Stories

Hello! Please let me introduce myself as the new chair of the Department of Bioengineering. I am Jonathan (Zhiwen) Zhang.  I would like to thank my colleagues and students who elected me as chair and I offer my deep appreciation and gratitude to Professor Yuling Yan, founding Chair, for her dedicated leadership of the department from 2012-2018. My appreciation and gratitude also go to Mr. Carl Simpson, who has led the Bioengineering Industrial Advisory Board for the past ten years. This board provides the department and students with advice about the real world of bioengineering and contact with the biomedical industrial networks in the Bay Area. As a result, the Department of Bioengineering at Santa Clara University was ranked the Number 4 Best Bioengineering Department in California in 2017.  With this solid foundation of academic excellence, the department is encouraged to do some new and exciting things this year.

First, the Department of Bioengineering has moved! The research and teaching labs have been relocated to the Alumni Science/Daly Science and Heafey Buildings. Offices are located on the first floor of the Commerce Plaza Building at 900 Lafayette Street. Please refer to the map below.

Second, we are deeply grateful to our long-term supporters and collaborators from the local biotech and medical device industry. With their support, the department -together with student organizations including the Biomedical Engineering Society and the Society of Women Engineers- will host a series of new events to link our students directly with Bay Area business leaders. This will assist with professional mentorship and job opportunities. Details will be announced on our departmental website.  

Third, we are honored to have Dr. Helena Mancebo to serve as the new chair for the Bioengineering Industrial Advisory Board. Under her leadership, five new members have joined the board with expertise in pharmaceutics, clinical biomaterials, smart biodevices, and BIO-AI. In 2019, the board will focus on securing more industrial internship opportunities for bioengineering students.

Fourth, bioengineering is ever growing and changing, as is our curriculum. We would like to offer a warm welcome to our new adjunct faculty members, Dr. Emily Park, Dr. Verna Rodriguez, and Dr. Lin Ma who join a dedicated experienced faculty committed to the success of every student. With years of technical and business leadership experience, this outstanding faculty has offered innovative courses in Biomolecular Development and Biodesign Control, as well as seminar series focusing on BIO-AI, bringing truly "cutting-edge" lectures and seminars to our students. The Department of Bioengineering has also integrated two new focus areas in the graduate curriculum - translational bioengineering and BIO-AI - with close ties to the Bay Area industry and academic institutes. Students will apply the techniques and knowledge garnered in our laboratories and classrooms to solve real-world biomedical and health challenges.

Last, but not least, I would like to welcome our outstanding first-year cohorts of undergraduate and graduate students as they join our community of dedicated scholars. I’m very proud to report that they add to the diversity of our student population and they are motivated and ready to work!

We are in a challenging transition period at the University and School of Engineering. However, both faculty and staff in the Department of Bioengineering have united and dedicated ourselves to our students. We will leave no student behind! We are excited and very much looking forward to an exciting future!

Warmly,

Jonathan Zhang, Ph.D.
Chair
Department of Bioengineering
School of Engineering
Santa Clara University