Nik Zuchowicz is an MS student with Dr. Tiersch's lab. His research background is in conservation cryobiology, quantitative microscopy, osmotic modeling, computer-assisted sperm analysis, and scientific diving. As a technician for Dr. Mary Hagedorn of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, he developed 3D-printed devices for the freezing and vitrification of biological samples. He aided Dr. Jon Daly in the first successful laser warming of vitrified coral larvae, a result that holds promise for the long-term conservation of coral reefs in an era of embattled ecosystems.

He joined the Tiersch lab to take advantage of its interdisciplinary, flexible approach to cryopreservation device design and deployment. The active collaboration between Renewable Natural Resources and Biological Engineering is an ideal environment in which to learn a broad collection of related skills, such as microfluidics chip fabrication, heat transfer modeling, and novel sperm analysis techniques.

Nik’s current research interests include standardizing and scaling up cryopreservation protocols, designing new 3D-printable field freezing tools, and tackling practical problems in the use of cryoprotective chemicals.