Ole Miss Nanoengineering REU Faculty
Our research focus stems from the diverse expertise of our research faculty — engineering at the nanoscale. Students have the opportunity to explore three timely, interdisciplinary research themes: (1) nanobiotechnology, (2) sustainable nanoengineering, and (3) computational nanoengineering.
Nanobiotechnology leverages innovative technologies such as nanoparticles, nanodevices, and surface coatings that can be used to study biological systems and produce novel biosensors, diagnostics, imaging agents, and therapeutics.
Sustainable nanoengineering seeks to harness unique energetic and mechanical properties of nanomaterials to provide sustainable solutions for problems in infrastructure, industrial processing, energy development, and water reuse.
Computational nanoengineering involves the use of computational tools to solve theoretical problems at the nanoscale and/or augment experimental techniques in nanoengineering.
2025 Nanoengineering REU Faculty:
Dr. Nikki Reinemann – Director
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Affiliate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall A305
Phone: 662-915-3126
Email: dnreinem@olemiss.edu
Website: Molecular Biophysics and Engineering Lab
Research Interests: Cytoskeletal mechanics, molecular motors, microscopy
Dr. Thomas Werfel – Co-Director
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Biomolecular Sciences
Affiliate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall A301
Phone: 662-915-3126
Email: tawerfel@olemiss.edu
Website: Interdisciplinary NanoBioSciences Lab
Research Interests: Drug delivery, immunoengineering
Dr. Alex Flynt
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall 301
Phone: 662-915-3126
Email: asflynt@olemiss.edu
Website: Flynt Lab
Research Interests: RNA biology, genomics, computational biology
Dr. Yi Hua
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall A303
Phone: 662-915-1456
Email: yhua@olemiss.edu
Website: The Vision Laboratory
Research Interests: Computational biomechanics, ocular mechanics
Dr. Jing Li
Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Office: Faser Hall 421
Phone: 662-915-1071
Email: jli15@olemiss.edu
Website: Li Lab
Research Interests: Computational chemistry and biophysics, ion channels
Dr. Mo Maniruzzaman
Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
Office: Faser Hall 104
Phone: 662-915-7341
Email: mmaniruz@olemiss.edu
Website: PharmE3D Lab
Research Interests: 3D printing, drug delivery, smart devices
Dr. Sushil Mishra
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall A304
Phone: 662-915-2623
Email: sushil@olemsis.edu
Website: Biomolecular Simulation (BioSim) Lab
Research Interests: Computational biology, glycoengineering
Dr. Brenda Prager
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Office: Anderson Hall 140
Phone: 662-915-2184
Email: bhprager@olemiss.edu
Website: Prager Lab
Research Interests: Coatings, surfaces, and interfaces; sustainable food packaging
Dr. Adam Smith
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Phone: 662-915-7023
Email: aes@olemiss.edu
Website: Interdisciplinary NanoBioSciences Lab
Research Interests: Polymeric biomaterials for drug delivery
Dr. Eden Tanner
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Office: Coulter Hall 179
Email: eetanner@olemiss.edu
Website: Tanner Lab
Research Interests: Drug delivery, ionic liquids, nanomaterials
Dr. Glenn Walker
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Professor of Electrical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall A306
Email: gmw@olemiss.edu
Website: Walker Lab
Research Interests: Biomedical instrumentation, microfluidics
Dr. Joe Xu
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall A304
Email: zxu@olemiss.edu
Website: Xu Lab
Research Interests: Piezoelectric materials, bio-inspired materials
Program Mentors
Dr. Viola Acoff
Dean of the School of Engineering, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall 229
Email: deanengr@olemiss.edu
Website: Viola Acoff
Research Interests: Materials engineering, additive manufacturing
Dr. Dwight Waddell
Associate Professor and Chair of Biomedical Engineering
Office: Brevard Hall C302
Phone: 662-915-2623
Email: waddell@olemiss.edu
Website: Waddell Lab
Research Interests: Neuromechanics