The BE faculty, staff, and instructors celebrated the undergraduate class of 2014 at the BE Senior Dinner held at Le Meridien Hotel on the evening of June 2, 2014, four days before Commencement.

Department Head Doug Lauffenburger addressed the senior class on ways to lead an effective and influential life in a thoughtful talk that was themed “The Law of the Farm.” As a parting gift, he gave each senior a copy of the book, Science Lessons: What the Business of Biotech Taught Me About Management by Gordon Binder, former Amgen CEO and Life Member Emeritus of the MIT Corporation. Professor Lauffenburger personalized each copy with a handwritten inscription.

Another way the department celebrated the accomplishments of our seniors was through the awarding of the The Znaty-Merck Prizes. Established to recognize outstanding undergraduate students in the Department of Biological Engineering, these prizes are given to students who have engaged in excellent long-term independent research projects. Winning papers are selected based on the significance, originality, and potential for impact of their research. The Prizes are named in memory of Maryam Znaty, who pursued research in the laboratory of Prof Gerald Wogan and whose family established a fund in her name, and in recognition of support from Merck Inc. Congratulations to the 2014 winners; Melina Tsitsiklis (first prize), Coyin Oh (second) and Nathan Kipniss (third).  The first prize winner received an award of $1,000 and all of their names may be found on a commemorative plaque outside of the BE Academic Office, 16-267.