# Susanna Chen > Incoming Intern at Stanford Cancer Institute • Bioengineering & Ethnic Studies Major at Ohlone & Mission College • Transferring Fall 2027 Location: Union City, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/susanna Hi! My name is Susanna, and I’m an activist and aspiring bioengineer. I’m in my second year of undergraduate studies at community college, with plans to transfer to a four-year university by fall of 2027. I’m always seeking opportunities to apply my skills in engineering principles, biological research, technical communication, and community building within collaborative environments. I’ve completed coursework in general chemistry (I–II), biology, calculus (I–III), calculus-based physics (I–II), MATLAB, materials engineering, and engineering graphics & design. Alongside my studies, what grounds me and has allowed me to develop my leadership experience is the work I do with nonprofits and in youth organizing, where I've focused on areas such as teen dating violence (SAVE), mental health (PEERS & A4G), ethnic studies, AANHPI community wellness (TALA), gender equity (AAUW), and civic education (LWV). I’m especially passionate about contributing to projects around plant research, medicine, sustainability, synthetic biology, bio-robotics, public health, and social justice. I’m always brainstorming new ideas and I love connecting with others-- feel free to reach out! 🧫 Incoming Summer Intern at Stanford Cancer Institute 🌟 Youth Mental Health Researcher with Alliance for Girls 💗 💜 President, Society of Women Engineers at Ohlone College 📚 Honors Student at Mission College & Student at Ohlone College ⚙️ Former Materials Engineering Intern at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ## Work Experience ### Collegiate Section President @ Ohlone College @ Society of Women Engineers Jan 2026 – Present • Incoming president of Ohlone College's SWE chapter for the '26-'27 academic year! ### FY26 SWE Leadership Development Program @ Society of Women Engineers Jan 2025 – Present • Accepted into SWE LDP, a year-long intensive program designed to help collegiate members expand their leadership potential and overall SWE knowledge. Engaging in monthly meetings around leadership development and connecting with fellow collegiate and professional SWE members. • Leadership development topics include leadership styles, self-management and development, networking, resumes, self-awareness, mentorship vs. sponsorship, emotional intelligence, financial management, interpersonal skills, communication styles, and strategic planning. ### Collegiate Section Technical Project Coordinator (Ohlone College) @ Society of Women Engineers Jan 2025 – Present • Primary duties include researching, writing, and presenting engineering project proposals, creating budget proposals and bills of materials, and multi-team management in ensuring the completion of the club’s technical projects. Most notably, Ohlone College has an annual radio-controlled car race called Formula O, and I’m responsible for leading the design and construction of SWE’s RC car this year, which we recently began. • Beyond my technical role, I’ve hosted a “Past Student Interns Q&A Panel” to help freshmen prepare for summer internships, and am also looking towards hosting workshops on lateral oppression and other topics impacting gender equity, which I’m passionate about. ### Phage Pathway Scholar @ Phage Pathways Jan 2026 – Present • Through the Phage Pathways Program, I'm a participant of a DOE-funded research and training program connecting scholars with San Francisco State University, UC Davis, and national laboratories including Lawrence Berkeley and Sandia National Laboratories. • I've gained opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary research at the aforementioned institutions, to explore bacterial resistance to phages and its implications for methane production and bioenergy efficiency. I also will be participating in hands-on training for techniques in microbiology, genomics, and bioinformatics. • I participate in weekly workshops for topics surrounding career exploration & development + scientific communication, which has supported me in continuing to build a professional network in environmental science and renewable energy. ### Co-lead in Urban Garden Engineering Partnership (Ohlone College & LEAF) @ LEAF Local Ecology Agriculture Fremont Jan 2025 – Present | Fremont, California, United States ### STEM Tutor for Ohlone's MESA Program & Engineering (Dept.) Teaching Assistant @ Ohlone College Jan 2025 – Present • Tutoring fellow MESA students in Calculus I–II, Linear Algebra, General Chemistry I & II, and Calculus-based Physics I, while also serving as Teaching Assistant for four introductory engineering courses– guiding step-by-step problem-solving, simplifying complex topics, supporting classroom instruction, and facilitating hands-on projects through both individualized and group sessions. • Developing strong communication and peer mentorship skills while fostering inclusive learning, stronger study habits, and improved academic performance, encouraging peer persistence in rigorous STEM majors. ### Thriving AANHPI Leadership Accelerator (TALA) Fellow @ Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Jan 2025 – Present | San Francisco, CA As a Thriving AANHPI Leadership Accelerator (TALA) Fellow, I am part of a two-year cohort dedicated to advancing leadership, wellbeing, and economic mobility for AANHPI students. Through culturally-rooted workshops, mentorship, and community-building, I've explored identity, mental health, and career pathways. The program has allowed me to build intergenerational connections, access critical resources, and grow within a community that celebrates and uplifts AANHPI voices. ### Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Team @ Alliance for Girls Jan 2025 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area • Nominated and competitively selected as one of seven youths to co-author an 18-month, IRB-approved study on the mental health and safety of girls and gender-expansive youth in the bay area. • Co-leading research design, data collection, and dissemination, with the goals of presenting findings to educators, nonprofits, and community leaders to inform policies that support youth mental health and safety. ### Tree Environmental Acclimation Monitoring Network (TEAMnet) Crew @ Cal Poly Humboldt Jan 2025 – Present I will be working with the Tree Function Lab at CalPoly Humboldt to monitor the responses of redwoods to climate change, alongside other Ohlone College TEAMnet crew members! The current project focuses on tracking the leaf traits that regulate how much fog redwood trees can absorb. By relating these traits to local climate, we hope to predict the capacity of redwoods to use fog in our changing world. ### Advanced Technology Technician Training (AT3) - Biotechnology Track @ Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) Jan 2024 – Present The eight-month Advanced Technology Technician Training (AT³) program funded by the NSF equips students with foundational knowledge and hands-on skills for careers in the micro and nanotechnology industries, with a focus on semiconductors. As a bioengineering major, I’m specializing in applying micro and nanoscale technologies to biomedical innovation— exploring applications such as biosensors, microfluidic devices, and other health-related advancements at the intersection of biology and precision engineering. As of May 2025, I have reapplied to the program, and will be continuing to be an AT³ participant in the next cohort! ### Stanford Engineering Research Introductions (SERIS) Program @ Stanford University Jan 2026 – Jan 2026 • Participated in an immersive, 3-day long, on campus graduate school preparation program. Introduced to undergraduate research opportunities, received 1-on-1 application support and mentorship from Stanford PhD candidates. • Attended research seminars from Stanford faculty, panels from current Stanford graduate students, and engineering lab tours led by Stanford researchers. ### Nanoengineering & Metrology Group, Materials Engineering Division - Intern @ Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | Livermore, California, United States Interned at LLNL, a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, for 10 weeks, supporting the design and testing of advanced microfluidic devices engineered to sort biological field samples. My work contributes to ongoing efforts to improve diagnostic precision and rapid pathogen characterization for national health and biosecurity applications. ### Stanford iGEM Bioengineering Research Program - Returning Mentee @ Stanford iGEM Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 • Constructed a research proposal addressing the under-consumption of Momordica charantia (bitter melon), a nutrient-dense vegetable often avoided due to its bitterness. Proposed the use of UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme engineering to reduce bitterness through targeted glycosylation, while preserving the plant’s medicinal and nutritional properties. ### NIIMBL eXperience @ SCU School of Engineering @ NIIMBL | The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | Santa Clara, California, United States • Selected to participate in a competitive, all-expenses-paid week-long career immersion program hosted by Santa Clara University and the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). • Through site visits, technical workshops, and mentorship with professionals from leading biotech and biopharmaceutical companies, I gained hands-on insight into the future of biomedical manufacturing and innovation. This experience has deepened my understanding of industry pathways and equipped me with tools to pursue a career at the intersection of biotechnology and public health. ### Nanomedicine Program - Bioengineering at University of North Texas Dallas @ University of North Texas Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | Denton, Texas, United States • Selected for an all-expenses-paid, 40-hour research program focused on nanoparticle-based drug delivery and tissue engineering. Gained hands-on experience synthesizing gold and silver nanoparticles, electrospinning nanofibers, and bioprinting scaffolds for cell culture. Conducted toxicity assays using fluorescence microscopy and microplate readers, and utilized scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for nanostructure analysis. Completed laboratory safety trainings including bloodborne pathogens, compressed gas cylinders, and hazard communication in preparation for lab work. ### Ohlone College Delegate @ Student Senate for California Community Colleges Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 ### Office of Student Life Student Leader @ Ohlone College Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 • Foster a dynamic and inclusive campus environment through event planning, student support, and leadership development. Collaborate with student organizations, departments, and campus programs to create impactful events and activities that promote engagement, leadership, and community building. • Provide front desk assistance in processing and printing student IDs as well as promotional materials students may need, responding to emails, and helping to publicize campus events through postings on Canvas and email blasts, as well as organizing and maintaining the OSL space. ### Youth Voter Movement Leader @ League of Women Voters Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 | Fremont, California, United States • Served as a Youth Voter Movement Leader to educate fellow youth about the importance of activism, advocacy, civic engagement, and social justice. • Organized voter drives and led presentations at various schools in the Tri-City Area of California (Union City, Newark, Fremont, as well as Hayward) and personally supported 1100+ individuals in registering to be able to vote. ### Chief Executive Officer and Founder @ Bay Area Alliance for Inclusive Education Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 I founded Bay Area Alliance of Inclusive Education (Bay Area AIE) with the vision of creating truly inclusive and equitable educational institutions that provide all students with equal opportunities to succeed and reach their fullest potential. AIE is dedicated to combating ableism and mental health stigma, key barriers to achieving educational justice in our communities. I handle graphic designing and promotional tasks for the non-profit, oversee financial and project planning and development conducted by officers and members, delegate responsibilities to our board of officers, arrange collaborations with other clubs and organizations, as well as coordinate community events and educational workshops. I have learned a lot and am continuing to learn a lot through the work I've been doing for AIE, including community education and community organizing, social justice, leadership, responsibility, and patience, from when I started AIE when I was a junior in high school, and maintaining it up until now and onwards as an undergraduate student. Definitely open to working with other organizations and initiatives, especially fellow youth-led ones, feel free to reach out! ### Senator of Arts @ Associated Students of Ohlone College Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | Fremont, California, United States Senators collaborate with clubs, student admin branches, or form their own teams to create events and student-oriented programming to enhance campus life, while also maintaining a close working relationship with key college administrators and departments and write legislation to fix issues facing students and solve problems. As a senator this year, I'm working to increase the number of learning communities and specialized programs on campus, promote the use of sustainable and student-developed technologies, and ensure that students' nutritional needs are met through affordable and accessible options (e.g. expanding campus dinner hall hours and coordinating free food distribution events). ### ASOC Student Administration: Research & Development Branch @ Associated Students of Ohlone College Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 The Research and Development (R&D) branch is the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) arm of ASOC, responsible for hosting STEM-related events like the OhloneHacks Hackathon, and supporting/sponsoring other student-led innovative projects. Serving as an event coordinator of the R&D branch of ASOC this year as a STEM student myself, I'm committed to expanding STEM activities on campus, creating more opportunities for fellow students to engage and excel in STEM. ### ASOC Student Administration: Graphic Design & Publications Branch @ Associated Students of Ohlone College Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 Serving as a graphic designer for ASOC's Graphic Design and Publications Branch this year, we are in charge of creating forms of media to spread awareness about activities and student life on campus. This position has allowed me to exercise my creativity in a different way, and to better understand effective visual communication strategies! ### Stanford Science Small Groups Mentorship Program @ Stanford University Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 Under the mentorship of Ph.D. candidates at Stanford University's Dekas Geomicrobiology Lab, I am formulating and researching a hypothesis focused on developing strains of bacteria or algae to enhance carbon fixation. My work explores the efficiency and scalability of these microbes in real-world environments, aiming to unlock the potential of microbial engineering for carbon capture. ### Youth Team Member - STYT (Stronger Than You Think) @ SAVE (Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments) Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | Fremont, California, United States I was a member of SAVE's youth empowerment group, Team STYT, with SAVE being a non-profit organization that works to address intimate partner violence and dating violence. STYT members table at and put together campaigns at our respective schools to raise awareness about IPV and DV, as well as are in charge of planning and coordinating SAVE's annual Symbiosis event. Symbiosis is a whole day summit event that invites youth from Fremont and its neighboring cities to attend workshops around building healthy relationships, effective communication, boundary setting, and healing practices. We also discuss the stigma surrounding topics around mental health or queerness in BIPOC communities and how to navigate through such challenges as youth that may be experiencing such struggles-- all of this is to ensure youth are better prepared to build healthy relationships with others, to understand the diverse sides to their own identity, and to practice self-expression-- to work towards a world without violence. ### STEM Summer Bridge at Ohlone College @ GROWTH SECTOR Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 - Intelligent Irrigation System Developer - Participant in STEM-based program to advance into major preparation coursework, participate in various conferences, trips, and group activities to further knowledge of STEM fields. - Acquired knowledge in various engineering principles and actively engaged in hands-on coding projects and collaborative group assignments. - Demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and technical skill development. ### Youth Collective Fellow @ Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services (PEERS) Jan 2023 – Jan 2024 Youth Collective brings local Bay Area youth together for the purposes of leadership development, wellness education, and community engagement. Fellows develop professional and personal wellness skills through peer-led workshops, community outreach, and workshop facilitation opportunities. Through my time with being a Youth Collective Fellow of Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services, I have traveled to many conferences presenting about and advocating for many topics in the realm of mental health empowerment and support for students, including ones out of state. Topics include but aren't limited to strategies towards eliminating mental health stigma in educational institutions, and wellness maintenance for transitional age youth professionals. My goal has been to improve mental health knowledge, support, and resources for students alike myself to remediate and set a new precedent for the educational experience of students from diverse backgrounds. ### Cashier & Waitress @ Olioli Hawaiian Barbecue Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | San Jose, California, United States ### Stanford iGEM Bioengineering Research Program - Mentee @ Stanford iGEM Jan 2023 – Jan 2023 Advancing Dementia Diagnostics: Using Machine Learning Methods to Identify Biomarkers for Early Detection of Oncoming Alzheimer’s - As of 2023, an estimated 6.7 million Americans over 65 are living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, patients over 65 years old diagnosed with Alzheimer's are projected to grow to 12.7 million. - Co-authored a research proposal with partner Cassie Ly, focusing on using biomarkers—specifically the Aβ42 to p-tau or t-tau ratio—as it is a unique indicator of Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of conducting a large-scale study on the application of machine learning to identify and validate both current and novel biomarkers. - Presented our research at a Stanford iGEM hosted symposium, earning a certificate in research excellence. ### Cashier @ Chef Teriyaki Jan 2021 – Jan 2023 In this role, I developed strong communication, time management, and multitasking skills while working in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. Our staff were multi-lingual, and so I also served as a translator between our different team members as I'm proficient at multiple languages. ## Education ### Mission College ### Associate of Arts and Sciences - AAS in Bioengineering • Ethnic Studies • Chemistry • Pure Mathematics • Natural Science Ohlone College ### James Logan High School ### UC Berkeley EAOP/DCAC - Precollege Academy University of California ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanna-ming-chen --- Source: https://flows.cv/susanna JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/susanna/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-11