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Dr. Brittany Hartwell, PI

Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Member, Center for Immunology

University of Minnesota

Postdoc, Irvine Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017-2021

PhD, Biomolecular Engineering, University of Kansas, 2016

BS, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 2011

Bio:

Dr. Brittany Hartwell is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Her lab’s research in immunoengineering combines perspectives from biomolecular engineering, drug delivery, and immunology to develop molecular platforms that can target specific cells and tissues of the immune system to direct the response, with a particular focus on ‘tuning' immunity through the mucosa. This work has broad applications ranging from the development of antigen-specific immunotherapies that induce immune tolerance against autoimmune diseases to development of targeted vaccines that activate immune protection against infectious diseases and cancer.

Before starting at the University of Minnesota in Fall 2021, Dr. Hartwell was a postdoc with Darrell Irvine at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she worked on developing targeted mucosal vaccines against HIV and SARS-CoV-2 in mice and nonhuman primates. As a postdoc, she was affiliated with the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard. Dr. Hartwell obtained her PhD in biomolecular engineering with Cory Berkland at the University of Kansas as a Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellow. Her doctoral research focused on developing an antigen-specific immunotherapy to treat multiple sclerosis while determining cellular and molecular mechanisms of tolerance. Prior to KU, Dr. Hartwell received her B.S. in chemical and biological engineering from Iowa State University. At Iowa State, she was also involved in NCAA D1 athletics as a four-year letterwinner in cross country and track, and music as a violist in the Iowa State symphony orchestra and numerous chamber groups. Outside of work, Dr. Hartwell enjoys distance running, hiking, biking, and (almost) anything outdoors -- which these days typically entails exploring local playgrounds, parks, trails, and lakes with her husband and two kids.

Graduate Students

Daman Yadav

PhD student

Education: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, NIT Rourkela, 2021

Hometown: Delhi, India

Research interests: Mucosal adjuvants, intranasal vaccine delivery, cancer immunotherapy

Project topic: Developing an intranasal vaccine platform with enhanced FcRn-mediated transmucosal uptake for broad immune protection.

Other interests: Outside the lab, I enjoy playing soccer and hanging out with friends.

Madison Seefeld

PhD student

Education: B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2022

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Research interests: Intranasal vaccine development, infectious diseases, cancer immunotherapy

Project topic: Developing albumin-hitchhiking intranasal vaccines for enhanced uptake and protection against infectious diseases like influenza.

Other Interests: Outside of the lab I enjoy spending time with friends and family, keeping up with Husker sports, reading a good thriller and occasionally cooking/baking.

Brandon Hu

PhD student

Education: B.S.E. Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, 2022

Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa

Research interests: Mucosal homing, targeted delivery, microbiota, and imaging.

Project topic: Exploring how the context of mucosal vaccine delivery impacts immune response by varying route of administration, costimulatory cues, and microbial backdrop.

Other interests: Outside of the lab I enjoy cooking, keeping houseplants, playing video games, and going to museums, zoos, and aquariums.

Erin Templeton

PhD student

Education: B.S. Bioengineering, Washington State University (Go Cougs!) 2022

Hometown: Castle Rock, CO

Research interests: Protein engineering, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, gut microbiome

Project topic: Developing a stability range of mucosal-targeted immunotherapies to study the optimal delivery kinetics to induce tolerance against autoimmunity.

Other interests: Outside of the lab I enjoy hiking, camping, cooking, listening to music, watching Coug games, and hanging out with friends.

Justin Lehtinen

PhD student

Education: B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2022

Hometown: Overland Park, KS

Research interests: I am currently interested in the development of immunomodulatory tools, such as amphiphilic vaccine carriers, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of vaccination against pathogens and as a potential treatment for autoimmune disease. Within this scope, I would like to explore and optimize the use of an amphiphilic antigen carrier by modifying its molecular properties coupled with the method of adjuvant delivery. Furthermore, I am interested in investigating the mechanism behind the transport of the amphiphilic-antigen complex from epithelial cells to germinal centers so that we can identify and target the key steps in the process for a more robust vaccine response.

Project topic: Imaging vaccine uptake across the mucosa.

Other interests: When I’m not studying or working in the lab, I love to do long-distance cycling and enjoy the occasional chance to explore and practice my skills as a photographer. I love to be outdoors whether it be at a park, on a hike, or camping with friends.

Noah Sinclair

PhD student

(coadvised with Paolo Provenzano)

Education: B.S.E. Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa (Go Hawks!), 2023

Hometown: Ames, IA

Research interests: Cancer immunotherapies (immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines), immune activation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), PDAC biology

Project topic: Investigating the role of immunotherapies in tertiary lymphoid structure formation and B cell activation for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Other interests: I am a big fan of board/card games (current favorite: Skull King), playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends, and fantasy football. I also enjoy reading, hiking, and baking.

Undergraduate Students

Cole Haraf

Undergraduate

Education: Senior studying Chemical Engineering, and a minor in Chemistry and Business Administration, expected B.S. May 2026

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Research Interests: Diving deeper into the ideas of Drug Delivery and finding better methods to increase therapeutic efficacy by using Drug Delivery, Immunology, and Cell and Tissue Engineering.

Other Interests: I love playing spike ball and video games with friends. You'll always find me watching something hockey or Michigan-related. I also love spending time with my four dogs Bear, Merida, Simba, and Daisy.

Viet Cao

Undergraduate

Education: Senior studying Biomedical Engineering, expected B.S. May 2026

Hometown: Plymouth, Minnesota

Research Interests: Vaccine Synthesis, Cell and Tissue Engineering, Immunology, and Drug Delivery.

Other Interests: I love playing sports such as soccer, basketball, and tennis. I also enjoy spending time with friends, playing video games, thrifting, traveling, and listening to music.

Elise (Ellie) Ozers

Undergraduate

Education: Senior studying Biomedical Engineering, expected B.S. May 2026

Hometown: Middleton, Wisconsin

Research Interests: Immunology, vaccine delivery, autoimmune diseases, cell engineering, and imaging.

Other Interests: I enjoy going for runs, figure skating, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

Sahasra Pydimarri

Undergraduate

Education: Senior studying Biomedical Engineering, expected B.S. May 2026

Hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota

Research Interests: Using Cell and Tissue Engineering and Immunology to improve drug delivery.

Other Interests: I enjoy spending time with family and friends, cooking new recipes, playing pickleball, and exploring nature through hiking.

Jackson Halko

Undergraduate

Education: Junior studying Biomedical Engineering

Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Research Interests: Autoimmune diseases and drug delivery

Other Interests: I enjoy watching sports and tv shows, hanging out with friends, and teaching others!

Alumni

Deepthi Chowbene

MS, Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Education: B.S. in Electronics and Communication

Hometown: Bengaluru, India

Project: Evaluating mucosal adjuvants for intranasal vaccines.

Post Hartwell Lab: Research technician in the lab of Dr. Kathleen Mahoney at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, focusing on cancer immunology.