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Michael N. Wosczyna

Principal Investigator/Assistant Professor

Previous Positions and Education: Instructor (2020) and Postdoctoral Fellow (2016), Stanford University School of Medicine (Rando Group); Ph.D. University of Connecticut (2011, Goldhamer Lab).

Appointments:
Musculoskeletal Research Center
Bioengineering Institute
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Kimmel Center For Stem Cell Biology
Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences
NYU Grossman School of Medicine


Edgar Perez Carbajal

Senior Research Scientist/Laboratory Coordinator

Previous Positions and Education: Research Associate, Stanford School of Medicine/VAPA (2015); B.S. in Cell and Developmental Biology at Cal State University Fullerton (2015)

Research Interests: Determine how aging, injury, and disease alter muscle-resident mesenchymal stromal cells, and identify ways to preserve their regenerative capacity while limiting maladaptive tissue remodeling.

Hobbies: Tipping performance artists, walking to the beat of my own drum.

Sally Bliss

Senior Research Scientist/Adviser

Previous Positions and Education: Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Rutgers School of Graduate Studies (2015), M.S. in Biomedical Sciences at Rutgers (2007)

Research Interests: Map how mesenchymal stromal cells communicate with neighboring cells across different tissue environments, and define how these signals affect surrounding-cell behavior.

Hobbies: Spending time with my family outside, hiking and traveling. (Reality: Drinking copious amounts of coffee while chauffeuring my children to various activities, cooking for selective eaters, and doing the never-ending pile of laundry.)

Xingyu Liu

Ph.D. Candidate

Previous Positions and Education: M.S. in Biotechnology at NYU Tandon School of Engineering (2023), B.S. in Bioengineering at Dalian University of Technology (2021)

Research Interests: Characterize how aging and injury change mesenchymal stromal-cell populations and their communication with neighboring cells.

Hobbies: Watching football games, guitar, reading, playing Hearthstone.

Sahil Mapkar

Ph.D. Candidate

Previous Positions and Education: B.S. in Exercise Physiology at Rutgers University (2021)

Research Interests: Investigate how stem-cell differentiation, angiogenesis, senescence, implant-based approaches, and mitochondrial bioenergetics relate to tissue restoration.

Hobbies: High altitude mountain climbing, playing the lyre, figure modeling, skateboarding

Jack Banyasz

Graduate Student

Previous Positions and Education: Pursuing M.S. in Biotechnology at NYU Tandon School of Engineering (current), B.S. in Biology at Brandeis University (2025)

Research Interests: Define the cellular and molecular responses to muscle injury and determine how they inform tissue-regeneration treatments.

Hobbies: Running, hiking, skiing, ancient history, formula 1.

Melissa Hernandez Hoyos

Graduate Student

Previous Positions and Education: Pursuing M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering (current), M.D. at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (2026)

Research Interests: Regenerative medicine, stem and progenitor cell biology, musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, biomaterials and translational tissue engineering for plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Hobbies: Running, painting, volleyball and reading

Ibrahim Qadri

Medical Student

Previous Positions and Education: Pursuing M.D. at CUNY School of Medicine (current), B.S in Biomedical Science at CUNY (2026)

Research Interests: Identify how muscle stem cells and other regenerative cell populations support healing and restore function after injury.

Hobbies: In my free time, I love to build Legos, play any unique instrument I can find, or catch up on the latest F1 news. You can find me at the next Giants game!

Bardan Bhatta

Research Associate

Previous Positions and Education: B.A. in Biology and Global public Health at NYU College of Arts and Sciences (2024)

Research Interests: Evaluate how musculoskeletal stem-cell approaches could be applied to tissue regeneration and sports-medicine treatment.

Hobbies: Playing the drums, running, reading, and exploring new places in the city.

Jayme Andres

Research Associate

Previous Positions and Education: M.S. in Biotechnology at Northeastern University (2026), B.A in Human Biology at CUNY Hunter College (2022)

Research Interests: Determine how aging and disease alter muscle stem and progenitor cell function, aiming to identify mechanisms that impair regeneration and potential therapeutic targets.

Hobbies: I love trying new restaurants/cafes, supporting local businesses, drinking coffee, aerial performance arts, and running!

Benjamin Gilman

Computational Intern

Previous Positions and Education: B.A. in Computer Science and Data Science at NYU College of Arts and Science (2023)

Research Interests: Determine which cellular and molecular processes govern tissue regeneration during aging bioinformatically.

Hobbies: Playing basketball, tennis, and video games, bike riding, and music.

Lam Tran

Undergraduate Researcher

Previous Positions and Education: Pursing B.A. in Biology at NYU College of Arts and Sciences (current)

Research Interests: Determine how fibroadipogenic progenitors regulate the skeletal-muscle response to injury and subsequent regeneration.

Hobbies: Playing soccer, weightlifting, watching sports events, trying new boba spots around the city.

Kallie Mehta

Undergraduate Researcher

Previous Positions and Education: Pursing B.A. in Biology at NYU College of Arts and Sciences (current)

Research Interests: Identify how stem-cell interactions within muscle tissue could inform regenerative-medicine strategies

Hobbies: Playing guitar, oil painting, going to matcha cafes, and going on hikes.

Reynold Liu

Undergraduate Researcher

Previous Positions and Education: Pursing B.A. in Biology at NYU College of Arts and Sciences (current)

Research Interests: Identify FAP-derived signaling molecules with potential to inform treatments for age-related muscle degeneration.

Hobbies: Weightlifting, cooking food, playing the drums, and walking through the city.

Tim Kou

Undergraduate Researcher

Previous Positions and Education: Pursing B.A. in Biochemistry at NYU College of Arts and Sciences (current)

Research Interests: Determine how aging changes the mechanisms that maintain skeletal muscle and enable regeneration.

Hobbies: Basketball, weightlifting, hiking, watching shows, and walking my dog Rocky.

Alumni

In the Wosczyna lab we strive to be inclusive and respectful in order to cultivate an environment where our science speaks for itself. We welcome scientists from various backgrounds and we support each other through mentorship and discussion.

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