Mariana Tsacoumis Meyer
mariana.t.meyer@gmail.com	•	www.marianameyer.com	•	(301)---------	
                   Baltimore, MD 21224
EDUCATION

University of Maryland, College Park
Ph.D. in Bioengineering, GPA: 3.9 

Expected Fall 2013

Dissertation Title: Design and Implementation of Microfluidic Systems for Bacterial Biofilm Monitoring and Manipulation
Advisor: Prof. Reza Ghodssi
Stanford University

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, GPA: 3.5
Received June 2007
Undergraduate Independent Research Project: Characterization of Piezoresistive Cantilever Sensitivity
Advisor: Prof. Beth Pruitt
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
University of Maryland, College Park, MEMS Sensors and Actuators Laboratory
Graduate Research Assistant	08/07 to present	
-	Developed microfluidic testbeds for evaluating bacterial biofilms and anti-biofilm drugs
o	Characterized the use of optical density monitoring as a continuous means of evaluating bacterial biofilm growth in microfluidic channels; results published in the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering (JMM)
o	Proved efficacy of new biofilm inhibitors using microfluidic platform as a pharmaceutical testbed with optical monitoring of biofilms; results published in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
o	Overcame incompatibilities in polymer fabrication using atomic layer deposition in a novel process for building multi-depth microfluidic channels with integrated pneumatic valves for biofilm sectioning 
Stanford University Microsystems Group
Undergraduate Research Assistant	03/06–06/07	
-	Evaluated piezoresistive microcantilever sensitivity and its dependence on fabrication parameters
o	Developed standard measurement procedures for piezoresistor sensitivity 
o	Modeled piezoresistor fabrication using TSUPREM software
o	Gathered contributing data for article published in Applied Physics Letters
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Building and Fire Research Laboratory
Intern, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program Keynote Speaker 	06/05-08/05	
-	Evaluated the efficiency of thermoelectric cooling devices
o	Developed testing platform and procedures
o	Collected and analyzed data 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory 
Intern	06/03-09/03, 06/04-09/04	
-	Designed and maintained websites using HTML
-	Edited code for STEP-AP210 Project (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data) using SGML and EXPRESS languages to render original EXPRESS documentation useable in an XML environment
-	Migrated computers previously on local division network to NIST domain    
AWARDS AND PRESS
-	Best Poster Award, Bioengineering Division, “Multi-Depth Microfluidic Biofilm Reactor Fabricated with ALD Passivation of a Photoresist Mold”, University of Maryland Bioscience Research and Technology Review Day 2012. 
-	“New Microfluidic Device Could Speed Drug Evaluation”, News item featured by University of Maryland Institute for Systems Research 
(http://www.isr.umd.edu/news/news_story.php?id=6948), Fischell Department of Bioengineering (http://bioe.umd.edu/news/news_story.php?id=6948), and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (http://www.ece.umd.edu/News/news_story.php?id=6948).
-	“Preventing Costly, Life-Threatening Catheter Infections”, Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland Press Release, January 18 2012 
(http://www.eng.umd.edu/html/news/news_story.php?id=6225).
-	“Deutsch Foundation Renews Commitment to Clark School”, E@M, the Magazine of the Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, Spring 2011 
(http://www.marianameyer.com/deutschfoundationbiochiprenewal.pdf). 
PATENTS
Patents Pending
-	 “Atomic Layer Deposition Passivation of Photoresist Structures for Microfluidic Channel Molding”, M.T. Meyer, R. Ghodssi, Y.W. Kim, M. Gnerlich. Provisional patent application filed 4/9/2013.
PUBLICATIONS 
Published Journal Papers 
1.	V. Roy*, M.T. Meyer*, J.A.I. Smith, S. Gamby, H.O. Sintim, R. Ghodssi, and W. E. Bentley, "AI-2 analogs and antibiotics: a synergistic approach to reduce bacterial biofilms," Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol. 97, pp. 2627-2638, March 2013. [*These authors contributed equally to this work]
2.	Y.W. Kim, S.E. Sardari, M.T. Meyer, A.A. Iliadis, H.C. Wu, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “An ALD aluminum oxide passivated surface acoustic wave sensor for early biofilm detection,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, vol. 163, pp. 136-145, January 2012.
3.	M.T. Meyer, V. Roy, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “Development and validation of a microfluidic reactor for biofilm monitoring via optical methods”, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering (JMM)—Special Issue: MEMS in Biology and Medicine, vol. 21, no. 044023, May 2011. [Invited]
4.	J.R. Mallon, A.J. Rastegar, A.A. Barlian, M.T. Meyer, and B.L. Pruitt, “Low 1/f noise, full bridge microcantilever with longitudinal and transverse piezoresistors”, Applied Physics Letters, vol. 92, January 2008. [Article chosen for inclusion in Feb. 11 2008 issue of Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology]
Manuscripts in Progress
1.	M.T. Meyer, Y.W. Kim, H. Ben-Yoav, M. Gnerlich, R. Ghodssi, “Multi-depth valved microfluidics for biofilm studies”, for Lab on a Chip, October 2013.  
2.	Y.W. Kim, H. Ben-Yoav, H.C. Wu, D. Quan, K. Carter, M.T. Meyer, K. Gerasopoulos, W.E. Bentley, R. Ghodssi, “Bacterial biofilm treatment via the superpositioned bioelectric effect”, resubmission to Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2013. 
3.	Y.W. Kim, M.P. Mosteller, M.T. Meyer, W.E. Bentley, R. Ghodssi, “On-chip demonstration of bioelectric effect for biofilm treatment”, for Lab on a Chip, October 2013. 

Refereed Conference Proceedings 
([S]: Short abstract, [L]: Long abstract, [P]: Paper; Presenting authors underlined)
1.	M.T. Meyer, Y.W. Kim, H. Ben-Yoav, M. Gnerlich, and R. Ghodssi, "ALD-Assisted Passivation Technology for Biofilm Studies in Microfluidics," The 7th International Conference on Microtechnologies in Medicine and Biology (MMB), Marina Del Rey, CA, April 10-12, 2013.  [L]
2.	Y.W. Kim, M.P. Mosteller, M.T. Meyer, H. Ben-Yoav, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, "Microfluidic Biofilm Observation, Analysis, and Treatment (Micro-BOAT) Platform," Hilton Head Workshop 2012: A Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Workshop, pp. 233-236, Hilton Head, SC, June 3-7, 2012. [P]
3.	M.T. Meyer, V. Roy, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “A Microfluidic Device for Optical Absorbance Monitoring of Bacterial Biofilms”, IEEE Sensors 2010, pp. 2291-2294, Waikoloa, HI, November 1-4 2010. [P]
4.	M.T. Meyer, Y.W. Kim, V. Roy, S.E. Sardari, A. Iliadis, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “Development of Lab on a Chip Platforms for Bacterial Biofilm Monitoring and Detection”, 2010 International Conference on Biofabrication, Philadelphia, PA, October 4-6 2010. [L]
5.	M.T. Meyer, V. Roy, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “A Microfluidic Platform for Optical Monitoring of Bacterial Biofilms”, The 26th Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference (SBEC), pp. 426-429, College Park, MD, April 30-May 2 2010. [P]
6.	M.T. Meyer, S.T. Koev, R. Fernandes, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “Toward a Selective Optical Biosensor for Integrated Biofilm Detection”, The American Vacuum Society 55th International Symposium, Boston, MA, October 19-24, 2008. [S]
7.	P. Dykstra, S. T. Koev, M. Meyer, X. Luo, G. W. Rubloff, G. F. Payne, W. E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “The Biopolymer Chitosan for Functionalization of MEMS Sensors,” The 2008 Solid-State Sensor, Actuator and Microsystems Workshop (Hilton Head 2008), Open Poster Session, Hilton Head, SC, June 1-5, 2008. [S]
Poster Presentations 
(Presenting authors underlined)
1.	M.P. Mosteller, M.T. Meyer, V. Roy, J. Smith, H. Sintim, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “Growth and Optical Monitoring of Bacterial Biofilms in Microfluidic Integrated Systems,” The Mid-Atlantic Micro/Nano Alliance Symposium, Annapolis, MD, March 27, 2012.
2.	V. Roy, M.T. Meyer, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “AI-2 analogs and antibiotics: A synergistic approach to reduce E. coli biofilms in a microfluidic setting “, Biomedical Engineering Society 2011 Annual Meeting, Hartford, CT, October 12-15, 2011. 
3.	M.T. Meyer, V. Roy, W.E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi, “A Microfluidic Platform for Optical Monitoring of Bacterial Biofilms”, The Mid-Atlantic Micro/Nano Alliance Symposium, Laurel, MD, October 19, 2010.
4.	M.T. Meyer, S.T. Koev, R. Fernandes, W E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi , “A Microfluidic Platform for Optical Monitoring of Bacterial Biofilms,” The Mid Atlantic MEMS Alliance 10th Annual Special Topics Symposium, Washington, DC, November 30, 2009.
5.	M.T. Meyer, S.T. Koev, V. Roy, W. E. Bentley, and R. Ghodssi , “Toward an Optical Biosensor for Integrated Biofilm Detection,” Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Poster Session, Tuscon, AZ, September 30-October 3, 2009.
TEACHING ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE
University of Maryland, College Park
Graduate level
-	Transport Phenomena in Bioengineering Systems (BIOE604)								16 students
o	Held office hours providing students individual support for COMSOL simulations of heat and mass transfer required for homework
o	Graded homework and generated solution sets 
-	Design and Fabrication of Micro-electromechanical Systems (ENEE605)					19 students
o	Mentored 5 students comprising a class project group, guiding and monitoring their progress in creating a comprehensive microdevice design proposal 
o	Graded homework, progress reports, and presentations for entire class
Undergraduate level
-	Integrated Circuit Fabrication Laboratory (ENEE416)											13 students
o	Held office hours providing homework guidance for students
o	Maintained course website; graded homework, lab reports, and exams
MENTORING EXPERIENCE
Graduate student mentor at MEMS Sensors and Actuators Laboratory to:
	2 high school students																    Summer 2009, Summer 2011
	2 undergraduate research assistants										 	    Summer 2008, Summer 2010
	2 graduate rotation students																		 Fall 2008, Fall 2011
	2 graduate research assistants																Fall 2010 - Spring 2013
RESEARCH PROPOSAL EXPERIENCE
-	Contributing author to three research proposals
o	“Detection, characterization, and treatment of biofilm infections in vivo”, PI: Dr. Anjan Nan, Co-PIs: Dr. Reza Ghodssi, Dr. William Bentley, submitted to National Institutes of Health (July 2010).  Status: not selected for funding
o	“Real-time monitoring and characterization of biofilm infections”, Co-PIs: Dr. Anjan Nan, Dr. Reza Ghodssi, submitted to University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) RESEARCH Seed Program (February 2010).  Status: not selected for funding
o	“Real-time monitoring and characterization of biofilm infections”, PI: Dr. Anjan Nan, Co-PI: Dr. Reza Ghodssi, submitted to National Institutes of Health (October 2009). Status: not selected for funding
JOURNAL REVIEWING ACTIVITIES
-	Technical manuscript reviewer for
o	Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 										2012-present
o	Biomedical Microdevices 																		2012-present
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Computer Skills
-	MEMS Design (L-Edit, TSUPREM)
-	Data Collection and Analysis (LabVIEW, MATLAB, JMP)
-	Mechanical Design and Simulation (Solidworks, COMSOL)
-	Microscopy Image Processing and Analysis (ZEN, Imaris, COMSTAT)
-	Microsoft Office
-	Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver
Metrology and Characterization Tools
-	Confocal Microscopy
-	Optical Microscopy
-	Profilometry
Machining 
-	Lathe
-	Mill
-	LaserCamm
-	Soldering
-	Brazing	Microfabrication
-	Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)
-	Contact Lithography
-	Wet Etching
-	Dicing Saw
-	PDMS Microfluidic Packaging
Programming Languages
-	C/C++
-	HTML
-	CSS
Molecular Biology and Microbiology
-	Bacterial Cell Culture
-	Absorption Spectroscopy
-	Protein Expression and Purification
-	Gel Electrophoresis	
REFERENCES
Available upon request