Thant joined the Xiao Lab in 2024 to apply her expertise in microfabrication and biomedical engineering to develop an in vitro microfluidic model of the female reproductive system to conduct toxicology studies and improve women’s health.
She was trained in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering from the accelerated BS/MS Biomedical Engineering Program from Drexel University where she also conducted a Master’s thesis research in targeted cancer drug delivery strategies. Thant gained her expertise in Bio-MEMS ( biomedical microelectromechanical systems) through her PhD in Mechanical Engineering where she developed a handheld low-cost, high throughput device to sort biological cells. During her PhD, she also developed and taught multiple engineering modules for a 3-course high school engineering curriculum and attained a graduate minor in Undergraduate STEM Education. She also served as the Vice President of DGWISE (Drexel Graduate Women in Science and Engineering) where she started a mentorship program for first year PhD students and initiated multiple science outreach and research skill development events.