Lori Tallorin, Chemistry & Biochemistry

UCSD’s Interfaces Multi-Scale Biology Program has allowed me to work across disciplinary boundaries and network with various researchers and professors from multiple scientific fields. Participation in the supramolecular complex characterization laboratory has not only given me hands-on experience, but has also expanded my scientific toolbox by allowing me to apply these techniques to my current research.

Phillip Kyriakakis, Biological Sciences

The Interfaces Training Program has been a great opportunity for me! There are excellent courses offered that give hands on experience with cutting edge techniques as well as interactions with students from many different science and engineering departments. In the Supramolecular Complex Characterization course we learned about MassSpec from both experts in the academic field and from the companies that develop commercial products. In the Light and Electron Microscopy class we learned from specialist in correlated light and electron microscopy (CLEM), light microscopy, specimen prep for electron microscopy and imaging. I strongly recommend this program to any graduate student working in biology related fields.

Stuart Campbell, Grad Student

The degree specialization will indicate that students have learned how to collaborate and work across disciplines. Anyone considering a future in academic biomedical research would benefit from solid evidence that they have sought out and completed training in Multi-Scale Biology. Having benefited from the current training program, I feel that [the degree specialization] will strengthen the program.

Luo Gu Ph.D.

I really appreciate this program. Not only has it been valuable to my education but also very helpful to my research. The discussions with the graduate students from other departments in [the Light and Electron class] also inspired me on my research project.

Bo Chen, Grad Student

Interfaces provides me amazing opportunities to connect to the excellent faculty members and try cool things. I am exposed to imaging tools from EM to 2-photon to MRI. These state-of-the-art techniques not only facilitate research progress, but also stimulate new ideas for science and beyond. I think it is a unique place where faculty and students are committed to solve problems creatively.

Margaret Timmers, Grad Student

The diverse group of stellar scientists and resources at UCSD and La Jolla give students in this area the capacity for truly interdisciplinary research. The interfaces program has given me the training to harness these resources and the opportunity to approach my own work from many different perspectives.Instead of merely sitting in on a lecture about advanced techniques in microscopy, I was able to participate in a quarter-long class taught by experts at the national Center for Imaging and Microscopy research at UCSD. In this class, I was exposed to current and developing techniques in light and electron microscopy and had the opportunity to use these instruments to conduct my own research, thereby strengthening my thesis project.