RESEARCH INTERESTS
Santiago (Santi) is interested in the intersection of materials science and immunotherapy, and is working to develop injectable hydrogels to stimulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer. Santi is especially interested in leveraging the unique drug delivery capabilities provided by such materials systems in order to explore combination immunotherapy and the role of release kinetics on therapeutic efficacy and safety.
EDUCATION
PhD, Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology - 2018
Thesis: Engineering layer-by-layer nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of therapeutics to ovarian cancer
BS, Biomedical Engineering, Yale University - 2012
HONORS, AWARDS, and SCHOLARSHIPS
National Research Service Award (F32), National Cancer Institute, 2020-2023
Siebel Foundation Scholar, 2018
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation UCEM Fellow, 2016
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship, 2012-2015
MIT Lemelson Engineering Presidential Fellowship, 2012
Yale Science, Technology, and Research Scholars Fellowship, 2010
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, February 2013 – August 2018
Research Advisor: Prof. Paula T. Hammond
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, October 2010 – May 2012
Research Advisor: Prof. Themis Kyriakides
ABOUT
Santi was born in Medellin, Colombia but was soon whisked away to Atlanta (well, the suburbs of Atlanta) where he remained until he moved to New England for college and graduate school. While up North, Santi fell in love with seasons, apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts, apple-picking, carrot-picking, and really anything having to do with farms. He also realized that skiing is a terrific time, in spite of New England’s mostly icy terrain, and so he is looking forward to seeing what all this “powder” business is about here on the West Coast. When not in lab, Santi spends most of his time cooking elaborate meals, plotting new cookware acquisitions, and longingly awaiting the next time he gets to use his giant 26’’ paella pan. Failing that, he might be taking pictures or sketching something.