Alumni synthetic biology startup Lygos was recognized by The Biofuels Digest as one of “the 50 Next Companies to Disrupt the World” — bioeconomy companies that are on the journey to commercial scale with an emerging technology. Our alumni are a big part of other noted companies, including Clara Foods, Ginkgo Bioworks, Inscripta, and Zymergen
alumni
Bolt Threads recognized in Fast Company Innovation by Design awards
Alumni-founded engineered fiber company Bolt Threads was noted with an Honorable Mention in the 2019 Fast Company Innovation by Design awards for their new Mylo Driver bag, an high fashion tote made from engineered mushroom mycellium cells
Alumna Carol Major killed in car accident
It is with the greatest sadness we share that BioE alumna Carol Major (BS 2013) died August 25 as the result of a car crash in San Jose, CA. A technical program manager at Apple, Carol was an active alumna who returned to campus to help students plan their careers in biotech. She is remembered fondly by our community and will be greatly missed.
With AI and other tech, Anat Caspi focuses on helping people with disabilities
Great article in the Seattle Times on PhD alumna Anat Caspi, director of the University of Washington’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology.
How can we leverage evolution to make better cell therapies?
Alumnus Dino Di Carlo, Professor at UCLA Bioengineering, tackles the big question on the cover of SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening).
Alumna startup wins UC Davis business competition
Maria Artunduaga, MTM 2017, took home the $20,000 first prize in the 19th annual Big Bang! Business Competition at the University of California, Davis. Her company, Respira Labs, is developing a wearable device that uses acoustic sensors, data signal processing and artificial intelligence to predict and prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attacks.
Lessons learned from the job market after the Berkeley MEng
BioE MEng alumnus Bradley Los (2018) shares his path from newly admitted grad student to full-time engineer at a top company.
Pivot Bio in 2019 World’s Most Innovative Companies
Pivot Bio, founded by Bioengineering PhD alumnus Karsten Temme, was named #8 in Fast Company’s 2019 “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” list, in the Food sector. Pivot Bio makes the world’s first nitrogen-producing microbial that grafts onto corn to act as a sustainable fertilizer.
BioE alumnus in 30 Under 30
2014 BioE MEng alum Po-Jui (Ray) Chiu has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30! Po-Jui worked with Professor Seung-Wuk Lee to develop accurate, cheap, bio-based sensor platforms for detecting airborne chemicals. He went on to found promising startup BioInspira, creating low-cost bio-inspired chemical sensors.