Shilpa Sant
Email Address: sants@uic.eduCollege: Pharmacy Department: Biopharmaceutical Sciences
Title: Professor
Office: PHAR 321
Participating in the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Awards program: Yes
Research Interest:
Major research interest in the Sant laboratory is to engineer three-dimensional disease microenvironments and organoids by developing novel biomaterials- and micro-/nanotechnology-based approaches. We are also interested in utilizing bioinformatic-based approaches to explore novel mechanisms and targets. Our disease focus includes breast cancer, ectopic calcifications and infectious diseases. The major goals are: 1) to elucidate molecular mechanisms by which microenvironmental factors drive disease progression as well as tissue repair/regeneration; and 2) to design therapeutic strategies to halt or promote such processes. Minimum time commitment in hours per week: 10 Qualifications of a Student:
Interest in hands-on research and some coursework in fields related to biology and/or Materials science. Honors college students are preferred, but not required. Brief Summary of what is expected from the student:
Self-motivated and proactive students with good communication and organizational skills, enthusiastic to learn new techniques/approaches (cell/tissue culture, molecular biology, microfabrication, hydrogel/scaffold fabrication and characterization) and assist in wet lab experiments. Students are expected to commit to at least one full semester on the project, although longer commitments are preferred for meaningful learning and tangible project outcomes. Students will meet with their immediate mentors (graduate students/postdocs) and/or PI weekly/biweekly based on the project and once trained, will submit weekly updates. At the end of each semester, a presentation to the lab is required. Students are encouraged to attend lab meetings. Contact researcher via URE Email Webform
