Rachel A Hegab
Rachel joined the Peppas lab in Spring 2025 as a Biomedical Engineering PhD Student. Her current research interests include advancing siRNA delivery platforms for better clinical translation in treating inflammatory diseases. Originally from Louisiana, she earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University where she researched the development of designer hydrogels for oral delivery of vasodilators for the treatment of cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory diseases. Then, she was a R&D engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab where she worked on a portfolio of projects focused on biomaterial technology for defense, healthcare, emerging threats, sensing, climate resilience, and operational biology. In her free time, Rachel enjoys running, reading, traveling, crafting and gardening.
Fabiola A. Chapa Villarreal
Fabiola joined the Peppas Lab in 2021 as a Chemical Engineering PhD student. Her current research interests include the development of a protein delivery system to treat autoimmune diseases. Fabiola was born and raised in Mexico. She graduated from Tecnologico de Monterrey with a B.S. in Chemistry and Nanotechnology Engineering, where she performed research on the fabrication of a 3D model of the blood-brain barrier and also on luminescent composites based on lanthanides and biopolymers. Outside of the lab, Fabiola enjoys painting, dancing Latin music, hiking, and cooking.
J Jesus Rodriguez-Cruz
Jesus joined the Peppas Lab in 2021 as a Biomedical Engineering PhD student. His research project is focused on the development of ocular drug delivery platforms for the controlled delivery of anti-angiogenic therapeutic agents to the posterior segment of the eye. Jesus was born and raised in Mexico for 15 years before moving to the US. In the US, he completed high school and then graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. While at A&M, he performed research on surface modifying additives for intraocular lens materials. Outside the lab, Jesus likes to cook, listen to podcasts, go on road trips, try food from different cultures, enjoy a good run, and he is also a big coffee fan.
Ishaan Duggal
Ishaan joined the Peppas Lab in 2023 as a Molecular pharmaceutics and drug delivery PhD student. His research project is focused on improving the intestinal permeability of high molecular weight proteins. Ishaan did his bachelor’s in pharmacy at Panjab university, India. Subsequently, Ishaan pursued master’s in pharmaceutics at University of Minnesota. While at UMN his research focused on shape memory polymers synthesis and oral absorption enhancement. Outside the lab, Ishaan likes to travel, garden, hike and try food from different cultures.
