The “2026 UCLA Biomedical Engineering x Quantum Science Elite Program” has reached the midpoint of its 9-week internship program. On August 17th, the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles visited the students at the UCLA School of Engineering. They brought Taiwanese cuisine to show care for the students studying abroad and to support Taiwanese youth exploring cutting-edge research in a foreign land.
Supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China’s “Youth Billion Overseas Dreams Fund Plan,” organized by Asia University, and planned in collaboration with Academicians from the Academia Sinica, Honorary Director of the Asia University AI Quantum Research Center Wang Kang-Long (also a visiting professor at UCLA), Director Huang Guang-Cai, and Dean Yan Hong-Rong of the School of Chinese Medicine at China Medical University, the program partners with the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering (CQSE) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The program gathers top scholars and industry experts from both the East and West coasts of the United States to teach courses covering quantum mechanics, biomedical engineering, AI data science, deep tech startups, and more. It also leverages local resources such as the Taiwanese American Industrial Technology Association (TAITA) Southern California Chapter to enhance students’ academic training and interdisciplinary exchanges through an immersive learning model of “morning absorption, afternoon output.”
Facing intensive coursework and hands-on projects, the participating students have shown a high level of enthusiasm for learning. Students from Taiwan expressed that entering the world-class laboratories at UCLA and engaging directly with international scholars have greatly impacted and inspired their research perspectives.
Wang Bo-Shan from the Institute of Intelligent Medical Electronics Engineering at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University shared that before joining the program, he was exploring different research directions. Through the program, he has been exposed to cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computing and protein folding, expanding his research horizons significantly.
Liu Jia-Yu, a brain sound processing researcher from Asia University, mentioned that the program taught her how to utilize AI to analyze speech signals and further understand how brain waves can be applied to biometric identification, extending her research interests into more possibilities.
Li Qi-Wei, a physics and electrical engineering major at National Tsing Hua University who is currently an undergraduate student, with multiple research and competition experiences, expressed that through this program, he has delved into the fields of biomedical engineering and quantum science and further explored future research directions through interdisciplinary exchanges.
The Education Division’s gesture of bringing Taiwanese cuisine to visit the students contributed to a warm and familiar feeling. The students jokingly remarked that amid the demanding overseas study schedule, tasting Taiwanese flavors not only eased their homesickness but also added motivation to continue and complete the latter part of the program.
Huang Guang-Cai, the project leader and visiting professor at Asia University, highlighted that the focus of the program is not to provide students with standard answers but to immerse them in the international learning environment, allowing them to see their research direction and pose forward-thinking questions.
As the internship enters its latter half, students will utilize the accumulated interdisciplinary knowledge and international exchange experiences in their project research and presentations. They will transform their overseas learning into tangible research outcomes, showcasing Taiwan’s young generation’s innovative potential on the international research stage.
It is worth mentioning that on the 12th, the program team received notification from the Ministry of Education that they were selected as one of the teams for this year’s results presentation exhibition. From international learning and interdisciplinary exchanges to project research, the students will convert the knowledge and practical experience gained at UCLA into research achievements, stepping onto the stage of results presentation to demonstrate Taiwan youth’s courage to explore and innovate across fields.