Team

Marian Ackun-Farmmer, Ph.D.

Email: marian.ackun-farmmer@bme.gatech.edu

About:

Dr. Ackun-Farmmer is an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at Georgia Institute of Technology. She holds an appointment in the GT Bioengineering Program and is a member of the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience. Her interests include self-assembled biomaterials and immunity. Her graduate work with Dr. Danielle Benoit focused on designing cell and tissue-targeted polymeric nanoparticles for treating bone-related conditions, while her postdoctoral work with Dr. Christopher Jewell integrated materials design with immunology to treat autoimmune disease. Having spent three years working in the pharmaceutical industry; Dr. Ackun-Farmmer has a unique research approach; where she integrates her knowledge from being in the Quality organization to her work. Her goal is to merge her research and work experiences in the lab to develop novel therapies to treat cancer and autoimmunity.

Education:

– Postdoctoral Research, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland (2024)

– M.S./Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester (2017/2020)

– B.S. Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University (2012)

Graduate Students

Helena (Nellie) Kolon

Email: hkolon3@gatech.edu

About:

Nellie is a 1st year BME PhD student. She is originally from Vermont, but grew up overseas in China and Japan. Nellie graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Biochemistry in 2021. Afterwards, she stayed in Boston for 3 years working in the pharmaceutical industry.
Nellie is passionate about nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery and the rational design of nanoparticles to improve cell selectivity and tissue targeting.
Nellie also enjoys spending time with friends and animals, as well as sewing and watercolor.

Autumn Hengen

Email: ahengen3@gatech.edu

About:

Autumn is a 1st year BioE (BME) PhD student. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a BS in Bioengineering in 2024. Her undergraduate work on the role of aquaporins in breast cancer spheroid models inspired her to pursue further research in the scope of cancer.
She is motivated to engineer effective nanoparticle drug delivery systems for cancer immunomodulation.
Autumn is an avid photographer who loves to integrate her creative side into her scientific work, and she enjoys attending boxing classes in her free time.