1. Allison Marie Pekkanen | Curriculum Vitae
317 Kelly Hall, Stanger St. (0298) Blacksburg, VA 24061 (512) 636-0892 apekk@vt.edu
Education
Ph. D. in Biomedical Engineering — Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Blacksburg, VA
2012-present
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering— The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
GPA: 3.59
2008-2012
Publications
Nanoparticle Enhanced Optical Imaging and Phototherapy of Cancer. Allison Pekkanen,
Matthew DeWitt, M. Nichole Rylander. Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology. 10(9): 1677-
1712
2014
3D-Printable Biodegradable Polyester Tissue Scaffolds for Cell Adhesion. Justin M. Sirrine,
Allison M. Pekkanen, Ashley M. Nelson, Nicholas A. Chartrain, Christopher B. Williams,
Timothy E. Long. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 68(9): 1409-1414.
2015
Influence of Hyperthermia on Efficacy and Uptake of Carbon Nanohorn-Cisplatin
Conjugates. Matthew DeWitt, Allison Pekkanen, M. Nichole Rylander. Journal of
Biomechanical Engineering. 136: 021003.
2014
High elastic modulus nanoparticles: a novel tool for subfailure connective tissue damage.
Yvonne Empson, Emmanuel Ekwueme, Jung Hong, Danielle Paynter, Albert Kwansa,
Chalmers Brown, Allison Pekkanen, Maren Roman, M. Nichole Rylander, P Gunnar
Brolinson, Joseph Freeman. Translational Research. 164(3): 244-257.
2014
“Functionalization of Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns for Simultaneous Fluorescence
Imaging and Cisplatin Delivery”, Allison M. Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, David B.
Geohegan, Timothy E. Long, M. Nichole Rylander. Submitted.
Submitted
Awards
PEO International Scholar Award 2015-2016
ACS Colloid and Surface Chemistry Division Travel Award 2015
Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Scholarship in Engineering, The University of Texas at
Austin
2008-2012
Conference Presentations
“Utilizing an Imidazole Ring Polymer for Stabilization of Quantum Dots on Single Walled
Nanohorns”, Allison Pekkanen, David Inglefield, Matthew Dewitt, Tim Long, Nichole
Rylander, September 25-28, 2013 (BMES). Podium Presentation
2013
“Chemotherapeutic Loading into Carbon Nanohorn-Quantum Dot-Imidazole Containing
Polymer Complex for Treatment of Bladder Cancer”, Allison Pekkanen, Matthew Dewitt,
Nichole Rylander, February 2-5, 2014 (ASME Nanoengineering for Medicine and Biology).
Podium Presentation
2014

2. Page 2
“Functionalization of Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns for Controlled Chemotherapeutic
Delivery”, Allison M. Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long, M. Nichole
Rylander, October 22-25, 2014 (BMES). Podium Presentation.
2014
“Transferrin-modified single walled carbon nanohorns for selective uptake into cancer cells”
Allison M. Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long, M. Nichole Rylander. August
18, 2015 (ACS National Meeting) Podium Presentation.
2015
“Functionalization of Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns for Controlled Chemotherapeutic
Delivery” Allison M. Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long, M. Nichole
Rylander. August 19, 2015 (ACS National Meeting) Podium Presentation.
(https://presentations.acs.org/common/presentations.aspx/Fall2015/COLL/COLL011a)
2015
“Transferrin-modified single walled carbon nanohorns for cellular uptake” Allison M.
Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long, M. Nichole Rylander. October 10, 2015
(BMES). Podium Presentation.
2015
“Development of a Carbon Nanohorn-Quantum Dot-Imidazole Copolymer System for Real-
Time Feedback in the Treatment of Bladder Cancer.” Allison M. Pekkanen, David
Inglefield, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long, M. Nichole Rylander. September 21, 2013
(Metropolitan Biophotonics Symposium, Washington DC). Poster
2013
“Imidazolium-containing (co)polyesters as a platform for biodegradable nonviral gene
delivery vehicles” Ashley M. Nelson, Allison M. Pekkanen, Neil L. Forsythe, John Herlihy,
Musan Zhang, M. Nichole Rylander, Timothy E. Long. August 18, 2015 (ACS National
Meeting). Poster.
2015
“Imidazolium-containing (co)polyesters as a platform for biodegradable nonviral gene
delivery vehicles” Ashley M. Nelson, Allison M. Pekkanen, Neil L. Forsythe, John Herlihy,
Musan Zhang, M. Nichole Rylander, Timothy E. Long. August 17, 2015 (ACS National
Meeting Sci-Mix) Poster.
2015
“3D-Printable Biodegradable Polyester Tissue Scaffolds for Cell Adhesion”, Justin M.
Sirrine, Allison M. Pekkanen, Ashley M. Nelson, Nicholas A. Chartrain, Christopher B.
Williams, Timothy E. Long. April 18, 2016 (UT/VT Polymer Workshop). Poster
2016
“Drug Loading into Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns: Effect of Drug Release on
Cytotoxicity”, Allison Pekkanen, Matthew Dewitt, Nichole Rylander, May 15, 2014. SBES
Symposium. Poster
2014
“Functionalization of Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns for Fluorescence Imaging and
Chemotherapeutic Delivery” Allison M. Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long,
M. Nichole Rylander. September 26, 2014 (Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery Student
Poster Session) Poster
2014
Functionalization of Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns for Fluorescence Imaging and
Chemotherapeutic Delivery” Allison M. Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long,
M. Nichole Rylander. November 12, 2014 (Translational Nanomedicine Forum) Poster
2014
“Functionalization of Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns for Fluorescence Imaging and
Chemotherapeutic Delivery” Allison M. Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long,
M. Nichole Rylander. April 21, 2015 (Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute Review)
Poster
2015
Novel Melt-Stable Imidazolium (Co)polyesters as a Platform for the Design of Biodegradable
Smart Materials” Ashley M. Nelson, Allison M. Pekkanen, Neil L. Forsythe, John Herlihy,
Musan Zhang, M. Nichole Rylander, Timothy E. Long. February 25, 2015 (Interdisciplinary
Research Day Poster Session) Poster
2015

3. Page 3
“Characterization of Peptide Adhesion to Fiber Surfaces” Allison M. Pekkanen, Ryan J.
Mondschein, Denis Guenette, Nrusingh Mohapatra, Timothy E. Long. April 20, 2015
(Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute Review) Poster
2015
“Transferrin-modified Single Walled Carbon Nanohorns for Selective Uptake into Cancer
Cells” Allison M. Pekkanen, Matthew R. DeWitt, Timothy E. Long, M. Nichole Rylander.
May 13, 2015. SBES Symposium Poster.
2015
“Imidazolium-containing (co)polyesters as a platform for biodegradable nonviral gene
delivery vehicles” Ashley M. Nelson, Allison M. Pekkanen, Neil L. Forsythe, John Herlihy,
Musan Zhang, M. Nichole Rylander, Timothy E. Long. November 6, 2015 (Virginia Tech
Center for Drug Discovery Student Poster Session) Poster.
2015
Related Experiences
Student Scribe — NSF Workshop
Scribed for the NSF Workshop Food-Energy-Water Systems Challenging Chemists and aided in
the creation of a report detailing grand challenges for chemists associated with FEWS
(http://www.mii.vt.edu/nsfworkshop/index.html)
2015
President – VT/WFU Biomedical Engineering Society
Organized and chaired the annual student research symposium held at Virginia Tech
 Liaised with vendors regarding space, technology, and amenities
 Organized sponsor tables and demonstrations
 Instituted topic-based sessions to accommodate record-number presentations
 Created abstract books for distribution to conference attendees
Led team of 4 for event organization throughout academic year (annual tailgate, Relay for Life,
The Big Event, etc.)
Instituted BMES involvement in summer outreach for visiting students
Created and submitted annual chapter report delivered to BMES Nationals detailing activities,
membership, finances, and education
Awarded BMES Fleetest Feet Award (responsible for 2014 and 2015 awards)
2014-2015
Journal Article Review Lead, Long Research Group
Responsible for editing and formatting comments for review
Tasked with submission of peer reviews to journals
Maintain spreadsheet of journal passwords
2015 - present
American Chemical Society Short Course in Polymer Chemistry: Principles and Practice
Attended a series of lectures at Virginia Tech regarding the synthesis and characterization of
polymers
Performed demonstration of gel electrophoresis to determine DNA binding ratios to attendees
(Summer 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Summer 2015, Winter 2015, Spring 2016, and Summer
2016).
2016