Spotlight on Biomedical Engineering

Student highlight

Name: Brandon Pacheco-Hernandez
Degree: MS in Biomedical Engineering
Faculty lab: Assistant Professor Nisha Iyer
Hometown: Guatemala/Riverside, California

Why Tufts?
The tight-knit community. My previous institution had such big departments that it was hard to connect with different groups and people. At Tufts, crosstalk between research groups and departments is much more feasible and supportive of collaborations and interesting research conversations. This has brought a real sense of community within each department where we can all learn from each other.

Favorite thing about living in the Medford/Somerville and Boston area? 
My favorite things about living in the Medford/Somerville and Boston areas are the bodies of water and their accessibility by foot or public transit. I love walking my dog by the Mystic River trails and will occasionally venture to Boston to visit the Charles River. Being around water can be such a calming experience and the people do a pretty good job of maintaining its beauty and access to the public.

Any advice you’d give to prospective students or new graduate students? 
At Tufts, you have a chance to connect and form a community, unlike other institutions. At Tufts, people will greet you with a smile, and come up to you wanting to learn about the exciting things you are doing.  Take advantage of this opportunity to make meaningful connections and form relationships that will outlast your time at Tufts.

Faculty highlight

Name: Assistant Professor Nisha Iyer
Research interests: Stem cells, neural tissue engineering, organoids, disease modeling, spinal cord injury, biomanufacturing

About Assistant Professor Iyer:
Nisha Iyer’s research interests are at the intersection of developmental biology and regenerative medicine, using stem cells to understand and advance neural repair. Her lab focuses on how regional specificity impacts development, degeneration, and regeneration in the central nervous system and beyond, developing biomanufacturing strategies and organoid technologies to direct cell therapy research. Iyer is also a passionate educator who seeks to lower barriers to higher education in STEM and to engage the broader community in conversations about science and society.