Technical Staff and Research Scientists

Dr. Balcells is a Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Institute for Medical Engineering and Science. Her research in tissue engineering has shown how endothelial cell states are critical to tissue response to injury.  The invitro models she has developed have helped understand the response of human cells in tissues to mechanical, biological and chemical insults.  At the CCTR she leads the Cell Shop where tests to characterize device-cell interaction  are carried out. She is also leverages her expertise providing biosafety level 2 training for all CCTR users. Mercedes obtained her PhD in Macromolecular Chemistry characterizing protein adsorption on biomaterials at RWTH Aachen in Germany.

Evan received his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at The Ohio State University, where his thesis focused on cadaver injury biomechanical responses to side impact collisions to improve automotive safety. Evan also has a diverse teaching background, having served as a Graduate TA and then Lead Instructor for a hands-on microcontroller design and prototype course while also co-managing a computer-aided design and manufacturing lab. At the CCTR, Evan utilizes his unique blend of technical expertise to assist with device prototyping, instrumentation, and data collection and processing. He is well-seasoned in motion capture, additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques, and electronics design.

Dr. Petersen earned an MD from University of Copenhagen (2008) and full European board certification as physician in 2009. His clinical work was centered around cardiology and emergency medicine and as former Chief Resident at major ER, his duties included disaster preparedness, triage, and resource management. His European medial training ensured a broad understanding of medical complexity and cross-discipline interactions.

Dr. Petersen’s research has most recently been focused on device development and as such he has been leading efforts to develop treatment devices both for emergency use in hospitals and for use in NASA’s countermeasure program, and he is very experienced in developing protocols for physiological human research.

He brings his broad experience to bear at CCTR, where he will assist the team in protocol development, clinical and physiological advice.

A Research Scientist in the Institute for Medical Engineering & Science at MIT, Shawn’s current research focuses on laser ultrasound and design of novel instrumentation and methods to non-intrusively quantify and track human health over time. Shawn received his Ph.D. and Master’s from MIT in Mechanical Engineering with research focusing laser ultrasound and ultrasound tomography. Through multiple translational research projects and collaborations, Shawn has knowledge and experience in designing, manufacturing, and testing of novel medical devices and instrumentation, from benchtop validation in the lab to human subject testing at the CCTR.