@TARE_Lab

Robinson Tissue and Regenerative Engineering Lab Research Interests: Sex differences in meniscal tissue regeneration, biomaterials

 Seattle, WA
sites.uw.edu/jrobins1/
Joined January 2022
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  • Following40
  • Followers50
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The TARE Lab welcomed US Congressional Staffers from the offices of Sen. Murray, Rep. Smith, Rep. Jayapal, Rep. Schrier, Rep. Strickland, and Rep. Larsen to ISCRM and shared our research on women's musculoskeletal health. Thank you for your work supporting science in WA state!
PhD student Madelyn Atkins runs a hands-on exploration station allowing staffers to touch the various biomaterials we make in the lab!

ALT PhD student Madelyn Atkins runs a hands-on exploration station allowing staffers to touch the various biomaterials we make in the lab!

PhD student Janie Johnson demonstrates immunofluorescence microscopy and discusses how we can evaluate sex differences in estradiol responses in cell culture models.

ALT PhD student Janie Johnson demonstrates immunofluorescence microscopy and discusses how we can evaluate sex differences in estradiol responses in cell culture models.

Staffers toured the lab with UW Advancement representatives and participated in demonstrations and hands-on activities.

ALT Staffers toured the lab with UW Advancement representatives and participated in demonstrations and hands-on activities.

PhD students Janie and Madelyn next to our bioreactor demonstration set.

ALT PhD students Janie and Madelyn next to our bioreactor demonstration set.

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The TARE Lab went to Happy Lemon to celebrate Anika Shah's last day as our Research Scientist. Anika has been an essential member on several projects and an amazing mentor in the lab since 2024. We'll miss her here, but we're so excited for her bright future as a doctor!
The Robinson Lab at Happy Lemon for Anika's last day! We'll miss having her in the lab so much, but we're so excited for her bright future.

ALT The Robinson Lab at Happy Lemon for Anika's last day! We'll miss having her in the lab so much, but we're so excited for her bright future.

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Congrats to our summer ISCRM REU undergrad, Elizabeth Chuesh on her final poster presentation! Elizabeth has learned so much this summer and brought joy and curiosity to the lab. We're excited she'll be staying on with the lab for the coming academic year!
Elizabeth Chuesh beside her poster entitled "Investigating sex differences in wound closure and nascent matrix production in response to 17 beta-estradiol dosage in primary human meniscus cells" at the ISCRM REU Symposium.

ALT Elizabeth Chuesh beside her poster entitled "Investigating sex differences in wound closure and nascent matrix production in response to 17 beta-estradiol dosage in primary human meniscus cells" at the ISCRM REU Symposium.

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Congratulations to Jordan Vanni, who passed her Molecular Engineering and Sciences Doctoral Preliminary Exam last week! We are so proud of your hard work and the knowledge you've gained in your first year.
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The TARE lab took advantage of the great weather to go out to lunch at the classic Seattle summer spot, Tacos Chukis, just a short walk from the lab! More celebrations of our recent graduates.
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TARE Lab PhD student Janie Johnson enjoyed learning about multiscale biomechanics and mechanobiology projects from around the world and was able to share her first year of work at the World Congress of Biomechanics in Vancouver, BC, Canada last week!
Janie presenting her work entitled "Developing a Collagen Fiber-Mimetic Strain Model of the Meniscus Cell Mechanoresponse After Injury".

ALT Janie presenting her work entitled "Developing a Collagen Fiber-Mimetic Strain Model of the Meniscus Cell Mechanoresponse After Injury".

The beautiful view from the Vancouver Convention Center!

ALT The beautiful view from the Vancouver Convention Center!

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More pictures from the UW School of Medicine hooding ceremony! Can't believe it's already been a month since our latest graduates received their PhDs!
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We are so excited for #WCB2026 in Vancouver this week! Janie Johnson will be presenting on her work to develop in vitro mechanobiological models of the aftermath of meniscus injury.
TARE Lab Oral Presentation: Janie Johnson Developing a Collagen Fiber-Mimetic Strain Model of the Meniscus Cell Mechanoresponse After Injury Coauthors: Katherine Meinhold, Jenny Robinson Session: OA77 - Tissue Engineered Models for Physiology and Developmental Mechanobiology, 7/12/26, 17:00 - 18:00 PDT, West 220

ALT TARE Lab Oral Presentation: Janie Johnson Developing a Collagen Fiber-Mimetic Strain Model of the Meniscus Cell Mechanoresponse After Injury Coauthors: Katherine Meinhold, Jenny Robinson Session: OA77 - Tissue Engineered Models for Physiology and Developmental Mechanobiology, 7/12/26, 17:00 - 18:00 PDT, West 220

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Congratulations to all our 2026 graduates! We are so proud of you and can't wait to cheer on your next steps!
Dr. Kyley Burkey, Ph.D. at her University of Kansas graduation walk.

ALT Dr. Kyley Burkey, Ph.D. at her University of Kansas graduation walk.

Dr. Katherine Meinhold, Ph.D. and Dr. John Bradford, Ph.D. at the Suzzallo library after their University of Washington hooding ceremony.

ALT Dr. Katherine Meinhold, Ph.D. and Dr. John Bradford, Ph.D. at the Suzzallo library after their University of Washington hooding ceremony.

The TARE Lab's newest doctors, Dr. Robinson, and lab members Anika, Susy, and Jordan at graduation.

ALT The TARE Lab's newest doctors, Dr. Robinson, and lab members Anika, Susy, and Jordan at graduation.

TARE Lab undergraduate Mazen Alsheikha also graduated with his BS and will be applying to medical school! Congratulations!

ALT TARE Lab undergraduate Mazen Alsheikha also graduated with his BS and will be applying to medical school! Congratulations!

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Dr. John Bradford, Ph.D. successfully defended his dissertation "Developing an in vitro model for regeneration of the avascular human knee meniscus with sex-biased implications" May 29th. We are so proud of Dr. Bradford and grateful for his boundless curiosity and enthusiasm!
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Our first year cohort showed up for ISCRM Symposium! The TARE Lab presented a total of 5 posters, one from each of our first year PhD students and our research scientist. Cheers to the end of a great first year, keep up the good work!
Research scientist Anika and first year PhD students Jordan, Madelyn, Janie, and Nini after the ISCRM Symposium poster session.

ALT Research scientist Anika and first year PhD students Jordan, Madelyn, Janie, and Nini after the ISCRM Symposium poster session.

First year MolES PhD student Jordan with her poster examining the differential expression of commercially available Estrogen Receptor antibodies.

ALT First year MolES PhD student Jordan with her poster examining the differential expression of commercially available Estrogen Receptor antibodies.

First year ME PhD student Nini with her poster showcasing the unique drug-delivering hydrogel she has been developing.

ALT First year ME PhD student Nini with her poster showcasing the unique drug-delivering hydrogel she has been developing.

First year ME PhD student Janie with her poster on the effects of estradiol on matrix deposition and cellular migration.

ALT First year ME PhD student Janie with her poster on the effects of estradiol on matrix deposition and cellular migration.

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First year MolES PhD Student Madelyn Atkins and Research Scientist Anika Shah represented the TARE lab at the annual UW ISCRM Symposium last week with both lightning talks and posters!
First year MolES PhD student Madelyn Atkins with her poster focusing on her work with shear-thinning hydrogels with co-advisor Dr. Cole DeForest.

ALT First year MolES PhD student Madelyn Atkins with her poster focusing on her work with shear-thinning hydrogels with co-advisor Dr. Cole DeForest.

Anika Shah with her poster on her meniscus-mimicking hydrogel adhesion and stiffness project.

ALT Anika Shah with her poster on her meniscus-mimicking hydrogel adhesion and stiffness project.

Madelyn's lightning talk during the ISCRM Symposium.

ALT Madelyn's lightning talk during the ISCRM Symposium.

Anika's lightning talk during the ISCRM Symposium.

ALT Anika's lightning talk during the ISCRM Symposium.

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Undergraduate Marisa Valenzano presented at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium last week! We are so proud of not only her great presentation, but all her work characterizing and modulating the mechanical properties of our PHA hydrogel system. Great work Marisa!
Marisa Valenzano at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium with her poster entitled "Reversible in Situ Modulation of PHA Hydrogel Stiffness for Modeling Dynamic Meniscal Mechanics".

ALT Marisa Valenzano at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium with her poster entitled "Reversible in Situ Modulation of PHA Hydrogel Stiffness for Modeling Dynamic Meniscal Mechanics".

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Dr. Kyley Burkey was awarded the Society For Biomaterials Orthopaedic SIG Best Presentation Award at the April annual meeting and will be presenting her talk again at the webinar below! Thanks to the organizers for highlighting her work.
Presentation flyer for the 2026 SFB Orthopaedic SIG Awardee Showcase Webinar. Dr. Kyley Burkey received the Orthopaedic SIG Best Presentation Award for her presentation entitled "Investigation of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel network formation for 3D in vitro modeling of knee meniscus"

ALT Presentation flyer for the 2026 SFB Orthopaedic SIG Awardee Showcase Webinar. Dr. Kyley Burkey received the Orthopaedic SIG Best Presentation Award for her presentation entitled "Investigation of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel network formation for 3D in vitro modeling of knee meniscus"

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In April we celebrated the completion of both Dr. Burkey and Dr. Meinhold's PhDs with a rooftop potluck and games! We are so proud of these two and grateful for the joy and energy they've brought to the lab, in addition to all their hard work.
Dr. Kyley Burkey, Dr. Robinson, and Dr. Katherine Meinhold

ALT Dr. Kyley Burkey, Dr. Robinson, and Dr. Katherine Meinhold

Updated lab photo at our potluck

ALT Updated lab photo at our potluck

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Ph.D. Candidate(!) Susy Simmonds-Bohorquez successfully gave her general exam last week! We are so excited for her continued work in partnership with co-advisor Dr. Ron Kwon and the Musculoskeletal Systems Biology Lab. Go Susy!
Susy after passing her general exam surrounded by labmates Nini, Jordan, Katherine, John, Anika, and Madelyn.

ALT Susy after passing her general exam surrounded by labmates Nini, Jordan, Katherine, John, Anika, and Madelyn.

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Janie Johnson has received a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP)! This prestigious fellowship seeks to fund graduate students with promisingly impactful research careers. We are proud to see Janie's efforts recognized at the national level! See more: sites.uw.edu/jrobins1/2026/0…

Janie Johnson Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship!

Janie Johnson was just awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP)! This prestigious fellowship seeks to fund graduate students with promisingly impactful careers...

sites.uw.edu
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Congratulations to Dr. Kyley Burkey, who successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis April 2nd and is returning to KU to complete her M.D.! We are so proud of our future double doctor! Please read the lab's full message to Dr. Burkey here: sites.uw.edu/jrobins1/2026/0…
Dr. Burkey with flowers and a congratulatory sign after a successful defense!

ALT Dr. Burkey with flowers and a congratulatory sign after a successful defense!

Dr. Burkey at the defense of her Ph.D. thesis entitled “Engineering hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels for the investigation of meniscal cell mechanotransduction toward tailored repair strategies”.

ALT Dr. Burkey at the defense of her Ph.D. thesis entitled “Engineering hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels for the investigation of meniscal cell mechanotransduction toward tailored repair strategies”.

Dr. Burkey with friends and fellow KU M.D./Ph.D. students, one of whom successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis the same morning!

ALT Dr. Burkey with friends and fellow KU M.D./Ph.D. students, one of whom successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis the same morning!

Dr. Burkey surrounded by family after her thesis defense.

ALT Dr. Burkey surrounded by family after her thesis defense.

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Susy, Katherine, Janie, and Dr. Robinson represented the TARE Lab at yesterday’s #shebelieves summit. We also cheered on the USWNT in their friendly against Japan on Tuesday with over 36,000 friends—the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in Seattle history!
Susy, Katherine, and Janie after the shebelieves summit in Seattle.

ALT Susy, Katherine, and Janie after the shebelieves summit in Seattle.

Susy, Katherine, Jordan, Janie and UW research friends attending the USWNT friendly

ALT Susy, Katherine, Jordan, Janie and UW research friends attending the USWNT friendly

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Check out Dr. Katherine Meinhold's feature on UW BioE about her recent SFB Award: bioe.uw.edu/meinhold-receive…
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