10/09/2026
Get to know our students! Amanda is a doctoral student working with Dr. Maleckis.
Hello! I'm Amanda, a doctoral student working in Cardiovascular Biomechanics under Dr. Kaspars Maleckis. Our team is developing next generation synthetic vascular grafts for the treatment of peripheral artery disease. The idea behind our work is to create grafts that better match the mechanical behavior of native arteries while supporting healthy cell integration after implantation, with the goal of improving long term graft performance.
I'm originally from Latvia, a small country on the Baltic Sea. Before beginning my doctorate, my research background was in biology, particularly molecular biology, stem cell research, and microfluidic technologies. Those experiences eventually led me into cardiovascular biomechanics, where I now focus on the biological side of validating our vascular grafts. My work ranges from cell and organ culture to developing flow based experimental models to study endothelial biology. I've also recently started assisting with pre-clinical surgeries, which has become one of my favorite parts of research.
After my doctorate, I hope to continue in academia because I enjoy the freedom to ask new questions, build creative ideas into research projects, and see them grow into studies that can make a real difference. I've especially fallen in love with translational research because it allows discoveries to be explored from fundamental biological mechanisms all the way to preclinical validation, bringing science one step closer to helping patients.
When I'm not in the lab, I'm usually at Muay Thai training, planning my next trip with my husband, or searching for a great horror movie to watch. I love experiencing different cultures, trying local food wherever we travel, and I'm always up for hearing recommendations for places to visit next!
