Fischell Institute Spotlight: Monica Chu

Monica Chu is a fourth-year bioengineering Ph.D. student in Fischell Institute Director Bill Bentley's Biomolecular and Metabolic Engineering Laboratory. In 2018, Chu earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland's Fischell Department of Bioengineering.

"I appreciated the department during undergrad," said Chu. "It feels like home to pursue a Ph.D. here."

Chu was always interested in technology because she loves discovering new things and pursuing the impossible. Since joining the doctoral program, Chu has worked in Bentley's lab. Bentley has been an incredible mentor, according to Chu, as he indulges her innovative ideas and encourages her to pursue non-traditional routes of science.

"He brings a balanced perspective to all the work that I do, challenges me, and expects scientific rigor," she said. "I truly appreciate all the constructive criticism and out-of-the-box ideas he brings."

Chu's research intersects electronics and biology. By engineering redox-associated molecular mechanisms in microbes, she enables abiotic signals, such as a potential applied across two electrodes, to be perceived by microbes, inducing a behavioral response from the cells. Her current project builds on this concept by using electronic signals to coordinate the behavior of microbial consortia in agricultural and biomanufacturing contexts.

"I'm excited about pursuing redox-mediated control of microbial consortia in the gut," she said. "This could have broad implications for the autonomous delivery of therapeutic molecules using commensal gut microbes."

Chu is also a research fellow funded through the Department of Defense under the SMART Program. She already has a service requirement working for the U.S. Army Research Lab post-graduation. But beyond that, she hopes to achieve her dreams of becoming a farmer one day.

Chu advises those interested in pursuing a bioengineering Ph.D. to diversify their skill set, since bioengineering is a unique program where the work is intertwined.

"Don't just be good at the biology part of bioengineering or just the engineering part of bioengineering," she said. "You should also be well-versed in biochemistry, physics, and other disciplines."

Outside of the lab, Chu enjoys riding her bike around the D.C. area. She is a proud plant mom and spends much time growing exotic plants, including avocado trees, coffee trees, and other plants.

Published November 14, 2023