Profiles in Success
Matthew Tsang | EQUIP Alumnus
An Impact in Biotech , Step by Step
Matthew Tsang is a biological systems engineering major at UC Davis. A first-year student, he knows he wants a career in biotech, in particular leading advancements in gene therapy and agriculture. He was an EQUIP Fellow in winter quarter 2023.
EQUIP, or Entrepreneurial Quest: Undergraduate Internship Program, helped Matthew gain confidence in taking the next steps toward finding solutions to extensive issues in biology, like climate change. By learning to trust his instincts and assert himself in an issue he is passionate about, EQUIP has helped Matthew grow necessary career skills.
Matthew hopes to be at the forefront of the biotech industry, but he knows that changing the world happens through smaller steps. He is confident he will use his talents and passions for engineering and biology to make a lasting impact.
“Talking to some of the mentors helped me realize that I wasn’t in a bad position: taking chances, making mistakes, and ultimately having a growth mindset are all part of the process.”
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a first-year student majoring in biological systems engineering at UC Davis. In my spare time, I enjoy fencing, collecting and listening to records, and caring for my houseplants. My favorite part about Davis is being around such wonderful people and seeing little critters all over campus.
What’s important about your field of study—and where do you hope to take it?
I wanted to study biological systems engineering because I realized how much we can learn from nature. By applying engineering concepts to our understanding of biology, I want to find more natural and efficient solutions to essential topics like food sustainability and climate change.
What are you most passionate about in your education?
To me, attending lectures, doing homework and taking exams only represents a small portion of my education. I learn the most by doing hands-on, project-based activities that allow me to be more creative and intimate with the subject of study.
What was the most important thing you learned during EQUIP?
I realized the value of having connections and building a network. I recognized that I shouldn’t approach my problems alone and shouldn’t be afraid to reach out when I need help.
What is the most unexpected advice you received during the program—and why?
As a logical thinker, I am often hesitant to do things and will come up with reasons not to put myself at risk.
When I spoke with another EQUIP Fellow, they taught me not to second-guess myself, to trust my instinct and to assert myself for things that I feel strongly about.
What is the most valuable insight you discovered about yourself in the program?
Most of the other EQUIP Fellows already had strong ideas about their future and the kinds of internships they were interested in, but I had no idea what I wanted to do. Talking to some of the mentors helped me realize that I wasn’t in a bad position: taking chances, making mistakes, and ultimately having a growth mindset are all part of the process.
What are you looking forward to in your internship? How did EQUIP help you determine the best internship to help you reach your goals?
Even if I am in an entry-level internship, I don’t want to strictly follow instructions; I want to have some creative liberties and an opportunity to make informed decisions. EQUIP has helped me realize my strengths and how they would be best applied to working in the biotech industry.
If you have secured your internship, tell us about it.
Although my summer internship is still “in the works,” I can confidently say that my experience at EQUIP has helped me develop the skills and confidence needed to find and contact potential employers.
Where do you hope to be, professionally, in five years?
I want to be at the forefront of the biotech industry, leading advances in gene therapy and agricultural techniques. So, finding where my talents and passions intersect in the workforce is where I hope to be.
How will these experiences help you to change the world?
I understand that “changing the world” starts with small steps. An internship is one of those small steps that will lead me to greater and larger opportunities.