New Process Uses Microbes to Create Valuable Materials from Urine

microscope image of osteoyeast cells. The outline of the vacuole is red, the calcium inside the vacuole is green. Image by Berkeley Lab.

A team led by BioE alumnus Yasuo Yoshikuni genetically modified yeast to create hydroxyapatite, a strong and lightweight material, from the elements present in urine. With lower production costs the material may now be practical for use in wastewater treatment, fertilizer manufacturing, building materials and plastic replacement.

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Alumna startup Aluna acquired by Huma

photo of person using Aluna device

Aluna, a company spun out of an undergraduate capstone project by alumna Charvi Shetty, has been acquired by Huma. Aluna developed an easy and fun remote monitoring system for respiratory diseases, which will now be able to reach patients in Huma’s more than 150 U.S. health systems, serving over 500,000 people.

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Equipad wins Collider Cup Alumni Expo Award

photo of Gurram and Patel in front of Berkeley SCET banner

BioE-founded startup Equipad is on a mission to provide free, eco-friendly, accessible menstrual care in innovative roll format in restrooms everywhere. Recent BioE graduates Sanjana Gurram and Bryan Wong, with Master of Development Practice alumna Pooja Patel, have developed the materials and dispenser voted best alumni project at the Collider Cup.

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Congratulations NSF Fellows!

NSF logo

Congratulations to our new NSF Graduate Research Fellows! Among the winners are current PhD students Ashley Qin; incoming PhD students Erin Ahern and Steven Robles Blasini; graduating undergraduates Monica Mendoza, Safaa Mouline and Arvind Swamynathan; and undergraduate alumni Jacob Bryan, Emily Huynh, and Elaine Tong. Well done!

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