Explorer Categories: Bioengineering; Biology

As a Ph.D. student in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley, I study aging with a focus on sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. Despite advances in understanding muscle atrophy, no effective therapies exist to restore muscle function in aging populations. My research investigates how satellite cells, the stem cells responsible for muscle regeneration, lose their regenerative potential outside their native microenvironment. To address this, I engineer in vitro models that replicate the extracellular matrix and mechanical cues of healthy muscle tissue. By analyzing how these biophysical factors affect satellite cell activation and differentiation, I aim to identify mechanosignaling pathways that can be targeted to enhance muscle repair. This work has broad implications for restoring mobility and independence in the elderly and may also benefit those with muscle-wasting diseases like muscular dystrophy or cachexia.

Hello, My name is Dora Ogbonna and I am a 4th year MD-PhD student studying BioEngineering in the Joint UCSF/UC Berkeley BioEngineering PhD program. I am originally from Enugu Nigeria but moved to Roseville, California. I went to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) for my undergraduate studies where I majored in Chemical Engineering. My current research is focused on the use of CRISPR Base Editors to engineer antibody resistance onto regulatory T cells (Tregs) for the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes. I am passionate about the intersection of use of engineering in immunology to create therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the affordability of the resulting treatments. Outside of the lab, I am interested in running, teaching, reading non-fiction, and watching TV shows.

I’m currently a PhD candidate at UC Berkeley in the Molecular and Cell Biology program. In the Ingolia lab, I develop new tools for functional genomics using next generation sequencing and CRISPR interference to study mRNA regulation. I am also actively involved with the biotech ecosystem as a Consultant with Biotech Connection Bay Area, and previously as a Venture Capital Fellow with Insight Partners and as a Research Associate with Atoll Financial Group. Outside of work, I enjoy playing board games, trying new restaurants in the Bay Area, and staying active.

I am fully focused on both AI and biology and building tools that make biological engineering safer and more predictable. I currently work in Ian Holmes’s lab on generative models for DNA transposons also known as “jumping genes” and will be exploring their applications in genome engineering. Outside the lab, I enjoy mentoring peers and meeting people who like to build at the biology–computing interface.

I am a senior undergraduate at UC Berkeley majoring in Anthropology, with a minor in Egyptology. Under the guidance of my H2H8 mentor, I explore innovative ways to use mass spectrometry on both ancient and modern materials, reconstructing human history one molecule at a time. My research centers on archaeochemistry, with a particular focus on ancient Egyptian medicinal plants such as the Sacred Blue Lotus. I aim to investigate their pharmacological properties and potential relevance to the modern world. Positioned at the intersection of ancient magic and cutting-edge science, my work draws upon humanity’s past to inspire a brighter future.”

Qiming Zhang was born and raised in Zhejiang, China. He began his graduate studies in the joint UC Berkeley–UCSF Bioengineering Program in 2022. He earned a BS in Bioengineering from UC San Diego and spent two years working at a surgical robotics company. His research focuses on developing closed-loop neural recording and stimulation systems. Outside the lab, Qiming enjoys sports and spending time outdoors.

I am a junior at UC Berkeley studying Neuroscience and Public Health. I am currently researching the risk and progression of Alzheimer’s disease using 2D and 3D cell culture models. Specifically, I work with astrocyte and neuron co-cultures, as well as human brain organoids, to investigate how factors such as stress and blood-brain barrier dysfunction contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Outside of research, I love baking, reading, painting, and traveling with my friends and family.