contribute to the development of an open-chip microfluidic tool for single cell analysis. Alla earned her BSc in Biomedical Engineering from Khalifa University, UAE (2016), and MSc in Physiology from McGill University, Canada in 2019. During her MSc studies, she has characterized the biochemical and functional hallmarks of the translational products of C-terminal premature termination codons in Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) and demonstrated the value of precision medicine by testing the mutants’ pharmacophore susceptibilities.
Contact: aas10042@nyu.edu

Samuel Olufemi Sofela, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2020–2022)

Dr. Samuel Sofela joined the AMMLab in September 2020. He obtained his doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering from Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, in 2020. During his doctoral studies, he worked on development of devices for biophysical phenotyping of disease model organisms using microfluidic techniques. He has experience in design and fabrication of high-throughput microfluidics devices for phenotyping and imaging model organisms, and developing experimental procedures for drug screening. Samuel received his M. Sc. degree in Microsystems Engineering at Masdar Institute in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Contact: sos259@nyu.edu

Mohammed Alzaabi,

Visiting Student from Khalifa University, Undergraduate Research Intern (Summer 2022)

Mr. Mohammed Alzaabi joined AMMLab in summer 2022 to work on paper-based cryopreservation of cells. He is a senior student in Khalifa University majoring in physics, with a plan to do a master’s degree in medical physics to study radiation therapy and cancer treatment. During his senior year at Khalifa University, Mohammed worked on building a calibration device to be used in a CT scanner that minimizes the ionizing radiation exposed to patients.
Contact: mkalzaabi@outlook.com

Imen Boumar, MSc

Research Assistant (2020–2022)

Ms. Imen Boumar joined the AMMLab in Spring 2020 to work on developing novel methods for isolating and analyzing circulating tumor cells. Prior to joining us, she received her Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Queen Mary, University of London, United Kingdom. During her MSc, she investigated the mechanistic effects of the surrounding environment on mesenchymal stem cells when seeded in gelatin-norbornene (GelNB) hydrogels, and material characterization using polymers for applications in tissue engineering. In 2015 and during her undergraduate studies, she also worked on designing and building a low-cost bioprinter using an ink jet cartridge and a setup of microcontrollers, which was used for bacterial cell culture studies.
Contact: ib2248@nyu.edu

Wael Othman, PhD Candidate

NYUAD Global PhD Fellow (2019–2023)

Mr. Wael Othman joined the AMMLab in July 2019 to work on the development of miniaturized tactile sensors integrated with laparoscopic surgical instruments, aiming towards restoring surgeons’ sense of touch during laparoscopy. Prior to joining us, Wael obtained his Masters degree in Materials Science and Engineering at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, where he worked as a graduate research assistant on designing and building a low-cost desktop electrochemical metal 3D printer. Before that and during his undergraduate studies at UAE University, he investigated the origins of negative differential resistivity in Nitrogen-doped ZnO nano-ribbons and its effect on gas sensing using Ab-initio methods and First-principle analyses.

Ayoub Glia, PhD Candidate

NYUAD Global PhD Fellow (2017–2021)

Mr. Ayoub Glia joined the AMMLab in July 2017 to work on the blending of Atomic Force Microscopy and Microfluidics capabilities into a prospective tool for cell analysis. Before joining us, Ayoub was working for the military survey department for two years in the area of hydrography whereby Lidar signals are processed for sea bed modeling. He was then assigned to aerial trigonometry through satellite, aerial imagery and lidar signals. Digital terrain modeling and the production of topographic orthophotos for the whole UAE were also part of his missions during his two year career in the military. Before that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Material Science and Engineering at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, where his research domain was ranging from materials characterization to the development of vital AFM techniques, especially, the in situ control and interpretation of the AFM tip geometry in means of grasping better understanding of tip-sample interactions, and hence, better observables.

Ayoola T. Brimmo, PhD Candidate

NYUAD Global PhD Fellow (2016–2020)

Mr. Ayoola Brimmo joined the AMMLab in August 2016 to work on the development of microfluidic “lab on tip” devices for isolating and manipulating cells, as potential point of care diagnostics tools. Before joining us, Ayoola was a Research Engineer at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, where he worked on analyzing and designing cutting-edge systems with the aid of mathematical models. In 2013, he obtained his Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at Masdar Institute in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and has since been involved in non-profit ventures aimed at proffering sustainable solutions to energy and environmental problems in developing countries.

Bisan Samara, B.Eng

Research Assistant (2019–2020) – Currently serves as a Graduate Student in Biomedical Engineering, McGill University

Ms. Bisan Samara joined the AMMLab in March 2019 as a Research Assistant to develop a system for detecting circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer patients, and to study the mechanical properties of red blood cells in diabetic patients. Before joining us, Bisan was a Research Assistant at Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KUST), Abu Dhabi, where she engineered an artificial biomimetic lymph node for drug discovery purposes. She also worked at Mohammed Bin Rashid University (MBRU), College of Medicine, on a project that aims to characterize rare genetic variants associated with the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Bisan received her B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from KUST with high honors in 2017.

Anoop Menachery, PhD

Senior Research Scientist (2014–2019) – Currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at The Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology

Dr. Anoop Menachery joined the AMMlab in October 2014 as a Research Scientist, and was promoted to a Senior Research Scientist in February 2017. He has several years of experience in the fields of AC electrokinetics and microsystems. His expertise lies in the development of microfluidic devices and in the design and execution of technical concepts for device integration. Dr. Menachery has previously worked as a senior engineer at Apocell, where he was involved in the development, validation and commercialization of an automated product to isolate circulating tumor cells from patient blood. He also previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the bio-electronics group at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh in the area of microfabrication technologies applied to the detection and isolation of embryonic stem cells and parasites. Dr. Menachery obtained a Master’s degree in Nanotechnology and Microfabrication and a PhD in Electronic Engineering from Bangor University, UK.

Abishek Vembadi, B.Eng

Research Assistant (2017–2019)

Mr. Abishek Vembadi joined the AMMLab as a research assistant in May 2017. He has experience in developing microfluidic platforms for Point-of-care diagnostics. Before joining us, he worked at Biomedical Diagnostics Ireland, where he gained understanding of microfluidics and associated actuation, detection, fabrication and instrumentation for the preparation of bioanalytical assays. He received his Bachelors degree in Biomedical Engineering from Dublin City University, Ireland. He was the recipient of prestigious Hamilton research scholarship during his studies, which gave him exposure to work on a few projects at the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR). His research interests include microfluidic/MEMS devices focused on Biomedical/diagnostic applications. In the AMMLab, he will be involved in several projects including developing a microfluidic platforms for legionella detection in water supplies, open microfluidics and microfluidic probes, and platforms for single cell isolation.

Samar Fadl, M.Sc

Research Assistant, part-time (2017–2018)

Ms. Samar Fadl joined the NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) as a Chemistry Assistant Instructor in August 2016. In June 2017, she joined the AMMLab to contribute to the research field in NYUAD during summer sessions. Before joining NYUAD, she worked as a Chemistry Teacher Assistant in the American University in Cairo for three years. Samar received the Mo Ibrahim Fellowship for Nubian Students and obtained her Master of Science in Chemistry with Specialization in Food Chemistry from the American University in Cairo in 2015. During her Master studies she examined the use of a natural polymer reinforced with nanofillers for food packaging applications. In her research, she worked on poly lactic acid, a common biorenewable biodegradable polymer that was blended with three different natural plasticizers. The blend that demonstrated best results was further investigated by incorporating four different types of nanofillers to examine their properties for food packaging applications. Samar is contributing to the AMMLab research team in developing microfluidic devices for the aim of capturing circulating tumor cells.

Marwa Musallam,

Visiting Biology Student from UAEU, Undergraduate Research Intern (Spring 2019)

Ms. Marwa Musallam is a Jordanian senior student at the UAE University (UAEU), majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Prior to joining the AMMLab, she worked as a volunteer and part timer in UAEU laboratories and contributed to different topics including in vitro antagonistic ability of actinomycetes against Fusarium solani and the causal agent of the sudden death disease of date palm in the United Arab Emirates. Marwa joined the AMMLab during spring 2019 as an intern trainee. Marwa aims to gain valuable lab work experience in order to improve her lab working skills. She believes that working in the lab alongside the team will help to gain practical experience in the fields of biology and bioengineering.

Roaa Alnemari, M.Sc

Research Assistant, Lab Manager (2016–2019)

Ms. Roaa Alnemari joined the AMMLab in April 2016 as a Research Assistant. Her medical background provides the necessary experience to the laboratory, where engineering and medicine merge. Roaa assists the group in several projects including the development of microfluidic system to quantify bacterial contamination in water supplies and the development of microfluidic devices for isolating circulating tumor cells. In her master study, she used microfluidic model to investigate some biological functions in in vivo– like conditions, such as monocytes recruitment from blood stream to the epithelial tissue. She recently obtained her MSc in Molecular Medicine from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and her BSc in Biotechnology from Taif University, Saudi Arabia.

Nityanand Kumawat, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2016–2017) – Currently serves as a Research Scientist at NYUAD

Dr. Nityanand Kumawat joined the AMMLab in February 2016 to work in the development of microfluidic devices for isolating circulating tumor cells from blood samples taken from prostate cancer patients, as well as working on the development of microfluidic platforms to quantify bacterial contamination in water supplies. Prior joining us, Nityanand was a postdoctoral associate at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India, and a senior research associate at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science. Prior that, Nityanand completed his PhD in 2013 in the area of label free optical biochemical sensing from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India.

Bobby Mathew, PhD

Research Associate (2016–2017) – Currently serves as an Assistant Professor at UAE University

Dr. Bobby Mathew joined the AMMLab in June 2016 as a Research Associate to develop microfluidic devices for identification/separation of CTCs from blood sample for cancer screening and identification/separation of bacteria from municipal water supplies for monitoring of water quality. Prior to starting at AMMLab he spent two years at Khalifa University as a postdoctoral research fellow working on BioMEMS projects. He was awarded the PhD degree in Engineering in 2011 from Louisiana Tech University, USA, after completing the Master degree in 2007 from the same university. Bobby published his research findings in several papers in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences proceedings. His research interests are in the areas of thermal/fluid sciences and MEMS/microfluidics.

Jordi Vila-Planas, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2014–2016) – Currently serves as Advanced Engineering Supervisor at FICOSA

Dr. Jordi Vila-Planas joined the AMMLab, in November 2014, as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Jordi received his bachelor degree in physics from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and his master degree in Photonics from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Before joining the AMMLab, Jordi was a graduate student in the Centre Nacional de Microelectrònica, CNM-IMB, CSIC, and completed his Ph.D. dissertation on PDMS-based optofluidic systems in September 2014. Jordi’s research of interest is at the intersection of microfluidics and photonics, and its applications in biological and life sciences.

Nkos’khona Msimanga, B.Eng

Capstone Project Student (2015–2016), Post Graduate Practical Trainee (Summer 2016)

Nkosikhona M. Msimanga completed his Bachelor degree of Engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi. He has interned as a design research assistant with the Engineering Division and developed the concept of an efficient photo-bioreactor that uses solar energy only. Nkosikhona is passionate about engineering design and problem solving, and has volunteered for projects in remote Sri Lanka and Ethiopia. He has joined the AMMLab in September 2015 to design a xylem based water filter for his senior capstone project 2015/2016. Nkosikhona graduate in May 2016, and rejoined the AMMLab in June 2016 as a Post Graduate Practical Trainee, for 2 months, to advance the xylem based water filter.

Eder Munyampenda, B.Eng

Capstone Project Student (2015–2016), Post Graduate Practical Trainee (Summer 2016)

Eder Munyampenda completed his Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, May 2016. He first joined the AMMLab to complete his capstone project in designing a water filter using the natural resources of plants, AY 2015/2016. With his project, he aimed to lower the cost of most water filtration systems and attempted to increase the quality of life in the developing world where access to clean water is a luxury. Eder came back to the AMMLab after graduations as a Post Graduate Practical Trainee, for 2 months, to start a new project in replicating sub-micrometer structures using soft-lithography techniques. His techniques might find several applications in human fluid microscale filtration as well as for water filtration.

Abdullah Mahomed,

Capstone Project Student (2015–2016)

Abdullah I Mahomed is a senior student at NYUAD, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He is South African but was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining the AMMlab, he worked on a solar panel cleaning device in the Solar Research Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Having volunteered in a village in Ethiopia and one in Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahomed is passionate about social work and improving the life of people living in rural areas. He is working with the AMMlab, during the academic year 2015/2016 on his senior capstone project to develop a xylem-based water filter to be used in rural areas in Africa.

Saad Sultan,

Undergraduate NYUAD (Summer 2017)

Mr. Saad Sultan, originally from Pakistan, is an NYUAD junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering. At NYUAD, he teamed up with other students as a part of the Engineers Design and Innovation class, where his project VERSATILES – a LED based electronic canvas created to enliven the underpasses of Abu Dhabi – won the Best in category award at Innovators’16 Abu Dhabi. Having worked in different laboratories and industries in Pakistan, and being familiar with the setup and working principles of these industries, Saad hopes to implement the various smart and effective engineering techniques that he has learnt during his time at NYUAD once he goes back to Pakistan. He is working with the AMMLab, during summer 2017, and aims to continue working in the future. Saad hopes that working in the lab alongside several other Researchers under the supervision of Professor Qasaimeh will inspire him into thinking about a potential capstone project within the next 2 years.

Mubasher Iqbal,

Undergraduate NYUAD (Summer 2017)

Mr. Mubasher Iqbal, hailing from Lahore, Pakistan, is a Junior at NYUAD, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Aiming to pursue Biomedical Engineering in his graduate studies, he has joined the AMMLab to continue the work on the xylem-based water filter capstone project that was developed previously in the lab. Additionally, he will also be working on the project investigating the behavior of beads suspensions in droplets when energized using an array of interdigitated microelectrodes.

Maryam Alnuaimi,

Undergraduate Research Assistant (Volunteer)

Maryam Alnuaimi is an Emarati senior undergraduate student at Abu Dhabi University doing Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences. She joined AMMLab in NYUAD to get some research experience and apply that on her undergraduate research project, with a participation in the project of isolation of fetal nucleated RBCs from umbilical cord Blood.