Steering Committee
Jennifer Cochran
Shriram Chair of Bioengineering, and by Courtesy, of Chemical Engineering
Role: Director
Professor Cochran is the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in the Department of Bioengineering and the Director of the NIH Biotechnology Training Grant. Professor Cochran is a recognized leader in the field of biotechnology, particularly with its applications to problems related to human health. While a graduate student in Chemistry at MIT, Professor Cochran participated in a similar program which introduced her to other fields, including bioengineering. The positive impact of this training experience on her career path has inspired her to help future generations of students achieve similar exposure to interdisciplinary fields related to biotechnology.
Fan Yang
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and of Bioengineering
Role: Co-Director, Diversity Officer
Drew Endy
Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering
Role: Education and Societal Implications/impact
Under the leadership of professor Endy, we have launched a new Industrial Affiliates program that we call the "Stanford Bioengineering Forum." Via the forum we enable leaders from industry to join with our students on campus in "fireside chats", workshops, and other events to discuss lessons learned and, importantly, to identify what critical unmet needs or emerging opportunities exist in the biotechnology sector. Professor Endy's efforts will further the mission of industry engagement in our Biotechnology Training Program.
Christina Smolke
Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering
ROLE: Industry/External Liaison
Professor Smolke is the Associate Chair of Education in the Department of Bioengineering and is instrumental in directing the educational mission of the training program. She is also a key point of contact, facilitating connections amongst admissions, the training program, and diversity candidates during the graduate recruitment process
Carolyn Bertozzi
Professor, Department of Chemistry
ROLE: Stanford Connections
Professor Bertozzi was recruited to Stanford from UC Berkeley where she built and managed a highly successful NIH training grant in Chemical Biology. She is among first faculty to join the new Stanford ChEM-H (Chemistry, Engineering, Medicine for Human Health) Institute. Professor Bertozzi will serve as a critical advisor to build connection between our training program and the broader university.
Dana Andersen
Chief Technical & Manufacturing Officer, Denali Therapeutics
ROLE: Industry Liaison, former trainee
To further enrich our training program and ensure program continuity, we are pleased to retain Dr. Dana Andersen as a steering committee member. He has extensive industry experience and contacts, having worked in management roles at Genentech for 23 years, prior to his current role at Denali Therapeutics. He was also one of the early trainees in the Stanford NIH Biotechnology Training Program, completing his Ph.D. in 1994.
Kevin Grimes
Professor (Teaching) of Chemical & Systems BIology, Co-Director of SPARK Program
ROLE: Translational Biotechnology
Eric Appel
Assistant Professor of Material Science & Engineering and, by courtesty, of BIoengineering and of Pediatrics (Endocrinology)
ROLE: Professor Perspectives
K. Dane Wittrup
Carbon P. Dubbs Professor in Chemical Engineering and Biological Engineering; Associate Director for Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
ROLE: External Program Advisor