John Frampton (Team Leader)
I am an Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering at Dalhousie University and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Cellular, Biomaterial and Matrix Interaction. I trained as a PhD student in the School of Public Health at SUNY at Albany, before completing a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at University of Michigan. At Dalhousie University, my group of highly qualified trainees is working at the intersection of chemistry, physics and biology to explore the interactions of various soft materials with cells, design novel biomaterials and develop cutting-edge miniaturization technologies with applications in biotechnology and medicine.
Malcolm Joeseph Hedrick (Postdoc)
Malcolm obtained his McNair honors BSc in Chemistry at North Dakota State University in 2016, MSc in Biological Engineering at University of Guelph in 2021 and PhD in Analytical Chemistry at Saint Mary’s University in 2025. Malcolm was awarded a Dalhousie University Medical Research Development Office PDF award in 2025. Malcolm’s research focuses on fabricating collagen-polymer blend scaffolds for ocular tissue engineering and developing strategies for in situ assessment of tissue mechanical properties associated with wound healing.
Yanitza Trosel (Postdoc)
Yanitza completed her PhD in Condensed Matter Physics at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she studied the effects of macromolecular crowding on the diffusivity and rheology of polymers and the intrinsically disordered protein alpha-synuclein using lysed bacteria to mimic real cellular environments. Before that, she completed her MSc in physics at the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC), where she simulated the dynamics of soft colloid materials, and found her passion for biophysics and biomaterials. Her current postdoctoral research focuses on developing and optimizing suture materials using recombinant spider silk, co-supervised by Dr. Jan K. Rainey. Outside the lab, Yanitza spends her time with her dog, Suki, and volunteers fostering rescue dogs from high-kill shelters.
Darren Cole (Technician)
Darren received his BSc from Dalhousie University in Biology. He has over 25 years of experience with mammalian cell culture including with demanding cell types like renal tubule cells. Before joining the Frampton Lab, he was the technician for Prof. Geoff Maksym and subsequently for the School of Biomedical Engineering. Darren is currently working on a number of cell culture projects which include culture of neural progenitor cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, keratinocytes, airway smooth muscle cells, and corneal cells. Outside of the lab, Darren is an avid fisherman and wood worker.
Mady Thompson (PhD Student)
Mady completed her BSc with Honours in Biochemistry at Queen’s University. She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Calgary where she studied the maturation of stem cell derived cardiomyocytes on extracellular matrix. Her PhD focuses on generating a more physiologically relevant Alzheimer’s Disease model from stem cells. She is a recipient of a 4-year Research Nova Scotia Scotia Scholars Award.
Oscar Leonardo Moreno Alferez (PhD Student)
Oscar is a chemist who graduated from Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research at the LIBB laboratory, where he worked on the chemical modification, purification, and immobilization of commercial lipase and laccase enzymes for applications in biofuel production and wastewater treatment. This work led to his thesis being awarded a merit distinction. Oscar also completed a Mitacs Globalink Internship in the Jakeman Lab at Dalhousie University, where he studied the kinetics and inhibition of a specific glycoside hydrolase (EryBI) with the aim of developing new inhibitors. He is currently pursuing his PhD in the Rainey and Frampton Labs, where his research focuses on developing a novel biomaterial based on a modified spider silk protein to support neuronal growth, providing a biocompatible scaffold that promotes neuron adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation.
Jana Sewidan (MASc Student)
Jana received her BSc in Biology with First-Class Honours from Dalhousie University. Her Honours research focused on utilizing fibronectin as a protein additive to manufacture stable protein fibers using the contact drawing method. She is currently a Master’s student in the School of Biomedical Engineering at Dalhousie University, where she is developing a composite fiber–silk film corneal replacement designed for implantation to promote regeneration of the innermost corneal layer, Descemet’s membrane, with the goal of reversing corneal opacity.
Linh Tran (MASc Student)
Linh earned her BSc in Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University, completing an Honours-equivalent Directed Research Project with Distinction alongside a Certificate in Intercultural Communication. Her undergraduate research focused on the virulence of Salmonella sp., specifically investigating the SopB protein and its phosphoinositide phosphatase activity in the generation of PI(3)P. She received the 2023 IMPACT Award in Student Wellness for leading high-impact projects with outstanding engagement within the Dalhousie science community. Currently a Master’s student, she is developing a cost-effective, high-accuracy ELISA platform utilizing novel aqueous two-phase systems.
Dafne Portillo Gabriel (MASc Student)
Dafne is a graduate in Pharmacy & Biological Chemistry from ULSA Mexico, where she conducted research in the Faculty of Chemistry as a Junior Researcher. She gained experience in regulatory affairs as an intern at Olympus LATAM, supporting health registrations and compliance processes across LATAM. As a Mitacs Globalink Research Intern (2024) in the Frampton Lab, she worked on the development of conductive biofibers incorporating polymer-based nanoparticles for tissue engineering applications. She is currently continuing this work as a MASc student in Biomedical Engineering at Dalhousie University, focusing on conductive collagen-based fibers for skeletal muscle tissue engineering. She also works as a Study Skills Coach for the Life Sciences at Dalhousie University, helping students develop the core academic skills they need to succeed in demanding courses.
Olivia Chandler (Honours Student)
Olivia is a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major focusing on protein structure/function relationships that influence cellular function and human health. She is particularly interested in research with direct applications to improving disease therapies and patient experiences in healthcare. In the Frampton Lab, she is completing an honours thesis investigating how contact-drawn collagen structures might interact with the cells growing on them. Through her honors work and previous experiential learning course she has developed skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific communication that will prepare her for collaborative research as a graduate student. Outside the lab, Olivia enjoys cooking, going to the gym, and playing the piano.
Matthew Oh (Undergraduate Research Assistant)
Matthew is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at Dalhousie University and a recipient of a full-ride scholarship. He is currently working as an undergraduate research assistant, contributing to research on engineered biomaterials and conductive fiber systems in collaboration with MASc student Dafne Portillo. His work supports ongoing efforts to develop and refine functional biomaterial-based technologies.
Ivy Murphy (Undergraduate Research Assistant)
Ivy is an undergraduate Biochemistry and Molecular Biology student focused on designing curved contact-drawn collagen fiber scaffolds mimicking the structure of the human cornea. Ivy is completing a BIOC3620 research project and is a recipient of a 2026 NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award.
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows:
Swomitra Palit (Co-Supervised with Laurent Kreplak)
Surendra Kumar Verma (Killam PDH)
Rafaela Andrade-Vieira (Mitacs Accelerate PDF)
Melissa Reith (Co-Supervised with Jan Rainey)
Hessameddin Yaghoobi (Co-Supervised with Laurent Kreplak)
Staff:
PhD Students:
MASc/Msc Students:
Stefan Pendlmayr (Visiting from Aarhus University)
Zachary Visser
Mireya Yareth Cervantes González
Undergraduate Capstone Teams and DISP Teams:
Hady Sarhan, Jordan Worona and Ilias Lekkas (Electrical Engineering, 2016)
Elizabeth Outhit, Jinwon Jang, Maia Kvas, Emily Gerhardt and Beatrice Chiang (DISP, 2017)
Diane Farah, Tyler Jenkins, Artem Soroka and Sara Jaber (Chemical Engineering, 2019)
Aline Maybank and Annabel Gravely (DISP, 2020)
Joscillyn Poirier, Tilda Hadley, Kathleen Walker and Neha Nauman (Chemical Engineering, 2020)
Alex Whidden and Maxxim Vigneau (Electrical Engineering, 2021)
Tay Barnabe, Courtney Chiasson and Kamar Clarke (Chemical Engineering, 2023)
Undergraduate Students:
Cathleen Dai
Ammu Puliyankotan
Chloe Ma (Co-Supervised with Jan Rainey)
Friederike Floegel (Mitacs GRI, 2019)
Kiha Kim
Lauren Pugsley-DeBruyn (Co-Supervised with Jan Rainey)
Madelaine Robertson (Co-Supervised with Jan Rainey)
Alison Clarke (Co-Supervised with Laurent Kreplak)
Daniel Ng Kah Hee (Mitacs GRI, 2022)
Emmanuel Borja Ramos (Mitacs GRI, 2022)
Tania Sofía Hernández Hernández (Mitacs GRI, 2023)
Marifer Vargas Camacho (Mitacs GRI, 2023)
Kaia Pauli (Visiting Intern from HAN University)
Nick Robichaud (Research in Medicine, Co-Supervised with Laurent Kreplak)
Kevin Telfer (Research in Medicne)
Robert Laureijs (Research in Medicine)
Chiraz Hicheri (Mitacs GRI, 2024)
Jessika White (Visiting from Fleming College)
Claudia Reck (Visiting from HAN University)
Grace O’Connor (Co-Supervised with Laurent Kreplak)