Program Outcomes

Altrim Mamuti

MBiotech '26
Research Associate
Renasant Bio

Altrim graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Environmental Biology, focusing his studies on population genetics and chemical ecology. Upon relocating to the Bay Area, he spent eight months as a laboratory technician at Genentech. Driven by a desire to pivot into cell and molecular biology within the Bay Area biotechnology startup ecosystem, he chose the MBT program as the ideal catalyst for his career goals.

During the program, Altrim joined Vivere Oncotherapies at Bakar Labs as a Research Intern on the nonclinical team, where he executed large-scale preclinical safety studies for oncolytic virotherapy targeting solid tumors. This experience highlighted what he considers the MBT program's greatest asset: its industry internship opportunities. Altrim believes the MBT program serves as a powerful stepping stone where professional growth is limited only by one's own ambition.

Upon graduation Altrim joined as a Research Associate on the Discovery Biology team at Renasant Bio, contributing to the company’s pipeline to treat Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). Looking ahead, he remains deeply passionate about entrepreneurship, aiming to eventually found his own startup at the intersection of biological innovation and scalable tech solutions.

Junyu Deng

MBiotech '26
Research Associate
Until Labs

Before joining the MBT program, Junyu earned her B.S. in Microbiology and B.A. in Economics at UC Santa Barbara and gained industry experience as a Laboratory Technician at Idexx Laboratories. She was drawn to the MBT program for its summer laboratory course and industry-partnered internship, which offered a natural entry point into the Bay Area biotech ecosystem. During her internship at Octant, she developed an automated quality assurance system for high-throughput screening instruments and contributed to drug discovery pipelines through HTS and chemical synthesis. Looking ahead, Junyu aims to grow into a leadership role at the intersection of science and strategy, where she can help shape the direction of innovative biotech companies.

Lily Neff

MBiotech '26
Scientist
Stealth Biotech Startup

I'm Lily, and I graduated from UCLA in 2025 with a B.S. in Biochemistry before joining the MBT program. I was drawn to Berkeley's MBT program because I wanted to extend my foundation in biochemistry into molecular and cell biology while gaining industry experience at a fast-growing biotech startup. Through my internship and capstone work, I developed practical skills spanning wet-lab and computational biology and gained valuable insight into the business side of science. The program gave me the knowledge, resources, and connections to break into the AI-biotech space. Looking ahead, I'm excited to continue working full-time at my MBT internship company.

Lana Nguyen

MBiotech '26
Life Sciences Strategy Analyst
ClearView Healthcare Partners

Lana Nguyen graduated from Brown University with a degree in Biology and entrepreneurship, having co-founded startups and led nonprofit initiatives before pursuing her Master of Biotechnology (MBT) at UC Berkeley. She joined the MBT program to deepen her understanding of how today's most powerful technologies — from AI to gene editing — are being applied to transform life sciences, and to gain firsthand insight into how innovation translates into industry impact and venture.

The program equipped her with both technical skills, including CRISPR and lab automation, and the business acumen to navigate venture funding, commercialization strategy, and biotech deal-making. During her internship at an AI-powered drug discovery startup, she worked in business development to cultivate company partnerships and developed a multidimensional indication and commercial market analysis framework to support future commercialization strategy.

Lana is now an Analyst at ClearView Healthcare Partners, advising biopharma, medical device, and life sciences companies on business needs such as commercialization strategy and market access.

Meng-Chen Tsai

MBiotech '26
Scientist I, Biochemical & Cellular Pharmacology
Genentech

As the first person in my family to study abroad, pursuing a master's degree in the United States was both exciting and challenging. Since my family had never gone through this process before, I had to figure out almost everything on my own, from applications and visas to housing, transportation, and adapting to a completely new environment. Looking back, studying abroad taught me much more than biotechnology. It taught me how to become independent and how to build everything from scratch.

One value that has guided me throughout my journey is to stay proactive. During my undergraduate years at National Taiwan University, I actively sought every opportunity available, whether it was research experiences, competitions, or scholarships. Because I was willing to step outside my comfort zone and ask for opportunities, I was fortunate to receive scholarships that covered more than half of my tuition. That mindset has continued to shape every decision I've made.

When I came to Berkeley MBT, I brought that same attitude with me. As an international student, I quickly realized that finding a full-time position in the U.S. biotechnology industry is highly competitive. One of the reasons I chose the MBT program was its strong industry connections and internship opportunities, which provide students with a valuable pathway into biotech.

What I appreciate most about the MBT program is its broad and interdisciplinary curriculum. Beyond strengthening my foundation in biotechnology, the program introduced me to laboratory automation and high-throughput screening, the areas I had never explored before but quickly became passionate about. Having the opportunity to gain practical experience with these technologies has significantly broadened my technical skill set and prepared me for industry research.

If I could offer one piece of advice to future MBT students, it would be simple:

Stay proactive.

Build meaningful relationships, connect with people from different backgrounds, and don't hesitate to seek out new opportunities. Networking has been far more valuable than simply submitting countless job applications. During interviews, show not only what you know today, but also your curiosity, your willingness to learn, and the kind of scientist you hope to become. In my experience, that proactive mindset has opened more doors than anything else.

Aaditi Gaikwad

MBiotech '25
Scientist I
Stealth Biotech Startup

Aaditi earned her B.S. in Genetics and Genomics from UC Davis, where she also worked as a research specialist studying plant genetics. Drawn to applying science in healthcare, she pursued the MBT program at UC Berkeley to bridge academic research with real-world biotech applications. Inspired by Berkeley’s MCB faculty and the program’s integration of technical and industry-focused training, Aaditi found it to be an ideal next step.

Her favorite experience was the summer research boot camp, which strengthened her technical foundation in cell culture and molecular biology. Aaditi interned at a stealth-mode biotech startup in South San Francisco, where she supported data generation for AI-driven therapeutics development. Through MBT, she developed strong communication skills, confidence in presenting scientific work, and a strategic understanding of the drug development pipeline. Passionate about the intersection of AI and biotechnology, Aaditi aims to contribute to more efficient, accessible drug development and ultimately take on leadership roles in translational research.

Sophie Judge

MBiotech '25
Graduate Student
UC Berkeley MCB PhD Program

Sophie joined the Master of Biotechnology (MBT) program after earning her B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a focus in Computer Science. With prior research experience at Stanford and in precision medicine, she entered the program to bridge biology and technology in innovative ways. Drawn to the MBT program’s interdisciplinary structure and Bay Area location, she found the curriculum well-balanced and industry-connected.

For her capstone, Sophie joined the Lewis Lab at UC Berkeley, studying how saturated fatty acids affect mitochondrial DNA replication. She gained hands-on experience with confocal microscopy, staining techniques, and data analysis. Courses like the summer lab and Molecular Medicine elective further shaped her interest in therapeutic development.

Sophie plans to pursue further graduate studies and aims to work at the intersection of AI, precision medicine, and biotech innovation to develop patient-specific therapies in neurodegenerative and metabolic disease.

Stephen Lin

MBiotech '25
Graduate Student
Stony Brook University

Stephen earned his undergraduate degree in Bioinformatics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and spent a year as an exchange student at UC Berkeley, where he was inspired by the academic environment. He returned to pursue his MBT degree, seeking to bridge his academic background with hands-on industry and lab experience.

His favorite experience was the MBT summer bootcamp and capstone project, where he gained independence in designing and executing experiments. Stephen interned in the DuPage Lab at UC Berkeley, contributing to cancer immunology research through both in vitro CRISPR work and in vivo mouse models. He credits the MBT program—especially its mentorship and practical training—with helping him develop project management, scientific communication, and research skills.

Stephen plans to pursue a Ph.D. and is passionate about cancer immunotherapy. Whether in academia or industry, he hopes to contribute to meaningful translational science that drives real-world impact.