Queenie Xu, a third-year bioengineering student at the University of California, Riverside, is an example of a student who explores multiple opportunities and has a lot of experience in her field of study through multiple research projects, internships, and organizations.

After looking into various engineering majors and attending a Stanford Pre Collegiate Summer Program, which focused on biomedical engineering and biomedical optics, Queenie decided to pursue Bioengineering as a major. 

Like many undergraduate engineering students interested in research at the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE), Queenie began by emailing faculty members in research areas of interest and found a fit in professor of bioengineering Huinan Liu’s Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Lab as a freshman. This lab focuses on biocompatible materials used in the body as implants or for drug delivery. Through working in Liu’s lab and closely with graduate student mentor Changlu Xu, Queenie learned about UC LEADS, a two-year research and graduate preparation program funded by the UC Office of the President that hosts students from each UC campus, with the opportunity to research at different UC’s during the summer.

As part of her work with UC LEADS, Queenie conducts research for Liu’s lab during the academic year, participates in symposiums, and engages in activities such as manuscript writing, experimental design and literature review. She mentioned that UC LEADS has not only offered exposure to research as an undergraduate but also provides professional development opportunities and insight into graduate school. Queenie encourages students to make the most out of their experiences.

When asked about the most exciting research project at UC LEADS, Queenie mentioned the Cranial window (window to the brain) project, where she helped investigate the cytocompatibility of transparent Yttria stabilized ceramic (YSZ) discs, in other words whether or not the discs are harmful or not to live cells, in hopes that they could be used as an implant in the skull. In this study, the research team found that polished YSZ discs allowed for bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), to have a greater spreading area, meaning that they are happier in the environment that they are growing in, on top of the YSZ discs. It was also found that certain concentrations (amounts) of Yttria in the YSZ discs had lower average cell adhesion densities, meaning that the cranial window can retain transparency longer. The study generally provided critical results to screen the YSZ ceramic discs for cranial window application.

Looking ahead to her next research project, Queenie is excited about traveling south to UCSD to research nanosensors as neural diagnostic tools in assistant professor of bioengineering Ester J. Kwon’s Nanoscale Bioengineering Group. 

According to Queenie, applying to the UC LEADS program is fairly simple; however, she encourages students interested in participating to write standout personal statements. She suggests students be open about the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, as UC LEADS is designed to help disadvantaged students who have the potential to achieve in higher education and leadership in STEM. She recommends students interested in UC LEADS program to reach out to Laura McGeehan, Director of Academic Preparation, Recruitment and Outreach, or Nancy Cruz, Admission and Recruitment specialist, both of UCR’s Graduate Division, or any current UC LEADS scholar like herself for advice. 

In addition to research, Queenie is actively involved with student organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). She is currently the professional development chair at SWE, where she plans one of UCR’s largest student-run networking events, “Evening with Industry,” where students interact with people from different industries. As the vice president of BMES, Queenie is responsible for supporting the president and other officers in organizing events and increasing club membership.

In the future, Queenie wants to work as a program manager in the engineering industry or as a research and development engineer in biomechanical engineering or the materials science and engineering industry. She might also pursue graduate school, but is exploring her options before making a decision.