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.