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Two universities, one mission
We award a Ph.D. in Bioengineering jointly from UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco, among the top public universities in the world in health sciences and engineering. Drawing on the strengths of both campuses, our program trains future leaders and innovators in bioengineering.
Recent News
Messersmith, Christman, Lam named AAAS Fellows
UC Berkeley Professor Phillip Messersmith, Chair of the Department of Bioengineering, has been named to the 2024 class of fellows elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Also named this year were PhD Alumni Karen Christman, Professor at UC San Diego, and Wilbur Lam, Professor at Emory University / Georgia Institute of Technology.
Schoen and Sipes are UCSF Grad Slam finalists!
Devin Schoen and Benjamin Sipes are two of this year’s ten finalists in the UCSF Grad Slam competition. On April 2 each finalist will present their research in three minutes or less, in language accessible to a general audience, and the winner will go on to the UC Grad Slam. Attend in person or tune into the YouTube live stream to vote for the People’s Choice award!

Science with a story: diverse paths to discovery at UC Berkeley
BioE graduate student Jazmin Isabel Velazquez examines the unique paths graduate students take on the road to their PhD in this story based on her experience in the Healy and Rubinsky Labs.
Congratulations UCSF Merit Awardees
Congratulations to bioengineering students Devan Shah and Serena Tang, awarded 2024 Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Scholarships!

Tiny Sensor Aims to Monitor Tumors in Real Time
Researchers in Professor Mekhail Anwar’s lab have developed a prototype sensor that can monitor biological changes in the tissues of mice. The sensor may be able to monitor a patient’s response to treatment in real-time and lead to more effective, personalized treatment plans.

Bioinspired design reduces drag and noise production for towed sonar arrays
Researchers from Professor Grace Gu’s lab have demonstrated how a textured surface designed to mimic shark skin can reduce drag and mitigate flow-based noise, potentially opening the door to a new generation of more effective and efficient marine towed sonar arrays.

Pivot Bio named one of the world’s most innovative companies
Pivot Bio, founded by alumnus Karsten Temme, is No. 47 on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Read how Pivot Bio is helping farmers generate more income while reducing emissions.

Richard Novak named Class of 2024 Termeer Fellow
Congratulations to PhD alumnus Richard Novak, named to the 2024 class of Teermer Fellows! Fellows are first-time CEOs of early-stage or non-profit biotech & life science organizations who are committed to developing potentially life-changing treatments for patients; Novak is Co-Founder and CEO of Unravel Biosciences.
Berkeley BioE News
- Messersmith’s AsparaGlue named East Bay Innovation Awardee March 31, 2025
- Aaron Streets named AIMBE Fellow March 31, 2025
- Messersmith named AAAS Fellow March 27, 2025
- Feature: Aaron Streets’ Lab March 5, 2025
