Andrew Baskharon

Matlab Programmer

Andrew is a biomedical engineering major at Rutgers University who joined the lab in October 2017. His background includes research on topics such as 3D printing and modeling as well as development of transdermal drug delivery systems. His responsibilities include software development of data analysis routines using MATLAB. In addition, Mr. Baskharon will work closely with lab staff to allow completion of research protocols and improve data collection and analysis.

Kelly Brewer

Study Coordinator

Kelly Brewer joined the WRIISC in December 2014 and is the Study Coordinator for the Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory. Ms. Brewer holds a Master of Research in Immunology from Newcastle University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Eastern University. Her professional experience includes over 10 years of laboratory research within clinical and non-clinical settings. Ms. Brewer uses her prior work experience to oversee the operations of the research studies for the Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory.

Leslie De La Cruz-Alvarez

Research Assistant

Leslie De La Cruz-Alvarez joined the Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory in August 2015 as a Research Assistant. Ms. De La Cruz-Alvarez earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Drew University in May 2015. Her responsibilities in the lab include recruiting study particpants, collecting and analyzing data for the ongoing studies, and ensuring lab safety.

Michelle Favre

PhD Candidate

Michelle Favre joined the Serrador (or IHPL) lab in January 2015 and she is a PhD student in the cell biology, neuroscience, and physiology (CBNP) program at Rutgers Biomedical & Health Sciences in Newark. Ms. Favre holds a bachelor’s degree from Ramapo College where she majored in biology, concentrated in physical therapy, and minor in psychology. Ms. Favre participated in the Theoretical and Applied Science Research Honors Program and graduated in 2013 with Summa Cum Laude honors.

Yaa Haber, PhD

Yaa is currently a 5th year PhD Candidate in the Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences graduate school where she is in the Cell Biology Physiology and Neurosciences (CBNP) Track. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Neurophysiology from the University of Maryland College Park. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Masters of Biomedical Sciences Degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is currently an Alfred P. Sloan Scholar Rutgers where doing her thesis work in the Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory of Dr. Jorge Serrador at the War Related Illness Injury Study Center in East Orange, NJ. Her thesis is focused on studying vestibular function in the contexts of blast injury and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Allan Knox

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Knox joined the Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory in November 2016. He achieved his PhD from the University of the West of Scotland by exploring the racial differences in cardiovascular responses to progressive resistance training. His expertise in exercise physiology has allowed him to work with a variety of athletes from elite youth rugby players to senior international standard soccer players. His work with clinical populations has been accepted for presentations at the American College of Sport Medicine World Congress on Exercise is Medicine annual meetings. This has also led to several associate lecturing positions at several Universities within Glasgow, teaching physiology and nutrition to undergraduate sports scientists. He aims to further his knowledge and experience in the clinical setting and to advance science by investigating potential racial differences in physiological regulatory systems, which may explain differences in disease prevalences.

Melissa McSwain

Project Manager

Melissa joined the IHPL at the beginning of 2017 as the team's Project Manager. She is a former Naval officer with ten years of operational experience in aviation and intelligence and has served with both the U.S. Central Command out of Bahrain and the Pacific Command out of Pearl Harbor, HI and Beijing, China. Her project management experience continued after the military with Habitat for Humanity; most recently as the Program Director for an affiliate near Seattle, WA. She holds a graduate degree in aeronautical science and will be responsible for administrative functions of the lab and ensuring the progress of the research studies.

Bishoy Samy

Biomedical Engineer

Mr. Bishoy Samy, MS is a biomedical engineer at NJ WRIISC. Mr. Samy joined the WRIISC in 2014 after working for a cardiovascular device company. He earned his BS in Biomedical Engineering in 2012 and MS in Biomedical Engineering in 2013 from the Newark College of Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology where he received several merit-based scholarships. His responsibilities in the lab include performing analysis of various physiological signals collected, developing and testing mathematical algorithms for signal acquisition and processing used in research studies, designing electronics and equipment to meet research needs, and overseeing all research equipment.

Faria Sanjana

Research Assistant

Faria Sanjana joined the WRIISC and Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory in September 2016 as a Research Assistant. She earned her MS in Biomedical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology in May 2016 and BS in Biology from Bucknell University in May 2013. Her responsibilities in the lab include assisting with the recruitment of study subjects, collecting and analyzing data for ongoing research studies.

Tien Le

Research Assistant

Tien Le joined the WRIISC in December 2014 and was a Research Assistant for the Intergrative Human Physiology Laboratory. Ms. Le holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from New York Institute of Technology. Ms. Le was responsible for collecting and analyzing data, training new personnel, and ensuring lab safety.

Justyna Michalik

Research Assistant

Justyna Michalik joined the WRIISC in June 2015 and was a research assistant for the Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory. Ms. Michalik holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience from Rutgers University and has previously worked as a research assistant for two years at the W.M Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience. Ms. Michalik was responsible for collecting and analyzing data, training new personnel, and ensuring lab safety.

Kamila Migdal

Senior Research Assistant

Kamila Migdal joined the WRIISC in December 2014 and was the Senior Research Assistant for the Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory. Ms. Migdal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Rutgers University. Ms. Migdal was responsible for collecting and analyzing data, training new personnel and ensuring laboratory safety. Ms. Migdal also supervises research assistants in the laboratory, manages existing projects and assists with upcoming projects.

Mosadoluwa Obatusin

Biomedical Engineer

Mr. Dolu Obatusin joined the New Jersey War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) in 2014 after earning his masters in biomedical engineer at Cornell University. Mr. Obatusin also holds a Bachelor’s in Biomedical engineering from the New York Institute of Technology. His passion for engineering and its application towards solving health related problems led him to join the WRIISC where he worked collaboratively with members of Integrative Human Physiology Laboratory (IHPL), and the WRIISC at large to support ongoing research endeavors. His role as a biomedical engineer involved varying responsibilities from designing electronics and equipment to meet research needs to organizing and analyzing data

Maran Shaker

Senior Research Assistant

Maran Shaker served in the Military as a United States Army Combat Medic with multiple overseas tours in Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea. After the military he pursued a Masters in Biomedical Sciences at RBHS with a goal of pursuing a career as a physician. His interests are to understand and enhance medical care for veterans with a focus on post deployment illness and injury. He is committed to bridging the gaps in veteran healthcare, education, and transition. He is currently serving as the New Jersey Leader for the veteran non-profit IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America).