When biomedical engineering students walked into a room full of clinicians at UC Davis Health, they carried two medical device prototypes. One was an alum’s late-night sketch, while the other was theirs. What unfolded in that room over several hours became the basis for First Bite, a medical device designed to safely secure breathing tubes for infants.
UC Davis students Aidan Guerra and Andres Mino Cortes discuss advancing to the final phase of the 2026 NASA Human Lander Challenge, the lessons they learned from NASA engineers and how the experience is shaping the future of the Aggie Space Initiative.
At the 2026 Engineering Design Showcase, three teams were recognized with Sandia Engineering Design Awards for advances in aerospace, clean energy and biomedical engineering.
At an upcoming UC Davis commencement ceremony, biological systems engineering major Atmaja Patil will speak on what she takes away from her education: “The confidence to question the status quo. To look at a problem and ask, ‘Why does it have to be this way?’”
At UC Davis, graduating seniors in materials science and engineering spend their final year solving real problems for professional sponsors, emerging with the hands-on skills, mentorship and workplace-ready experience that traditional coursework rarely provides.
From GLP-1 treatment to upcycling coffee and legume waste streams, students tackled real food-related issues with an entrepreneurial mindset in Innovation for Impact: Food Systems, colloquially called “Hacking 4 Food.” Instructor and facilitator Alice Dien, a Ph.D. candidate in biological systems engineering, shares her reflections.
Benetta MacAuley didn't know materials science was a major when she applied to UC Davis. Now the senior investigates sustainable cement alternatives and leads the viola section of the Video Game Orchestra, proving that the best paths are often unplanned.
A tough sophomore year nearly derailed Yusuf Jeiroudi’s college experience. With mentorship from UC Davis chemical engineering faculty, renewed Muslim faith and intentional habits, he learned how setbacks can fuel growth, resilience and a clearer path toward graduation.
The Minnesota marshes Matthew Maciosek explored as a child are threatened by agricultural groundwater use. Now a UC Davis biological systems engineering student, he's researching sustainable irrigation practices in California's Central Valley to help protect wetlands for future generations.
Three College of Engineering undergraduate students recount their journeys majoring in CS, CE and CSE, detailing defining coursework, future career paths and plans.
