Skip to main navigation Skip to main content
Skip To Keyboard Navigation
Georgia Tech |

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Office of Undergraduate Education & Student Success

Main navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Who We Are
    • Where Are We
    • UROP Event Videos
    • Experiential and Engaged Learning
  • Get Started
    • 7 Steps to Get Involved
    • How to Register
    • Research Opportunities
    • Presentation Opportunities
    • FAQ
    • Resources
  • Research Programs
    • PURA
    • Research Option
    • Spring Symposium
    • GT 1000 Research
    • Researcher Profiles
    • Meeting of the Minds
  • Undergraduate Research Ambassadors
    • About URA
    • Apply to be an Ambassador
    • Current Ambassadors
    • Office Hours
    • URA Events
    • URA Resources
  • For Faculty
    • Quick Information
    • NSF REU Supplement
    • Resources
      • Mentoring Resources
      • General Resources
      • Discipline Resources
      • Writing & Presentation
      • Post a Research Opportunity

Contact Us

  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Log In

Search

Breadcrumb

  1. Home

Katie Schreiber is a 4th-year biomedical engineering major studying photothermal properties of nanobiomaterials for enhanced wound healing applications with Dr. Younan Xia. 

Katie wears a black pantsuit and smiles at the camera.

How long have you been an undergraduate researcher at Georgia Tech?

I have been involved in undergraduate research since Summer 2023 at Georgia Tech

How did you get involved with undergraduate research?

I got involved with undergraduate research by reaching out to faculty whose work aligned with my interests. My first experience was with SimTigrate Design Lab at Georgia Tech, where I contributed to projects aimed at designing safe and supportive environments for individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). As part of a collaborative team, I helped develop a series of educational videos highlighting how home environments can promote better sleep quality. I also contributed to a published study examining the tasks, behaviors, and challenges individuals with MCI face in the kitchen. I later shifted my research focus to nanobiomaterials for enhanced wound healing applications in Dr. Younan Xia’s lab, where I am currently involved in the development and analysis of photothermal-responsive materials.

What are you working on?

I’m currently working in Dr. Younan Xia’s lab on a project that combines materials science and biomedical engineering. My research focuses on developing polydopamine-coated hydroxyapatite (HAp@PDA) nanowires which are tiny, biocompatible structures designed to support wound healing. I synthesize the nanowires, coat them with a bioinspired polymer (polydopamine), and use vacuum filtration to create membranes. These membranes are then tested under near-infrared (NIR) light to explore their photothermal properties. Ultimately, I study how this light-triggered heating influences cell behavior, which could lead to more effective and responsive wound care materials.

Katie, wearing a lab coat and protective glasses, uses a pipette with a liquid in a beaker.

 

What is your favorite thing about research/researching?

My favorite part of research is the opportunity to explore new possibilities for improving healthcare and making a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need. I especially enjoy having endless opportunities to apply hands-on skills from my biomedical engineering coursework directly to my research projects. Courses like Organic Chemistry, Biotransport, Systems Physiology, and others at Georgia Tech have provided a strong foundation that continues to inform and guide my work in the lab.

What are your future plans and how has research influenced them?

I plan to pursue a Master’s in Biomedical Innovation and Development and work in research and development at a company focused on improving wound healing outcomes. My goal is to help create medical devices or biomaterials that significantly reduce the recovery time for patients. Being involved in undergraduate research has played a major role in shaping this path. It has shown me how innovation in the lab can directly impact patient care and inspired me to contribute to translational research that bridges engineering and medicine.

Recent Researcher Profiles

Katie Schreiber
Pranay Ramaswamy
Brian Roberts
Joni Isbell
Emma Joly
Lucy Scott
Seth Kinoshita
Arnav Mardia
Benji Panuski
Zoya Mir
Tia Vaish
Nolan Bridges
Shreenithi Katta
Vicky Celedon-Garcia
Shreya Jha
Megan Jermak
Azeh Ndifor
Kaylin Nolan
Suzan Manasreh
Carlos Márcio de Oliveira e Silva Filho
Kate Cole
Jorik Stoop
Payton McClarity Jones
Griffin Wagner
Grace Kim
Brian González
Divali Legore
Arnav Hiray
Ashley Darling
Charles Hong
Marybeth Yonk
Rishab Agarwal
Killian Vetter
Shirley Shabnam
Austin Shoemaker
Helen Tran
Ryan Stoddard
Anisha Kanukolanu
Patrick O'Malley
Kelly Eick

Accessibility Information

Download Microsoft Products   >     
Download Adobe Reader   >

Georgia Institute of Technology

North Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30332 +1 404.894.2000 Campus Map

  • General
  • Directory
  • Employment
  • Emergency Information
  • Legal
  • Legal & Privacy Information
  • Human Trafficking Notice
  • Title IX/Sexual Misconduct
  • Hazing Public Disclosures
  • Accessibility
  • Accountability
  • Accreditation
  • Report Free Speech and Censorship Concerns
Georgia Tech

© 2025 Georgia Institute of Technology

GT LOGIN