Jiyeon Song’s Undeniable Impact on the Institute of Engineering in Medicine

February 19, 2026 - Jiyeon Song, IEM’s Communication & Office Assistant and Lead Mentor for OPALS, has recently graduated from UC San Diego with her degree in Data Science. Over nearly four years with the Institute of Engineering in Medicine, Jiyeon has grown alongside the institute, contributing greatly to the development of our institute from improving our events and seminars to completely revamping the IEM website. As she steps into her next chapter, we celebrate her journey and the lasting impact she has made on the IEM community.

Jiyeon Song (left) and Former IEM Social Media Assistant, Kristiana Wong, at the 2023 IEM GEMINI Celebration of Inclusion Dinner

 Jiyeon first joined IEM in search of her first job. As an international student navigating a school with over 30,000 undergraduate students, she was eager to gain professional experience and become more involved with UC San Diego beyond classwork. Through internal meetings, Industry Advisory Board gatherings, and events such as the GEMINI dinner, Jiyeon gained exposure to faculty, center directors, and industry leaders. IEM offered her an opportunity to build strong connections with professors and staff that most undergraduate students do not get. These experiences strengthened her communication skills and pushed her beyond her comfort zone. Specifically, Jiyeon says that IEM’s events helped her develop confidence and professionalism in work settings. These experiences have prepared her for future positions she will be taking on such as her upcoming position as an Operations Analyst at Samsung. Additionally, Jiyeon found an uplifting community that encouraged her personal and professional growth.

Jiyeon (top) at 4th IEM GEMINI Celebration of Inclusion Dinner last year

Throughout her time at IEM, Jiyeon refined both technical and interpersonal skills. One of her proudest contributions in her time here was redesigning the OPALS Program website. Using the university’s web-building platform, she drafted and improved the site’s front-end design, incorporating feedback from both the staff and student side. The updated website improved accessibility and user experience, allowing OPALS students to navigate information more easily. Through this project, Jiyeon developed skills in UI/UX design and front-end website management, tools that complemented her analytical background in data science.

Jiyeon’s supervisor, Justina Houston, described her time working with Jiyeon: “Over these last years, I had the privilege of watching her grow and develop into this powerful, persistent, dependable, reliable, and energetic assistant.  I have truly enjoyed working with Jiyeon.  She has influenced me and challenged me to grow as well.  I would describe her as one of a kind, a bright shining UC San Diego alumnus.  We shared so much laughter, and even when dealing with hard and time-consuming projects, Jiyeon provided the energy that was needed.”

Jiyeon (far right) at the 2025 GEMINI Dinner Celebration with IEM Executive Assistant, Justina Houston, and the Founding Director of IEM, Shu Chien

As a Lead Mentor in OPALS, Jiyeon gained hands-on research and leadership experience, working with both professors and high school students. This interdisciplinary exposure played a significant role in shaping her future goals. Prior to IEM, Jiyeon explained that she had minimal experience with bioengineering. After working with different centers and professors as well as the OPALS program, she now wants to eventually pursue a graduate degree in bioengineering. Reflecting on her time at IEM, Jiyeon recognizes how much she has grown, not only professionally, but personally. Preparing for interviews for her post-graduation role helped her realize the confidence and skills she built over the past several years in this position. She will soon begin working at Samsung in San Diego as an Operations Analyst, collaborating with international teams and supporting business operations. Looking ahead, she remains excited to continue exploring research and innovation.

We thank Jiyeon for her dedication and thoughtful contributions to the Institute of Engineering in Medicine. Her growth embodies IEM’s mission, and we are excited to see where her journey takes her next!