Graduate Research Assistant
2025 George W. Laird Merit Fellowship

Mikayla Jackson

(she/her/hers)

Mikayla Jackson is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Delaware. She graduated in 2024 from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. During her time at UVA, she worked in the Make to Learn Lab with the Department of Human Development and Education, where she helped develop a 3D-printed Open Science Hardware microscope. She also participated in the Harvard SEAS Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in the Mooney and Freedman Labs, focusing on hydrogels for modulating the immune response and cartilage repair.

In the Oakes Lab, Mikayla designs computer-aided (CAD) microneedle arrays for drug delivery and develops nanoparticles for regulating gene expression in innate immune cells. Her research centers on immune tolerance, with broader interests in biomaterials, nanomedicine, and neuro-immune interactions.

Outside of the lab, Mikayla enjoys crochet, watching movies, reading books, spending time at the beach, and mentoring students through the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).