The faculty have been the most supportive of my time at the University of Maryland.
Kiana Yip '24, 'M.S. 25
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Summit, NJ
Kiana Yip is a senior in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CHBE) combined B.S./M.S. program, whose interest in the field rose after seeing the importance of the industry during the covid-19 pandemic.
Originally from New Jersey, Yip joined the University Honors program during her sophomore year, which she enjoys due to the nature of the thought-provoking curriculum and the sense of community among fellow students. She also became a member of the chemical engineering’s honors club, Omega Chi Epsilon (OXE), at the same time, where she serves as a tutoring coordinator, following her term as the vice president for 2022.
“I love being a part of OXE because it’s a great way to give back to the community and our department, but also build connections with other students in our major,” she said.
Recently, Yip was a teaching assistant for the “Biopharmaceutical Process Development and Manufacturing” course led by Senior Lecturer Deborah Goldberg, which deepened her love for the industry that caught her mind early in her education. She’s passionate about working with Goldberg and recommends that her peers follow her steps in taking this course. Another essential course for her was Professor Srinivasa Raghavan’s “Bionanotechnology” course, which encompasses physics concepts that sparked her interest in nanocarrier therapies.
As a part-time master’s student, Yip began an independent study at Assistant Professor Hannah Zierden’s Research Group, focused on bacterial extracellular vesicles and their facilitation of biofilm formation in the vagina. This project will serve as her master’s thesis, and the experience gained at the laboratory brought her a supportive mentor.
“I love the environment of Zierden’s lab because I don’t feel afraid to ask questions and collaborate with others. She’s a great mentor because she always believes in her students and pushes us to produce better work every day,” said Yip.
Set to step into the biopharmaceutical industry following her master’s graduation in 2025, Yip already got her feet wet in the field. Last Summer, she was an intern at Insmed, a company that’s focused on the treatment of rare pulmonary diseases, as part of their R&D department.
Her work was centered on the development and optimization of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nanoparticle product development. These projects were part of a larger exploration into neutrophils and their extracellular traps, which are associated with the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases.
She ultimately feels that the faculty have made her time at the University of Maryland very rewarding.
“The course load within our major is very demanding and tough, but the professors within the department are committed to their students’ learning. A large part of my learning takes place outside the classroom during office hours and learning community, so I truly appreciate the time they set aside for students,” said Yip.
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