Goldwater Scholarship Lights Undergrad's Research Path, from Tissue Engineering to Oral Biology

Biochemistry undergrad Simone Bishara ’23 has spent the past year conducting research at NJIT that could one day improve the lives of those in need of tissue transplants — that work has helped earn her a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship that’s driving her closer to her career aspirations. 

This year, Bishara was named among 417 recipients of the honor, which is typically reserved for the most exemplary U.S. undergraduates pursuing research careers. 

“I’m extremely grateful that I was awarded such a prestigious scholarship,” said Bishara, an Albert Dorman Honors College student and Bayonne, NJ native. “The recognition increased my awareness of the importance of my work to individuals of varying backgrounds and it encourages me to continue with my research, either to make a breakthrough or contribute knowledge to my field.”

I believe the Goldwater Scholarship will provide new networking opportunities for me as I enter graduate school.

At NJIT’s Tissue Innervation and Muscle Mimetics Lab under the guidance of biomedical engineering professor Jonathan Grasman and doctoral student-mentor Natalie Kozan, Bishara has been immersed in cutting-edge tissue engineering research. 

She’s exploring the use of a sponge-like hydrogel constructed with a structural protein that is key for wound healing in our bodies, called fibrin. Grasman’s lab aims to create improved tissue scaffolds for victims of volumetric muscle loss (VML) — where the ability of tissue to direct regeneration is disrupted, leading to nonrecoverable loss of muscle function.

“One of the approaches our lab is developing is to effectively trick the body into thinking VML injuries are like minor injuries, something that our bodies heal all the time,” said Grasman. “These strategies require precise tuning of biomaterials, and Simone has been critical in not only determining the effectiveness of different crosslinkers, but she is also developing protocols for the rest of the lab. She is an outstanding scientist.”

The biomaterial offers a promising solution over synthetic materials that have previously been used to engineer functional tissues, as it can be isolated directly from a blood sample of a patient in need. 

“Fibrin was selected because it assists in blood clot formation after injury, which demonstrates its biocompatibility and its use as a provision matrix in wound healing,” explained Bishara. “I incorporate crosslinkers, specifically genipin, to increase interfibrillar bonds and networks within fibrin, therefore increasing the sponge’s stiffness.” 

Bishara’s work at Grasman’s lab has earned plaudits well before her Goldwater Scholarship. Her research was showcased at NJIT’s 2021 URI Summer Research & Innovation Symposium where it took first prize, earning her induction into NJIT’s student chapter of the National Academy of Inventors.

Yet, Bishara is still seeking to optimize the strength and elasticity of the material.

“I am revising protocols and hope to determine the optimal concentration of genipin that will make the fibrin sponges stronger without significantly impacting the elasticity,” said Bishara. 

For now, Bishara says she plans to transfer her hands-on lab experience to career ambitions that originally brought her to NJIT to major in biochemistry — she’s pursuing a DMD/Ph.D. in oral biology once she graduates next year.

“It’s a difficult and important field that is sometimes overlooked … I’ve been inspired by researchers like Professor Scott Kachlany from Rutgers University, who is investigating a treatment for autoimmune diseases using a protein secreted from an oral bacterium,” said Bishara. “I hope to make similar advances in this field, and to do that I wanted to have a really diverse background in the sciences … it’s the reason I decided to major in biochemistry at NJIT.” 

“I believe the Goldwater Scholarship will provide new networking opportunities for me as I enter graduate school, and hopefully it opens doors to amazing research opportunities that enable me to help others throughout my career.”