Our Team
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.
Postdocs
We're hiring!
Email bhartwel@umn.edu with your CV, three references, and a summary of your research interests if you're interested in joining our team.
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
Masters 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
Kathryn Jans
Undergraduate
Education: Senior studying Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Genetics
Hometown: St. Bonifacius, MN
Research interests: Immunology, cell and tissue engineering
Other interests: Playing volleyball and going hiking!
Kyra Van Batavia
Undergraduate
Education: Bachelors of Biomedical Engineering, Expected May 2024
Hometown: Chelsea, Michigan
Research interests: Increasing specificity in immunotherapy and identifying specific targets for new drug designs. Personalization of immunotherapies and modulation and control of the immune system.
Other interests: Hiking and spending time in nature, dogs, embroidery, and playing tennis.
Adam Boeckermann
Undergraduate
Education: 4th year undergraduate pursuing a major in Biomedical Engineering and minor in Chemistry
Hometown: Elk River, MN
Research interests: Exploring strategies to combine protein engineering technologies from the Hackel lab with novel mucosal delivery platforms in the Hartwell lab to develop targeted mucosal vaccines.
Other interests: I love to run, hike, bike... pretty much anything outside!
Téa Wagner
Undergraduate
Education: Junior studying Human Physiology
Hometown: Eagan, MN
Research interests: Immunology and the development and design of mucosal vaccines that induce a specific and effective immune response.
Other interests: I enjoy taking care of my 20+ plants, teaching archery, and spending time with friends.
Nicole Schottler
Undergraduate
Education: Sophomore studying biomedical engineering on a pre-medicine track
Hometown: De Soto, Kansas
Research interests: Exploring ways to better target the mucosal immune system to increase efficacy of vaccines.
Other interests: I enjoy training for and competing in triathlons, watching sports (especially football when the Chiefs are playing), and traveling.
Ava Schaeffel
Undergraduate
Education: Second year studying Biomedical Engineering, expected B.S. May 2025
Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota
Research interests: Immunology and vaccine development, drug delivery, cell engineering.
Other interests: I enjoy spending time outdoors, going to farmers markets, teaching Irish dance, and occasionally reading for fun.
Cole Haraf
Undergraduate
Education: Junior studying Chemical Engineering and pursuing a minor in Chemistry and Business Administration.
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.
Alumni
Deepthi Chowbene
M.S. Biomedical Engineering, 2023
Education: B.S. in Electronics and Communication
Hometown: Bengaluru, India
Research interests: Mucosal vaccines, adjuvants, immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer
Project topic: Formulating copolymer micelles for endosomal delivery of TLR agonist adjuvants
Post Hartwell Lab: Research technician in the lab of Dr. Kathleen Mahoney at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, focusing on cancer immunology.