Biomolecular Engineering

The Biomolecular Engineering (BME) Department within the Baskin School of Engineering features an interdisciplinary blend of engineering, biology, chemistry, and statistics designed to foster collaboration with other departments. This blend reflects our vision of the direction that biomedical discovery will take over the next two decades.

Members of the Biomolecular Engineering Department collaborate actively with faculty from other engineering departments and with the Physical and Biological Sciences departments of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Ocean Sciences.

Research

Learn about the research being conducted within our department.

People

Meet people in Biomolecular Engineering.

Degrees

Learn about the Graduate and Undergraduate programs in Biomolecular Engineering.

Slithering into history with complete banana slug genome

For the first time, UCSC scientists have sequenced the full DNA map of the Pacific banana slug—which could play a key role in conservation efforts amidst climate change.

‘Selfish’ genes called introners proven to be a major source of genetic complexity

UC Santa Cruz researchers are studying the ways certain genetic elements hide and make copies of themselves, so they can propagate within a species’ DNA, or even hop from one species to an unrelated one in a process called “horizontal gene transfer.”

Chancellor’s 2024 innovation awards honor excellence in research and impact

The recipients include innovators who have created breakthroughs in knowledge and technology that are improving our world and community partners.

UCSC Genome Browser alumni profile: Melissa Cline

Melissa Cline is a prominent figure in the field of cancer genomics and currently manages the BRCA Exchange, the largest public resource for knowledge on genetic variations that influence heritable breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.

More BME news »