Reproductive Immunology · Extracellular Vesicles

Reading the messages cells send.

PhD Candidate — Biomedical & Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University

I study trophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles and how their molecular cargo shapes maternal immune tolerance — bridging clinical laboratory science and engineered stem-cell models.

SM
Research Focus

How the placenta talks to the immune system.

My work profiles the cargo of lineage-specific trophoblast EVs and tests their immunomodulatory function in engineered models of the maternal–fetal interface.

01

Trophoblast EV Immunomodulation

Isolating extracellular vesicles from iPSC-derived trophoblast lineages (TSC, CT, STB, EVT) and mapping how their cargo reprograms NK cells, macrophages, and T-cell responses.

02

Multi-omics EV Cargo Profiling

Integrating miRNA-seq and DIA-LC-MS/MS proteomics to resolve lineage-specific vesicle signatures — including C19MC cluster miRNAs linked to immune tolerance.

03

Engineered Trophoblast Models

Building iPSC-derived trophoblast organoid and stem-cell systems to study placentation and vesicle biogenesis under defined, reproducible conditions.

04

Therapeutic EV Engineering

Exploring MSC- and trophoblast-derived vesicles as cell-free immunomodulatory platforms, characterized to MISEV2023 standards.

About

I came to bioengineering through the clinical lab — and I never stopped asking what cells are trying to say to one another.

I am a PhD candidate in Dr. Zhen Ma's lab at the BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, where my dissertation investigates trophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles and their role in maternal–fetal immune tolerance.

My path began in Iran with a BS in Medical Laboratory Science and an MS in Hematology, grounding me in clinical and hematological science before I moved into stem-cell engineering and vesicle biology. That combination shapes how I work: rigorous at the bench, and always oriented toward translational impact.

My current project is supported by an NSF NRT EmIRGE-Bio Seed Grant, profiling iPSC-derived trophoblast EV cargo through integrated proteomics and transcriptomics.

Position
PhD Candidate, Biomedical & Chemical Engineering
Institution
Syracuse University
Lab
Dr. Zhen Ma — BioInspired Institute
Funding
NSF NRT EmIRGE-Bio Seed Grant (2026)
Focus
Extracellular vesicles · Reproductive immunology
Languages
English · Persian
Trajectory

Education & research experience.

Education

2022 — Present
PhD, Biomedical & Chemical Engineering
Syracuse University, USA
Iran
MS, Hematology
Clinical & laboratory hematological science
Iran
BS, Medical Laboratory Science
Foundations in clinical diagnostics

Research

2022 — Present
Graduate Researcher, Ma Lab
Trophoblast EVs & maternal–fetal immunology
2026
NSF NRT EmIRGE-Bio Seed Grant
iPSC-derived trophoblast EV cargo profiling
2019 — 2022
Author, 4 peer-reviewed publications
Hematology & laboratory science
Toolkit

Techniques at the bench.

Cell & EV Biology

iPSC culture Trophoblast differentiation EV isolation NTA / ZetaView Immunomagnetic isolation

Molecular & Analytical

RT-qPCR Western blot ELISA Flow cytometry BCA assay

Omics & Analysis

DIA-LC-MS/MS miRNA-seq RNA-seq Proteomics Python data viz
4
Publications
4
EV Lineages Profiled
2
Omics Platforms
1
NSF Seed Grant
Selected Work

Publications & outputs.

Four peer-reviewed publications (2019–2022) in hematology and laboratory science, with current dissertation outputs targeting the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles and AAEV 2026.

In prep
Lineage-specific immunomodulatory cargo of iPSC-derived trophoblast extracellular vesicles
Target: Journal of Extracellular Vesicles · AAEV 2026 · BMES 2026 (abstract)
In prep
Priming-dependent remodeling of mesenchymal stromal cell EV cargo
Multi-omics characterization of MSC-EV immunomodulation
2019–22
Four peer-reviewed publications in hematology & medical laboratory science
Full list available on Google Scholar / ResearchGate
Let's connect

Open to collaboration
and conversation.

Whether it's extracellular vesicles, reproductive immunology, or engineered stem-cell models — I'd be glad to hear from you.

Email me