Spotlight on Chemical and Biological Engineering

Student highlight

Name: Sam Kruzshak
Degree Program: Ph.D. in Biotechnology Engineering
Faculty Lab: Professor and Chair Emmanuel Tzanakakis

Why Tufts?

I chose to pursue a Ph.D. after several years working in stem cell research across academia and industry, where I refined my goal of improving the functionality and applications of organoid systems. Tufts was a strong fit because it allowed me to continue that focus in a supportive lab environment, with a mentor whose interests aligned closely with my own.

What are you researching?

My research focuses on the derivation of pancreatic organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells. Most of my projects aim to optimize their generation and scale-up potential, while others introduce genetic engineering applications.   

What are your career goals? 

My goal is to apply my research in stem cell culture and organoid generation to study alternatives to animal testing. I would be happy to pursue those goals through a postdoc or as an industry scientist as long as the position aligned with my vision of integrating cellular models for disease modeling and drug development. 

Best Tufts course you’ve taken so far? 

I joined ChBE with no engineering background, only biology. Biochemical engineering taught me the basics to apply engineering in my field and gave me confidence that I could succeed in learning new things. 

What is your favorite thing about living in the Medford/Somerville area?

I love how almost everything is commutable. There is always somewhere to go or something to do. As someone that has not had a car during her PhD, it is great to still have bountiful opportunities to explore.

Any advice you’d give to prospective graduate students?

Take the opportunity to teach during your graduate school career. Mentorship became an unexpected highlight of my Ph.D. that improved my scientific communication and leadership skills while pushing me to master techniques outside of my personal scope. Watching my own students succeed will always be the most rewarding aspect of my graduate experience. 

How has your time at Tufts impacted your career?

Although I worked in related fields before starting my Ph.D., my time at Tufts has significantly expanded my skill set. Beyond data generation, I’ve developed mentorship experience, strengthened my scientific writing, and learned to manage independent projects while contributing to a collaborative research environment. Overall, Tufts has helped me grow as both an independent scientist and a member of a broader research community.

Faculty highlight: Professor and Chair Emmanuel Tzanakakis

Research interests: Stem cell and tissue engineering, optogenetics, diabetes

Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Emmanuel Tzanakakis specializes in mammalian cell and tissue engineering, bioprocessing, and optogenetics. His primary goal is to understand how the physiology of human pluripotent stem cells changes during differentiation, with the aim of developing scalable methods for producing therapeutically important cells and tissues, especially for treating diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, his lab's efforts concentrate on scalable expansion and differentiation, which are prerequisites for the realization of stem cell-based applications envisioned in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.