Baskin Engineering at UC Santa Cruz

Scientists Are Trying to Train Lab-Grown Brains. The Brains Have Started to Solve Problems. Scientists trained a brain organoid to solve a well-known engineering task, and its success demonstrates the increasing complexity of lab-grown brains.

A team of scientists from #BaskinEngineering successfully trained brain organoids to solve a well-known engineering benchmark — demonstrating the increasing complexity of lab-grown brains.

Via Popular Mechanics: bit.ly/4uo8bse

Westside startup’s innovative, self-serve soap dispensers aim to reduce single-use plastics Wonderfil has partnered with UC Santa Cruz, Whole Foods and others to allow customers to refill bottles of soap, detergent and shampoo in their containers of choice in a fully automated process.

Goodbye single-use plastics!🌱 Wonderfil, a startup by #BaskinEngineering alumna Shiloh Sacks (B.S. ’21, electrical engineering) and co-founder Amelia Eichel, makes it easy to refill soap products with self-serve dispensers.

Via @lookoutsantacruz.bsky.social: bit.ly/47qgkCE

For the First Time, Lab‑Grown Brain Organoids Display Ability to Learn Learn more about the advances in brain organoids and what this science could mean for the future.

“We’re trying to understand the fundamentals of how neurons can be adaptively tuned to solve problems,” said #BaskinEngineering student Ash Robbins—part of a @ucsantacruz.bsky.social team who taught brain organoids to solve a goal-directed task.

Via @discovermag.bsky.social: bit.ly/4uCeatV

4 UC students receive CITRIS Spanos Awards for semiconductor research - CITRIS and the Banatao Institute The awards recognize exceptional graduate student researchers who are advancing the future of semiconductor devices, technology, design and manufacturing.

🎉 Congrats to #BaskinEngineering grad student Eren Dogan (Ph.D. ’27, computer science and engineering), who was one of four @uofcalifornia.bsky.social students to receive the inaugural Costas John Spanos Semiconductor Manufacturing Award from CITRIS and the Banatao Institute!

bit.ly/4u4oNoO

Lab-Grown Brains Growing More Powerful Scientists from the University of California, Santa Cruz have just taken a huge step in the long history of lab-cultured brains.

🧠 #BaskinEngineering researchers effectively coached organoids, tiny pieces of brain tissue grown in the lab, to solve the “cart-pole” problem—an engineering benchmark to measure how effective systems are at processing information.

Via @futurism.com: bit.ly/4b4srGx

It’s a colorful pangenome world - Nature Methods A pangenome can reveal the spectrum of genome variation within a species. The toolbox for working with pangenomes is filling up.

🧬 A #pangenome can reveal the spectrum of genome variation within a species. The toolbox for working with pangenomes is filling up, thanks to #BaskinEngineering researchers @khmiga.bsky.social, @benedictpaten.bsky.social, and @russcd.bsky.social.

Via @natmethods.nature.com: go.nature.com/4spcbHb

Brain Organoids Trained to Solve Tasks - Santa Cruz Today Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have trained brain organoids, tiny pieces of brain tissue grown in the lab, to solve the "inverted pendulum" or "cart-pole" problem, a fundamen...

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have trained brain organoids—tiny pieces of brain tissue grown in the lab—to solve the "inverted pendulum" or "cart-pole" problem, a fundamental benchmark used in robotics, control theory, and #AI.

Via National Today: bit.ly/4lahyYj

​T​he ​Winter Olympics ​feel like a 90s ​snowboarding ​game​, and I’m here for it Milano Cortina​ has cutting‑edge replays, chase‑cam drones and exuberant commentary ​bringing a wave of unexpected nostalgia for anyone who grew up on 90s extreme‑sports games

Want to take a break from video games, but still read about them? A new book on #AnimalCrossingNewHorizons by #BaskinEngineering Prof Noah Wardrip-Fruin dives into what made the game so popular during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As seen in @theguardian.com: bit.ly/3OKtc01

Research Shows How Self-Driving AI Can Be Hijacked With Nothing But Ink and Paper In one test, a simulated self-driving car disregarded an active crosswalk because of a sign labeled "Proceed."

A new UC Santa Cruz study shows how visual-language #AI models that help control self-driving cars can be exploited or hijacked with carefully coded real-world commands—led by #BaskinEngineering researchers.

Via The Drive: bit.ly/40csTO2

As Brain Organoid Science Grows More Complex, So Do the Questions Scientists are growing brain tissue to learn more about the organ. What will the public make of the work?

“If we can figure out ways in which living neural networks compute so efficiently, we would have a big breakthrough in terms of trying to find and develop a better architecture for artificial computing,” said #BaskinEngineering Assistant Professor Tal Sharf.

Via UNDARK: bit.ly/408zE3r

Scientists Teach Lab-Grown Brain Cells to Play Video Games Lab-grown mini-brains learned to play video games using electrical signals, improving from 4.5% to 46% success in AI balance tests.

UC Santa Cruz researchers trained brain organoids—lab-grown clusters of human brain cells—to solve a goal-directed task, boosting success rates from 4.5% to 46%. Led by #BaskinEngineering faculty.

Via Gadget Review: bit.ly/4slsSn1

A male and female scientist in lab coats hold a small circular container for growing brain organoids.

A female scientist sits in front of a portable metal shelf that contains three racks of equipment, including multiple screens.

Open Culture Science is a new startup that could transform how labs grow cells and tissues worldwide. Founded by two UCSC Genomics Institute grads, it aims to automate processes that are currently painstakingly manual. 🔬🧠 news.ucsc.edu/Open-C...

Thrilled to see Ash Robbins, a #BaskinEngineering electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student leading this research—it's the first rigorous demonstration of goal-directed learning in brain #organoids and extends their usefulness for studying brain diseases. 🧠

Two promising technology development projects receive UC Santa Cruz Innovation Catalyst grants UC Santa Cruz's Innovation Catalyst Proof-of-Concept Program helps move cutting-edge research from the lab out into the world for societal impact.

🎉 Congrats to #BaskinEngineering Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Vanessa Jonsson who received a UCSC Innovation Catalyst grant! Her team is developing a single single nasal swab test that can detect multiple viral infections and a person's immunity.

Read on: bit.ly/4cHyRxE

yourUSA.ai Launches AI-Powered Form-Filling Assistant that Simplifies Immigration Paperwork AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- yourUSA.ai today announced the launch of its AI-powered, web-based form-filling assistant desig...

Proud to see #BaskinEngineering #ComputerScience alumus Jules Kadher Kabore launch yourUSA.ai, an AI-powered, web-based form-filling assistant designed to make immigration and government paperwork simpler, clearer, and less stressful. 👏

Via Business Insider: bit.ly/4aJH8yL

Ashesh Chattopadhyay wins Sloan Fellowship to build advanced AI for Earth-system modeling Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics Ashesh Chattopadhyay will build AI models to project extreme Earth-system events.

🌎 #BaskinEngineering Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics @ashesh6810.bsky.social will build #AI models to project extreme Earth-system events with the support of the highly competitive Sloan Research Fellowship. Learn more: bit.ly/40f0UND

Greener Greenhouses — a Q&A with Katia Obraczka UC Santa Cruz professor Katia Obraczka’s Greener Greenhouses project uses energy-efficient IoT technology to precisely monitor greenhouse conditions, helping growers reduce water and energy use while ...

Greenhouses are essential to feeding a growing global population, but often come with real environmental costs. #BaskinEngineering Professor Katia Obraczka is developing tech to monitor greenhouse conditions with precision—reducing water and energy use while improving crop production. bit.ly/3OGkQ9y

CruzHacks participants work together on computers and leadership poses together on UCSC's East Field

🏆 Baskin Engineers made a HUGE splash at CruzHacks 2026, winning in sustainability, justice, and education projects! The event offers students the opportunity to design, build, and present original technology “hacks” for prizes equivalent to $500. Learn more about the projects: bit.ly/4aCET1c

🏆 Congrats to #BaskinEngineering alumna Saumya Bhatnagar (M.S. Computer Science), named a Top 50 Woman Chief Product Officer of 2026! She’s also a Forbes 30 Under 30 alum and one of IBM’s Top 100 Women in Tech. bit.ly/4qpRKs9

Climate action moves forward despite Trump’s policy rollbacks. Will it be enough? It’s clear the global efforts to prevent the worst possible effects of climate change are finally making headway. Despite that progress, global temperatures continue to reach record highs.

“...better and safer bike lanes, pedestrian options, trains, metro systems and the like," said Anne Criss, director of climate & sustainability initiatives at #BaskinEngineering. "There’s a lot that governments can do, both at federal, state and local levels, to facilitate that.” bit.ly/4kmkQYh

Drone flies in the sky, shot from below. UCSC/BE logo and text reads "Misleading text in the real-world environment can hijack the decision-making of embodied AI systems—without hacking their software."

New research led by #BaskinEngineering faculty Alvaro Cardenas and Cihang Xie presents the first academic exploration of environmental indirect prompt injection attacks against embodied #AI systems. Read the full story: bit.ly/3YYAoaN #ArtificialIntelligence #Cybersecurity

How UC scientists are putting AI to the test Even as they’re pushing the boundaries of research and discovery with AI, UC scientists are asking the right questions about the transformation this technology brings.

🌪️⛈️ Weather #forecasting is computationally demanding—that's why #BaskinEngineering Assistant Professor @ashesh6810.bsky.social aims to use #AI to predict extreme weather using a fraction of the time, energy, and #computing power of today’s methods. Via @uofcalifornia.bsky.social: bit.ly/3ZrNDAU

Shaping the future of artificial intelligence UC Santa Cruz experts are working to guide AI in ethical, sustainable, and socially beneficial directions

Artificial intelligence is beginning to have serious real-world impact on a global scale. That’s why #BaskinEngineering experts are developing innovative solutions to steer #AI in the right direction. Learn about their work: bit.ly/4qQ6Vf1 #StandUpForUC @uofcalifornia.bsky.social

Text "Named Santa Cruz Works 'Titans'" with four images left to right: Schmidt, Deamer, Gomez, & Robbins. UC Santa Cruz Baskin Engineering logo at bottom on a blue background.

🎉 Congrats to #BaskinEngineering professors Holger Schmidt, David Deamer, Marcella Gomez, and alum & current Ph.D. student Ash Robbins, who were named "Titans" by SantaCruzWorks - recognizing their impact on our region’s technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystem. bit.ly/4jQ9DyP

KRAW Lecture Series: Science and Technology; Our Voices will define the century. UC Santa Cruz (text) on a background picturing a close up green leaf.

Javier González-Rocha holds a drone in a UC Santa Cruz field

📣 Mark your calendars! Join #BaskinEngineering Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics @javigr.bsky.social for his @ucsantacruz.bsky.social KRAW Lecture ➡️ Sensing the Unseen: How Drones and Ground Sensors Reveal the Hidden Air Quality Impacts of Climate Change. 🗓️ Jan 21. Register: bit.ly/49FAlWj

How a new system of drones and low-cost sensors can protect communities from air pollution UC Santa Cruz research project is documenting how a shift in farm work patterns creates greater health risks.

“The folks contributing the least to climate change are the ones bearing the most of the brunt,” said #BaskinEngineering Professor @javigr.bsky.social, who is using drones to help empower farmworker communities impacted by air pollution. Via @mercurynews.com: bayareane.ws/49hZtSM

The Future of Health: Top Biomed Stories of 2025 AI-driven brain implants to detect depression and graphene tattoo biosensors lead IEEE Spectrum's top biomedical stories of 2025.

We made the top 6 @spectrum.ieee.org stories of 2025! Featuring #BaskinEngineering Professor Katia Obraczka's Pulse-Fi technology - which uses low cost WiFi devices to detect heart rate.💡 bit.ly/4jxj8D6

nook with animal crossing background

dog character on animal crossing background

nighttime animal crossing scene with water and trees

nighttime animal crossing scene with water and trees

In his latest book, @baskinengineering.bsky.social Professor of Computational Media Noah Wardrip-Fruin explores why Animal Crossing: New Horizons became the comfort game of 2020, and what it revealed about comfort, community, care, and capitalism: https://bit.ly/4q4ck1J

David Deamer and David Haussler elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors The recognition is the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors.

Congratulations to #BaskinEngineering faculty David Deamer and David Haussler, who have been named Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors—the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors! Read more about their decades of impact: bit.ly/4aJCBxK @ucsantacruz.bsky.social

Genomics #postdocs: applications are open for our Next Wave of Faculty in Genomics Symposium (due Jan 15)!. Come share your science in Santa Cruz, home of redwoods, ocean views, and the world’s most unbothered mascot:🐌🌲🌊. Link: genomics.ucsc.edu/calendar_eve... @baskinengineering.bsky.social