Events

Finals Relief: Boba and Massage
2025-12-09 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Quarry Plaza, Student Union, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Take a break from the stress of studying for finals and enjoy boba and a short massage on the head and neck.
It’s free for UCSC students and will be held in the Quarry Plaza on Tuesday, December 9, 1-3 p.m.
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You Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities.
To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.

Zhu, R. (ECE) - From Neuromorphic Principles to Efficient Neural Language Architectures
2025-12-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
While Large Language Models exhibit remarkable capabilities, their reliance on the standard Transformer architecture imposes prohibitive computational costs and quadratic memory complexity. To bridge the gap between biological efficiency and high-performance AI, we have established foundational work in linearizing attention and maximizing hardware utilization through architectures such as RWKV and MatMul-Free networks. Addressing the remaining bottlenecks in long-term memory consolidation and optimization stability, we propose a research roadmap focused on “In-Place Test-Time Training” (TTT) to enable compositional memory via dynamic weight updates, and the Muon optimizer to stabilize deep reasoning through orthogonal gradient updates. Ultimately, this work aims to unify neuromorphic principles with scalable deep learning to enable robust performance in resource-efficient environments.
Event Host: Ridger Zhu, Ph.D. Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Advisor: Jason Eshraghian
Zoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/95241268060?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode- 256794

Research Lunch & Learn: Managing Conflicts of Interest and Commitment
2025-12-10 12:00 - 13:00 | https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/96141024228?pwd=[REDACTED]
Join us for a discussion on Financial Conflicts of Interest (FCOI) and Conflicts of Commitment (COC) — what they are, why they matter, and how we manage them at UC Santa Cruz. This session will provide an overview of institutional processes for disclosing and reviewing potential conflicts, clarify the key differences between FCOI and COC, and explain how both are addressed in the context of federally funded research. Led by OR and APO experts, the speakers will also explore the broader implications of unmanaged conflicts on research integrity, public trust, and institutional accountability.

Speakers: Bri Quinn, Office of Research Compliance Administration; Karisa Breckenridge and Ibukun Bloom, Academic Personnel Office

Audience: UCSC researchers

Join Zoom Meeting: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/96141024228?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 961 4102 4228Passcode: [REDACTED]

One tap mobile+16694449171,,96141024228#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US+16699006833,,96141024228#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (San Jose)

Singh, A. (ECE) - Quantum Key Distribution Using Entangled Pairs with Random Grouping
2025-12-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Jack Baskin Engineering, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides information-theoretic security for cryptographic key establishment, but existing protocols exhibit limited noise tolerance, restricting their applicability in practical quantum channels with finite resources. This work introduces a QKD protocol based on entanglement swapping that significantly enhances error tolerance and key generation rates. The protocol encodes six-bit classical symbols into six-qubit entangled states organized as three Bell pairs. Key contributions include: (1) maintaining positive secrecy rates under 100% intercept-resend attacks, unprecedented among existing protocols, (2) proven security against collective attacks up to 29.29% quantum bit error rate (QBER), substantially exceeding BB84’s 11% threshold, and (3) finite-key security analysis demonstrating viable key generation under practical block size constraints. These results establish that structured multi-qubit encoding fundamentally broadens the operational capabilities of quantum key distribution, enabling secure communication in high-noise environments such as free-space satellite links and urban channels where conventional protocols fail.
Host: Archana Jayprakash Singh, Ph.D. Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Advisor: Zouheir Rezki
Zoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/92875779810?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode- 530049

The Everett Program Presents: Envisioning Digital Justice Together | 7th Annual Project Showcase
2025-12-10 15:30 - 19:00 | Merrill Cultural Center, 200 McLaughlin Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
The Everett Program Presents: Envisioning Digital Justice Together | 7th Annual Project Showcase
This showcase aims to highlight the incredible work of our students, who have completed a year-long practicum conceptualizing and using digital technology to work with nonprofit organizations on social justice issues from climate justice to the racist impacts of the carceral state.
This year, Showcase is an event in which the audience can not only come together to support these wonderful students and their work, but also to envision a range of digital futures together.
All are welcome! RSVP with the QR Code found on the poster, we hope to see you there 🙂

Data Science and Analytics Info Session
2025-12-10 18:00 - 19:00 | CA
Data analysts are in high demand
Even as hiring slows in certain tech sectors, organizations across industries are actively seeking professionals with data expertise. The ability to extract insights from data has become essential to business success, creating abundant opportunities for skilled analysts.
Discover the expanding landscape of Data Science and Data Analytics careers, and learn which in-demand skills will set your resume apart from the competition. Explore how AI is transforming the field and creating new opportunities for those who can harness its potential.
Whether you’re starting fresh or advancing your career, our comprehensive courses and expert instructors will equip you with the practical skills employers are looking for. Take the next step toward landing your ideal role in this dynamic, growing field.
Speaker
Partha Padmanabhan, chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Data Science program, talks about how to learn these skills and prepare for the job market.
Sponsor
This winter info session series event is sponsored by the Data Science and Data Analytics Certificate program.

Register today.

Tran, L. (BMEB) - Polysome Shadowing: A Long-Read Sequencing Approach to Study Translation
2025-12-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Biomedical Sciences Building, 575 McLaughlin Drive
Translation is a central and highly regulated step of gene expression, yet there are few quantitative, high-throughput tools to study translation. Existing methods such as sucrose gradients provide only bulk ribosome counts, while Ribo-Seq offers positional information in the genome but destroys long-range structure and transcript expression information. Because of these limitations, many fundamental questions about mRNA translation into protein remain difficult to assay. In this proposal, I outline my plans to develop a novel technology, deemed Polysome Shadowing, that covalently marks ribosome-unprotected regions of RNA with hyperactive base editors. Because ribosomes protect ~21–30 nt regions of mRNAs, ribosome “shadows” appear as tracts of unedited bases in long-read sequencing. In Aim 1, I will identify ribosome shadows on single molecules by increasing editing efficiency through optimization of dual cytosine and adenosine base editors and statistical modeling. In Aim 2, I will maximize the accuracy of information recovered from highly-edited RNAs by developing a multipass library preparation protocol to generate high-confidence reads. In Aim 3, I will apply the tools I have already developed to examine previously difficult-to-assay paradigms of translational control in the form of viral frameshifting mechanisms. Together, completion of these aims will build an information-rich sequencing technology capable of positioning ribosomes on intact mRNAs while preserving long-range information and establish feasibility to study nascent paradigms.
Host: Liam Tran, Ph.D. Student, Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics
Advisor: Joshua Arribere

Chambers, K. (BMEB) - Using Genomics and Artificial Intelligence to improve prognosis for osteosarcoma patients
2025-12-11 12:00 - 14:00
Transcriptomic profiling has been transformative in pediatric oncology. Pediatric cancers arise from disrupted developmental programs. Their impaired transcriptional states reflect cell lineage infidelity, aberrant differentiation, and immune-microenvironment interactions distinct from those of adult tumors(Gröbner et al., 2018; X. Ma et al., 2018). Within the osteosarcoma (OS) landscape, despite being the most common bone tumor of childhood, it remains one of the least genomically characterized pediatric cancers. Advancements in survival for localized disease, outcomes for metastatic or recurrent OS have remained stagnant for decades. Transcriptomics characterization of OS has facilitated the exposure of the unique chromothripsis patterns associated with the disease (Sayles et al., 2019; Schott et al., 2023). Largely, progress in OS genomics is still limited by the lack of harmonized, cross-study datasets accessible to researchers. I detail my contributions to OS research, beginning with the curation of the largest publicly available and harmonized RNA-sequencing osteosarcoma dataset (Chapter 2). A continuous part of my research involved the systematic democratization, aggregation, harmonization, and open sharing of pediatric cancer transcriptomic datasets within the Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative (Beale et al., 2025). This dataset provided a foundation for the analyses and discoveries presented in this dissertation. I utilize the multi-cohort and transcriptomic multi-omic public OS dataset to discover and define biologically meaningful subtypes that may explain differences in progression and treatment response (Chapter 3). Finally, I expand these advanced computational approaches into the realm of diagnostic pathology by evaluating strategies for integrating generative AI into rare cancer classification. I leverage both general and domain-specific diffusion models alongside GPT-4o–generated pathology prompts to guide histologic image synthesis (Chapter 4). In summary, my work advances transcriptional subtyping in OS by leveraging transcriptomic data to identify molecular subtypes of OS that could inform treatment strategies.
Host: Krizia Chambers, Ph.D. Candidate, Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics
Advisor: Olena Vaske
Zoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/93569812001?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode- 915392

Laffan, N. (CM) - Digital Memory Tools and Their Impact On Collective Remembering
2025-12-11 13:00 - 15:00
Today, both individual and collective memories are increasingly mediated by digital platforms. Both are fundamentally enmeshed in platform ecosystems that orient around commercial imperatives very much at odds with community cohesion. The digital archive where our mediated memories are stored does not merely store information but actively inscribes it, often privileging narratives aligned with commercial incentives rather than community cohesion. This invisibility is a problem: as we offload our personal memories onto commercial tools, we unwittingly subject our shared past to algorithmic curation and “algo-time,” which raises serious questions about how the use of our personal devices is quietly restructuring the way societies remember.
During this presentation, I will propose a three-pronged method of investigating and engaging in this conceptual space. All three prongs revolve around a shared question : how do the technologies that extend our personal memories affect what we remember collectively? The research first establishes a conceptual ecology around the question by tracing the lifecycle of a single image from individual capture to platform archive. Second, it employs Research through Design (RtD) and speculative design methods to prototype tools explicitly built for collective remembrance rather than commercial extraction. Finally, it utilizes artistic practice to “diffract” these concepts, creating interactive installations that expose the distortions and contradictions inherent in digital memory. Together, these projects aim to make visible the hidden dynamics that shape the memories we construct together.
Host: Nate Laffan, Ph.D. Student, Computational Media
Advisor: Nathan Altice
Zoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/93762016105?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode- 668969

ECE Supervision and Administration Info Session
2025-12-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Step into leadership in early childhood education.
The need for skilled supervisors and administrators in early learning programs continues to grow. Childcare centers, preschools, and early education organizations all rely on leaders who can manage teams, ensure quality, and meet state standards.
We’ll explore the key roles in early childhood supervision and administration—site director, program manager, owner/operator—and the essential skills to lead with confidence.
Topics

Curriculum planning
Staff development
Budgeting
Compliance
Best practices shaping the field

Speaker
Program Chair Ninet Moradi will lead our session while offering an inside look at how our flexible, fully online professional certificate helps you meet state permit requirements and advance your career in early childhood leadership.
This winter info session is sponsored by the ECE Supervision and Administration certificate program.

Register today.

The End Game: Discovering how telomeres cause disease
2025-12-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Coastal Biology Building, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
Science In the Neighborhood
A public lecture series hosted quarterly by the UC Santa Cruz Science Division
The End Game: Discovering how telomeres cause disease
Presentation by Carol Greider, Professor, UC Santa Cruz
Q&A with Susan Carpenter, Professor, UC Santa Cruz
Telomeres, the ends of chromosomes, play a pivotal role in human disease. Short telomeres cause age-related degenerative disease, while long telomeres predispose people to cancer. That’s why understanding how telomere length is regulated is so critical. Dr. Greider’s research is uncovering the mechanism of telomere length regulation so that we can devise approaches for disease treatment. By using new DNA-sequencing technology in a novel way, her team made a surprising discovery: Each chromosome end has a unique telomere-length distribution that is different from other chromosome ends. Dr. Greider will explain how this finding will help us better understand the role of telomeres in disease.
The event is in-person only. Register here.
December 11, 2025 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Coastal Biology Building. Rm. 110
UC Santa Cruz Coastal Campus
130 McAllister Way
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
The screenshot below shows where to find the entrance of the Coastal Biology Building.

Fermentation Basics
2025-12-14 10:00 - 12:30 | Hay Barn, 94 Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Unlock the secrets of delicious, healthy, and home-crafted food at our Home Fermentation Workshop! This hands-on class dives deep into the art and science of fermentation, from understanding how beneficial microbes transform basic ingredients into delicious, healthy foods, to exploring a variety of home fermentation projects—including demonstrations of ferments like pickled vegetables and tangy yogurt. Then, roll up your sleeves for an interactive session where you’ll make your own batch of sauerkraut to take home, guided step-by-step in a friendly, supportive environment. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to expand your skills, you’ll leave with newfound confidence, inspiration, and your first jar of homemade kraut ready to ferment on your kitchen counter.
About the Instructor:
Anna Lee is a lecturer in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. She is a Master Composter and a Master Food Preserver through UC Cooperative Extension and holds an advanced certificate in ecological horticulture from the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz and an MS in agroecology from University of Wisconsin, Madison.

REGISTER

Merrill College Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program
2025-12-15 08:00 - 2026-01-14 17:00 | CA
The program offers Merrill students an invaluable professional opportunity: the chance to work closely with a faculty member and get the kind of experience and advice that can prepare students for graduate or professional school or a career. Students who participate in the program will be employed as Research Assistants.
This program enables Merrill College Faculty Fellows to benefit from paid research assistance from an undergraduate affiliate of Merrill College.
The application is submitted by the faculty member rather than the student.
For additional information and application:
Merrill College Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program

Project and Program Management Info Session
2025-12-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Advance your career in project and program management.
As organizations tackle more complex initiatives, the demand for skilled project leaders continues to grow. Learn how professionals across industries use Agile methods, AI tools, and data-driven insights to manage scope, schedule, and cost effectively.
Join Tim Bombosch, chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Project and Program Management program, for an inside look at how our courses can help you strengthen your leadership, planning, and communication skills to deliver results and move your career forward.
This winter info session is sponsored by the Project and Program Management program.
Register today.

Marketing Management Info Session
2025-12-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Shape the future of marketing in the age of AI.
As digital transformation accelerates, organizations need marketers who can blend creativity with data-driven insight. Learn how professionals in Silicon Valley use analytics, automation, and AI-powered tools to design integrated campaigns, engage customers, and measure real results.
Join Ly-Huong Pham, Ph.D., M.B.A., chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Marketing Management program, for an inside look at how our updated courses can help you strengthen your skills in marketing strategy, digital media, and performance analytics—equipping you to lead in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.
This winter info session series is sponsored by the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Marketing Management program.
Register today.

Pre-College Program Info Session
2025-12-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Learn more about UCSC Pre-College Programs
Discover what’s possible in Summer 2026! Join us for a one-hour online info session to learn about our Pre-College Programs, including courses, eligibility, and how students can get a head start on college and career pathways.
Register today.

A Celtic Christmas
2025-12-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
A winter holiday celebration of Irish music, dance, song, and storytelling. A Celtic Christmas is now in its 30th year touring nationally. Rekindle the flame in the hearth ​with stories, music, song and dance from the rich treasury of Ireland’s cultural heritage. Spend an evening with native Irish storyteller Tomáseen Foley and some of the most gifted Celtic musicians, dancers and singers performing anywhere today, both sides of the Atlantic. Thanks to the Celtic Society of the Monterey for their support.
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ADMISSION
– General admission $55.20; Celtic Society Member Discount $49.87.
– Tickets available HERE online through Eventbrite only.
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
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PARKING
– Parking by permit, ParkMobile, or $5 cash/check/credit via the onsite parking attendant in Lot 126
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Summer Courses Listed for 2026
2025-12-19 00:00 - 23:59 | CA
Summer 2026 classes are now posted at summer.ucsc.edu. Explore courses and start planning your summer schedule over winter closure! Days and times will be in the schedule of classes on March 15. Email summer@ucsc.edu with questions.

Bioinformatics Info Session
2026-01-05 05:00 - 18:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Lead the next wave of innovation in life sciences and data.
As biotechnology and data analytics converge, the demand for professionals who can interpret complex biological data and drive discovery continues to grow. Learn how experts in bioinformatics use computational tools, programming, and molecular biology to transform raw data into scientific and medical insights.
Your Speaker
Join us to discover what’s ahead for our program—including welcoming our program chair, Darryl León, launching updated courses, and integrating practical AI tools across the curriculum. Darryl will provide an inside look at how our courses can help you strengthen your skills in data analysis, genomics, and software tools—preparing you to contribute to advances in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.
Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Bioinformatics certificate program.
Claim your seat!

Ecology of Presence: Pathways to the Natural World
2026-01-05 12:00 - 17:00 | Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery, 11 Cowell Service Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Norris Center Art + Science Graduate Fellowship Exhibition
Ecology of Presence: Pathways to the Natural World brings together the work of ten graduate students supported by the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History Art + Science Fellowship, a program dedicated to creative research connecting art with the natural world. Across media – including sound, moving image, music, performance, installation, comics, social practice, photography, and storytelling – the artists in Ecology of Presence emphasize relationality and careful attention to place as essential to building relationships with environs. As accelerating environmental change and technological dependency threaten ways of belonging, the works in this exhibition maintain a steadfast commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that propose kinship with the natural world. By coming together, Art + Science Fellows artworks and social practices suggest ways of imagining human life in relation to the more-than-human world.

CM Seminar - "How Technology-Mediated Food Interactions Support Family Connection and Routine Reconstruction"
2026-01-05 12:30 - 13:30 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Presented by: Aswati Panicker
Description: “In this talk, I draw on work in human-food interaction (HFI) to examine how food can serve as a rich interaction medium for connection and routine reconstruction in long-distance families. I highlight insights from three of my studies that explore this question across different technological forms. First, I discuss how families navigate shifting meanings of “healthy eating” during life transitions, and the tensions that arise when disclosing new goals and priorities in health-sharing or tracking tools. Second, I show how family members expressed hesitations, value conflicts, and visions for cultural or playful moments when imagining embodied technology such as a social robot within their domestic spaces. Third, through a mobile app probe for teaching food knowledge and recipes, I uncover the subtleties of how family members seek to initiate, learn, guide, or be guided through everyday food practices. Throughout, I outline design implications and close by reflecting on how technology-mediated food interactions might extend to other contexts and routines beyond family life.”
Bio: Aswati Panicker is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working with Prof. Christina Chung. Her research is at the intersection of HCI and CSCW, focusing on how technologies are designed and used in social and health-related contexts. She takes a human-centered, participatory approach and draws on theories from family studies and sociology in her work. She earned her PhD in Informatics from Indiana University Bloomington in July 2025. You can read more at aswatipanicker.com

Hosted by: Professor Christina Chung
When: Monday, January 5, 2026 from 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location:
IN-PERSON @ SVC 3212.
Viewing room @ UCSC Main Campus, E2-280.
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AT BOTH LOCATIONS! Faculty and students are highly encouraged to attend.
Zoom info:
https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/98742808551?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 987 4280 8551
Passcode: [REDACTED]

AM Seminar with Dr. Truong Vu
2026-01-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Jack Baskin Engineering, 372
Presenter: Dr. Truong Vu, IPAM and MSU
Description: We present a framework for the gradient flow of sharp-interface surface energies that couple to embedded curvature active agents. We use a penalty method to develop families of locally incompressible gradient flows that couple interface stretching or compression to local flux of interfacial mass. We establish the convergence of the penalty method to an incompressible flow both formally for a broad family of surface energies and rigorously for a more narrow class of surface energies.
Bio: Dr. Vu received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science at University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Vu is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (UCLA) and a visiting faculty in the Department of Mathematics at Michigan State University.
Hosted by: Applied Mathematics

Clinical Trials Design and Management Info Session
2026-01-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Advance your career in the global clinical research industry.
As the demand for safe, effective therapies grows, so does the need for professionals who can lead clinical trials with scientific precision and regulatory expertise. Learn how experts design and manage studies that bring medical innovations from the lab to the marketplace—applying biostatistics, good clinical practices, and international regulations to ensure safety and compliance.
Speaker
Join Karim Sajwani, chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Clinical Trials Design and Management program, for an inside look at how our courses prepare you to coordinate cross-functional teams, oversee global trials, and navigate complex approval processes that shape the future of healthcare.

Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the Clinical Trials Design and Management program.

Claim your seat.

Silicon Chip Design & Semiconductor Engineering Info Session
2026-01-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Build the semiconductors powering the future.
With the global demand for advanced chips on the rise, engineers who can design, simulate, and optimize integrated circuits are highly sought after. Learn how professionals in Silicon Valley develop digital and analog systems, apply verification methodologies, and leverage modern EDA tools to bring innovative designs from concept to silicon.
Speaker
Join Arvind Vidyarthi, chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Silicon Chip Design & Semiconductor Engineering program, for an inside look at how our courses provide hands-on experience, industry-relevant skills, and the practical knowledge needed to pursue careers in chip design, verification, and semiconductor engineering.
Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the Silicon Chip Design & Semiconductor Engineering program.

Register today!

BME 280B Seminar: Nature’s Miniature Masterpieces - Nanobodies as Small but Mighty Antibodies for the next Pandemic
2026-01-08 11:40 - 13:15 | Physical Sciences Building, Physical Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Katja Hanack, Founder and CEO, New/Era/Mabs
Description: Nanobodies combine remarkable simplicity with surprising power. Their small size allows them to reach targets that remain inaccessible to conventional antibodies, while maintaining high specificity and stability. Their compact architecture allows them to access targets that conventional antibodies cannot reach, yet they preserve the specificity and power that make antibody therapeutics so transformative. In this talk I will introduce the science behind selma, a cell based discovery platform developed over more than a decade to rapidly identify high quality antibodies and nanobodies. I will explore why these tiny binders matter, how they differ from classical antibodies, and what their unique biology enables for diagnostics and therapeutics.
The presentation will conclude with my current project on immune infrastructure and how pre validated nanobody archives can shift the pandemic response from a reactive model to proactive preparedness for future outbreaks.
Bio: Katja Hanack, PhD, MBA, is the Founder and CEO of new/era/mabs and a leading expert in antibody discovery for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, with a particular focus on nanobody technologies. With more than 20 years of experience, she has developed pioneering platforms that enable the efficient generation and selection of next-generation monoclonal antibodies and nanobodies. She holds a Biology degree from Humboldt University of Berlin and a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Potsdam. As a former Professor of Biochemistry and Biology at the University of Potsdam, she built and led a research group of 25 scientists, secured over €16 million in external funding, and authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. Since 2017, Dr. Hanack has contributed to translational innovation as an industrial advisor for SPARK Stanford and SPARK Berlin, supporting academic teams in bringing biomedical discoveries to patients.
Hosted by: Professor Rebecca Dubois, BME Department

AI Application Development Program Info Session
2026-01-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Lead Innovation as a Machine Learning Engineer.
As AI becomes central to products and services across industries, there’s a growing demand for professionals who can design, build and deploy intelligent services & systems. Learn how you can preprocess data, develop Machine Learning models, apply Deep Learning techniques, and create AI solutions that solve real‑world problems.
Speaker
Join Praveen Krishna, chair of the Artificial Intelligence Application Development program, for an inside look at how our courses provide hands‑on experience, industry‑driven projects, and the technical foundation you need to advance your career as an ML Engineer, MLOps Engineer, or Applied AI Researcher.
Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the AI Application Development program.

Register today!

Career Success Drop-In Coaching at the EOP Office - Winter 2026
2026-01-12 13:30 - 15:00 | Academic Resources Center (ARC), 408 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Drop-in with Career Coach & Engagement Specialist Bridge Kennedy to discuss Career Exploration, Job Search Strategy, Interview Prep, Grad School Prep, or whatever’s on your mind related to your career success!
Time: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Dates: Mondays, Weeks 2, 4, 6, & 8 of Winter Quarter 2026
1/12, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23
Location: Academic Resource Center, EOP Lounge
YOU BELONG HERE
Programs and services are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities. To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.

Kathleen Schmidt: Sequential Experimental Design for Materials Strength Model Calibration
2026-01-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Jack Baskin Engineering, 165
Presenter: Katie Schmidt, UQ & Optimization Group Leader, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Description: Due to the time and expense associated with physical experiments, there is significant interest in optimal selection of the conditions for future experiments. Selection based on reduction in parameter uncertainty provides a natural path forward. We consider this type of optimal sequential design in the context of Bayesian calibration of materials strength models with the strength model characterizing the evolving resistance of a material to permanent strain. This problem is particularly challenging because different types of experiments and associated diagnostics are employed across strain rate regimes. For lower-strain-rate experiments, stress-strain curves can be measured directly. For higher-strain-rate experiments, strength must be inferred (e.g., from the deformation of a cylinder of material in a Taylor cylinder experiment). We employ data fusion in our sequential design methodology to incorporate these multiple experimental modalities.
LLNL-ABS-835231 This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.
Bio: Katie Schmidt is the UQ & Optimization Group Leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She joined LLNL in 2016 after earning a PhD in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University. During her time at the lab, Katie has been involved in a variety of uncertainty quantification problems related to national security as well as outreach and education through LLNL’s Data Science Institute. Her research interests include mixed-effects models, Bayesian inference, sequential design, and sensitivity analysis.
Hosted by: Statistics Department

Be Inspired: Explore Graduate Studies in STEM
2026-01-12 17:00 - 18:30 | CA
Not sure if graduate school is right for you?
Join us to learn what graduate school is really about and explore whether it’s the right path for you. We’ll cover topics such as qualifying exams, funding options, common misconceptions, and more!
Click the link below to register for the event:
https://ucsc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_31OHhwc7QPqJ7nSyiuAUNg

January Slugs and Steins with Professor Marco Rolandi
2026-01-12 18:30 - 20:00
Slugs & Steins is a monthly series of informal discussions highlighting UC Santa Cruz’s amazing faculty members. Talks are held on the 2nd Monday of each month with topics ranging from organic artichokes to endangered zebras, self-driving cars to Shakespeare. This month, we welcome Professor Marco Rolandi.
Marco Rolandi is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at UC Santa Cruz, where he holds the Jack Baskin Endowed Chair in Engineering. He is also the co-founder and advisor of CruzFoam, which creates sustainable packaging solutions. His research focuses on bioelectronic systems and devices, biological control in regenerative medicine and synthetic biology, and their translational applications. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, the BBC, and others. He currently leads a team on a multicampus multimillion dollar program to accelerate wound regeneration using bioelectronics. Rolandi holds a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford.
REGISTER
