Arman Mohsen Nia Receives PURA

Arman Mohsen Nia, a senior Materials Science and Engineering student, was named as a recipient of the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Award (PURA) for the 2015-16 academic year.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Mohsen Nia. “I want to thank those in the Office of the Provost who have made this possible. I’d also like to express my appreciation to my faculty sponsor, Dr. Green, and the members of the Green lab especially David Wilson; without their support this would not have been possible.”

The PURA program offers Johns Hopkins University students unique opportunities to conduct undergraduate research. Founded in 1993 on the belief that encouraging undergraduates to engage in research activity enhances the learning experience and helps to develop investigative skills, the PURA program is an important part of the university’s mission.

Mohsen Nia’s project was titled “Analysis and Control of Plasmid Distribution for Enhanced Gene Delivery.” The focus of the project was investigating the plasmid loading distribution resulting from different polyplex nanoparticle formation techniques and the relation of loading distribution to transfection efficacy and cytotoxicity. He worked in the lab of Dr. Jordan Green, associate professor of Biomedical Engineering, where he also designed, fabricated, and tested a microfluidic mixing chip for reproducible, continuous flow production of nanoparticles.

After graduation, Mohsen Nia will join a one year master’s program in Bioengineering Innovation and Design offered by the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He will pursue his interest in translational medicine, and he aims to develop medical devices for the US and the developing world.