Meet Our Team
Dr. Hannah Zierden
Principal Investigator
Dr. Zierden is an Assistant Professor in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at UMD. Dr. Zierden graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. While at OSU, she performed research under the guidance of Dr. David Wood, investigating efficient methods of protein purification. She then joined the ChBE program at Johns Hopkins University, where she earned her Ph.D. under the supervision of Drs. Laura Ensign and Justin Hanes in the Center for Nanomedicine. Her thesis focused on improving vaginal drug delivery during pregnancy, and the resulting work highlighted the need for effective drug delivery in order to understand drug action in the context of disease. In order to better understand biological mechanisms, and master the tools necessary to probe these questions, Dr. Zierden joined the laboratory of Dr. Tracy Bale as a postdoctoral researcher. In the Bale Lab, Dr. Zierden studied how extracellular vesicles from the placenta aid in maternal-fetal communication, and how these biological nanoparticles may play a role in pregnancy outcomes. The Zierden Lab combines these experiences by asking how extracellular vesicles from the maternal vaginal microbiome communicate with the host to dictate both maternal and fetal health outcomes, and how these particles may be used as therapeutics in a wide range of human disease.
Robert Kirian
Joined Feb. 2023
T32 Fellow
Robert is a PhD student in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Ohio State University, he worked as a process development engineer at RoosterBio, Inc. in Frederick, MD, where he developed processes to manufacture mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in bioreactors. In the Zierden Lab, Robert is exploring methods to produce bacterial derived extracellular vesicles as therapeutic carriers for drug delivery applications.
Joined Feb. 2023
T32 Fellow
Robert is a PhD student in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Ohio State University, he worked as a process development engineer at RoosterBio, Inc. in Frederick, MD, where he developed processes to manufacture mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in bioreactors. In the Zierden Lab, Robert is exploring methods to produce bacterial derived extracellular vesicles as therapeutic carriers for drug delivery applications.
Darby Steinman
Joined Feb. 2023
T32 Fellow
Fischell Fellow
Darby Steinman is a Graduate Student in the Bioengineering Department. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering (Bioimaging and Bioinstrumentation) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2022, where she investigated the regulation of bacterial transposon binding under Dr. Richard Bonocora. In the Zierden Lab, she is currently studying the implications of bacterial vaginosis on maternal health and fetal development.
Joined Feb. 2023
T32 Fellow
Fischell Fellow
Darby Steinman is a Graduate Student in the Bioengineering Department. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering (Bioimaging and Bioinstrumentation) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2022, where she investigated the regulation of bacterial transposon binding under Dr. Richard Bonocora. In the Zierden Lab, she is currently studying the implications of bacterial vaginosis on maternal health and fetal development.
Alyssa Petersen
Joined Dec. 2023
Clark Fellow
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Alyssa Petersen is a Graduate Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2020 from Pennsylvania State University. While there, she researched differentiation of astrocytes into neurons by small molecule treatments under Dr. Gong Chen. Afterwards she worked at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for three years where she managed the stability testing process for critical protein reagents. Now her work in the Zierden lab focuses on understanding barriers to effective mucosal drug delivery.
Joined Dec. 2023
Clark Fellow
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Alyssa Petersen is a Graduate Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2020 from Pennsylvania State University. While there, she researched differentiation of astrocytes into neurons by small molecule treatments under Dr. Gong Chen. Afterwards she worked at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for three years where she managed the stability testing process for critical protein reagents. Now her work in the Zierden lab focuses on understanding barriers to effective mucosal drug delivery.
Aryan Shabanpour
Joined February 2024
Lab Manager
Aryan Shabanpour is the Zierden Lab Manager. He first joined the lab as an undergraduate in 2024, and graduated with his BS in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland in 2025. His work in the Zierden Lab focuses on understanding microbial crosstalk in the vaginal environment.
Joined February 2024
Lab Manager
Aryan Shabanpour is the Zierden Lab Manager. He first joined the lab as an undergraduate in 2024, and graduated with his BS in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland in 2025. His work in the Zierden Lab focuses on understanding microbial crosstalk in the vaginal environment.
Elizabeth Everich
Joined June 2024
BS/MS Student
Elizabeth Everich is a BS/MS student in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering. She will graduate with her BS in December 2025. Her research in the Zierden Lab is focused on understanding the role of phthalates on vaginal bacteria.
Joined June 2024
BS/MS Student
Elizabeth Everich is a BS/MS student in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering. She will graduate with her BS in December 2025. Her research in the Zierden Lab is focused on understanding the role of phthalates on vaginal bacteria.
Rajan Jayasankar
Joined Dec. 2024
Clark Fellow
Rajan Jayasankar is a Graduate Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 2022 from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a master's degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. His master's thesis research in Dr. Douglas Robinson's laboratory focused on mechanisms of action of the drug 4-HAP on myosin II biopolar filament formation and cell mechanoresponsiveness. Now his work in the Zierden lab focuses on the biophysical characterization of bEV membranes and microbe-microbe communication.
Joined Dec. 2024
Clark Fellow
Rajan Jayasankar is a Graduate Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 2022 from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a master's degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. His master's thesis research in Dr. Douglas Robinson's laboratory focused on mechanisms of action of the drug 4-HAP on myosin II biopolar filament formation and cell mechanoresponsiveness. Now his work in the Zierden lab focuses on the biophysical characterization of bEV membranes and microbe-microbe communication.
Undergraduate Students
George Abdullaeva, Biochemistry
Karolina Akelaitis, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Rose Coats, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Caleb Crawford, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Donggeon Kim, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Caroline King, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Pranshu Tyagi, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Karolina Akelaitis, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Rose Coats, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Caleb Crawford, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Donggeon Kim, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Caroline King, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Pranshu Tyagi, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Lab Alumni
Kiana Yip
Joined September 2023
Kiana Yip was a M.S. Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical & biomolecular engineering from the University of Maryland in 2024. As part of the Zierden lab, Kiana focused on modeling microbe-microbe and microbe-host communications with implications for better understanding female reproductive health.
Current: Research Scientist at RoosterBio
Joined September 2023
Kiana Yip was a M.S. Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical & biomolecular engineering from the University of Maryland in 2024. As part of the Zierden lab, Kiana focused on modeling microbe-microbe and microbe-host communications with implications for better understanding female reproductive health.
Current: Research Scientist at RoosterBio
Ethan Bolinger, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, BS 2025
Yasmi Chibber, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, BS 2025
Giselle Dilone, Microbiology, BS 2023
Hannah Ellenbogen, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Xavier Garcia, Bioengineering
Shirin Haan, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Hayden Medlin, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, BS 2025
Charlotte Ravel, Computer Science, BS 2025
Fran Riley, Biochemistry, BS 2025
Aryan Shabanpour, Kinesiology, BS 2025
Yasmi Chibber, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, BS 2025
Giselle Dilone, Microbiology, BS 2023
Hannah Ellenbogen, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Xavier Garcia, Bioengineering
Shirin Haan, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Hayden Medlin, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, BS 2025
Charlotte Ravel, Computer Science, BS 2025
Fran Riley, Biochemistry, BS 2025
Aryan Shabanpour, Kinesiology, BS 2025
June 2025 - National Aquarium outing!
December 2024 - Duckpin bowling outing!
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May 2025 - End of semester dinner!
May 2024 - End of semester lab dinner!
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December 2023 - Hot pot dinner
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August 2023 - Whitewater rafting adventure!
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