Members

Hugo Castillo Sánchez, Ph. D.

Post-Doctoral Researcher

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Personal website: https://hugocastillocom.wordpress.com

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8724-1883

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.es/citations?user=3tC9GmMAAAAJ&hl=es

CFD by Hugo Castillo Sánchez Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CFDbyhacs

Ph. D., Mathematics, University College London, United Kingdom

M. Sc, Chemical Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico

B. Sc, Chemical Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico

Hugo is interested in combining the fundamentals of rheology, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and transport phenomena to solve relevant complex-fluid flow problems, including blood, polymeric, micellar solutions and suspension flows. Before joining Dr. Liu's group, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Mathematics and Computational Sciences of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, where he was part of a group that developed a CFD software that is able to simulate single and multi-phase flows of both Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows using finite difference methods. During his PhD, he studied channel-flow instabilities of polymeric flows and of other fluids that exhibit multiple rheological behaviour simultaneously. In 2020, his PhD thesis was awarded the British Society of Rheology’s annual thesis prize, the Vernon Harrison Award, for the most distinguished PhD thesis in rheology. Hugo loves travelling and collaborating with new research groups worldwide and he enjoys meeting new cultures and learning new languages. During his free time, Hugo enjoys working out, playing competitive videogames, walking his dog out, spending time with family and watching sitcoms.

Rojan Saghian, Ph.D. 

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Website: https://github.com/rsyc

Email: rojan.saghian@famu.edu, rs25t@fsu.edu 

Research Fellow, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), University of Toronto, Canada, 2018-2023

Ph.D., Bioengineering, Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI), University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2013-2018

M.S., Elementary Particles and Field Theory Physics, Shahid Beheshti University (SBU), 2007-2010

B.S., Physics, Shahid Beheshti University (SBU), 2002-2006

Dr. Rojan Saghian is a Research Fellow at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, where she focuses on computational modeling of hemostasis and its link to endometrial vascular disorders. Her research explores how changes in uterine vascular structure contribute to excessive menstrual and postpartum bleeding, with the goal of developing new clinical screening methods and non-surgical treatment strategies. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), University of Toronto, where she created predictive models of blood flow in vascular networks, combined imaging data with statistical modeling, and advanced ultrafast ultrasound techniques for placental and fetal screening. She earned her Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Auckland, where she integrated finite element modeling, fluid dynamics, and agent-based simulations to study uterine blood flow and cell migration. Outside of research, Dr. Saghian enjoys playing piano, cooking, painting, and crafting.

Rukiye Tuna, M.S.

L. Connor Willis, M.S.

Michael Morales

UROP Researcher, Biological Sciences, Florida State University, August 2024 - present

Email: mam24n@fsu.edu 

Michael Morales is a third-year Biology student with a strong curiosity about the world around him. He’s passionate about research and dedicated to personal growth, always looking for ways to connect his academic interests with real-world applications. Outside of school, Michael enjoys playing soccer and traveling, which keep his adventurous spirit alive. He plans to pursue a career in medicine, with the goal of becoming a heart surgeon, and is committed to continuing his education in medical school.

Emaad Rahmathulla

UROP Researcher, Biological Sciences, Florida State University, August 2024 - present

Email: er24c@fsu.edu  

Emaad Rahmathulla is a freshman in the Honors program at Florida State University. He is studying Cell and Molecular Neuroscience and is interested in learning more about complex physiological processes. Emaad has taken coursework in Statistics, Psychology, and Research Methods, developing a strong foundation for research and his plan to pursue a career in medicine in the future. Outside school, Emaad volunteers at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and runs with the Seminole Striders Run Club, recently competing in the Gate River Run. He also plays the violin and loves reading fiction novels.

Leah K. DuBose

Undergraduate Researcher, Biomedical Engineering, Florida A&M University, Aug 2025 - present

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/leah-dubose-aa1509210

Email: leah1.dubose@famu.edu 

Before attending FAMU, Leah graduated top of her class from Booker High School in Sarasota, FL, where she was heavily involved on campus. Her pride for school involvement continued as she transitioned to college and became a member of Jewels Incorporated, the National Society of Black Women in Medicine (NSBWM), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and an Engineering Ambassador for the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. During the summer leading to her junior year, she interned at UCLA, focused on transportation research and EV adoption in the state of California. During her free time, Leah enjoys spending time cooking, hanging out with friends, and going on nature walks.

Sindhu Bilapati

Undergraduate Researcher, Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, Aug 2025 - present

Minors: Computer Science, Mathematics, and Chemistry

Email: sb23bg@fsu.edu 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sindhu-bilapati-4174052b0/

Sindhu is a biomedical engineering student at FSU. She has conducted research in photolithography at FIU and interned at Hanger Clinic, gaining clinical insight into prosthetics. She manages Nandana, FSU’s first and only competitive Bollywood fusion dance team, leads first-year students through Engage 100, and serves as Digital Media Co-Chair of GRIP, creating adaptive devices for children.

Luciana Valdovinos

Undergraduate Researcher, Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, August 2025 - present

Email: lv24c@fsu.edu 

Before coming to FSU, Luciana gained research experience at Florida International University, where she assisted in geology and hydrology labs and participated in a Summer Youth Internship Program analyzing the relationship between protein beta-amyloid accumulation, sleep deprivation, and neurodegenerative diseases. She has also pursued an independent project using Python, analyzing how lifestyle factors influence Alzheimer's progression. In her leisure time, Luciana enjoys going for walks and working out with friends.