Ben Nachod

Hello! My name is Ben and I'm a Junior studying Bioengineering and Chemistry in the class of 2026. My research interests fall at the intersection of drug delivery, immunology, biomaterials, and nanomedicine. I'm currently a member of the Mitchell Lab where I work to design mRNA lipid nanoparticles for applications in autoimmune disease, chronic diseases, and genetic disorders. Outside of research, I'm involved with the Penn Club Swim team, the Penn Biomedical Engineering Society, the Penn Engineering Council, and We Can Swim! 

My research experiences have not only helped me develop my academic interests. I've also been able to grow on a personal level and find a family here at Penn during my time in the Mitchell lab. I'd like to stress the importance of personal growth from research and make it less intimidating and more accessible! Please feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to chat!

• Undergraduate Research Assistant in Mitchell Lab, University of Pennsylvania Department of Bioengineering (January 2023- Present) - Conducted research on the transformation of generic T-cells to T-Regulatory cells through delivery of mRNA encoding Foxp3, a T-regulatory cell factor, using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology. Currently working on incorporating steroid into LNPs to combat inflammation exacerbation from LNP delivery in immune-sensitive disease models. 
• Research Assistant in Waldron Lab, City University of New York School of Public Health and Health Policy (June 2021 - May 2022) - Worked with a team of CUNY postdoctoral researchers on a project standardizing the current body of Human Microbiome literature for analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health. 
• Research Assistant in Lansing Lab, University of Maryland Department of Environmental Science and Technology (July 2019 - March 2022) - Designed and conducted experiment on anaerobic digestion of bioplastics and the viability of their treatment as opposed to that of petroleum-based plastics. 
• Awards: CURF Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant, Rachleff Scholars Honors Program, Penn Career Services Summer Funding, CURF Spring Research Expo 2024, Penn Summer REU Research Symposium 2024.