Congratulations to PhD student Kwasi Amofa, named to the 2021 class of Gilliam Fellows by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Fellowships are awarded to pairs of graduate students and their advisors, who are conducting outstanding research in life science fields and committed to building a more inclusive scientific ecosystem. The program includes a year of training for the advisor on effective and culturally aware mentoring, support and community for the student, and significant research funding. Professor Sanjay Kumar is Amofa’s research advisor.
awards
Gopal named to Fellows for Ending Bioweapons
PhD student Anjali Gopal has been named to the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) 2021-22 class of the Fellowship for Ending Bioweapons Programs. Gopal is a member of Professor Amy Herr’s lab, is actively interested in emerging technology policy, and aims to leverage her scientific training for pandemic preparedness and bioweapons prevention initiatives.
Lareau named Rose Hills Innovator
The Rose Hills Innovator Program supports distinguished early-career faculty at UC Berkeley interested in developing highly innovative research programs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. The program provides seed support for projects with an exceptionally high scientific promise that may generate significant follow-on funding. Congratulations to Professor Liana Lareau, named a 2021 Rose Hills Innovator.
Undergrad Bryan Wong takes third in Berkeley Ventures, Berkeley Values Pitch Competition,
Bioengineering undergraduate Bryan Wong and his team took third place in the “Berkeley Ventures, Berkeley Values” pitch competition, a recent contest by the Berkeley Startup Cluster focused on ideas to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. Wong pitched Belli Meats, aiming to boost the popularity of faux meats in other cultures with their plant-based pork belly, a product that mimics the real thing with defined layers and distinct meat and fat sections.
Streets wins 2021 Shu Chien Early Career Award
Congratulations to Prof Aaron Streets, winner of the second annual Shu Chien Early Career lecturer competition at the UC Systemwide Bioengineering symposium.
Alumna Tammy Hsu named to Tech Review 35
Tammy Hsu, founder of synthetic biology startup Huue, has been named to the MIT Technology Review 35 Under 35 list for 2021 for developing an environmentally friendly process to create indigo dye using microbes. Tammy is a 2019 PhD graduate from Professor John Dueber’s lab.
Berkeley’s top graduate works with Professor Conolly
Leyla Kabuli, EECS and Music major, has been awarded the 2021 University Medal, Berkeley’s highest honor for a graduating senior. In addition to her many other pursuits, Leyla has been a researcher in Professor Steven Conolly’s lab for the past three years, working on magnetic particle imaging.
Diego Espinoza wins the Fung Institute Mission Award
Congratulations to BioE MEng student Diego Espinoza, winner of the 2021 Fung Institute Mission Award for his capstone project, “MEDiRoller: Revolutionizing Low-Cost Vaccine and Drug Delivery in Low-Resource Communities.” The award goes to the team best exemplifying the mission of the institute: Creating inclusive leaders who solve the world’s problems through innovation, technology, and collaboration across boundaries.
Omokhowa Agbojo wins Technical Leadership Capstone Award
Congratulations to BioE MEng student Omokhowa Agbojo who received the 2021 Fung Institute Technical Leadership Capstone Award for his project, “Harnessing Life Cycle Assessment as a Decision-Making Tool for Environmentally Conscious Design of Cell Therapy Manufacturing Processes.”