Current Lab Members

Research Scientists

  • Hun-Jin Jeong, PhD

    • Postdoctoral Research Scientist

    Dr. Hun-Jin Jeong earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Wonkwang University with a research focus on 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering. To date, he has conducted research projects aimed at regenerating small vascular, esophageal, and meniscus tissues through fully transplantable strategies. This involves constructing biomimetic constructs via 3D bioprinting and developing tissue-specific dECM bioink through multidisciplinary collaboration with clinicians, veterinarians, and engineers.
    As a postdoctoral research scientist in the Regenerative Engineering Laboratory at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), he worked on developing a biomimetic bioreactor that sequentially releases growth factors to promote articular cartilage regeneration by adjusting physiological loading. More recently, he devised a novel in-vitro knee joint model to investigate tissue crosstalk, such as synovial membrane and fat pad interactions, under inflammation and physiological loading, using a well-established meniscus healing model. Additionally, he contributed to the development of a spatiotemporal delivery system for the release of bioactive cues from 3D printed bioscaffolds. This system aims to regenerate multi-tissue interfaces (bone-to-tendon) and fibrocartilage tissues (meniscus and TMJ disc) from endogenous stem/progenitor cells.

  • Elen Zhu, BS

    • Staff Research Associate

    Elen Zhu, BS

  • Christopher L. Ricupero, PhD

    • Associate Research Scientist

    Dr. Ricupero's received his PhD in Neuroscience and research career focuses on genetic engineering strategies and stem cell disease modeling for rare rare neurological diseases and craniofacial disorders. He is developing direted cell fate programming approaches through genomic and epigenetic editing/CRISPR activation for craniofacial ligament regeneration. How a stem or progenitor cell differentiates and maintains its identity through the combination of transcription factors and epigenetic regulation has been a central theme to his research. His work is to leverageing  programmable gene regulation towards innovative regenerative medicine and precision medicine gene targeting therapies using patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSs), neural and mesenchymal stem cells.  He is also investigating mechanisms of HNRNP-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders by disease modeling using patient specific stem cells and derived neurons. He serves as a Scientific Advisory Board Member of the HNRNP Family Foundation and Better Future 4 U (HNRNPU).  Is also a member of the Consortium on Neurodevelopmental Studies of Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders.

    Research Interests:

    Stem Cell Disease Modeling

    Rare Diseases

    Programmable Gene Regulation

    Epigenetic Editing

    CRISPR/Cas9/Cas13

    Neurodevelopmental Disorders

    Craniofacial Disorders

    Regenerative Medicine

    Dr. Christopher Ricupero
  • Meng Feng, MD

    • Postdoctoral Research Scientist

    Dr. Feng is a postdoctoral research scientist at the Regenerative Engineering Lab. He earned an MD in orthopedic surgery from Xi’an Jiaotong University. Specializing in arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgical techniques, he focuses on knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow diseases and emphasizes rapid rehabilitation for young and active patients. He is also fascinated by the state-of-the-art biomedical and bioengineering research in the meniscus, cartilage, and tendon repair. He received basic science research training at the Warren Albert Medical School of Brown University before joining CUMC. His extensive experience includes work on the differentiation of cartilage-derived mesenchymal stem cells. As a healthcare provider, Dr. Feng believes in not only celebrating surgical successes but also critically analyzing failures. He aims to develop both non-surgical and salvage surgical solutions for patients with complex joint issues and in cases where other surgeries have failed. Dr. Feng's clinical research is primarily centered on rotator cuff injuries, meniscus repair, cartilage restoration, and knee joint preservation. In the realm of biomedical research, his interests include the development of bioactive layer-by-layer scaffolds for controlled growth factor delivery in rotator cuff healing, and exploring how orthobiologic and mechanical stimuli can promote meniscal healing and attenuate the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Student Research Fellows

  • Albert Wang

    • DDS student
  • Neeve Chen

    • DDS student
  • Anh Hoang

    • DDS student
  • Sharon (Soomin) Park

    • DDS Student
  • Jessica Hui

    • DDS student
  • Boris Chen

    • DDS Student
  • Emma Wang

    • Undergrad
  • Maya Jeremiah

    • DDS student
  • Kyle Alfred

    • DDS student
  • Samantha Lewis

    • DDS Student
  • Jessica Park

    • DDS student