Nona Hashemi presented work integrating microfluidic physics with agent-based biofilm simulation at the International Workshop on Biodesign Automation. Oliveira Lab Ph.D. candidate Nona Hashemi presented “Constraint-Aware Biofilm Design: Integrating Microfluidic Physics into Agent-Based Modeling for Synthetic Biology” at the International Workshop on Biodesign Automation 2026 (IWBDA 2026) in Boulder, Colorado. Her talk focused on a biofilm-on-chip modeling framework that connects COMSOL-based...

We are pleased to share that our review article, “Engineered bacterial biofilms for biotechnological applications,” is now available online in Trends in Biotechnology. This review highlights how engineered bacterial biofilms can be developed as programmable living platforms for biotechnology. The article discusses how biofilm-associated traits, including adhesion, extracellular matrix formation, spatial organization, and stress tolerance, can be repurposed for applications in bioproduction,...

Following his selection to the prestigious SynBioBeta Next-Gen Bioleaders Program, Dr. Sam Oliveira recently attended the SynBioBeta 2026, joining researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from across the synthetic biology community. The event provided an exciting opportunity to engage in discussions on emerging technologies, biotechnology innovation, bioengineering, and the future of programmable biological systems. It was also a valuable platform for connecting with...

Congratulations to Hamed Rastaghi on successfully passing his PhD Preliminary Exam on December 3rd 🎉 This milestone reflects his dedication, hard work, and growing expertise as a researcher. The Oliveira Lab is proud of Hamed’s achievement and looks forward to seeing his continued progress as he advances his doctoral research. Well done, Hamed!

On Saturday, November 2, 2025, Nona Hashemi, a Ph.D. candidate in Nanoengineering at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN), presented her latest research at the 2025 North Carolina Branch Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (NCASM). She shared her work on spatiotemporal bacterial biofilm formation and community dynamics , exploring how microbial communities evolve across space and time. The NCASM 2025 meeting brought together microbiologists and researchers...

On July 18, 2025, Dr. Sam Oliveira presented at the SENIC Nanoscience Summer Institute for Middle School Teachers (NanoSIMST), a...

Dr. Sam Oliveira visited Doroth, his first start-up venture. Doroth is pioneering microfluidic manufacturing infrastructure, bringing...

Last week, our newest postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Thuanny Rios, gave her first presentation at the Oliveira Lab’s Friday Meeting. In her...

Our team recently showcased exciting research at the 2025 North Carolina Microbiome Symposium hosted by the NC Biotech Center ! We...

At the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering ( JSNN) Celebration of Excellence on May 8, 2025 , Nona Hashemi , a Ph.D....

Nona Hashemi Presents at UNC’s First Friday Microbiome Seminar We are proud to share that Nona Hashemi , Ph.D. candidate in...

Big shoutout to Oreoluwa for an outstanding TA session in our Microfluidics course! He walked us through his embedded-electrode project...

Last Saturday, on April 12, the Oliveira Lab organized its first "Python for Bioengineers" workshop, designed specifically to introduce...

Nona Hashemi , a PhD candidate in Nanoengineering from the Oliveira Lab at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN),...

For the second time, we presented in 23rd annual poster vendor night at joint school of nanoscience and nanoengineering (JSNN). We had a...