RESEARCH INTERESTS
Lyndsay’s PhD work entitled “Engineering Biomaterials for Therapeutic Optimization of Cardiovascular Interventions” investigated clinical challenges related to ischemic heart disease and she enjoyed the translational and interdisciplinary nature of her research. In her work, she demonstrated a unique approach to chemically oxidizing polystyrene substrate for improving human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) culture. This technology could be utilized to generate sufficient quantities of high quality cells in applications where timely access therapeutic hMSCs is difficult due to cell culture constraints currently. Her work also examined the use of a photosynthetic oxygen delivery system to rescues the myocardium following acute ischemia. Finally, Lyndsay explored the use of a dynamically crosslinked polymer-nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogels as adhesion barriers for the prevention of post-operative adhesions. The PNP hydrogel adhesion barrier significantly reduced adhesions in both rodent and ovine models of cardiacthoracic and abdominal adhesions. After completing her PhD, Lyndsay became the Manager of Strategy and Operations at Calcilytx (https://bridgebio.com).
EDUCATION
PhD, Bioengineering, Stanford University - June 2020
BS, Chemical Engineering, University of New Mexico - May 2015
HONORS, AWARDS, and SCHOLARSHIPS
Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation, 2015-2018
EDGE Fellowship, Stanford University, 2015-2020
Clauve Outstanding Senior Award, University of New Mexico, 2015
CITGO Scholarship, University of New Mexico, 2014
Alumni Scholarship, University of New Mexico, 2014
IMSD Fellowship, University of New Mexico, 2013-2015
Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award, University of New Mexico, 2011-2014
UNM Scholar-Athlete Award, University of New Mexico, 2011-2014
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, UNM, 2013 - 2015
Research Advisor: Prof. Heather Canavan
Lyndsay investigated the cytotoxicity of commercially available poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) for its use in "cell sheet" engineering applications through different surface characterization and surface analysis techniques.
The Leadership Alliance, Brown University, Jun 2014 - Aug 2014
Research Advisor: Prof. Diane Hoffman-Kim
Lyndsay investigated the effect of microgravity on wound healing using 3T3 fibroblast cells as well as optimized microgravity bioreactor protocols for tissue culture of multifarious cell lines.
ABOUT
Lyndsay comes from a military family and has lived in California, Japan, Virginia, and Washington, but chose to move to New Mexico to pursue a degree in Nuclear Engineering, swim on the Division 1 UNM Swim and Dive team, and enjoy 365 days of sun. After a freshman 101 engineering guest lecture (given by her soon-to-be research adviser, Heather Canavan) introducing her to the fascinating world of research and discovery in Bioengineering, she quickly changed her major with the goal to one day get her PhD in Bioengineering . Lyndsay enjoyed her time swimming, studying, and researching at UNM, but happily moved to Stanford University to begin her next chapter. When she isn’t in lab, you will find Lyndsay running/jogging around Stanford, reading, cooking, baking, eating, and/or watching a movie.