UMMC Biomedical Materials Science PhD Program

UMMC is representing in Atlanta! A fantastic group of students and faculty from the Biomedical Materials Science Department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center attended this year’s Society for Biomaterials Conference—bringing energy, innovation, and a strong sense of community to every session.
We’re especially proud of our senior students, Sheetal Chowdhury and Chipo Chapusha, who both delivered outstanding oral presentations—with Chipo taking the stage twice back-to-back! Both were recognized with Star Student Travel Awards, a huge accomplishment and a testament to their hard work and dedication.
Dr. Haden Johnson also represented our department with an engaging oral presentation, contributing valuable insight to the field. Our students continued to shine through a wide range of poster presentations, showcasing the depth and diversity of research happening across our program.
We were also excited to have a dental student and a summer intern from another institution join us, both presenting research in collaboration with our department—highlighting the strength of our interdisciplinary partnerships.
From first-time presenters to seasoned researchers, this trip was filled with learning, networking, and memorable moments. Proud of our team for representing UMMC with excellence!
Here’s to advancing science and building connections in Atlanta—until next time, SFB!

Big shoutout to our Biomedical Materials Science crew for representing at the 2026
Mississippi Health Innovation Conference! Students and faculty brought energy, insight, and innovation to the table alongside healthcare leaders from across the state. Special recognition to Dr. Amol Janorkar for hosting not one, but two panels at MSHIC. Your leadership and expertise helped elevate the conversation around innovation in health and research!
And congratulations to PhD students Arunendu Sambasivan and Sheetal Chowdhury for their second and third-place poster presentations. Your hard work and communication inspire us every day!
From lively discussions to cutting-edge perspectives, so proud of everyone who shared their voice and represented our department!

We were honored to host Dr. Shan Yang, Associate Professor of Physics in the Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Atmospheric Sciences at Jackson State University, for our Bench to Clinic Seminar Series.
Dr. Yang shared fascinating insights on the applications of Raman spectroscopy in biological tissues, highlighting its potential for advancing biomedical research and clinical diagnostics.
Thank you, Dr. Yang, for inspiring our community and showcasing how advanced spectroscopic techniques can bridge fundamental physics and biomedical applications!