UCLA Researchers Refine Use of Graphene Oxide for Stronger, More Durable Concrete Co-led by Gaurav Sant, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and the Pritzker Professor of Sustainability, and Richard Kaner, a distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry with a joint appointment in materials science and engineering, the team found that a more even distribution of graphene oxide in cementitious mixtures can improve concrete performance while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
UCLA Researchers Develop New Method to Customize Artificial Tiny Organs Inside Cells Elisa Franco, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and bioengineering, led a team that built programmable organelles in living cells using RNA as the blueprint and material, opening up new possibilities in nanomedicine, genetics and cell engineering.
Nasim Annabi, Jun Chen Named AIMBE Fellows for Medical and Biological Engineering Advances Annabi, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Chen, an associate professor of bioengineering, have been recognized among the top 2% in their respective fields by the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. In addition, Song Li, a chancellor’s professor of bioengineering, was appointed chair-elect for the 2026-2027 College of Fellows.
Engineering Students Develop Community-Owned Rideshare Blueprint in Class Project In a course taught by Sergio Carbajo, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, 13 engineering students worked on a project called LinkLA, which is designed to prioritize riders and drivers while reinvesting profits in public transportation.
Student Engineers Unlock Fully Autonomous Electroporation at UCLA Second-year electrical engineering student Benjamin Flom and biophysics student Beatrice Mihalache collaborated with industry partners to reconfigure and automate a new scientific instrument while preserving full manual operation.
Students Revive TEDxUCLA as a Campuswide ‘Festival of Ideas’ Fifth-year materials engineering student Cylin Wang has helped bring the event, co-sponsored by UCLA Samueli and featuring talks on topics including AI and the future of social media, back to campus for the first time since 2023.
The Toxic Aftermath of the L.A.-Area Fires Associate professor of civil and environmental engineering Sanjay Mohanty discusses findings that nearly 57% of the still-standing homes and about 20% of the burned, cleared lots affected by the 2025 Eaton Fire have excessive levels of lead in their soil.
UCLA Students Build Wild Soapbox Race Car Reporter Rich DeMuro interviews the engineering students behind UCLA Bruin Racing, which was selected as one of 32 teams to enter in the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Los Angeles.
Meet The UCLA Ph.D.s Ending The U.S. Healthcare Admin Nightmare Two UCLA computer science alumni, Varuni Sarwal and Rosemary He, are making waves in the healthcare industry with their AI automation platform TriFetch, which aims to reduce the time spent on administrative tasks in specialty clinics.
The Most Impactful U.S. Inventions The article cites UCLA’s pivotal role in the launch of the internet, with the first internet message sent in October 1969 by the team of UCLA Samueli distinguished professor of computer science Leonard Kleinrock.
Can Wildflowers Heal the Toxic Mess the L.A. Fires Left Behind? Associate professor of civil and environmental engineering Sanjay Mohanty performs and discusses lead and other metal contamination testing on the site of the reporter’s former home, which was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades Fire.
Tumbleweed-Style Robot Can Roll Across the Prairie — No Wind Needed The article features UCLA postdoctoral scholar Chi Chen, working under associate professor of materials science and engineering Ximin He, who has developed spherical robots powered by light that can roll autonomously.
Spring 2026 The issue highlights civil and environmental engineering professor Eric Hoek on a desalination startup with UCLA business student Patrick O’Brien and aerospace engineering alum David Stephens M.S. ’89.
