ABOUT

Welcome! Bienvenue!

I am an Assistant Professor at Carleton University in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering. I have always been driven by curiosity—questioning everything from why the sky is blue to how our bodies process food. That same drive led me to earn a Medical Physics degree at the Universidade de São Paulo, where I gained invaluable research experience merging physics and biology. Since then, I have explored various optical imaging techniques, from UV-visible spectroscopy for photodynamic therapy to cutting-edge nonlinear microscopy for assessing atherosclerotic plaques. My PhD centred on extracting biochemical features from arterial images using texture analysis, shedding light on how collagen, elastin, and lipid structures evolve in disease. Now, I am expanding this toolkit at Carleton, combining optical microscopy, image analysis, and 3D bioprinting to investigate cellular communication and tissue repair in asthma. The tools we develop at the Tissue Engineering and BioImaging (TEB) Lab help answer relevant biological questions related to assessing tissue function during normal and disease processes and in response to treatments. We are also core members of the Tissue Engineering and Applied Materials (TEAM) Hub.

My ultimate goal? We aim to build bridges across disciplines and deepen our understanding of the complex mechanisms that keep us alive.

Dr. Leila Mostaço-Guidolin

OUR TEAM

Meet our fantastic team of trainees, the driving force behind our interdisciplinary research. They bring diverse backgrounds and a shared passion for pushing scientific boundaries—whether through novel optical imaging techniques, 3D bioprinting, or groundbreaking data analysis. Together, we are shaping the future of biomedical discovery.

DR. LEILA MOSTAÇO-GUIDOLIN

Principal Investigator

Dr. Mostaço-Guidolin has a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Manitoba. She is a Canada Research Chair in Imaging and Biomaterials Characterization and leads the Tissue Engineering and Bioimaging group.

Life outside work

Leila is a sports lover, from swimming to cross-country skiing, basketball and anything in between. She was part of the Brazilian Cross Country Ski and Biathlon team for a few years, attempting to qualify for the Winter Olympic Games (nope, it did not work despite all the effort!). She enjoys the outdoors, being active, and travelling (the bigger the 'cultural shock’, the better). When at home, she enjoys drawing and reading all kinds of interesting books. Recently, she started learning Egyptian hieroglyphs – just because why not? :)

DR. HENRIQUE PIVA

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Piva has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of São Paulo. He joined us in 2025 and is co-supervised by Dr. Edana Cassol. He is leading the development and application of super-resolution imaging strategies to track cell-ECM interactions in fibrosis and inflammation.

Life outside work

Henrique enjoys staying active, especially through indoor biking at the gym. He also has a passion for DIY projects and fixing things. On weekends, he likes to try out baking recipes he comes across online, experimenting with different flavours and techniques.

DR. NATASHA KUNCHUR

Research Collaborator

Natasha Kunchur obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, and despite her love for biology, she has always had a passion for math and data analysis. Natasha’s research explores machine learning applications in Raman spectroscopy, analyzing various methods that could be used to classify tissue components and Raman spectra accurately and in an automated fashion.

Life outside work

Natasha is a huge fan of living an active lifestyle. Having played sports her entire life (from soccer to basketball to weights training), Natasha loves chasing the high of exercising. The pandemic has exaggerated Natasha’s love for the outdoors, allowing her to explore and appreciate the beautiful hiking trails hidden around Ottawa and Gatineau. Alongside exercising, Natasha is an avid fan of travelling and learning about the beautiful cultures the world has to offer. She is definitely counting down the days till she can get on an airplane again! Natasha's other passions include teaching dance to kids, learning to make new recipes, and volunteering for local sports teams.

GUILHERME CONTESINI

PhD Student

Guilherme Contesini, known as Contesini, is a physicist working on numerical and mathematical models. He is investigating ways to simulate cell and tissue behaviours under different conditions. His work is based on developing such models to eventually guide bio-ink's experimental selections to replicate specific cellular behaviours and outcomes.

Life outside work

During his free time, you will find him woodworking, designing projects, or studying metalwork (he is still a newbie and does not own a lathe or a milling machine, yet). He also loves to bake Portuguese and Italian recipes. On rare occasions, you will find him outside skywatching and doing astrophotography, two of his first, most beloved hobbies.

AROOSHA FAREGHDELI

PhD Student

Aroosha is a biomedical engineer who decided to follow her passion for tissue engineering and bioprinting. In September 2022, she joined our research group and is co-supervised by Dr. Edana Cassol. Her Ph.D. project involves 3D- bioprinting, non-linear optical microscopy, and image analysis methods to create tumour models to be used as testing beds for oncolytic viruses.

Life outside work

Besides studying and researching, Aroosha enjoys listening to music and dancing. She also spends a good amount of time cooking, mainly traditional Persian recipes, yet she can make delicious desserts, too. Being a big fan of chocolate is another fact about her. Her favourite chocolate is dark chocolates with a bit of mint favour! Moreover, outdoor activities, particularly hiking, are Aroosha’s favourite hobbies during weekends and holidays while she prepares for a perfect week.

NADIA ABZAN

PhD Student

Nadia has a Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Materials Science Engineering. Nadia is co-supervised by Dr. William Willmore and joined our group in 20202. She is focusing on tissue biochemistry and is investigating the effects of oxygen on ECM remodelling and its role in fibrotic tissue development in respiratory diseases such as asthma.

Life outside work

Nadia has a creative mind when designing: it can be a piece of furniture, jewellery, or even biomaterials. Pursuing her passion for art, she started her handmade jewellery business five years ago, and since then, she’s been making handmade gold and silver jewellery pieces. She also loves trying new and challenging adventures, increasing her skills in different areas and making her a multitasker! She has volunteered actively in charity work during her past academic years, raising funds to help kids with disabilities and teaching them English. She started her career in biomedical engineering to make a footprint in enhancing kids’ health conditions.

AMULYA KAIANATHBHATTA

PhD Student

Amulya obtained her Bachelor's and Master's in Biomedical Engineering and re-joined the group in January 2025 as a PhD student. She has been our microscopy guru, and her PhD work will integrate biofabrication strategies to develop multilayered in vitro models of airways with different cell types.

Life outside work

Amulya is a big fan of music. She plays a few different instruments in her free time: trumpet, piano, and acoustic guitar. During the summer months, she can be found hiking, biking and spending time out in nature whenever she can. In the winter, Amulya enjoys skating on the Rideau Canal. Recently, Amulya has taken up painting as a media to demonstrate her love for nature. In her downtime, she loves to watch movies from various countries to appreciate different cultures.

JAI RANA

Research Assistant

Jai graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science. He has been working on the computational analysis of our 'bacteria project', where we evaluated different machine learning models to classifiy bacteria commonly found in clinical settings based on Raman spectral signatures.

Life outside work

During hsi free time, he enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle by either weightlifting or skiing. Along with physical activity, reading helps introduce new perspectives into his personal life. The books range from fiction to nonfiction, and each one takes Jai on a pleasant journey. From a creative standpoint, pursuing photography has allowed him to explore different features of light and observe details that often get overlooked.

MARIANA ROSALES

MITACS - GRI Research Assistant

Soon

Life outside work

Soon..

CAROLE BEAULIEU

Lab Manager

Carole is our cell culture wizard and lab manager, who keeps our research humming! With a keen eye for detail and a knack for creative problem-solving, she ensures our cells stay happy, and our experiments stay on track. From troubleshooting protocols to mentoring team members, Carole's enthusiasm, work ethic and expertise form the backbone of our lab’s success.

Life outside work

Outside the lab, she is the mother of two (three if doggy is included in the count). She's a ringette and a speed skating mom (meaning she spends way too much time at the rink...). She is an outdoor lover (cross-country skiing during winter; biking, hiking, water sports and gardening the rest of the year. Travelling, especially at a destination that implies hiking and nice photography opportunities, is a treat she tries to afford as often as possible. Designing and building projects always fills her mind and drives her husband crazy. In her spare time (there isn't much), she likes to read, do sewing work, create photography/ travel journal books, and relax in front of a puzzle. Her dream is to retire in the Laurentides, north of Montreal, so she can live close to nature, hit the ski trail all winter long and fulfil her building projects.

AICHA LAINA

MITACS - GRI Research Assistant

Aicha is a medical student from Brazil with a strong interest in biomedical research. She joined the Tissue Engineering and Bioimaging group through the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship, where she is exploring tumour models, biomaterials, and mechanical characterization techniques. Her previous experiences include 3D printing applications in medical education and anatomical modelling, reflecting her passion for combining technology and healthcare to improve biomedical discoveries.

Life outside work

Outside the lab, Aicha enjoys exploring new places and going out to walk around and discover new spots. She loves travelling and trying different foods, especially pasta and sushi, which are among her favourites. She also enjoys spending time with friends, going out together, and sharing good moments over food and conversation. In her free time, she loves reading books, watching movies, and she is a big Harry Potter fan, always happy to rewatch the series again and again. She also enjoys listening to music of many different styles, often creating new playlists depending on her mood, so her music taste changes and evolves every day.