News by Impact Area
News by Faculty Research Area
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Researchers in Michael Yartsev’s lab, led by postdocs Adam Lowet and Krishna Kasuba, built a digital twin of the bat hippocampus – an AI model trained on large-scale neural activity during natural flight. The model generated new, testable hypotheses about hippocampal organization that were confirmed by real-world data.
ARPA-H’s BIOGAMI program aims to transform our understanding of protein dysfunction in the earliest stages of neurodegenerative disease by developing new approaches to detect and characterize protein misfolding. BioE PhD alumnus Nicolas Fawzi leads the Brown University team on this multicampus effort, led at Berkeley by the Innovative Genomics Institute.
Examining large-scale neural activity from the motor cortex of freely flying Egyptian fruit bats helps Michael Yartsev’s lab understand how the brain supports very complex behaviors, like buttoning a shirt or playing piano.
Lipid nanoparticles are great delivery vehicles for mRNA treatments, but their positive charge triggers high levels of inflammation. Now researchers led by Professor Niren Murthy have engineered a new lipid nanoparticle that can switch its charge from positive to negative and may avoid triggering inflammation while still able to deliver mRNA and other nucleic acids.
Departmental Events
In addition to our established annual events, the department offers frequent enrichment and training events for students, some in partnership with other campus units.
Grad school application workshops, alumni chats, startup founder panels, poster sessions and more occur throughout the school year.
Check out the campus events calendar for even more opportunities.
Spotlight: Bioengineering In Depth
Student Profile: Esha Ananth
Esha Ananth was selected for the 2026 Bioengineering Chair’s Award, which honors one graduating senior for their outstanding achievements in an area of personal passion, in addition to maintaining the highest academic performance. She graduated in May 2026 from the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (MET) Program, giving her dual degrees in Bioengineering and Business.
Student Profile: Chimkasinma Mbakwe
Congratulations to Chimkasinma Mbakwe, May 2026 graduate and recipient of the 2026 Bioengineering Service Award! This award recognizes one graduating senior for exceptional achievements and dedication to serving the community, in addition to maintaining high academic performance. An international student from Nigeria, Chimkasinma loves people, loves giving back, and found that bioengineering is where all of her passions intersect.
Student Profile: Alonso Torres
Soon-to-be Doctor Alonso Torres, Jr. knows the value of community. His life has taken him from the Central Valley, through military service and parenthood, now to a PhD in bioengineering.



