Meet the 2022-2023 Cell Team PMs! Rika (right) is a 3rd-year bioengineering major and Viên (left) is a 2nd-year bioengineering major!

How have you been involved with BMES?

Viên: I joined in my first year as a member of Cell Team as well! I really liked the tight-knit community we had, so I was happy to have the opportunity to be co-project manager with Rika this year. It’s been rewarding to work on improving and expanding the program!

Rika: I joined my second year as a member of Cell Team and a volunteer with the Community Outreach RISE team! This year, I’ve been lucky to be a co-project manager alongside Viên for Cell Team, leading a group of 14 undergraduate students. 

What are your primary responsibilities as cell team PMs this year?

Viên: Some of the things we do behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly include creating all the slideshows for modules, ordering and prepping the lab supplies, and coordinating module/lab times! We also write all of the protocols members use in the lab, and organize the Shadowing Program with professors. In the coming weeks, we’ll be working with members to design and execute the independent research project in Spring quarter. 

Rika: As a Cell Team PM, we’re in charge of leading modules and labs every week for our members to gain hands-on experience on introductory laboratory techniques! Some of these skills include micropipetting, BSC usage, and cell culture. Outside of these weekly meetings, we also host developmental programs such as the Cell Team Shadowing Program, one-on-one meetings for career planning, and informal discussions about research. In Spring quarter, we guide the students to design an independent research project from start to finish, culminating in a poster presentation and Tech Projects Demo Day. 

Favorite BMES memory?

Viên: My favorite BMES memory is definitely KBBQ night! I think it’s a great chance to spend time meeting more BMES members and I had a lot of fun both this year and last year. 
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Rika: This is a hard one! I think I’d have to go with the BioE Ball and Fall BBQ!


What do you enjoy most about being cell team PMs?

Viên: I really enjoy interacting with and learning about all of our amazing members! Our cohort this year is full of people who are dedicated and enthusiastic to learn about cells, and it’s been both rewarding and fun to get to teach them. 

Rika: I love the moments when our team members suddenly understand a concept or make STEM related jokes during our labs. It’s been so much fun watching everyone grow more confident in their lab skills and close-knit as a team!


If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?

Viên: Definitely animation. I love the medium and I’ve spent many, many hours just trying to wrap my head around the basics! If I could become an animation expert instantly, I’d spend so much time working on random video projects.

Rika: If I could instantly become an expert in something, it’d be astronautics! I secretly dream of going to space one day ☆

Meet Juhi Mehta! Juhi is a 4th-year Bioengineering major, Spanish minor and BMES president of the 2022-2023 school year!

How have you been involved with BMES?

I’ve been involved in BMES since my freshman year, when I joined the publicity committee! I had tons of fun making aesthetic graphics for various BMES events. I also began volunteering for the RISE program, and fell in love with teaching kids! This led me to join board as a community outreach chair in my sophomore year. In my junior year, I served as mentorship coordinator and put on tons of fun social events like KBBQ night and Friendsgiving. Finally, this year, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to be president. I love being a part of this organization and giving back to the bioengineering community. It feels so crazy looking back, and I think my freshman self wouldn’t believe it!

What are your primary responsibilities as president this year?

As president, my primary responsibilities include supervising all of our chapter’s affairs as well as leading board in all of our various initiatives. I also work with the School of Engineering and the Bioengineering department to set the overall direction of our chapter and bring awareness to student needs and issues. Rather than working on one specific task, I oversee many different tasks, and do my best to support BMES board and BMES members in any way that I can! I hope to make positive changes to the organization and to continue providing BMES members with opportunities to grow in their academics and career, and connect with other bioEs!

Favorite BMES memory?

It’s hard to pick, but I’d say my favorite BMES memory has to be KBBQ night! It’s always so fun to take a trip to ktown, and the food is always so good! Cooking together is really wholesome and it’s helped me get to know other BMES members super well. Finally, dessert in ktown is always delicious!

One class that you enjoyed and would recommend?

One class I recommend is BE C147! This class is called tissue engineering: industrial and clinical perspectives, and is taught by Dr. Bill Tawil. Dr. Tawil is an incredible lecturer, and the content of the class is very interesting. Each lecture focuses on a different organ, and starts with the basic physiology and the most common diseases of that organ. Next, Dr. Tawil discusses the most common medical solutions to these diseases that are currently on the market. Finally, we discuss up and coming tissue engineering approaches that aim to treat these diseases. I am very interested in tissue engineering, and this class really helped me understand the market as a whole and the future of the industry. Dr. Tawil really takes the time to explore engineer, physician, and patient perspectives, which was very eye opening and meaningful. 

If you have had a research or internship experience, what was the most valuable aspect of the experience for you?

I am currently an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Li’s lab (Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab), and I’ve been working in his lab for 2 years. My research focuses on the effects of immunomodulation and electrical stimulation on direct cardiac reprogramming. Overall, research has been the most important part of my undergraduate bioengineering experience. I’ve been able to explore topics that I’m very passionate about and learn a lot about how to approach scientific problems. More importantly, I’ve challenged myself, and as a result have grown to be a more confident person. I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in research to get involved and email professors asking about open positions! 

If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?

I’d have to say color theory. I love painting, but sometimes mixing the perfect shade can be really challenging! If I could, I’d want to be as talented as the painters on social media who can match the color of any random object within a minute or two.

Meet Rohan Chawla! Rohan is a 4th-year Bioengineering major and one of the current academic chairs of the 2022-2023 school year!

How have you been involved with BMES?

I’ve been a member of BMES since freshman year, and I’ve been involved in a lot of ways! I was a member of Build Team my first year and Design Team the next year. I was also a Committee Member in my second year, as part of the Community Outreach Committee. I was then Community Outreach Chair last year, and now I’m one of the Academic Chairs!

What are your primary responsibilities as academic chair this year?

As an academic chair, my main goal is to connect undergrads with the resources they need to succeed, both as students and future professionals. This mainly involves hosting workshops and panels for students to ask questions and speak to experts in areas like resume development and class planning. I am also in charge of maintaining our club’s alumni network, and oversee our club’s alumni mentorship program.

Favorite BMES memory?

Hmm, this is pretty hard, but I would probably have to say BMES Bake-Off last year. It was super fun to not only make super yummy deserts but also eat everyone else’s food and hear all the commentary from the MCs. One of the best events of the year, and I highly recommend all members go!

One class that you enjoyed and would recommend?

I used to say BE 175, but now that it’s required, I guess everyone has to take it and it doesn’t count. I personally really liked learning about how really complex biological data can be analyzed and all the different inferences it is possible to make, as well as Dr. Meyer’s teaching style. Outside of that class, the other BE class I really enjoyed was BE C147: Applied Tissue Engineering. The class is super interesting, and you get to learn about the industrial applications of tissue engineering and all the cool products out there that use actual cells and tissues to treat people. Dr. Tawil is also such a great guy, and there are so many cool guest speakers! Outside of BE, I would definitely recommend taking Ling 1, which I thought was super cool and taught me a lot about how languages and words work.

If you have had a research or internship experience, what was the most valuable aspect  of the experience for you?

I’ve done both research and an internship! I’ve been a member of Dr. Kamei’s lab since my freshman year and I was a Digital Sciences Intern at Genentech last summer. In terms of research, I would probably say that the most valuable part of my experience was learning how to tackle open-ended problems with basically no prior experience in that area. So much of research is learning things on the fly, and systematically attacking problems that you usually have never dealt with before. But, it is definitely super rewarding, and it can be so fun to see the tangible impacts of all the concepts you learn in your classes. For my internship, I thought it was super cool to learn more about the industrial applications of our degree, and how pharmaceutical companies actually work. There are so many different steps involved in discovering, testing and manufacturing a drug, and it’s so rewarding to be able to have a hand in that process. It was also super informative to learn about all the different roles outside of bioengineering that exist in biotech, and how different technologies are involved in improving current standards of practice.

If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?

Hmm, another hard question. I would honestly love to be super good at surfing. Even though I went to high school in SoCal, I’ve never learned how. And I feel like it seems so fun + you look super cool :) 

Meet Neha Iyer! Neha is a 4th-year Bioengineering major as well as one of our Industry Chairs for the 2021-2022 school year — read on to learn more about her!

How long have you been involved with BMES?

I've been on BMES since I was a freshman! I first got involved through build team which was a great experience to build my technical experience. Then I was a publicity chair, and now an industry chair for the last two years!

What are your primary responsibilities as Industry Chair?

As industry chairs, we organize large events like the annual Biotech Career Fair and Science Vendor Expo. We also hold smaller events like professional development workshops and company infosessions. Our goal is to foster company ties and help students access resources to get an industry internship or job.

Which family are you in?

Guanine!

Favorite BMES memory?

I loved the Holiday Party - that was so so so fun. The activities were great!
My favorite BMES even is the Holiday Party because it's a fun chance for everyone to get dressed up, play games, celebrate the holiday season, and hang out with each other. 

What do you like to do in your free time?

Pretend to be a coffee connoisseur, trick my friends into watching horror movies with me, read into co-star horoscopes

Meet Kelly Tamura! Kelly is a 1st-year Bioengineering major as well as one of our new Mentorship Heads for the 2021-2022 school year — read on to learn more about her!

How'd you hear about BMES?

I got an email about the first general meeting and I decided to check it out!

How long have you been involved with BMES?

This year I was a permanent member on the BMES cell team and I was apart of the Adenine family. I had so much fun meeting all the other bioengineers that I decided I wanted to be more involved for this upcoming term. 

What are your primary responsibilities as a Mentorship Head?

Making dope social events for members to get to know each other!

To what are you most looking forward about your position?

I'm really excited to meet a ton of new people - I think that's the greatest.

What's one thing you've learned from BMES this year?

I'm starting to learn from the past mentorship heads about how to create a fun community so that has been cool.

Which family are you in?

Adenine!

Favorite BMES memory?

I loved the Holiday Party - that was so so so fun. The activities were great!

Favorite class you've taken at UCLA?

Bioengineering 10! I loved reading the articles and hearing researchers talk. It was very inspiring!

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love listening to music and doing anything active (one of my favs is looking like an absolute fool playing tennis).

Describe yourself as a Care Bear.

I'd be an orange Care Bear (my fav color) with a planet or something celestial as my belly badge, and I'd like the power of teleportation.

Anything else you'd like to share?

​Cream cheese frosting ruins red velvet cake and I stand by that.

You've seen the BMES Board Spotlights; now get ready to be introduced to some of the Bioengineering faculty here at UCLA! Meet Dr. Aaron Meyer, a member of the Bioengineering department as well as the Bioinformatics IDP. Read on to learn more about him!

Background?

I was a UCLA undergraduate student (graduated 2009). Then went to MIT Biological Engineering for my graduate education.

Overview of Research?

We build computational models of how cells respond and communicate in our bodies. Some of this is in cancer, where we've been exploring how we can model and overcome cell-to-cell heterogeneity in tumors. We as a community usually build models of the "average" cell, which is completely inaccurate in cancer. Tumors are especially hard to treat because they are essentially complex communities of cells that can adapt and respond. Especially since coming to UCLA, though, most of our work has been looking at the immune system, which is similarly an adaptable collection of cells. We build models of, for example, how antibodies interact with our immune cells to coordinate immune responses. We've also had the opportunity to work with others at UCLA who are performing large-scale studies of people's immune responses to viral infection, bacterial infection, organ transplant, etc, and we help make sense of this incredibly complex data. It's been extremely rewarding because (1) there is just so much data available, and a real need to be able to find patterns and make sense of it; (2) we get to work with experts in so many different areas of science and medicine; and (3) what we find has such an immediate potential to help people.

What courses do you teach?

• BE 167L: Bioengineering laboratory. This is exactly what it sounds like! It's a fun course to teach but has been a challenge during the pandemic (since it's usually so hands-on).
• BE 175/275: Machine learning in BioE. We cover all sorts of data analysis techniques. This is teaching the sort of stuff I think about all day, every day. With both courses, it's rewarding to see how students go on to use the material. They both cover material that bioengineers will DEFINITELY use.

What are your hobbies?

First, cycling. I try to go at least once a week and get in ~20–50 miles. It's time to get out, decompress, and sometimes think about something without distractions. It's also a great way to explore, and LA is a wonderful place for it. Currently, I'm preparing for a ride across Iowa with a friend this summer. Second, science fiction in all and any forms.

If you could tell your undergraduate self anything, what would it be?

Read even more! Read more science, scientific articles, fiction, non-fiction. It's a source of ideas, and so much of what I do now is written communication.

If you had a theorem or special number named after you, what would be the first thing you do to celebrate this?

​A big slice of cake. :-)

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."

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