In the Microelectrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and Microfluidics Lab in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, our people are our strongest asset. Meet the members of our team.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Melinda Lake-Speers
Professor Lake-Speers started her faculty position at Case Western Reserve University in January 2023 after finishing a postdoctoral research position at Purdue University. She started graduate school at the University of Notre Dame and transferred to The Ohio State University to follow her research advisor and completed her PhD from there in 2019. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Her lab’s research focuses on developing lab-on-a-chip solutions to solve critical health problems in cancer, global health and biological modeling. The development and manufacturing of such technology can be costly and she wants to ensure the technology is accessible to people who need it. So, in addition to developing novel microfluidic devices and MEMS for point-of-care diagnostics and organ-on-a-chip, she is also focusing on how to cost-effectively manufacture these systems in bulk. Outside of work, she enjoys running, hiking, and doing outdoor activities with her dogs.
Connect with Lake-Speers on LinkedIn.
Graduate Students
Haowei “Victor” Ma
Victor is a third-year graduate student at Case Western Reserve University in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His fields of study include the development of point-of-care devices for clinical applications, and he is dedicated to contributing to the advancement of cancer detection devices through his work. He also works on implantable drug delivery devices. Outside of the lab, Victor enjoys art, music, and film. He also owns a lizard.
Undergraduate Students
Colin Corday
Colin is a senior Mechanical Engineering undergraduate at Case Western Reserve University, additionally pursuing minors in Mathematics and Computer Science. He is working on the manufacturing of microfluidic devices using rapid prototyping and plasma bonding methods, with the goal of developing a standardized process. During his free time, Colin enjoys volleyball, weightlifting, and playing boardgames with friends.
Saif Khan
Saif is a sophomore at Case Western Reserve University majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He is currently involved in a project focused on developing a liquid biopsy tool for cancer diagnostics. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing tennis and cricket, as well as reading poetry.
- Masha Gorodetski
- Olivia Butini Ibanez
- Alex Rak, Sophomore
Lab Alumni
Ian Brackenbury, MS Mechanical Engineering, December 2024