People

Dr. Jyothi U. Menon earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology/ Biomedical Engineering through the University of Texas (UT) at Arlington – UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas Joint program. She then completed her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in the same program. Following her doctoral studies, she completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Oxford, UK in the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Oxford Institute of Biomedical Engineering. She began her independent academic career at the University of Rhode Island in 2017, and transitioned to her current position at Texas A&M University in 2025 where her lab is working at the interface of nanotechnology and tissue engineering to develop targeted drug delivery approaches against cancer and fibrosis with a focus on diseases affecting the lungs and liver.

PhD. Medical Science & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
MSc. Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, University of Kalyani, India
BSc. Microbiology, University of Calcutta, India

Research: I develop in vitro model systems that monitor, in real time, the structural and functional changes that happen as liver injury progresses. I also build nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for targeted therapeutics.

Hobbies: I enjoy traveling, cooking, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.

Research: I develop smart polymeric nanomaterials that deliver antifibrotic drugs to treat chronic liver diseases. I also use 3D printing and organ-on-chip technology to build in vitro models of liver disease progression, drug toxicity, and therapeutic response.

Hobbies: In my spare time, I enjoy reading, listening to music, and drawing pencil portraits.

Research: I develop inhalable therapeutics that provide sustained drug delivery for chronic lung diseases.

Interests: Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling, exploring local coffee shops, cooking, and taking long walks to recharge.

Research: As a Ph.D. student, my research focuses on developing novel polymeric photoresins for digital light processing, which are used to fabricate hydrogels that treat diabetic foot ulcers. For my master’s research at UNT, I developed gelatin-based hydrogels that mimic the natural stiffness gradient of knee cartilage.

Interests: I play the violin, including with the UNT Concert Orchestra, and I’m learning Spanish through conversation. I stay active with basketball, and this past year I learned to dance salsa and bachata.

Research: I’m a Biochemistry major with minors in Biology and Leadership, and I’m gaining experience in nanoparticle fabrication, organ-on-chip engineering, and disease targeting. After I graduate, I plan to go to medical school.

Interests: I love reading, singing, and painting, and I’ve run a full marathon and a half marathon in Asia. I lead a women’s Bible study, and in the Corps of Cadets I’ll be a member of Bugle Rank with the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.

Research: I’m a pre-med Biomedical Engineering student in Texas A&M’s Engineering Medicine early entry program. Before joining this lab, I worked in the Lele Lab, where I used microfluidic devices to study how cancer cells migrate in confined spaces.

Interests: I was born and raised on Maui, and when I’m home I love hiking and walking on the beach. I also enjoy running and playing pickleball.

Research: I’m working on nanoparticles and 3D-printable bioinks for drug delivery. My past research includes delivering biotherapeutics with engineered exosomes and designing new RF coils for high-field imaging.

Interests: I play electric guitar and love finding new music, especially rap and R&B. I’m from Southern California, so I surf and play lacrosse when I’m home, and lately I’ve been rock climbing and playing pickup basketball.

Research: I’m a pre-med Motor Behavior Kinesiology major, and in Dr. Menon’s lab I’m getting hands-on experience with research on targeting diseases.

Interests: I’ve played piano for over 11 years, and I also play guitar and sing in modern bands. I hold a black belt in Taekwondo.