Dr. Annie Arnold

Welcome at long last to the longest-standing member of the group... Dr. Annie Arnold! My fun fact: Annie actually joined the group before me in 2014-- I didn't join my own group until 2015. So, we've been waiting for her to write this bio for about 8 years now. She also didn't give me a picture, so please enjoy our very first Sydlik Group picture from June of 2015! (Annie on right if you had any doubt.) So without further ado, here she is:

Name: Anne Arnold

Hometown: Emporium, PA

Education/ Experience/ Awards:

PhD in Chemistry – Carnegie Mellon University

Focus: Designing biomaterials for tissue regeneration and heavy metal chelation therapy

MS in Biology – University of Massachusetts Lowell

BS in Chemistry – Saint Francis University

I’ve worked in the national lab system, including PNNL, where I earned an Outstanding

Performance Award for advancing 3D printing tech. At CMU, I also won a Three Minute Thesis

(3MT) award, showing my ability to break down complex science. My focus is on biomaterials

and carbon-based innovations.

Team Sydlik Member since: 2014 – 2019, 2024 – Present

Research Project: I am currently engaged in research focused on generating

biomacromolecules that effectively chelate heavy metals. This work involves designing and

synthesizing large biological molecules capable of binding and removing heavy metals, with

applications aimed at addressing contamination in biological and environmental systems.

Favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: My favorite thing about the Sydlik group is the

supportive environment that drives creativity both inside and outside the lab. It’s a space where

collaboration and encouragement foster innovation, allowing us to push boundaries in research

and continuously grow as scientists and individuals.

Least favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: Parking, or lack thereof.

Favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh: There are too many favorites to name just one! Some

highlights include visiting the science museums, exploring food festivals, checking out the Strip

District, and, of course, enjoying the amazing food.

Fun fact: Before heading to college, I apprenticed as a tattoo artist! I am also undefeated at the

Chubby Bunny challenge.

Jason Orlando

 Back from paternity leave, our King of Memes and 4th year PhD student, Jason Orlando! *He's also a vet, so not to be messed with

Name: Jason D. Orlando

Hometown: Leicester, NY

Education/ Experience/ Awards: BS Biochemistry  Houghton University, MS Chemistry North Carolina Central University

Team Sydlik Member since August 2020

Research Project: Functional graphenic materials with cell instructive applications largely focused on Calcium Phosphate Graphene and its daughter compounds

Favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: Autonomy

Least favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: I was indoctrinated... I mean taught, to value a more strict adherence to start times and cleanliness.

Favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh: Exploring around with my family or taking my daughters to the various parks and playgrounds here in Pittsburgh.

Fun fact: I have survived falling from a flying aircraft over a dozen times.*

*Editor's note: He's also a vet, so not to be messed with 

Michelle Wolf

 Michelle is a 5th year PhD who's our current resident biology expert!

Name: Michelle Wolf

Hometown: Pittsburgh PA

Education/ Experience/ Awards: Duke University, Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, minor in chemistry (2019)

Team Sydlik Member since: Fall 2019

Research Project: cell-instructive peptide-graphene oxide conjugates for improved bone regrowth and vascularization in bone defects; a chemiresistive gaseous sensor for the monitoring of tissue culture health and contamination

Favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: our group has plentiful lab space

Least favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: the TA assignments are pretty time-consuming

Favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh: go to breweries

Fun fact: my dogs are named after super mario characters (peach and daisy)

Jessica (Yaxuan) Liu

 Next up is undergraduate Jessica Liu who has been working with PhD student Michelle Wolf (intro to come next week) since 2021!

Yaxuan Liu (Jessica)

Shenzhen, China

Carnegie Mellon University

Joined Sydlik group in December 2021

Research Project: 

1) Working on the selection of possible VOCs of contamination sources of fungi and bacteria to facilitate development of a modular framework materials as a platform technology for electroanalytical assessment of quality and health of cultured tissue.

2)Working on performing and conducting data analysis of cytocompatibility experiments on various novel graphene materials synthesized by the Sydlik lab, especially fibroblast adhesion assay on rGO and RGD-CG.

3) Working on the CellCounter project to establish an open-access cell counting software on MATLAB that provides accurate cell counts for clumping cells especially for fibroblasts and macrophages.

Favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: I received so much help and encouragement here and hence learned so much!! \\OuO//

Favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh has many awesome biking trails!! The Frick Park is a beautiful and exciting place to bike/walk around!

Fun fact: I have a pet red tail boa with a beautiful gene name called sunglow.

Stella Trickett

 Name: Stella Trickett

Hometown: Altamont, NY

Education/ Experience: I am a rising senior in the Chemistry Department at CMU, receiving a BS in Chemistry/Biological Chemistry Track with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. I am currently interning at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals this summer as QC Analytical Sciences intern. 

Team Sydlik Member since: July 2022

Research Projects: 

1. Aromatic Peptide Amphiphiles as an Emergency Overdose Treatment
2. Adsorption of Common Toxins to Activated Charcoal

Favorite things about the Sydlik Group: When Professor Sydlik brings food to group meetings! I especially enjoy decorating gingerbread houses during Christmas with the team! 

Least favorite thing about the Sydlik Group: Getting an emulsion when doing liquid-liquid extractions to purify NCAs. 

Favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh: Trying out different coffee shops and restaurants. I also highly recommend going to the Carnegie Public Library (main site)—the second floor is super pretty.

Fun fact: I swam competitively for 11 years, including on CMU's varsity swim team!

Hunter Wood

Name: 

Hunter Wood

Hometown: 

Walnut Creek, California

Education/ Experience/ Awards: 

B.S. Chemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2016-2020)

Manufacturing Associate, Promega Corporation (2020-2021)

Carnegie Mellon Graduate Student Vice President of Academic Affairs (2023-2024)

Ph.D. Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University (2021-present) 

Team Sydlik Member since? 

August 2021 

Research Projects:

Development of peptide adsorbent biomaterials for drug adsorption, development of peptide biomaterials for heavy metal chelation, toxicological studies of drug adsorption to activated charcoal, evaluation of phage therapy through bacterial cell wall characterization 

Favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: 

Stefanie's baked goods for group meeting

Least favorite thing about CMU/ the Sydlik Group: 

The elevator by our lab being broken literally all the time and having to walk up and down the stairs to the office 

Favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh: 

Research!!! (just kidding probably getting coffee at KLVN) 

Fun fact: 

I love watching The Real Housewives and recently also started watching Desperate Housewives

Walker Vickery

 Up next is our PhD student closest to his defense... meet 5th year PhD student, Walker! (soon to be Dr. Vickery!)

Walker Vickery

Lexington, KY

Undergraduate: Centre College

Joined Sydlik group in 2019

Research: I am working on upcycling commodity plastics by depolymerizing and covalently attaching the oligomers to graphene oxide. The grafted materials will be used as plastic fillers to enhance their physical properties and degradation timeline.

Favorite thing about CMU: The Mellon Institute is a short walk away from a lot of food, museums, and parks, if you need to take a break

Least favorite thing about CMU: The eternal search for an XPS that will last longer than 6 months 

Favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh is just large enough to have a lot of musical artists come visit! If you like live music it's a good city for it.

Fun Fact: I did some glassblowing as an undergraduate, which Pittsburgh is also well known for!