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.
Ayden Hwang
High School Research Assistant
Email: ayden.hwang@ucalgary.ca
Joining through the 2024 HYRS program, Ayden is a 2025 graduate of William Aberhart High School with an interest in how the spatial organization of microbes in the human gut affect health. Outside the lab, Ayden finds joy in swimming, snowboarding, playing Breath of The Wild, and exploring Alberta’s breathtaking landscapes. He is also an avid cinema-goer and binge-watcher, who you can see regularly visiting movie theaters throughout the city.
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.
Makayla Young
Summer Research Intern
Email: makayla.young@ucalgary.ca
Makayla is a Summer Research Intern joining through a BME Summer Studentship at the University of Calgary. She is entering her final year of Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Physics at McMaster University. Her research interests lie in the computation side of biomedical innovation. In her free time, Makayla loves to cook, go hiking, and explore new cities.
Karna Kokame
Summer Research Student
Email: karna.kokame@ucalgary.ca
Karna is a summer student joining through the BME Summer Studentship Program. She is entering her second year of Chemical Engineering at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include genetic engineering and the gut microbiome. Outside of academics, she loves practicing karate, baking, and spending time with friends.
Ava Zareipour
Summer Research Student
Email: ava.zareipour@ucalgary.ca
Ava is a Summer Research Student entering her third year in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Calgary. Her research interests focus on using regenerative medicine and synthetic biology to treat chronic illnesses. Ava is an avid reader in her free time and her favourite genre is epic fantasy-although she likes to read any genre as long as it is fictitious and completely unrealistic.
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!
Rabia Salman
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
Email: rabia.salman@ucalgary.ca
Rabia 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.