Peeler Lab People

Department of Bioengineering

The Peeler Lab

Biomaterials Research for Immunomodulation, Drug delivery, and Genetic Engineering

Principal Investigator

David Peeler

David Peeler

Assistant Professor of Bioengineering

Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact

Department of Bioengineering

dpeeler@uoregon.edu | Google Scholar

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My scientific training and education:

During my postdoc in the labs of Professor Dame Molly Stevens and Professor Robin Shattock at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, I worked on 3D-printed protein vaccine delivery systems, saRNA vaccine manufacturing scale-up, and adjuvanted antiviral and antibacterial RNA vaccines. Prior to moving to the UK in 2020, I received my PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Washington under the guidance of Professors Suzie Pun and Drew Sellers in collaboration with Professor Patrick Stayton, where I engineered gene therapy and cancer vaccine delivery systems. My earliest research experiences were at the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, and the US Food and Drug Administration in my home state.

Outside the lab I enjoy:

Running, backcountry skiing, backpacking, biking, and climbing…. but am always exploring new music and looking forward to reading on the couch with my cats :)

 

Lab Members

Peter Chien

Peter (Shin-Tian) Chien

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

schien@uoregon.edu

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Training and education:

I am developing novel drug delivery vehicles using high-throughput polymerization techniques to deliver nucleic acids. I previously obtained my PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Washington under the guidance of Dr. Kim A. Woodrow. During my PhD, I utilized RAFT polymerization to develop subcutaneous injectable polymeric prodrugs for sustained antiretroviral release using drugs as the building blocks. Before that, I earned my BS in Chemical Engineering from National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Research Focus:

Polymer science, RAFT polymerization, drug delivery, high-throughput chemistry, immunoengineering

Outside the lab I enjoy: 

Weightlifting, running, cooking, soulslike/rougelike video games, and horror movies.

taylor patino

Taylor Patino

Graduate Student

tpatino@uoregon.edu

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Training and education:

I previously obtained my B.E. in Chemical Engineering at Vanderbilt University and conducted research under the guidance of Professor John T. Wilson. During my undergraduate research I developed drug delivery vehicles for diABZI using nanobodies and extracellular vesicles to treat cancer models. I also used extracellular vesicles as a tolerizing vaccine for a multiple sclerosis model in vivo.

Research Focus:

Cancer therapeutics, cell reprogramming, extracellular barriers to delivery

Outside the lab I enjoy: 

Hiking, swimming, baking, painting, and Taylor Swift. 

Two black and white cats sleeping

Maisy and Daisy Peeler

Honorary Lab Members

 

Lab Culture

Our lab is a community that fosters the professional and personal growth of bioengineers through inspiration, communication, and action. Whether through public outreach, classroom teaching, or research training, we find joy in inspiring and mentoring scientists from all backgrounds. We are always open to collaborating with both fundamental and translational research groups and are excited to grow our network in Oregon and beyond.

 

Join the Peeler Lab

At this time, only PhD and postdoc candidates with external funding are encouraged to email their CV and statement of interest to Professor Peeler. Applications to the UO BioE program are due around December 1st each year—please check the department page for info and be sure to prioritize potential labs in your application. In Spring 2026, we will begin considering applications for undergraduate research training opportunities in the summer and beyond. Applicants should express their research interests, motivation for joining, and rough expected time commitments by email. 

The Peeler Lab 

Founded in 2026, the Peeler Lab is a biomaterial research group within the University of Oregon's Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. Based in the Department of Bioengineering in Eugene, Oregon, the Peeler lab develops biomaterials for immunomodulation, drug delivery, and genetic engineering.