Xiaofan Jin
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Email: xiaofan.jin@ucalgary.ca
Xiaofan Jin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary. He received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering at Stanford University where he used synthetic biology to engineer biofilm microbial communities. He then completed a postdoc at the Gladstone Institutes at UCSF where he developed new approaches for in vitro culture and bioinformatics to study the role of spatial structure and adhesion in the gut microbiome.
Davis Dickson
Graduate student, Biomedical Engineering
Email: davis.dickson@ucalgary.ca
Davis is a Graduate student at the University of Calgary in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He completed his Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary where he enjoyed various topics including gut microbiome, synthetic biology, regenerative medicine, and physiology. He conducted his Honour’s research project on the effects of a fibre intervention on knee health in rats exposed to a diet-induced obesity model. In his free time, Davis likes staying active, reading, and photography.
Rabia Salman (Ayla)
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
Email: rabia.salman@ucalgary.ca
Ayla is a Graduate Student at the University of Calgary in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary during which she enjoyed various topics including gut microbiome, regenerative medicine, and pharmacology. Outside the lab, she is passionate about photography and loves to read anything in the genres of surreal fictionalism and academia.
Caydin Cleland
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
Email: caydin.cleland@ucalgary.ca
Caydin is a graduate student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary. He completed his BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry at the University of Manitoba, where he gained research experience in protein design, and protein biochemistry. He has since continued his research journey in the Jin Lab, with the goal of further developing his passion for synthetic biology and its diverse applications. Outside of academics and research, Caydin enjoys spending time outdoors whether it be hiking, mountain biking, or snowboarding.
Amber Quo
Biomedical Engineering Research Volunteer
Email: amber.quo@ucalgary.ca
Amber is a 4th year Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Calgary. Her research interests focus on synthetic biology and the development of biosensors for medical applications, with additional enthusiasm for programming and exploring the intersection of science and athletics. In her free time, she loves to play rugby and travel!
Lab Alumni
Ayden Hwang
High School Research Assistant (2024-2025). Current position: Undergrad student at Western University
Makayla Young
Summer Research Intern (2025). Current position: Undergrad student at McMaster University
Karna Kokame
Summer Research Intern (2025). Current position: Undergrad student at University of Calgary
Ava Zareipour
Summer Research Intern (2025). Current position: Undergrad student at University of Calgary