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
Daniel Zimmer
Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2019
Contact: dzimmer@wpi.edu, LinkedIn
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!
Alexandra Harrison
Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2022
Contact: amharrison@wpi.edu, LinkedIn
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
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Researchers:
Kerstin Andrews, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2025
Warren Callen, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2024
Adelyn Fisher, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2025
Belle Sethachutkul, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2025
Elizaveta Tcherniaeva, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2026
Major Qualifying Projects:
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
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
Summer 2023
Fall 2022
Summer 2022
