News

High vinculin levels help keep aging fruit fly hearts young

July 17, 2018

High vinculin levels help keep aging fruit fly hearts young

A new discovery in how heart muscles maintain their shape in fruit flies sheds light on the crucial relationship between cardiac function, metabolism, and longevity. Researchers from the University of California San Diego discovered that maintaining high levels of the protein vinculin—which sticks heart muscle cells to one another—confers health benefits to fruit flies. Their work shows that fruit flies bred to produce 50 percent more vinculin enjoyed better cardiovascular health and lived a third of their average life span longer.  Full Story


Why are neuron axons long and spindly? Study shows they're optimizing signaling efficiency

July 11, 2018

Why are neuron axons long and spindly? Study shows they're optimizing signaling efficiency

A team of bioengineers at UC San Diego has answered a question that has long puzzled neuroscientists, and may hold a key to better understanding the complexities of neurological disorders: Why are axons, the spindly arms extending from neurons that transmit information from neuron to neuron in the brain, designed the way they are? Full Story


Biosensor chip detects single nucleotide polymorphism wirelessly and with higher sensitivity

July 9, 2018

Biosensor chip detects single nucleotide polymorphism wirelessly and with higher sensitivity

A team led by the University of California San Diego has developed a chip that can detect a type of genetic mutation known as a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and wirelessly send the results in real time to an electronic device. The chip is at least 1,000 times more sensitive at detecting an SNP than current technology. The advance could lead to cheaper, faster and portable biosensors for early detection of genetic markers for diseases such as cancer. Full Story


Graduating students honored with Awards for Excellence

June 15, 2018

Graduating students honored with Awards for Excellence

Here are some highlights from the impressive resumes of the 2018 Jacobs School of Engineering student award winners, recognized by the IDEA Engineering Student Center and Dean Albert P. Pisano at the Ring Ceremony. Full Story


Engineering students and alumni sweep Triton Entrepreneur Night

June 7, 2018

Engineering students and alumni sweep Triton Entrepreneur Night

Two teams led by students and alumni of the Jacobs School of Engineering won big at Triton Entrepreneur Night, the signature event of The Basement—an undergraduate business incubator founded in 2015 with support from alumni. The teams competitively pitched their ideas, Shark Tank style, to a panel of esteemed investors and entrepreneurs.  Full Story


Engineering student leaders honored

May 24, 2018

Engineering student leaders honored

Top performing engineering student leaders were honored at the 9th annual Engineering Leadership Awards celebration on May 17. The event, presented by the Gordon Engineering Leadership Center at UC San Diego, recognizes undergraduate and graduate engineering students who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through their communication skills, teamwork abilities and implementation of technical solutions in competitions or real-world challenges. Full Story


You Can Eat That Fork

May 17, 2018

You Can Eat That Fork

Zhicong “Zack” Kong, a 2017 bioengineering alumnus from UC San Diego, created compostable, durable, edible cutlery that is unique for several reasons:the ingredients, a scalable manufacturing process and an innovative mold technology. Full Story


Study to Explore Whether Cannabis Compound Eases Severe Symptoms of Autism

May 1, 2018

Study to Explore Whether Cannabis Compound Eases Severe Symptoms of Autism

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine are preparing a first-of-its-kind, multidisciplinary investigation to determine if and how cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant, provides therapeutic benefit to children with severe symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  The study, scheduled to launch in approximately one year, is funded by a $4.7 million gift from the Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation, in partnership with the Wholistic Research and Education Foundation. It represents the largest known private gift to date for medicinal cannabis research in the United States.  Full Story


April 24, 2018

Flames "On Edge" wins big at Research Expo

The research presented at Research Expo 2018 was “on fire” thanks to UC San Diego mechanical engineering graduate student Luca Carmignani. He took home the top prize at Research Expo for his work to understand the spread of fire over real-world 3D shapes. Full Story


Eight Jacobs School alumni recognized at UC San Diego's first 40 Under 40 awards

April 12, 2018

Eight Jacobs School alumni recognized at UC San Diego's first 40 Under 40 awards

From startup founders to VPs at major technology companies, eight alumni of the Jacobs School of Engineering were recognized in the first 40 Under 40 awards bestowed by the University of California San Diego. Full Story