Dr. Kiana Aran

Associate Professor

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Biography

Kiana Aran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego. She is a pioneering researcher in bioelectronics, focusing on multi-omics studies, targeted drug delivery, and aging research. Aran integrates CRISPR technologies with electronic systems to enhance genotyping and gene editing processes. She holds a joint appointment at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and has founded two biotech companies based in San Diego, including Cardea Bio, which specializes in graphene biosensors. As the Co-Director of the Center for Technologies for Healthy Aging at UC San Diego, she actively engages in shaping STEM policy reforms. Over the years, her contributions to the field have garnered numerous prestigious awards, including the 2025 Sony Nature Award for Top Women in Technology and recognition as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors. Aran's awards also include being named Distinguished Engineer of the Year by the San Diego Society of Engineers and several accolades from the National Science Foundation and various scientific organizations. Her research has been featured in high-impact journals, revealing her prominence in advancing biotechnology innovations. With 32 issued and pending patents, she continues to drive groundbreaking developments in the field.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of California, San Diego

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:85
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:120
Overall
Required:120
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in physical, biological, or earth sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Differential and integral calculus. One year of calculus-based physics with laboratory. One year of chemistry with laboratory.
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose (max 2 pages)
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Application fee ($135 domestic / $155 international)
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Curricular groups include Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere (COAP), Geosciences (GEO), and Ocean Biosciences (OBP).