PersonalComing soon
Why I Left My PhD
Reflections on recognizing when a path isn't right and having the courage to redirect toward what truly drives you.
About
I'm a biomedical engineer from EPFL with a deep passion for tissue engineering and organoid biology. My research journey has taken me from mechanical engineering at the American University of Sharjah to stem cell bioengineering at EPFL and biomaterials at Harvard's Mooney Lab.
Throughout my master's, I deliberately worked across multiple labs, spanning developmental biology, microtechnology, organ-on-chip systems, and biomaterials, to build a holistic understanding of how we can engineer human tissue models.
Today, I'm focused on the computational side of organoid biology: single-cell analysis, machine learning for biological data, and building the tools that will help us extract deeper meaning from these remarkable model systems.
2
Publications
6+
Research Labs
5.57
GPA / 6 (EPFL)
Code
Open source work and computational biology projects
View all repositories on GitHub
github.com/nickmahtani
Single-Cell Analysis Pipelines
Reproducible scRNA-seq workflows for organoid transcriptomic data, following approaches from leading computational biology groups.
PythonScanpyscRNA-seq
ML for Biological Data
Machine learning models applied to computational genomics problems, from coursework by Manolis Kellis (MIT) and Aaron Quinlan.
Pythonscikit-learnGenomics
Bioinformatics Toolkit
Scripts and notebooks for biological data analysis, visualization, and pipeline automation.
RBashJupyter
Research
2024 - 2025
Scientific Assistant
Lab of Chemical Nanotechnology (CHEMINA), EPFL
DNA aptamer-based biosensing for neurotransmitter detection
2022 - 2023
Master's Thesis (ZKS Fellow)
Mooney Lab, Harvard University
Macroporous alginate scaffolds for tendon tissue engineering
2022
Industry Intern
CSEM, Neuchâtel
Microfluidic perfusion systems for liver organoid culture
2021 - 2022
Research Assistant
Lütolf Lab, EPFL
Liver organoid-on-chip microfluidic cultures & vasculature
2021
Research Assistant
Aztekin Lab, EPFL
In vitro AER cell systems for limb regeneration
2019 - 2020
Research Assistant
Lab for Immuno Bioengineering, NYU Abu Dhabi
High-throughput bioprinting of immune cell-laden scaffolds
Publications
Videos
Cell Stories
Science Explainers
YouTube videos where I break down complex research topics in tissue engineering and cell biology into engaging, accessible explanations.
Watch on YouTubeMusic
Vocal Performances
Singing has been a lifelong passion. From performing as a tenor in the AUS Choir to recording covers, music is how I recharge and express creativity beyond the lab.
Listen to coversThe Brain Hub Podcast
Co-founder & Host
A podcast I co-founded to give early-career researchers in medicine and biomedical engineering a platform to share their journeys, the motivation behind their work, and the impact they hope to achieve.
Listen to episodesTheatre & Music
Performing arts have shaped how I communicate, collaborate, and think creatively.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Little Shop of Horrors
Cast · AUS Performing Arts
Flashbacks
Actor · AUS Performing Arts
Alice in Wonderland
Bass (Orchestra) · AUS Performing Arts
AUS Choir
Tenor · American University of Sharjah
Writing
Thoughts on science, career, and the spaces in between
ScienceComing soon
The Organoid Revolution
How miniature organ models are changing the way we study human biology and develop new therapies.
CareerComing soon
From Wet Lab to Dry Lab
My journey transitioning from bench-side tissue engineering to computational biology and bioinformatics.
Presentations
Integrating DNA Aptamers with Focal Molography for Neurotransmitter Sensing
Maxwell Biosystems Summit 2024Poster
Aptamer-Based Biosensing in Complex Biofluids
Symposium on Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders 2024Poster
Pore Forming Alginate Gels with Tunable Porosity Affect Tendon Derived Cell Behavior
ORS 2024Poster
Bookshelf
What I'm reading and what shaped my thinking
Currently Reading
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Recently Finished
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Recommended
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