Announcements

The Experimental Social Science Laboratory (Xlab) invites you to join our research participant pool! As a registered participant, you will be supporting UC Berkeley’s world class research. All experiments conducted online and at Xlab are computerized social science studies that typically last between 30 to 60 minutes. Participants earn $20/hour on average for the studies they participate in. For more information, visit xlab.berkeley.edu or watch our short video. To sign up, visit berkeley.sona-systems.com. We look forward to seeing you at the Xlab! Do science. Get paid.

Join us at next week’s Bioengineering Department Seminar

Wednesday, September 27
12noon – 1:00pm Pacific Time
Stanley Hall, Room 106
or Register for Zoom link here:
https://berkeley.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GqCr5tIDRw2fL9a4BDurqg

“Bioengineering Kidney Replacement Technology for Chronic Renal Failure”

Dr. Shuvo Roy

Professor, Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences
Director, Biodesign Laboratory
Technical Director, The Kidney Project
Faculty Director, Master of Translational Medicine Graduate Program
UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Graduate Group in Bioengineering 
UCSF Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine

Abstract:
More than 800,000 Americans and 3 million people worldwide receive treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). While kidney transplantation offers excellent outcomes, the supply of donor organs is severely limited, and less than 20% of patients waiting for a transplant ever receive one. For the vast majority of ESRD patients, in-center dialysis is the only treatment option. Unlike healthy kidneys, which function continuously, in-center dialysis is provided in short bursts of treatment, typically 3-5 hour sessions 3 times per week, during which the blood is pumped through an external circuit to filter out harmful toxins. Patient mortality after 1 year of treatment averages 20% and rises to nearly 60% after 5 years. Dialysis is also extremely expensive, costing Medicare almost $90,000 per patient per year.

The Kidney Project is developing a surgically implantable, self-monitoring, and self-regulating bio-artificial kidney to perform key functions of the natural kidney. The device is powered by the body’s blood pressure without external connections and without the need for anticoagulants or immunosuppressant drugs. The bioartificial kidney  consists of a compact hemofilter comprised of biocompatible silicon nanopore membranes for ultrafiltration of blood, and an immunoprotected renal tubule cell bioreactor that reabsorbs salts and water to ensure volume homeostasis. The device will serve as a universal donor kidney that will overcome the shortage of donor kidneys, improve health outcomes of patients, and save costs for Medicare. This talk will describe the scientific and clinical foundations for the design of device, fundamental technology advancements, and current status of development in preclinical testing.  

BMES is hosting a professional development workshop: BioE Careers and Industry! We will be covering the different career pathways in the bioengineering industry and participants will have the opportunity to talk to upperclassmen who have had previous internship experience. Attendees can expect to learn networking skills, explore BioE pathways, tips for seeking internships, and eat some snacks! October 10. Please RSVP here if you are interested: bit.ly/bmes-industry

Fall 2023 BMP Intern applications are now open! All past mentors and mentees are encouraged to apply! Applying to be a BMP Intern is a great way to take on a strong leadership position within BioE and contribute to the growing BMP community. Please find the application form here. Applications will be due on Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 by 11:59 PM PT. We look forward to reading your applications!

Position: Full-Time Research Assistant at UCLA
Description of Job Responsibilities:
Economics professors Dan Benjamin (UCLA), David Cesarini (NYU), Patrick Turley (USC), statistical geneticist, Alex Young (UCLA) and their co-authors employ full‐time research assistants at UCLA with start dates during the summer of 2024. We would like to hire students interested in social-science genomics: the identification of genetic variation that is associated with variation in behavior and other social-science-relevant phenotypes. Prior experience is not necessary.

Research assistants should have an interest in applying to a quantitative Ph.D. program (e.g., Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Genetics, Sociology) and pursuing an academic research career. The previous research assistants from across Dan Benjamin’s Full-Time Research Assistant positions have gone on (in the last six years) to top PhD programs in Economics and related disciplines at Harvard (4x), MIT, MIT Sloan, Stanford, Yale (2x), UChicago (2x), UChicago Booth, Columbia (2x), NYU (2x), Wharton, UCSD, UMD, and UCSF.

Current projects include identifying genetic variants with causal effects on educational attainment and many other traits, creating optimal genetic predictors for a range of traits, and developing new statistical methods. For examples of past research, see the “Research” tab at https://www.danieljbenjamin.com/publications. Research assistants are directly involved in the entire research process, including:
• Developing new methods to analyze genetic data
• Data analysis in R and Python
• Background research and literature reviews for paper writing
• Drafting sections of manuscripts for publication
• Visualizing data for manuscripts and presentations
Required background:
• Knowledge of one or more of R, Python, or STATA
• Strong work ethic and organizational skills
• A bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, computer science, or genetics
• Ability to work independently and with minimal guidance
• An interest in genoeconomics
• Strong writing skills
Optional background:
• Knowledge of Latex
• Experience with Unix commands
• Familiarity with various statistical analyses such as OLS, MLE, and PCA
Location: UCLA in Los Angeles, CA.
Salary: $64,000 (plus benefits)
To apply please submit the following documents, as a single pdf document, to ssgacrecruit@gmail.com:
(1) A cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position (reference RFP:24G)
(2) your resume
(3) an unofficial (or official) transcript
(4) a paper you’ve written for a course, a research paper, or other writing sample, and
(5) names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of 3 references (letters not required)

Join EOP’s R2R program as they host a series of academic workshops discussing challenging aspects of student life – time management and procrastination. 

• Working Through Procrastination | Attend one Zoom workshop, Sept. 20, 6-7 p.m.; Oct. 4, 6-7 p.m.; October 18, 6-7 p.m.
• Roadmap to Finals | Nov. 29, 6-7 p.m., Zoom

All UC Berkeley students who are EOP eligible are invited to join these workshops. No prior engagement with EOP is necessary.

Financial Wellness Workshops from the Center for Financial Wellness are designed to provide you with skills and tools to enhance your money management skills. All workshops are organized, designed, and led by Student Financial Wellness Coaches.

• Savvy Dining: Nourishing Your Wallet and Plate
  Sept. 20, 4-5 p.m. | Register
• Mastering Financial Foundations: The Art of Saving and Banking
  Oct. 9, Noon-1 p.m. | Register
• Tricks or Treats: Understanding Loans & Managing debt
  Oct. 18, 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Register
• Unlocking Financial Doors: The Power of Understanding and Managing Credit
  Nov. 8, Noon-1 p.m. | Register
• Celebrate and Save: Your Ultimate Holiday Savings Workshop
  Nov. 13, 5-6 p.m. | Register

Two opportunities to Demystify Office Hours and get tips on how to use office hours, tailored advice from faculty panelists and option to sign up for individual coaching. In this low-stress, low-stakes setting, students can discuss their issues with professors who want to help them thrive at UC Berkeley.

• Thursday, Sept. 28, Noon-3 p.m. (in-person)
  Golden Bear Center, 1995 University Ave, Room 209
• Wednesday, Nov. 8, 4-5:30 p.m. (Zoom)
  Register online

You are cordially invited to join the Basic Needs Center (BNC) team to learn more about how you can access up to $281 each month for groceries!

Join the BNC’s CalFresh Team this September to learn more about CalFresh, a free federal food assistance program that provides eligible students with monthly grocery money. Our team will be available to help you complete the pre-screener and walk you through the application process. 

UPCOMING DATES:

• Tuesday, 09/19 CalFresh Clinic: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• Friday, 09/22 CalFresh Clinic: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

• Thursday, 09/26 CalFresh Clinic 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

WHERE:

Join us in-person at the Basic Needs Appointment Space 72 MLK (BNorth, lower level). 

REGISTER:

In order to best support students, we ask that you please register ahead of time. 

We hope you will join us!

Have you already applied for CalFresh and have general questions about an existing application or case? Stop by our CalFresh Open Hours for support instead.  

Are you looking for a program that launches your career in the medical technology industry? The Master of Bioengineering graduate program in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University has two major concentrations: the flexible non-thesis professional master’s with a focus on research (Applied Bioengineering) and the project-based Global Medical Innovation (GMI) track which combines engineering, medicine, and business to prepare students for careers in the med tech industry. The GMI program boasts an 85% full-time job placement rate for students within six months after graduation. 

Please join us for one of the virtual webinars spread out over the fall semester. Links to webinars are located at (https://epmp.rice.edu/info-sessions). Webinars cover a range of topics including MBE program overview, classes and extracurricular activities, the student experience, tuition and scholarships, the international internship that launches the GMI program, and post-graduate career paths. The webinars are led by the program directors and include faculty, students and other partners who contribute to the program. 

The deadline for the MBE – Applied concentration is April 15, 2024. The deadline for the MBE  – GMI program is December 31, 2023. Apply now here for both programs. 

An informational flyer for the program is located here.

Purdue Engineering Virtual Graduate Showcase, October 1-2

Meet Purdue Engineering Graduate Programs and Faculty, and learn about both graduate research and summer undergraduate research programs at Purdue. Free, online, and interactive. Register to access pre-event content. Attend the event to receive an application fee waiver, in order to apply to Purdue Graduate Programs for FREE (good for up to two years)!

The UC Berkeley Library Makerspace is open for Fall 2023! You can view what’s coming up in this month on the Library Workshops page. Each week will host a different theme for drop-in hours or a workshop. Undergraduate students can find the current hours, workshops, info about our tools, and make an appointment on the Makerspace library guide. 

These are tailored just for you engineers!!

In-person and online graduate school workshops available fall 2023.

• How to Apply to Graduate School and Fail to Get In!
  Prof. Oliver O’Reilly, Mechanical Engineering
  Wednesday, Sept. 20; 5:00pm, 290 HMMB
• Preparing for Graduate School Applications
  Engineering Graduate School Collaborative with representatives from: UC Berkeley, Purdue, Rice, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, NYU, Northeastern, USC, Ohio State
  Monday, Sept. 26; 5:30pm, virtual workshop
• Applying to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship
  Tiffany Reardon, Associate Director, Undergraduate Programs
  Thursday, Oct. 5; 4:00pm, virtual workshop
• Demystifying the Graduate Application Process
  Meltem Erol, Engineering Graduate Student Services
  Monday, Oct. 9; 2:00pm, 290 HMMB
• Preparing for Graduate School Applications
  Engineering Graduate School Collaborative with representatives from: UC Berkeley, Purdue, Rice, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, NYU, Northeastern, USC, Ohio State
  Wednesday, Oct. 18; 4:30pm, virtual workshop

Evening with Industry is the Society of Women Engineers’ largest engineering recruiting event of the year, providing an exclusive setting for 200+ students and 20+ companies to network during an online career fair and in-person three-course dinner. You will connect with company representatives during the career fair and then join a select few for a more intimate dinner setting. There will be a virtual career fair on October 4 and in-person dinner on October 5. EWI is open to all UC Berkeley students. You are welcome to attend either portion of the event or both. Purchase your tickets.

Registration is now open for the SCET Student Innovation Fellows Program! All UC Berkeley students are welcome to join and you can sign up here. Challenges began on September 11th, but registration will be open all semester long!

About the program:

• Complete entrepreneurial challenges on your own time to learn new skills, earn points, and win prizes!

• With enough points, become an SCET Student Innovation Fellow and earn the SCET Student Innovation Fellow Certificate

• Build connections and grow your network

• Open to all UC Berkeley students (from all majors and levels!)

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Nice at jennifernice@berkeley.edu 

Interested in working in Pharma or academia?  Curious about research applying lipid nanoparticles, polymers, cells, and viruses to deliver therapies for cancer, infectious & autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases? Check out the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy’s Division of Pharmacoengineering & Molecular Pharmaceutics (DPMP).  DPMP is the only graduate program concentrated solely on delivery of pharmaceuticals and vaccines (drug delivery) and we focus on translating therapies from bench to beside, with several faculty having spun out our tech to startup companies. More information can be found here: https://pharmacy.unc.edu/divisions/dpmp/ 

We will have a Zoom information session about our PhD program on Monday September 25^th at 6pm Eastern time. It is open to everyone, and you can register here: https://unc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0_rzuXVURtWmy8zVbWV0DA.

Strongly recommended:

How to Get Involved in Research
Tuesday, Oct. 10, 12−2 p.m. | 290 HMMB

Are you interested in getting involved in research? Join  Assoc. Dir. of Engineering Excellence Programs  Tiffany Reardon, a true REU Finder as she covers how to make connections with faculty, secure paid research positions and ways to make your applications stand out. Lunch will be provided.

Discover what it’s like to work in the world of genomics!

Registration Link
October 3
7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT

Strongly recommended:

Interviewing and Deal or No Deal: Job Offer Negotiation
Thursday, Oct. 5, 1−3 p.m. | 290 HMMB

Your resume and LinkedIn profiles are often the first way that you introduce yourself to prospective employers. Join ESS Director of Programs Marvin Lopez as he helps you make the best impression even before you begin applying to jobs. Lunch will be served.

Register for any of these on Handshake

If you have any questions or would like further information about the program, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can also find more details on our website, as well as other opportunities at the Lerner Research Institute.

Apps due January 5

It’s not too early to start planning next summer!

Learn more about our summer internship program, hear from prior interns and other Illumina employees, and discover what it’s like to work in the world of genomics. 

Illumina Internship Overview

September 27
Registration Link
7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has two College of Engineering satellite office counselors: Denise Goitia, clinical social worker and Christine Zhou, staff psychologist. All counselors are from Counseling and Psychological Services and provide free and confidential consultations to students related to any personal or professional concerns. You do not need health insurance to see a CAPS counselor.

Strongly recommended event!

Resume and LinkedIn Workshop

Thursday, Sept. 28, 1−3 p.m. | 290 HMMB
Your resume and LinkedIn profiles are often the first way that you introduce yourself to prospective employers. Join ESS Director of Programs Marvin Lopez as he helps you make the best impression even before you begin applying to jobs. Lunch will be served.

Two BioE PhDs who run the Double Shelix podcast have advice for you on crafting a strong personal statement for your graduate school application. AND another one on applying to the NSF fellowship!

Listen to Double Shelix here and on all podcast platforms: http://www.doubleshelix.com/

Demystifying the graduate school application process for engineering graduate programs

Saturday, September 30, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Stanford University 

Bay Area GPS is a one-day conference where students attend informative workshops addressing the benefits of pursuing an advanced degree (both M.S. and Ph.D.) while also preparing for graduate school and the application process. Bay Area GPS is sponsored jointly by the the UC Berkeley College of Engineering and the Stanford School of Engineering. Available to all undergraduate students, register online by Monday, September 25.

Courses? Clubs? Research? Majors/minors? Campus resources? Survival at UC Berkeley? Visit a peer adviser to talk to an engineering student about this and more!

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
308 McLaughlin or Zoom
See schedule online

Same-day mini appointments for quick questions (15 minutes, virtual only): Students are able to book the day of on Handshake.

• First-year students only: August 7 – August 17
• All students: August 21 – September 28
• When: Monday – Thursday | 12-3 p.m.

The College of Engineering has brought back their Voices of Berkeley Engineering series on social media, and are looking for folks to spotlight. 

Know a fantastic student, alum, staff or faculty member? Nominate them (or yourself!) here.

Struggling right now? Find help for money shortages, housing, food shortage, healthcare, dependent care and more:

https://basicneeds.berkeley.edu/

Graduating and looking for a full time job?
Be sure to join our private LinkedIn group to see jobs we share.
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1849666

Also check out openings at Bakar Labs and QB3 startups.