News Archive - Jacobs School of Engineering

For Cystic Fibrosis Lung Infections, How Well Antibiotics Work May be Affected by pH, Oxygen

In a study publishing September 26 in Science Advances, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences report that tweaking factors in a cystic fibrosis lung model, such as pH balance and oxygen, helped eradicate pathogenic bacteria while minimizing risks of antibiotic resistance and overgrowth of other microorganisms.

Engineering Graduate Students Selected as Siebel Scholars

Five Jacobs School of Engineering graduate students working to improve immunology, cardiac health, blood transfusions and our understanding of the genome have been named 2019 Siebel Scholars. The Siebel Scholars program recognizes the most talented students in the world’s leading graduate schools of business, computer science, bioengineering and energy science.

Computer Scientists Receive $2M NSF Grant to Expand Early Research Program for Underrepresented Groups

A program at the University of California San Diego designed to increase retention of underrepresented groups studying computer science will get a roughly $2 million boost from the National Science Foundation over the next five years.

Wearable Ultrasound Patch Monitors Blood Pressure Deep Inside Body

A new wearable ultrasound patch that non-invasively monitors blood pressure in arteries deep beneath the skin could help people detect cardiovascular problems earlier on and with greater precision. In tests, the patch performed as well as some clinical methods to measure blood pressure. Applications include real-time, continuous monitoring of blood pressure changes in patients with heart or lung disease, as well as patients who are critically ill or undergoing surgery.

Researchers Develop Biometric Tool for Newborn Fingerprinting

Researchers at the University of California San Diego say they have dramatically advanced the science of biometric identification, creating a novel technology that can capture the fingerprints of infants and children, even on the first day of birth.

Neutrophil Nanosponges Soak up Proteins That Promote Rheumatoid Arthritis

Engineers have developed neutrophil “nanosponges” that can safely absorb and neutralize a variety of proteins that play a role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Injections of these nanosponges effectively treated severe rheumatoid arthritis in two mouse models. Administering the nanosponges early on also prevented the disease from developing. The nanosponges are nanoparticles of biodegradable polymer coated with the cell membranes of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.

Lei Liang Awarded First Research Artist in Residence at UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute

World-renowned composer Lei Liang has been named the inaugural Research Artist in Residence at the UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute. Appointed for three years, the Department of Music professor will expand his research on the sonification of coral reefs, highlighted in his “Hearing Seascapes” interdisciplinary courses.

Bioengineers Receive $12M Grant from NIH to Further Research on Building Blocks of Human Metabolism

The University of California San Diego has received a $12 million, four-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand the Metabolomics Workbench, a searchable, interactive repository of data for all research in the field of metabolomics—the study of the small molecules called metabolites that are found within cells and biological systems.

These Tags Turn Everyday Objects Into Smart, Connected Devices

Engineers have developed printable metal tags that could be attached to plain objects, like water bottles, walls or doors, and turn them into "smart" Internet of Things devices. The tags can also be fashioned into paper-thin control panels that can be used to remotely operate WiFi-connected speakers, smart lights and other smart home appliances. The metal tags are made from patterns of copper foil printed onto paper-like materials and disturb WiFi signals when touched.

‘Building up’ Stretchable Electronics to be as Multipurpose as Your Smartphone

By stacking and connecting layers of stretchable circuits on top of one another, engineers have developed an approach to build soft, pliable “3D stretchable electronics” that can pack a lot of functions while staying thin and small in size. The work is published in the Aug. 13 issue of Nature Electronics.