Biomedical Engineering Society at UCLA
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BMES Board Spotlight: Simon Ng!

3/14/2021

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Meet Simon Ng! Simon is a 4th-year Bioengineering major (with an Environmental Engineering minor) as well as one of our Industry Co-Chairs — read on to learn more about him!

How'd you hear about BMES?

My freshman year buddies!

How long have you been involved with BMES?

As a wee freshman, I felt like a BMES outsider since I hadn't joined a family (awww, saaadness). But 2nd year I swooped into a BMES family and joined Design Team, where we built an awesome automated pill dispenser! With my newfound BMES buddies and big league hacker / maker confidence, I spent my 3rd year leading my own Design Team! Now, as a wee senior, I'm wilding out as an Industry Co-Chair getting you those job opportunities and getting the club that BREAD!

What are your primary responsibilities as Industry Co-Chair?

Responsibilities of an Industry Co-Chair:
  1. Get you internship and job opportunities with the FINEST companies in med tech, biotech, pharma, consulting, etc.
  2. Maximize BMES clout (and $$$$) via industry connections and sponsors

What do you enjoy most about your position?

My Co-Chairs and committee! We've worked really well together planning BIG events like the Biotech Career Fair and Science Vendor Expo, and we just flow with ease through logistics for infosessions and other industry meetings.

What's one thing you've learned from being Industry Co-Chair?

Re-read emails before sending to check details (date, time zone, company name, links, etc)

Which family are you in?

Cytosine - some nucleotides have 2 hydrogen bonds. Cytosine has 3. Not saying we're better than Adenine or Thymine, buuut like, it's p obvious who's the best.

Favorite BMES memory?

BioE Ball 2020 was not only a great time, it was one of the last big in-person events I did with BMES! Tearz, but good memories

Favorite class you've taken at UCLA?

ChemE 126: Viruses and Biotechnology
Viruses can be super devastating. But they're also the basis of so much of modern biotechnology, and they likely played a critical role in the development of life as we know it (ex. syncytin is a protein critical to human placenta development. The syncytin gene came from ancient viruses via horizontal gene transfer! So, uh, thanks ancient viruses for helping me be birthed?!)

What do you like to do in your free time?

Get outside! Backpacking! Trying to go climbing more too, so, uh, if you have climbing gear, hmu.

Describe yourself as a Care Bear.

IDK what Care Bears are. However:
  1. I would be green, the color of chlorophyll (and USD$)
  2. Belly badge is rainbow, cuz rainbows look pretty awesome
  3. Why does my belly badge have to give me powers? Perhaps my belly badge exists not for me or you, but for itself.

Anything else you'd like to share?

They ask me, "Simon, should I study abroad?"
I respond, "I'm so glad you asked! YES! Study abroad is super fun, a great way to experience another culture, and, if finessed correctly, can totally count for major classes as well as GEs! Contact my guy Erkki Right NOW to get your courses mushed around to make room for study abroad. You won't regret it."
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BMES Board Spotlight: Anya Bekhtel!

3/7/2021

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Meet Anya Bekhtel! Anya is a 4th-year Bioengineering major and one of our Cell Team Project Managers — read on to learn more about her!

How'd you hear about BMES?

Before I started college, I was looking at the list of engineering clubs to figure out what orgs I wanted to join and found BMES! I then got to talk to some of the current board members when I went to the Enormous Activities Fair the Fall Quarter of my freshman year.

How long have you been involved with BMES?

I've been involved in BMES since my first year, largely through technical projects! I joined EKG Build Team my first year where I learned the basics of circuitry and coding, then expanded on those skills through Robotic Hand Design Team my second year. I've also been involved in mentorship and love passing on advice and talking about my experiences with first year BioE's trying to figure college out :)

What are your primary responsibilities as Cell Team Project Manager (PM)?

As Cell Team Project Manager, I help underclassmen gain confidence in their wet lab skills and get prepared to join a research lab. This year, we have modified the curriculum to include presentations on lab techniques, worksheets to practice lab skills, lab protocol walkthroughs, and journal clubs.

What do you enjoy most about your position?

I love having the opportunity to connect with all the underclassmen and help them be better prepared for their time at UCLA :)

What's one thing you've learned from being in your position?

To be VERY creative. The task of turning a lab-based technical project into something worthwhile in a completely remote learning environment was a little daunting at first. But it's been such a privilege to work closely with Justin Chen (the other Cell Team PM) and find ways to pass on what we know virtually and get students prepared for research.

Which family are you in?

Guanine!

Favorite BMES memory?

Technical Project Presentations at the end of my sophomore year. The structure was kind of like Capstone Symposium, and it gave me the opportunity to talk about my work to my friends and wander around to learn about the cool projects the other technical teams had been working on. 

Favorite class you've taken at UCLA?

BE 188 (Biomedical Instruments) with Dr. Gu. Half of the class involved lab experiments and learning about different sensors, which the other hand was lecture on different instrumentation techniques. The class gave me a good basis on the different types of imaging techniques available to physicians and what the limitations are with the current technology. I also really liked the content in Dr. Kasko's Introduction to Biomaterials course (BE CM178) and Biochem 153A.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I'm a big coffee fan, and love trying new coffee shops in LA. In the last year, I've gotten into cooking and yoga, and rediscovered my love of reading and embroidery.

Describe yourself as a Care Bear.

I would want to be a purple Care Bear with a flowers belly badge that allows me to keep my plants alive! I'm really not good with house plants :/

Anything else you'd like to share?

If you read this far I hope you have a lovely day and get some time to recharge <3 
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Membership
    • Leadership
    • For Companies
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Biotech Career Fair
    • Science Vendor Expo
  • Committees
    • Academic
    • Community Outreach
    • Industry
    • Mentorship
    • Social
  • Technical Projects
    • Overview
    • Build Team
    • Cell Team
    • Design Team
    • BioHack >
      • Schedule
  • Resources
    • Research Openings
    • Jobs and Internships
    • Alumni Mentorship Program
    • Lend-Out Library
  • Contact Us