News & EventsDepartment Events
Events
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May15
EVENT DETAILSmore info
"Seeing the Unseen Using Molecular Fingerprints"
ABSTRACT:
Spectrochemical imaging, using intrinsic fingerprint spectroscopic signals from molecules as a contrast mechanism, opens a new window for understanding life at the molecular level and also enables molecule-based precision diagnosis of diseases. Yet, the intrinsic spectroscopic signal, especially the vibrational signals from chemical bonds, is weaker than the fluorescence signal from a dye by many orders of magnitude. Detecting such weak signal from a tight focus (i.e., a small volume of ~1 femtoliter) under a microscope is extremely challenging and was considered nearly impossible. Ji-Xin Cheng devoted his career to overcoming such daunting barrier through developing advanced chemical microscopes over the past 25 years. In this lecture, Cheng will tell his journey of serendipity-driven innovation, scientific discovery, clinical translation, and entrepreneurship in the growing field of chemical imaging, with a focus on the invention of vibrational photothermal microscopy.BIO:
Ji-Xin Cheng attended University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) from 1989 to 1994. From 1994 to 1998, he carried out his PhD study on bond-selective chemistry at USTC. As a graduate student, he worked as a research assistant at Universite Paris-sud (France) on vibrational spectroscopy and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on quantum dynamics theory. After postdoctoral training on ultrafast spectroscopy in 1999 at HKUST, he joined Sunney Xie’s group at Harvard University as a postdoc from 2000 to 2003, where he focused on the development of CARS microscopy that allows high-speed vibrational imaging. Cheng joined Purdue University in 2003 as Assistant Professor in Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Chemistry, promoted to Associate Professor in 2009 and Full Professor in 2013. He joined Boston University as the Inaugural Theodore Moustakas Chair Professor in Photonics and Optoelectronics in summer 2017. Cheng devoted his research career to chasing a far-reaching goal – harnessing intrinsic molecular signatures for label-free imaging, molecule-based diagnosis, and drug-free treatment.
Scholarship: Professor Cheng is authored in 350 peer-reviewed publications with an h-index of 105 (Google Scholar), holder of >40 patents. Cheng’s research has been supported by >50 grants, ~50 million ($) funding, from federal agencies including NIH, NSF, DoD, DoE and private foundations including Chan-Zuckerburg Initiative and Keck Foundation.
Entrepreneurship: In 2014, Professor Cheng co-founded Vibronix Inc which is devoted to vibration-based imaging technologies and medical device innovations. In 2019, Professor Cheng co-founded Pulsethera aiming to kill superbugs by photolysis of intrinsic chromophores. Professor Cheng is the Scientific Advisor of Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp in Santa Barbara and of Axorus in Paris. Chemical microscopes based on his innovations (e.g., mIRage by Photothermal Spec Corp) are installed and used in many countries worldwide.
TIME Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
LOCATION Tech L361, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Kate Heidelberger kate.heidelberger@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Biomedical Engineering Department (BME)
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May22
EVENT DETAILSmore info
Collaborative Pathways: Educating Emerging Biomedical Innovators
Abstract:
Biomedical engineering exists at the intersection of engineering, biology and medicine. Its inherently multidisciplinary nature makes collaborative work critical for driving biomedical innovation and solving complex problems. Experiential learning plays a foundational role in biomedical engineering education by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, particularly through the design of solutions for critical gaps in clinical care. Hands on experiences, such as clinical immersion, industry partnerships, and team-based design projects enable students to develop technical expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration skills and an understanding of the healthcare innovation process. With the support of a distributed innovation pipeline that fosters collaboration between medical and engineering students to identify clinical opportunities, develop and validate solutions, and assess market potential, students benefit from structured support that strengthens their ability to generate intellectual property and advance innovations towards commercialization. Drawing from her experiences as an engineer, Dr. Kotche will highlight how she creates hands-on learning environments that challenge students to solve real-world problems and develop core competencies as they transition into their professional careers.
Bio:
Miiri Kotche is the Richard and Loan Hill Clinical Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Her work focuses on the scholarship of engineering education, with an emphasis on providing students with real-world experiences through hands-on projects, interdisciplinary programming, and immersive learning opportunities. Drawing from her industry background in product development, manufacturing, and operations, she brings practical insights to her roles as both educator and administrator. Miiri also serves as Director of the Innovation Medicine program, a co-curricular program that supports medical students interested in the intersection of healthcare delivery, innovation, and technology development. As Associate Dean, she oversees academic and student affairs for more than 5,000 undergraduates in 13 degrees programs across 6 departments in UIC’s College of Engineering. Dr. Kotche is the 2024 recipient of the American Society for Engineering Education Theo C. Pilkington Award for outstanding education, leadership and research in biomedical engineering and a 2021 recipient of the UIC Award for Excellence in Teaching. She has been recognized as a Fellow of BMES and AIMBE, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, a “Notable Woman in STEM” by Crain's Chicago Business, a UIC Master Teaching Scholar, and College of Medicine Rising Star.
TIME Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
LOCATION L361, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Kate Heidelberger kate.heidelberger@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Biomedical Engineering Department (BME)
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May29
EVENT DETAILSmore info
Please join us for the annual Michael Jaharis lecture with speaker Luis Diaz, MD, from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Talk title: "Clinical applications of cancer genomics"
Bio:
Dr. Diaz is the Head of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Grayer Family Endowed Chair. Prior to this appointment, he was a faculty member and physician at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
He is recognized for his pioneering efforts to provide the first definitive examples of using circulating tumor DNA as cancer biomarker for screening, monitoring, and detection of occult disease and for the discovery of the therapeutic link between immunotherapy and cancer genetics in patients with mismatch repair deficient tumors. His work led to the landmark proof-of-concept study using PD-1 blockade in patients with mismatch repair deficient tumors, which led to the historic first pan-tumor FDA approval for any solid tumors with this genetic lesion.
He currently sits on the board of director of Quest Diagnostics. He was previously a board member of Jounce Therapeutics and Personal Genome Diagnostics.
He is a founder serval biotechnology companies including Pagerbox, Pagene/Thrive Diagnostics, Personal Genome Diagnostics, Inostics and Epitope.
He is a member of the AACR Fellows Academy and was awarded the Waun Ki Hong Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research in 2020. He is also the leader of the SU2C Colon Cancer Dream Team, Editor-in-Chief of Cancer Discovery and is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI) and American Academy of Physicians (AAP). Dr. Diaz was appointed by President Joseph Biden to the National Cancer Advisory Board to the White House and is on the Board of Directors of Quest Diagnostics.
TIME Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
LOCATION L361, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Jaime Harris jaime.harris@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick - Biomedical Engineering Department (BME)
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Jun15
EVENT DETAILSmore info
2024-2025 Commencement Ceremony
TIME Sunday, June 15, 2025
CONTACT Office of the Registrar nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR University Academic Calendar
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Jun16
EVENT DETAILS
McCormick School of Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony. The most up to date information can be found on our graduation webpage.
TIME Monday, June 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
LOCATION 2705 Ashland Ave
CONTACT Northwestern Engineering Events northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
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Jun16
EVENT DETAILSmore info
McCormick School of Engineering Undergraduate Convocation. The most up to date information can be found on our graduation webpage.
TIME Monday, June 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
LOCATION 2705 Ashland Ave
CONTACT Northwestern Engineering Events northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science