Ph.D. Candidate in Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine

Jessica is a Biomedical Engineering PhD student and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, co-advised by Dr. Mao and Dr. Doloff. She obtained her B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her thesis research is at the intersection of immunology and biomaterials, focusing on understanding the mechanism behind how nanofiber-hydrogel composite (NHC) leads to soft tissue remodeling. In addition, she teaches the undergraduate course “Immune Responses to Biomaterials.” When she isn’t pipetting, Jessica enjoys spending time waterskiing, bowling, and searching for cheap flights. 

Awards:

NIH F31 Fellow, NSF GRFP Fellow, ARCS Foundation Scholar

Publications:

• Joshua C. Doloff, Omid Veiseh, Roberto de Mezerville, Marcos Sforza, Tracy Ann Perry, Jennifer Haupt, Morgan Jamiel, Courtney Chambers, Amanda Nash, Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, Jessica L. Stelzel, Stuart J. Bauer, Sarah Y. Neshat, John Hancock, Natalia Araujo Romero, Yessica Elizondo Hidalgo, Isaac Mora Leiva, Alexandre Mendonça Munhoz, Ardeshir Bayat, Brian M. Kinney, H. Courtney Hodges, Roberto N. Miranda, Mark W. Clemens, & Robert Langer. “The Surface Topography of Silicone Breast Implants mediates the Foreign Body Response in Mice, Rabbits, and Humans.” Nature Biomedical Engineering, June 2021. DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00739-4.
• Yousra Timounay, Raj De, Jessica L. Stelzel, Zachariah S. Schrecengost, Monica M. Ripp, & Joseph D. Paulsen. “Crumples as a Generic Stress-Focusing Instability in Confined Sheets.” Physical Review X, April 2020. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevX.10.021008.