People

About Us

Henak Lab members have diverse backgrounds and scientific expertise.  This diversity allows us to work together to creatively address questions within our three research themes.

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Principal Investigator

Corinne Henak (Google Scholar, Pubmed, Mech Engg Dept Video)

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Denver, 2008
Ph.D. in Bioengineering, University of Utah, 2013
Post-doc in Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, 2013-2015

Corinne joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UW-Madison in 2015.

Corinne is from Colorado and got hooked on coffee as a graduate student in Utah.  She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, two sons and daughter; preferably far from any cell phone towers!

Post Doc

Soroush Irandoust (Google Scholar, LinkedIn)

B.S. in Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, 2012
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 2014
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 2020

Soroush is originally from Tehran, Iran, and moved to Massachusetts for graduate school. During his time at Northeastern University, he worked on computational modeling of bone healing and remodeling around dental implants.

Soroush joined University of Wisconsin-Madison in September 2021 as a post-doctoral research associate, working with Corinne Henak in Mechanical Engineering and Peter Muir in Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine. The long-term goal of his research project at UW-Madison is to reduce life-threatening injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses by diagnosing incipient condylar stress fracture of the fetlock.

Outside of work, Soroush enjoys spending time in nature, hiking, and cycling.

Graduate Students

Zachary Alesch

B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 2018-2022

Zack grew up in the Madison area and is now a first year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. He has experience in biomaterials and tissue engineering, and is now studying cartilage mechanics and modeling. One day, Zack hopes to develop diagnostics and therapies for soft-tissue wounds and diseases like osteoarthritis.

Outside of the lab, Zack enjoys board games, fishing, and playing the oboe.

Dipul Chawla (LinkedIn)

Mechanical Engineer, Samsung Heavy Industries, India, 2015-2017
Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 2011-2015

Dipul is from Delhi, India and is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering. Previously, he worked on 3D printing and material characterization. Dipul’s interest includes failure analysis and materials engineering, additive manufacturing, tribology, mechanics of materials and reliability engineering.

 

Brandon Chelstrom

Brandon completed his BS in Biomedical Engineering and Neurobiology with a certificate in Computer Science in fall 2022.

Outside of research, Brandon loves swimming, biking, and running and is currently training for an Iron Man.

Brandon was the brakes lead of Baja SAE and the president of the UW-Madison Swim Club.

Max Kanakkanatt

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Marquette University, 2018-2023

Max is a first-year master’s student originally from Delafield, Wisconsin. His work will focus on cartilage mechanics and property classification. Outside of the lab Max enjoys backpacking and traveling to new places.

 

 

Kyobeom Ku

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, 2021-2023
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, 2014-2021

Kyobeom is a first year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering from Incheon, South Korea.

Outside of the school, Kyobeom enjoys traveling, workout, and bouldering.

 

Alexandria Thao

B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, UW-Madison, 2019-2023

Alex is an M.S. student in Mechanical Engineering. She is now studying cartilage mechanics, specifically frictional behavior. Post-graduate school, she aims to work in design work with orthopedic implants.

Outside of research and studies, Alex enjoys painting and digital illustration.

 

Jingyi Wang

Market Research Intern in Adelphi FocusRx, China, 2020-2021
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 2018-2020
B.E. in Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, China, 2014-2018

Jingyi is from Shanxi, China and is a third year PhD student. She focused on human knee osteoarthritis (OA) during her Masters. In the coming years, she will work on cartilage metabolism.

Outside of school, Jingyi enjoys swimming, skiing and traveling.

Research Interns

Undergraduate Students

Greta Scheidt

Greta is a sophomore from Columbia, Missouri studying Biomedical Engineering with a certificate in International Engineering. Her Sophomore Research Fellowship project is focused on investigating the effect of pretreatment in an antioxidant on the levels of metabolic processes in articular cartilage following traumatic loading. On a larger scale, this project has a goal of leading to preventative treatments for post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Outside of academics, Greta enjoys running, hiking, biking, and spending time outside. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and Engineers Without Borders.

Sophie Speece

Sophie Speece is a sophomore in Biomedical Engineering on the biomechanics track. She participates in activities with the Biomedical Engineering Society and the UW Madison Wind Ensemble. She is double majoring in Music Performance and enjoys playing harp. Outside of school Sophie enjoys arts and crafts as well as biking. She is yet undecided about pursuing a Master’s degree or heading right into industry.

 

 

Alumni

Riley Norman, BS in Biomedical Engienering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023. Currently: Epic Systems.

Elijah McCoy, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023.  Currently: Engineer at JP Cullen.

Jason Soukup, PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022.  Currently:  faculty in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UW-Madison.

Josephine Hall, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022.  Currently:  rotation engineer at Medtronic.

Rikin Soni, former research intern.

Ashley Pernsteiner, BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022, currently: O2 engineer at 3M.

Katie Kern, BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022, currently: R&D engineer I at Medtronic.

Amanda Kemper, BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021, currently: Prosthetics-Orthotics student at Northwestern University.

Jack Fahy, MS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021, currently: associate quality engineer at Medline.

Josh Shelley, MS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021, currently: mechanics/biomechanics consultant at S-E-A.

Charlie Hower, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021, currently: med student at Emory University.

Alexey Minaev, BS in Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020, currently: PPD.

Shannon K. Walsh, PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020, currently:  law school at Loyola.

Guebum Han, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019, currently:  post-doc at University of Minnesota.

Jin Wook Hwang, M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019, currently:  asset management.

Alex Teague, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019, currently:  medical student at Carle Illinois College of Medicine.

Jared Muench, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018, Research Intern 2018-2019, currently:  medical student at Medical College of Wisconsin.

Jacob Andreae, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018, currently: biomedical electronics technician, Mary Greeley Medical Center.

Kelly Vazquez, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018, currently:  post-doc at CU-Boulder.

Matthew Grondin, Thesis M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018, currently:  PhD student at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Danielle Redinbaugh, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2017, currently:  Project Engineer at Nortech.

Trenton Roeber, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2017, currently:  advanced quality engineer at Styker.