Steven M. Santana

Ph.D. Student
Mechanical Engineering

Project Web Page:

Circulating Tumor Cell Capture

Email:

sms492@cornell.edu

Address:

245 Upson Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853

Phone:

  (607) 216-8063

Fax:

  (607) 255-1222

 Steven Santana currently works on microfluidic devices for the capture and release of circulating tumor cells.

Biography

Steven Santana joined the Micro/Nanofluidics Laboratory in July of 2009.  Steven completed his B.S. in Engineering at Harvey Mudd College and M.A. in Secondary Education at Loyola Marymount University.  As an undergraduate Steven researched the development and application of tunable nanocomposite membranes for gas-separation.  He also worked on a project sponsored by Idealab to design a solar-powered refrigerator for developing countries.  Following his time at Mudd, he worked as a math teacher in inner-city Los Angeles and as clinical faculty with the Loyola Marymount Center for Math and Science Teaching so as to prepare inner-city and underrepresented youth to successfully and confidently pursue undergraduate and graduate-level study in the fields of mathematics, science, and engineering.

Current Projects

His current project is focused on microfluidic capture and release of circulating tumor cells from prostate cancer patients with a view toward evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, cancer progression, and uncovering of the biological foundations of metastasis.

Honors and Awards

- GK-12 Fellow in Biomedical Engineering; 2010

- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Honorable Mention; 2009,2010

- Sloan Fellowship, Cornell University; 2009

- Alpha Sigma Nu member, Loyola Marymout University; 2008

- Gordon Conference Student Scholarship; 2006

- Engineering Departmental Honors, Harvey Mudd College; 2006

Education

- B.S. 2006, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, Engineering, with Departmental Honors

- M.A. 2007, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Secondary Education

Presentations

Lape, N., Santana, S.M., Tsai, B., Mayeda, M., Urowsky, G., Brown, K.
"Diffusion in Nano- and Microscale Systems: Tunable Composite Membranes for Gas Separation." Membranes: Materials and Processes Gordon Conference, New London, NH, 2006.

Santana, S.M., Gleghorn, J.P., Pratt, E.D, Darshan, M.S., Levy, B.E., Bander, N.H., Nanus, D.M., Giannakakou, P.A., Kirby, B.J.
"Microfluidic Capture of Circulating Prostate Cancer Cells from Whole Blood." 2009 BMES Summer Retreat, Ithaca, NY, 2009.

Santana, S.M., Clemmer, K., et al. "How Involving Secondary Students in the Assessment Process Transforms a Culture of Failure in Mathematics to a Culture of Accountability, Self-Efficacy and Success in Mathematics Student Action Plans, Assessment, and Cultural Shift." Models in Developing Mathematics Education, 2009, Dresden, Saxony, Germany, (Conference Paper).

Santana, S.M., Gleghorn, J.P., Pratt, E.D, Bander, N.H., Nanus, D.M., Giannakakou, P.A., Kirby, B.J. "Fluid Mechanics of Rare Cell Transport and Adhesion." CERC, 2010, Ithaca, NY.