People

Principal Investigator

Principal Investigator

 

Christina Bailey-Hytholt, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Contact: cmbailey@wpi.edu

Postdoc in Biologics Drug Product Development, Genomic Medicine Unit, Sanofi
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Brown University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

 

 

 

Christina Bailey-Hytholt is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Professor Bailey-Hytholt’s research focuses on designing biomaterials for applications in drug and gene delivery, in vitro model systems, and diagnostics. Research in the Bailey-Hytholt lab is particularly interested in applications impacting women’s health. Professor Bailey-Hytholt is passionate about accessibility and inclusivity in STEM education and K-12 outreach. She is the recipient of several honors and awards for both her research and teaching, including being awarded a 2023 Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare in MA from The Women’s Edge, a 2023 American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AIChE) 35 Under 35 recipient, and named to Forbes 30 under 30 in Science in 2022. She is also the recipient of a Career Development Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society and a Women in Chemical Engineering Award from AIChE. Prior to joining WPI, Professor Bailey-Hytholt was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Biologics Drug Product Development & Manufacturing group at Sanofi. She received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University in 2020 as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, and she was awarded Brown University’s Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching as well as Brown University’s School of Engineering Outstanding Thesis Award. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering at WPI in 2015.

 

Graduate Students

 


Kerstin Andrews

Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering (Incoming Fall 2025)
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2025
Contact: krandrews@wpi.edu, LinkedIn

Research Interests: Utilizing exosomes to understand placental intercellular communication and exploring their uses as a drug delivery vehicle
Hobbies: Playing instruments, arranging and composition, hiking
Fun fact: Kerstin is a DCI open class champion

 

 

 

Adelyn Fisher
M.S. student in Chemical Engineering (Incoming Fall 2025)
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2025
Contact: aafisher@wpi.edu, LinkedIn

Research Interests: Trophoblast invasiveness influence on lipid nanoparticle delivery in the placental microenvironment
Hobbies: Playing piano, ice skating, reading, hiking, kayaking
Fun fact: Adelyn has been playing piano for 15 years

 

 

 

Alexandra Harrison
Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2022
Contact: amharrison@wpi.eduLinkedIn

Research Interests: 2D and 3D placental cell models to evaluate lipid-based delivery vehicles for treating pregnancy-related complications
Hobbies: Crochet, skiing, doing puzzles, and watching movies
Fun fact: Lexi is from Ohio and has five cats

 

 

Scarlett Xu
Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering
M.S., Biotechnology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2021
Contact: yxu13@wpi.eduLinkedIn

Research Interests: pH responsive liposome development and characterization to target complex cell structures
Hobbies: Cooking, traveling, and watching movies
Fun fact: Scarlett has a 6-year-old lab

 


Daniel Zimmer

Experiential PhD with industry partner MBI
Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2019
Contact: dzimmer@wpi.eduLinkedIn

Research Interests: Lipid-based drug delivery vehicles, including lipid nanoparticles, exosomes and liposomes, and cell-free systems
Hobbies: Snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking
Fun fact: Daniel is an Alaska state champion for Brazilian Jui-Jitsu

 

 

Interested in graduate research opportunities? Please email Prof. Bailey-Hytholt with your CV and a cover letter expressing research and future interests.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Researchers:

Emily Lei, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2027

Winnie Yang, Biomedical Engineering, Class of 2028

Paris Bazemore, Summer 2025 REU Student, Chemical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Class of 2027

Elizaveta Tcherniaeva, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2026

Major Qualifying Projects:

AY 2024-2025

Trophoblast invasiveness influencing exosome communication and lipid nanoparticles delivery in the placental microenvironment 
Adelyn Fisher and Kerstin Andrews

Determination of vancomycin dosage in pH-responsive liposomes for targeted delivery to Staphylococcus epidermidis
Co-advisors: Elizabeth Stewart, Ph.D. and Christopher Lambert, Ph.D.
Lindsay Gorham and Jane Tucker

AY 2023-2024

Mood stabilizer delivery during pregnancy and lactation
Co-Advisor: Prof. Diana Alatalo, Biomedical Engineering
Cameron Carlin, Kayla Condon, Sarah Ossing, Violet Smiarowski

Formulating liposomes for increased antimicrobial activity toward Staphylococcus epidermidis 
Co-Advisor: Prof. Elizabeth Stewart, Chemical Engineering
Mae Felkner, Emily Pimentel, Kate Stoncius, Hannah Wolfgang

Evaluating thermodynamic properties of lipid nanoparticles
Co-Advisor: Prof. Ronald Grimm, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Abigail Deichert, Julia Dowd, Caitlyn Swartz

Assessment of Lipid Nanoparticle Structure
Warren Callen, Steven Robinson

AY 2022-2023

Lipid nanoparticle uptake and exosome isolation in trophoblast cells
Michela Benazzi & Matthew Shea

Encapsulating and characterizing bacteriophage loaded in liposomes
Julia Afthim, Dylan Rapoport, Wasef Raza

Interested in undergraduate research opportunities? Please email Prof. Bailey-Hytholt with your CV and a cover letter expressing research and future interests.

Lab Alumni

Madeline Jaszek, Summer 2024 EREE student
Chemistry & Biochemistry, Class of 2027

Chauncey Michael, Summer 2024 EREE student
Chemical Engineering, Class of 2026

Belle Sethachutkul
Chemical Engineering, Class of 2025

Jon Balyeat, Summer 2024 REU student
Biomedical Engineering, UCONN Class of 2027

Warren Callen
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2024
Current position: PhD student in Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

Anna Gwozdz, Summer 2023 REU student
Biomaterials, Alfred University, Class of 2024

Yihui Chen
M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2023
B.S., Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2021
Current position: PhD student in Chemical Engineering, University at Buffalo

Michela Benazzi
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2023
Current position: PhD student in Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University

 

Spring 2024

Summer 2023

Fall 2022

Summer 2022