Biotechnology
Targeting Individual and Industrial Health
SJSU faculty create interventions aimed at the full spectrum of serious illness, from
cardiovascular disease to preterm infant lactation issues. This requires significant
research infrastructure, from understanding fluid flow patterns to physical improvement
of materials for better integration with host tissue.
Our biochemical engineers synthesize antioxidants and antivenom peptides in bacteria and yeast, and develop tools to identify therapeutic genes. Targeting both industrial and clinical applications, diagnostic researchers develop rapid, robust, and inexpensive biosensors for pathogen screening and disease detection, identifying contamination, biofilms, abnormal cells, and blood-based biomarkers.
All of the above is done in close collaboration with medical faculty, entrepreneurs, biomechanical engineers in the Bay Area. Below is a rotating selection of our standout investigators in these areas.
○ Recent News and Highlights
○ Related Strength: Drug Discovery
○ Related Strength: Biomedical Engineering
Selected Publications
Lew, C., et al. (2023). Use of Borosilicate Seeds to Synthesize Aluminosilicate SSZ-82, a Zeolite Containing Intersecting 12- and 10-Membered Ring Channels. Chemistry of Materials, 35(15).
Ouverney, C. C. (2016). Assessment of prokaryotic biological activity at the single cell level by combining microautoradiography and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Manual of Environmental Microbiology, Fourth Edition.
Sass, G, Miller Conrad, L. C., Nguyen, T.-T. H., & Stevens, D. A. (2020). The Pseudomonas aeruginosa product pyochelin interferes with Trypanosoma cruzi infection and multiplication in vitro. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 114(7).
Sobsey, M., Khatib, L., Hill, V., Alocilja, E., & Pillai, S. (2006). Pathogens in Animal Wastes and the Impacts of Waste Management Practices on Their Survival, Transport and Fate. Animal Agriculture and the Environment.
Switz, N., D'Ambrosio, M., & Fletcher, D. (2014). Low-cost mobile phone microscopy with a reversed mobile phone camera lens. PLoS ONE, 9(5).
Feinberg, E., VanHoven, M., Bendesky, A., et al., (2008). GFP Reconstitution Across Synaptic Partners (GRASP) Defines Cell Contacts and Synapses in Living Nervous Systems. Neuron 57(3).
Award Highlights
Ouverney, “MARC U*STAR at San José State University” — Department of Health & Human Services, 2020
Ramasubramanian A., Lee, S.J., "Mechanophenotyping RBC subpopulations in ME/CFS" — NIH, 2025
Ramasubramanian A., Lee, S.J., Lee, W., "Thrombosis in Microgravity" — NASA, 2020
Singmaster, Ouverney, Rascon, “San José State University Rise Program” — Department of Health & Human Services, 2019
Innovations
Droplet Array for Single-Cell Analysis
A method of conducting single-cell analysis.
Smart Breast Pump
A smart robotic breast pump that integrates self-adjusting compression and vacuum
pressures, along with a temperature control system.
Antibiotic Adjuvants for Gram Negative Bacteria
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/351,737
Antibacterial Adjuvants and Applications Thereof
International Patent Application No. WO 2022/036208
Retinal Cellscope Apparatus
US Patent No. US 11,129,532
High Numerical Aperture Telemicroscopy Apparatus
US Patent No. US 10,989,907
Optical Lens System And Method For Microfluidic Devices
US Patent No. US 10,745,748
Featured Faculty
Sheryl Ehrman
Dean, Davidson College of Engineering
Aerosol Science and Technology, Particle Technology, Air Pollution
ORCID: 0000-0002-7925-0568
Leila Khatib
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Water, Wastewater, Recycled Water and Viral Detection Methods
ORCID: 0000-0002-6382-5291
Christopher Lew
Assistant Professor Chemical and Materials Engineering
Zeolites, Nanoporous Materials, Catalysis, Sustainable Chemicals, Environmental Remediation
ORCID: 0000-0003-4568-4461
Cleber Ouverney
Professor of Biological Sciences
Candidate Division TM7, Uncultured Bacteria, Genetic Diversity, Microbial Communities
ORCID: 0000-0002-4135-7562
Anand Ramasubramanian
Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Mechanobiology, Platelet, Clot, Fibrin, FXIII, Blood Flow, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
ORCID: 0000-0002-7057-8663
Neil A. Switz
Professor of Physics
Diagnostics, Optics, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Cellphone, Mobile Phone, Tuberculosis,
Loa, Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Point of Care, Retinal
ORCID: 0000-0002-3639-4588
Miri VanHoven
Associate Dean for Research, College of Science
Neural Circuit Formation, Learning, Memory, Sleep
ORCID: 0000-0001-7714-1555
Potential collaborators and members of the media may contact us at officeofresearch@sjsu.edu.
