People

Chris Bouwmeester | Postdoctoral Associate

Chris is interested in the interaction between mechanical assist devices and the cardiovascular system. His research involves testing and creating novel methods, strategies, and devices that pump synergistically with the native heart. He is responsible for recording in-vivo hemodynamic signals and his current projects involve measuring the response of LVAD devices to physiological control and testing of the FREE-D LVAD system. Chris obtained his PhD in biomedical engineering and BSc in mechanical engineering from the University of Calgary, Canada.

Brian Letzen | Medical Student Research Assistant

Brian is a fourth-year Yale medical student in the Bonde Lab. His current research focus is on developing a wirelessly-powered untethered intra-aortic pump that can be delivered via catheter. He graduated from University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 2008 and from Johns Hopkins University with a master's degree in biomedical engineering in 2010. In the past, he has worked in engineering at GE Healthcare and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Oliver Jawitz | Medical Student Research Assistant

Oliver is a fourth-year Yale medical student and has been working in the Bonde Lab since 2012. Oliver has been involved in a number of different research projects including development of the FREE-D LVAD system, outcomes based research in heart transplantation, as well as novel VAD pump design and implementation. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2010, where he majored in Chinese and minored in Biology. Oliver is from Great Neck, New York but grew up in Hong Kong.

Jin Woo Yoo (Gene) | Medical Student Research Assistant

Gene is a second-year Yale medical student in the Bonde lab, where he has focused on outcomes research investigating the evolving role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the care of cardiogenic shock patients. He graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in human developmental and regenerative biology in 2012. Gene is from Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Kristi Oki| Engineering Student Researcher

Kristi is a Yale undergraduate majoring in mechanical engineering. She enjoys sharing her love of Yale and engineering with prospective students as an Engineering Tour Guide for the Yale Admissions Office. She is also involved with Splash at Yale, a program which brings middle and high school students to Yale to take classes taught by undergraduates. Kristi has spent the past two summers abroad in Japan, and she loves studying the Japanese language and culture. Her other interests include pottery, letterpress printing, and scientific glassblowing.

Daniel Giebisch| Research Intern

Daniel is a junior at Amity Regional High School. He participates in the school's Science Research Program, which allows high school students to delve into undergraduate and graduate-level research. Previously, he studied renewable energies and mechanical engineering. He currently focuses on electrical engineering, assisting in circuit design in the Bonde Lab. Daniel is also an avid cellist. He has spent the last two summers attending music competitions and festivals in France and Switzerland.