Hannah O'Toole, PhD

OToole_2025

Former Graduate Student
Biomedical Engineering
NIH T32 Chemical Biology Program Fellow (2021-2023)

GBSF 2619

Project: Engineering hybrid nanomaterials for SERS
Goal: Make strides in nanoengineered diagnostic tools and uphold the UC Davis Doxie Derby Champion title
Hobbies: Play with my miniature dachshunds, Bennie and Teddy, cook, listen to audiobooks, spend time outdoors, and spin, yoga and pilates

Dr. O'Toole successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis in Summer 2025. 

Education and Degree(s)
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis
  • B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Honors and Awards
  • Achievement Rewards for College Students (ARCS) Fellowship
  • FACSS 1st Place Poster Award - 2023 SciX Conference
  • 2023 BMEGG Symposium Poster Award Winner
  • 2022 BMEGG Symposium Scientific Communication Award Winner
  • Best Presentation Award Winner – Women in Photonics Conference, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Jena, Germany
Research Interests & Expertise
  • nanoplasmonics
  • Raman spectroscopy/SERS
  • extracellular vesicles (EVs)
Membership and Service
  • UC Davis Cancer Center Affiliate Scholar
  • Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS)
  • The Coblentz Society
  • International Society for Photonics and Optics (SPIE)
  • International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV)
  • Optical Society of America (OPTICA, formally OSA)
  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
  • Society for Women Engineers (SWE)
  • Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)