Contacts

Haresh Patil completed his undergrad in Production Engineering and his Masters in Plastic Engineering from India. He gained 15 years of professional experience in designing and developing medical devices used in various domains. Presently, he is a doctoral candidate at the University of Waterloo and a member of the Biomaterials team of the Composite Biomaterial Systems (CBS) lab headed by Prof. Thomas Willett. The biomaterials team at CBS lab is developing next-generation bioresorbable and 3D printable nanocomposite materials for synthetic bone grafts. His research focuses on improving the nanocomposites' mechanical performance by tailoring bonding interfaces in the 3D printed structures with a novel Direct Ink Writing (DIW) mandrel bed 3D printing method. This research could contribute to the printing of dense, robust, and customizable synthetic bone grafts that could be used to reconstruct large segmental defects in cortical bone. 

In his free time, Haresh enjoys exploring nature around him, from the small trails in his neighbourhood to long treks in remote locations. He also enjoys spending time understanding state-of-the-art innovations and sharing them with younger adults. As well as, volunteering in community activities such as guiding new incoming students, and organizing and participating in cultural events. 

Daniel Dapaah is a PhD candidate in the Systems Design Engineering Department at the University of Waterloo. He completed his Master’s degree in Systems Design Engineering- Biomedical Engineering specialization under the supervision of Professor Thomas Willett, who is also his PhD mentor. 

His research work focuses on gaining a better mechanistic understanding of bone fragility and fractures attributed to aging and bone-damaging diseases such as type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney diseases. Specifically, his PhD work focuses on understanding the changes occurring within the collagen network of cortical bone (which forms about 45% of cortical bone by volume) and how that affects the ability of the tissue to resist fracture. His work aims to enhance fracture risk assessment and treatment strategies related to bone fragility. 

In his free time, he loves to spend time with family and friends, play board games, and is an avid follower of sports, mainly soccer and basketball. 

Arya Amir is a Vanier Scholar and a Ph.D. candidate in the interdisciplinary department of Systems Design at the University of Waterloo, specializing in Biomedical Engineering. Additionally, he holds affiliations with the University of Calgary and the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, where he serves as a Visiting Researcher and Committee Trainee Representative, respectively. His scientific journey began during his undergraduate studies, where he delved into the mechanics of soft materials and ultimately designed smart hydrogel-based micro-valves. Currently, he is dedicated to enhancing the understanding of the mechanics of soft biological tissues, which directly impact human health and well-being through improved diagnostic tools, medical interventions, and the development of preventive measures and effective treatment strategies. 
 
Amiri's scientific endeavors in smart and soft materials and collaboration with a diverse group of professors and graduate students from all over the world have yielded numerous publications in esteemed journals such as JIMSS, SMS, Acta Mech., MAMS, Int. J. Appl. Mech., and J. Appl. Math. Mech. With a dedication to fostering academic growth, Amiri has mentored over 10 graduate students through their theses and projects. His contributions have earned him several honours and awards, including academic ranking of 1st and 2nd out of over 70 in bachelor's and master's studies, respectively, Graduate Research Studentship (UW, 2022), International Doctoral Student Award (UW, 2022), President's Graduate Scholarship (UW, 2023), Graduate Student Research Dissemination Award (UW, 2024), and the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2023). Notably, the Vanier Scholarship, valued at $150,000 and the highest doctoral scholarship in Canada, underscores his demonstrated leadership qualities alongside academic excellence. 
 
During his master's studies, Amiri was diagnosed with advanced-stage of lymphoma cancer, and he grasped this opportunity to act as a role model for his community once more by showing immense strength, resilience, and determination in his goals. Amiri's leadership and entrepreneurship characteristics led to the co-foundation of a successful startup called Ojiran, which manufactures agricultural drones to enhance farming. It is now valued at over $2M and has created more than 40 jobs. He also enjoys reading books on self-improvement, leadership, investment, and psychology.  

Corin Seelemann obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science in Nanotechnology Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 2019 and a Master of Applied Science in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 2021. Corin is currently studying how collagen, the primary protein component of bone, contributes to the fracture resistance of bone at a molecular level. He also studies how modifications to collagen on the nanoscale, such as those arising from age or disease, cause bone fragility. 

Elizabeth Diederichs obtained her Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering (Co-op) from the University of Guelph in 2021, followed by a Masters of Applied Science in the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo in 2023. Her main research interests are the development of skeletal reconstruction biomaterials. This involves: 

• Material design of thermoset biocomposites for additive manufacturing 

• Physiologically relevant testing of biomaterials 

Publications  

• Diederichs, E., et al., “The effects of physiologically relevant environmental conditions on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed biopolymer nanocomposites”, Manuscript submitted for publication.   
• Diederichs, E. et al., “The effect of triglycerol diacrylate on the printability and properties of UV curable, bio-based nanohydroxyapatite composites”, JMBBM, March 2024.   
• Diederichs, E., “The effects of simulated physiological conditions on the performance of novel 3D printed nanocomposite biomaterials”, MASc Thesis, University of Waterloo, August 2023.  
• Mondal, D. et al., “Chapter 7 - 3D Printing of Biopolymer Nanocomposites.” Mehrpouya, M., Vahabi, H. Additive Manufacturing of Biopolymers: Handbook of Materials, Techniques, and Applications. Elsevier, April 2023. 
• Mondal, D. et al., “Enhanced Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Nanocomposites Composed of Functionalized Plant-Derived Biopolymers and Calcium-Deficient Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles”, Front. Mater., February 2022.  
• Diederichs, E. et al., “Extrusion Based 3D Printing of Sustainable Biocomposites from Biocarbon and Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)”, Molecules, July 2021. 
• Diederichs, E. et al., “Strategy to improve printability of renewable resource-based engineering plastic tailored for FDM applications”, ACS Omega, November 2019.