Navya Mathur

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate at UC Irvine | Undergraduate Researcher, Smith Lab at UCI | Undergraduate Researcher, Tang Lab at UCI | Mentorship Director, AIChE at UCI

Irvine, California, United States

About

I am a third-year undergraduate in Biomedical Engineering. I am passionate about regenerative medicine and neural systems, with a focus on how biomechanics, biomaterials design, and technologies such as optogenetics and CRISPR can advance our understanding of the human body and healthcare. Through my experiences in leadership, mentorship, and lab research, I have gained strong technical and personal skills that I am excited to use in innovation-driven environments.

Experience

  • UCI Samueli School of Engineering (Irvine, California, United States)
    • Undergraduate Research Assistant, Tang Lab
      Sep 2025 - Present · 10 mos

      - Conducting in vitro studies of hippocampal tissue extracted from neonatal mouse pups using optogenetics, electrophysiology, and MATLAB-based data analysis. - Investigating mechanisms of memory formation, consolidation, and retrieval mediated by neural circuitry within the hippocampus.

    • Undergraduate Research Assistant, Smith Lab
      Jun 2025 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

      - Assisting with developing optogenetically modulated stable cell lines and CRISPR-based genetic modifications. - Performing plasmid transfections, mini-prep isolations, PCR cloning, and cell culture.

  • AIChE at UC Irvine (Irvine, California, United States)
    • Mentorship Director
      Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

      - Leading the mentorship program by pairing underclassmen and upperclassmen in chemical engineering.

    • Outreach Chair
      Mar 2024 - Mar 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo

      - Developed and coordinated educational programs with local schools, companies, and the Girl Scouts of Orange County. - Organized hands-on workshops, presentations, and large-scale events, including the annual IGNITE event, to promote STEM awareness for over 300 students.