Bioengineering News

Knipmeyer, Naber Selected in Entrepreneur Competition

Sam Smucker — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 CST

Daniel Knipmeyer and Andrew Naber, undergraduate seniors in Bioengineering, were selected as University of Illinois finalists in the “I2P” (Idea to Product) competition sponsored by the Technology Entrepreneur Center. Their winning idea is a bandage-like patch for quick, convenient diagnosis of diseases. The technology employed scales down and simplifies existing large-scale laboratory analyses into an accurate, intuitive, and easy-to-apply patch. “Our device will put the power of complicated laboratory analyses that would normally require specialized training and expensive equipment into the hands of those that need it most,” explained Knipmeyer. They will take their I2P entry to the next round of competition at St. Louis University during the spring semester.

First Phase of Wet Lab Expansion Completed in DCL

Sam Smucker — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 CST

The Bioengineering Department has completed the first phase of a wet lab expansion in the Digital Computer Laboratory(DCL). The Bioengineering Department plans to transform DCL into a center of biomedical research on the University of Illinois campus. During the spring of 2009, the Department remodeled 3,700 sq. ft. of space on the first floor, formerly used as computer labs, into Biosafety Level 2 wet labs encompassing approximately 400 linear feet of bench space, three solvent fumehoods, four biosafety cabinets, and an acid fumehood. The renovation was accomplished with support from the College of Engineering.

Cunningham Appointed to Bioengineering Faculty

Sam Smucker — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Dr. Brian Cunnigham has been appointed to the faculty of the Department of Bioengineering. Dr. Cunningham is also a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has been affiliated with the Bioengineering Program and then Department since the year 2000. Dr. Cunningham is affiliated with the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory and teaches BIOE 416, Biosensors. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Jian Ma Joins Bioengineering Faculty

Sam Smucker — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Dr. Jian Ma joins the Department of Bioengineering from the University of California at Santa Cruz, where he was a Postdoctoral Scholar in the lab of Dr. David Haussler. He received his B.S. from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, in Computer Science in 2000 and received his Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in Computer Science in 2006. Dr. Ma’s research focuses on computational molecular biology, comparative genomics, algorithm design and analysis, molecular evolution, and human genetics.

Dr. Sua Myong Joins Bioengineering Faculty

Sam Smucker — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Dr. Sua Myong has joined the Department of Bioengineering faculty beginning the fall 2009 semester. Dr. Myong received a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley, in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 1994 and a Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley, in Nutrition in 2001. She was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois until 2007, when she became a Research Assistant Professor in the Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois. Her research focuses on single-molecule detection of fluorescently labeled bio-molecules, fluorescence cell imaging, and the mechanism of helicases and other enzymes involved in nucleic acid processing and innate immunity. This semester she is teaching BIOE 298, Cellular Bioengineering.

Zhong, Wang Receive NSF Career Awards

Sam Smucker — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Sheng Zhong and Yingxiao Wang, Assistant Professors in the Department of Bioengineering, are both recipients of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Awards. The awards are funded beginning the summer of 2009. The Career Awards are considered NSF’s most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research. Dr. Wang’s proposal is titled: “The Development of Molecular Stress Biosensors to Study Mechanotransduction.” Dr. Zhong’s proposal is titled: “Computational Identification of Gene Regulatory Network in Multi-cellular Eukaryotes.”

Johnson Receives M.D./Ph.D. Fellowship

Sam Smucker — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Chenara Johnson, graduate student in Bioengineering, received a National Research Service Award for Individual Pre-Doctoral M.D./Ph.D. students from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Chenara is a graduate student in the lab of Dr. William O’Brien. Her proposal title is “Understanding the Biophysics of Ultrasound-Induced Angiogenesis.” The fellowship consists of stipend and tuition support for four years.

Graduation for Second Class of Undergraduates

Sam Smucker — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:00:00 CDT

The second class of Bioengineering undergraduate students at the University of Illinois graduated on May 17^th 2009. The 27 graduates included 5 bronze tablet winners, indicating the highest level of academic achievement in the College of Engineering. Additionally, Luke Edelman received the College of Engineering Harvey H. Jordan Award, the equivalent to the valedictorian award for the College. Of the graduates, most will continue their education in graduate school at universities such as Cambridge, the University of California at Berkeley, and Northwestern University. Others have chosen to enter medical school or law school. Several graduates will start their careers in industry at companies such as Ethicon Endosurgery. The Department wishes all of the Bioengineering graduates success in their endeavors. (Click on photo to see all of the graduates.)

Bhargava Wins Everitt Teaching Award

Sam Smucker — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Dr. Rohit Bhargava, Assistant Professor in Bioengineering, has won the College of Engineering Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence. The award, which annually recognizes one engineering faculty member for outstanding undergraduate teaching, is one of the most coveted awards available to the faculty and serves to emphasize the importance attached to good teaching in the college. The award is made possible through an endowment contributed by personal and corporate friends to honor Dean Emeritus William L. Everitt.

Sherine George Wins Linda Su-Nan Chang Sah Doctoral Fellowship

Sam Smucker — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Sherine George, Bioengineering graduate student, has won the Linda Su-Nan Chang Sah Doctoral Fellowship. The Fellowship provides a graduate fellowship to an outstanding female Ph.D. candidate in electrical and computer engineering, or a related field, who is specializing in microtechnology or nanotechnology related to bioengineering, biophysics, or medical electronics. The fellowship is awarded through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Sherine George is doing her doctoral research in the lab of Dr. Brian Cunningham. Her research focuses on ways to use photonic crystal (PC) biosensors for applications in life sciences and health care.