Degree Program: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering
Graduate Institution: UC Santa Cruz
Undergraduate Institution: BSE Duke University, MSEE North Carolina State University
Department: Electrical Engineering
“The most important thing a student needs to learn in their education is not to memorize this or that formula, or do certain calculations at this speed, but really to develop an intuitive understanding and knowledge of what they are learning about.”
Degree Program: P.h.D., Statistics
Graduate Institution: UC Santa Cruz
Undergraduate Institution: Cal-State Bakersfield
Department: Applied Mathematics and Statistics (2014)
Hometown: Buttonwillow, California
“The skills and lessons I learned at UC Santa Cruz have largely influenced the manner in which I approach my current research on a daily basis. The high standards for rigorous statistical analysis have carried forth into all aspects of my work.”
Degree Program: Biomolecular Engineering, B.S. and Bioinformatics, B.S.
Undergraduate Institution: UC Santa Cruz
Department: Biomolecular Engineering
“Some of my closest friends are from bioengineering and bioinformatics. Seeing my friends succeed and being a part of that success is something I’m really proud of.”
Degree Program: B.S., Computer Science, minor in Applied Mathematics
Graduate Institution: Chapman University
Undergraduate Institution: UC Santa Cruz
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
“Baskin [Engineering] gave me that forefront of knowledge that allowed me to excel in my graduate career.”
Through participation with the organization Code 2040, the largest racial equity community in tech, alumna Lehua Sparrow is advancing the effort to increase representation of underrepresented groups in tech.
Degree Program: Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics, B.S.
Graduate Institution: University of Washington, working towards a Ph.D. in Molecular Engineering
Undergraduate Institution: UC Santa Cruz
Department: Biomolecular Engineering
“The ACE program is what motivated me to continue my involvement in academia and what encouraged me to pursue a career in education to hopefully become a professor one day.”
TIM alumna Jessica Xie’s technical expertise and humanitarianism allows her to tackle complex social issues, helping to lead the way to a more equal and just world.
Degree Program: Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics, B.S.
Undergraduate Institution: UC Santa Cruz
Department: Biomolecular Engineering
Hometown: El Cerrito, CA
“Bioengineering really exposed me to the humanitarian side of science, which is something I have always wanted to be involved in.”
Bioengineering alumnus Pavel Jeremic is the founder of Aether Biomachines, which uses machine learning and automation to manufacture industrially useful enzymes.
Twenty years after the release of the UCSC Genome Browser, alumnus Chuck Sugnet is helping companies to reach their AI potential as a Software Engineer at Google.
Twenty years after participating in the Human Genome Project, Ph.D. alum Terry Furey (Computer Science, 2002) is researching genetic variations in bodies’ reactions to toxicants, and the molecular basis of Crohn’s disease.
As a Ph.D. student in the Baskin School of Engineering, UC Santa Cruz alumna Pigi Kouki focused on recommendation systems. Today she works on these systems as a Data Scientist at RelationalAI.