ERA-Chair Team

ERA-Chair Team

  • Home
  • ERA-Chair Team
Dr. Mihaela MENTEL, PhD in Biology

Mihaela Mentel is a research scientist grade III (CS III) with a PhD in biology since 2011. She received her Master of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest in 2005 while the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University “Al. I. Cuza“ in 2003.
Since October 2023, she joined the Nanotechnology Laboratory as experienced researcher in the ESEI-BioMed project. She is responsible for the employment of flow cytometry for evaluation of the nanoparticles uptake by cells.

More details her
Dr. Razvan GHIARASIM, PhD in Chemistry

Dr. Razvan Ghiarasim obtained his PhD in Chemistry in 2024 at the "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Iasi, Romania. His main research focus is the design and development of nanoparticles based of polymers for biomedical applications. He joined the ESEI-BioMed team in May 2025 as a Postdoctoral Researcher. In this role, he focuses on the design and development of innovative liposomal formulations using microfluidic system. His work aims to create advanced nanocarriers with enhanced stability and improved targeting capabilities for drug delivery applications.

More details here
Dr. Septila Renata, Ph.D. in Chemical Biology

Septila Renata obtained Ph.D. degree in 2021 in TIGP-CBMB Program at Academia Sinica in collaboration with National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. Her research interests are SERS for biological applications and nanoparticles’ synthesis. She gained her postdoctoral research experience at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, for the development of vibrational spectroscopy methods (Raman and FTIR) for food and marine biomass characterization, and also involved in food nanoparticles for human health. In 2023, she was a visiting scientist in the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India, for SERS application for cancer biomarker detection. Currently, she is working as postdoctoral research fellow in the ESEI-BioMed project, where she responsible for synthesis of metal nanoparticles and cancer detection based on a combined SERS and multivariate analysis of different biological fluids.

More details here
Dr. Vera BALAN, PhD in Chemistry

Research expertise in: development and biological characterization of biofunctionalized magnetic nanostructures for medical applications (chemotherapy, blood detoxification, bone tissue engineering).
Experience in research projects: 3 as Project Leader and Member in 13 research national projects as Researcher or Research assistant.
She published 2 book chapters, 27 ISI papers, 3 national patents, 11 ISI proceedings, 4 BDI papers and presented over 70 papers at international and national conferences.
Hirsh Index - 13; Total citations: 745;
Since November 2023, she is Postdoctoral Researcher within the ESEI-BioMed project in the Nanotechnology Laboratory. Her work is focused on development of new magnetic nanomaterials for chemotherapy; coordination of PhD and other students involved in the research topic.

More details here
Dr. Paula STACHE, PhD in Biology

Paula Alexandra (Postu) Stache is scientific researcher at the TRANSCEND IRO. She holds a PhD in Biology since 2019, which provided her with a scientific background in neurodegenerative disorders. She joined the future Nanotechnology Laboratory as postdoctoral researcher since 2021. She had the opportunity to be initiated in the in vitro evaluation of nanoparticles on cell cultures, particularly on glioblastoma cell lines. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher within the ESEI-BioMed project, where she continues her work on the in vitro evaluation of different nanodrugs effects in glioblastoma 2D and 3D cell lines.

More details here
Dr. Camelia Mihaela ZARA, PhD in Physics

She received the PhD degree in Physics at the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, in 2021. For more than 10 years, her scientific interest has been focused on the interaction of nanomaterials, such as magnetic nanoparticles, micro/nanoemulsions, nanowires, with living cells (normal/tumoral cells).
Since 01.11.2023, she joined the Nanotechnology Laboratory as a postdoc researcher within the ESEI-BioMed project, where she is involved in evaluating the biological properties of the nanoparticles developed in the project on 2D and 3D cell cultures.

More details here
Chem. Mirela NISTOR, PhD Student

Mirela Nistor is currently in her second year of pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Doctoral School of Chemistry, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi. Additionally, she serves as a Research Assistant within the ESEI-BioMed project at the Nanotechnology Laboratory, TRANSCEND, Regional Institute of Oncology Iasi. Her academic activities are in the nanomedicine for oncology, with focus on advancing effective cancer treatments tailored to individual patient requirements. Specifically, she works on the synthesis and refinement of iron-based nanosystems designed as (i) carriers for anticancer drug encapsulation and controlled delivery, thermosensitive nanostructures for hyperthermia-based therapy, and (iii) contrast agents for MRI.

More details here
Chem. Ciprian-Paul MĂIREAN

Ciprian-Paul Măirean graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry, “Al. I.Cuza” University in 2016. In 2018, he received the Master of Science degree at the same faculty. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the same faculty. Since 2018, he works as a research assistant at the TRANSCEND, the Regional Institute of Oncology Iasi, specializing in the synthesis of radiopharmaceutical compounds. He joined the ESEI-BioMed research team and the Nanotechnology Laboratory as assistant researcher in April 2024. He carries out activities related to the synthesis, coating, and testing of isotropic plasmonic nanoparticles for SERS/RAMAN spectroscopy for cancer detection.

More details here
Chem. Dragos OLARIU

He graduated the Faculty of Chemistry at "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University, Iasi in 2022 while currently pursuing a master's degree at the same faculty. He was research assistant at the TRANSCEDN-IRO, Nanotechnology Laboratory, where he worked on development of the layered double hydroxides for MRI and drug delivery of anticancer drugs, which were the subjects of his Bachelor and Master theses. Since October 2023, he is assistant researcher within the ESEI-BioMed project. His scientific subject is on the synthesis and characterization of plasmonic nanoparticles for SERS/RAMAN spectroscopy for cancer detection. He is committed to advancing both professionally and within the research group at the Regional Institute of Oncology. He demonstrates a keen interest in acquiring knowledge, mastering new laboratory techniques, and utilizing domain-specific software.

More details here
Former Members

 

  • Dr. Vanda-Gianina Moraru
  • Dr. Bogdan Stache
  • Dr. Sajid Asghar
  • Dr. Roxana-Maria Amărandi
  • Dr. Irina-Cezara Văcărean-Trandafir
  • Dr. Ioana Alexandra Duceac
  • Eng. Chem. Alina Ibănescu
  • Chem. Laura-Andreea Budeanu – master student
  • Chem. Roxana Alexîi – master student
  • Chem. Bruja Sorodoc Gabriela – master student
  • Bioeng. Macovei Ingrid-Elena – bachelor student
  • Bioeng, Ahucioaie Roxana-Elena – bachelor student

 

Learn more about the ESEI-BioMed Project

View Advisory Board