UC Davis BME Students Learn in Germany
Biomedical Engineering grad students, postdocs and faculty take part in Jena biophotonics trip
Eight UC Davis Biomedical Engineering graduate students and early-stage-career postdocs participated in a unique biophotonics summer program in Jena, Germany, September 9 – 14.
Hosted by the Jena-Davis (JEDIS) Alliance of Excellence in Biophotonics, the exchange event promoted North American-German cooperation on the latest research in this field, which applies optics and imaging to the study of biological molecules, cells and tissue.
The grant-funded event was led by UC Davis Biomedical Engineering Department Professor Laura Marcu and Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Professor Juergen Popp. The professors and event attendees addressed clinical requirements and challenges, engaged in discussions with international experts and brainstormed new concepts.
In addition to Marcu and Popp, participating faculty included:
- Sir Professor Alfred Cuschieri, surgeon at the University of Dundee
- Professor Rainer Heintzmann, Liebniz-IPHT/FSU Jena
- Professor Christian Eggeling, Leibniz-IPHT/WIMM Oxford
- Professor Thomas Cizmar, Leibniz-IPHT/CAS Brno
- Dr. Peter Haug, Oncgnostics GmbH
- Professor Michael Schmitt, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena.
UC Davis Biomedical Engineering postdoc Anne Haudenschild and Ph.D. students/BMEGG members Brent Weyers, Amy Becker, Oybek Kholiqov, Cai Li, Justine Migacz, Tianchen Sun and Xiangnan Zhou presented research, learned about the latest biophotonics research being conducted from faculty, took tours of hospitals and the Leibniz Institute, and enjoyed fun evening programs.
“I loved the opportunity to explore how research is being conducted at a foreign institution,” said Weyers. “This program provided me new perspectives and insight on the latest clinical research being conducted in the biophotonics field, and provided me with a rich network of students, scholars and faculty for brainstorming and discussing concepts with pertaining to my own research.”
Weyers and other UC Davis participants are looking forward to welcoming about 10 students from Germany here next summer and continuing the program in Jena as well.
For more information on the JEDIS program or to find out how you can get involved, please contact Brent Weyers, Ph.D. student/BMEGG member, or Professor Laura Marcu.