Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology

A group of undergraduate students has been awarded the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology’s Inclusive Excellence Award for a second consecutive year, extending their efforts to bring hands-on science learning to underserved students in the community. The outreach initiative, called the Mobile Bioengineering Lab, has grown into a partnership with two local middle school classes and an engaging collection of STEM workshop materials.

Spearheaded by Katie Zobus, a recent graduate with dual degrees in bioengineering and chemistry, the Mobile Bioengineering Lab was born out of the Biomedical Engineering Journal Club. This student organization, also started by Zobus in 2023, offers a space for undergraduates to explore bioengineering research, discuss graduate school opportunities, and connect with their peers.

“Bioengineering is a very inaccessible discipline . . . most people have never heard of it until they get to college,” Zobus said.

BMEJC provides a great opportunity for students to dive deeper into bioengineering topics and learn practical skills once they are in college, but Zobus recognized a need to introduce students to the field earlier. Reflecting on her own experiences growing up in Sherman, Illinois, she realized how many students in grade school lack exposure to bioengineering.

“I'm from a very rural area, and I didn't have many opportunities,” Zobus said. “I had no clue what [bioengineering] was. I think that I just picked it because I really liked biology, and I googled stem cell jobs and saw you need a bioengineering degree. Stem cells sounded cool when I was a kid.”

When Zobus matriculated to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she soon learned about the annual Engineering Open House. This student-run STEM fair brings thousands of people to campus to learn about science and engineering, allowing people of all ages to take part in hands-on activities. Through conversations with local educators, Zobus learned that more frequent engagement opportunities were in high demand. This kickstarted Zobus to think about how she could bring the bioengineering beyond the campus, into the community.

Shriya Wagholikar, a rising senior majoring in bioengineering and minoring in computer science, has been part of the team since its inception. Growing up in Sunnyvale, California, Wagholikar learned about the field of bioengineering early on, surrounded by the Bay Area’s thriving biotechnology industry. As she was about to start her first year at Illinois, Wagholikar received an email from Zobus inviting new freshmen to join BMEJC; when Zobus proposed her idea for the Mobile Bioengineering Lab, Wagholikar was immediately on board.

“In high school, I also did a similar outreach program in charter schools in the Bay Area,” Wagholikar said. “But a large part of the work that I did in high school was over COVID. So, I was excited to get back into a classroom and work hands-on with kids instead of just teaching them over Zoom.”

"Curiosity is always the best part about working with the kids."

The group first brought their bioengineering workshops to International Prep Academy, a bilingual school in Champaign. Collaborating with science teacher Geoffrey Freymouth, the team worked with middle schoolers in his classes on a range of topics from introducing the field of bioengineering to hands-on activities like extracting DNA from strawberries and observing the regeneration of planarians, a flatworm with rapid regrowth capabilities.

“I feel like I've understood bioengineering a lot more just through running these workshops and participating in it,” said Asheera Kaul.

Kaul, a major in bioengineering with a minor in electrical engineering, is from Bengaluru, India and joined the Mobile Bioengineering Lab team through BMEJC in 2025, just as they were beginning a second collaboration with Garden Hills Academy.

“I’m an international student, and I didn't have a lot of hands-on science activities in my school. If I’m being very honest, most of the workshops we do, I do for the first time when we're teaching it, and I find it very exciting. I also feel like a little kid,” Kaul said.

Anna Maria Olarov also started volunteering with the group during the Fall 2025 semester, before joining the core team in January. She is a rising junior from Naperville, Illinois majoring in bioengineering with minors in chemistry and electrical engineering.

“My favorite thing is just seeing the moment when all the concepts we've been talking about, when all the workshops that we've been doing, start to click in the student's mind,” Olarov said. “That’s the best part of outreach or any kind of teaching. You can see them get excited about it and you can see them gain confidence.”

Beyond running the activities and learning to work with middle school students, Kaul and her fellow core team members continue to develop new workshop materials.

“The team is very connected," Kaul said. "Everyone is invested in the mission, so it makes working gratifying, and it’s a very fulfilling sort of work to do in college.”