Academic Senate Recognizes Two Biomedical Engineering Faculty 

Jan. 21, 2026 - Christine King, associate professor of teaching, and Jim Brody, associate professor, will both be honored by the UC Irvine Academic Senate at the Distinguished Faculty Awards on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Every year, the Academic Senate awards professors for their outstanding contributions in teaching, mentorship and research.  

King received the Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching. King is a director of BioENGINE, a capstone course that allows undergraduate and graduate students to work in teams to design and create biomedical devices. To develop their devices, students are given the opportunity to work closely with physicians, industry representatives, engineers, computer science students and medical students. In nearly 10 years of the program at UCI, King states that several students have started their own companies, and one student recently had their medical device go to market, directly helping patients with cerebral palsy.  

King’s research is two-pronged; it explores women’s healthcare medical devices and provides problem-based research through close collaboration with women’s healthcare professionals. In working with those in the field, King creates opportunities for students to engage in hands-on, real-world research in a professional, clinical setting. Whether it is in person or virtually, King connects students to the UCI Medical Center, the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and global healthcare environments. These two research tracks have led to several grants and multiple publishing opportunities for undergraduate students. She was also awarded the BME Professor of the Year Award by the Engineering Student Council at their 52nd Annual Awards Banquet last June. 

“I hope that I can give students opportunities to succeed by failing fast, learning by doing and discovering their passions through research and real-world opportunities,” said King of her teaching process.  

Brody, biomedical engineering associate professor, received the Distinguished Mid-Career Faculty Award for Service. Brody was the first faculty member hired at UCI’s then-brand-new Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2002. As part of the new department, Brody helped create the graduate program. That position led to being the chair of the school of engineering’s graduate committee, which paved the way for leading countless other schoolwide committees.  

Brody’s research intersects genomics, data science and predictive medicine. Utilizing artificial intelligence to predict risk for various diseases and analyzing unique genetic codes, his work helps identify who might be most vulnerable to complex health conditions. Brody frames his work with these two questions: “how accurately one can predict a person’s traits from their DNA alone, and whether any discernible genetic differences exist between two different cohorts of people.” 

Recently awarded for his Excellence in Digital Learning at UCI’s Celebration of Teaching, Brody continues to improve student success through rich experiences rather than purely from academic achievements. He utilizes online resources to aid in his teaching methods, attracting an average of 6,000 undergraduate students per year in his online course, “Engineering Innovations in the Treatment of Diabetes.”  

“I have moved away from a singular focus on test scores and toward a new philosophy centered on creating engaging, memorable learning experiences,” said Brody of the evolution of his teaching style. “I am deeply grateful for a career at UC Irvine that allows me to integrate these passions for research, service and teaching with a fulfilling family life.” 

The annual awards will take place at the Student Center at 5 p.m. Attendees are asked to register for the event no later than Feb. 2 at this link.  

– Cassandra Nava