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With a $25 million gift, biotech entrepreneur and innovator Gene Lay (right) has named UC San Diego's bioengineering department in honor of his mentor, Professor Emeritus Shu Chien. We are now known as the UC San Diego Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering.
Department Alumni Research
Department Alumni Research
Kun Zhang, Ph.D.San Diego Institute of Science, Altos Labs
Single-Cell Atlas of the Human Kidney
Single-Cell Atlas of the Human Kidney
A new study co-led by bioengineers at the University of California San Diego could provide detailed insight—at the level of individual cells—into the underlying factors contributing to these divergent outcomes.
Connecting with Alumni
Connecting with Alumni
Isgard Hueck, Ph.D.Director of Educational Assessment and Industrial OutreachTeaching Professor and Research Scientist
Bridging Academia-Industry Connection at the Bioengineering Career and Networking Fair 2023
Bridging Academia-Industry Connection at the Bioengineering Career and Networking Fair 2023
The Bioengineering Career and Networking Fair is an annual event organized by the UC San Diego Shu Chien - Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering. The fair is focused on Life Science Tech and is one of the largest events on campus to bring students, alumni, faculty, and industry representatives from the health tech sector together.
Alumni Spotlight
Alumni Spotlight
Taby Ahsan, Ph.D.
Vice President, Cell and Gene Therapy Operations at City of HopeBoard of Trustees, UC San Diego Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of BioengineeringTaby Ahsan, Ph.D.
Throughout her career, Dr. Taby Ahsan has made significant contributions to the field of biologics and cell and gene therapies. As the Vice President of Cell and Gene Therapy Operations for City of Hope, she is responsible for overseeing the development and manufacturing of these innovative therapies. Prior to joining City of Hope, Ahsan held leadership roles at MD Anderson Cancer Center, RoosterBio Inc., Advanced Tissue Sciences, and Tulane University. Her expertise in biologics analytical development and characterization make her a valuable addition to any organization in the field. Ahsan received her BS in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and her PhD in Bioengineering from the UC San Diego Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering.
Staff Spotlight
Staff Spotlight
Extraordinary Service Nomination
Extraordinary Service Nomination
The Department of Bioengineering nominated Ms. Vanessa Hollingsworth for her relentless commitment to extraordinary service to the UC San Diego community. Ms. Hollingsworth is the Bioengineering Graduate Coordinator and, in her role, she works tirelessly to assure that students are provided the best “care” as they navigate graduate studies.
Her ability to be a sounding board to students directly contributes to their well-being. On many occasions, students have commented that being at the University can be overwhelming but having a caring individual such as Ms. Hollingsworth has enabled the University to truly fulfill its “student centered” mission. Although her position is extremely complex, she has not only managed to be there for the students but also “single handedly” carried multiple administrative duties with a high level of efficiency (with superhero attention to detail!) that includes but is not limited to outreach, admissions, and financial support administration. While also devoting time to the staff community through the Staff Association! Not to mention, her unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We attribute increased diversity in our student population due to Ms. Hollingsworth’s passion for outreach efforts. She attends conferences and speaks to prospective students one by one, making them feel welcomed by explaining meticulously what Bioengineering and the University have to offer. Professor Karen Chrisman recently provided feedback regarding Ms. Hollingsworth outreach efforts, “Hi Vanessa, I had a nice interview with a prospective student this week and she said the reason she applied to our program was her interaction with you at a conference. She's URM...and she said your enthusiasm and the way you spoke about our program convinced her she needed to apply and that it would be a great fit for her. So, I just wanted to give you this feedback... Thanks for representing our program well at these conferences”.
Ms. Hollingsworth is an exemplary employee that has exceeded expectations (working long hours!) with overwhelming positive impact to the student community and best summarized by Chair Adam Engler, “Vanessa always has our student's best interest in mind; from pulling double duty when understaffed or navigating the complexity of graduate student funding, she has always amazed. With all of the many ways students are funded, it is as if she has to be part fund manager, part student counselor, and part therapist - all in one!”
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