Hometown: Addis Adaba, Ethiopia

​

Education: 

BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2020

​

Research interests:  I am interested in the application of biomaterials in tissue engineering. I am excited about using biomaterials to answer questions concerning cellular behaviours in healthy and various disease conditions for preventative and therapeutic purposes among other things. Some of my previous research projects included utilizing hydrogels to understand calcific aortic stenosis, making alginate gels to represent the embryonic tendon micronevnironmet, and developing a human tendon on a chip model (hToC) to investigate the role of inflammation and fibrosis in tendon injury.

​

Outside of lab interests:  I enjoy reading books, watching movies/shows, going on walks, attending stand-up comedy shows, travelling and trying out different cuisines/dishes.

Publications:

Hiraki HL, Matera DL, Wang WY, Prabhu ES, Zhang Z, Midekssa F, Argento AE, Buschhaus JM, Humphries BA, Luker GD, Pena-Francesch A, Baker BM. "Fiber density and matrix stiffness modulate distinct cell migration modes in a 3D stroma mimetic composite hydrogel," Acta Biomaterialia, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.09.043

​

Schroeder ME, Gonzalez Rodriguez A, Speckl KF, Walker CJ, Midekssa FS, Grim JC, Weiss RM, Anseth KS. "Collagen networks within 3D PEG hydrogels support valvular interstitial cell matrix mineralization," Acta Biomater, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.11.012

​

Schroeder ME, Rodriguez AG, Speckl KF, Walker CJ, Midekssa FS, Grim JC, Weiss RM, Anseth KS. "Synthetic Hydrogels Reveal the Role of the Matrix Microenvironment on Aortic Valve Calcification," Structural Heart, 2021, doi: 10.1080/24748706.2021.1900704