The smartphone in your hand carries decades of UC San Diego innovation. It began with Irwin Jacobs, who taught here before founding Qualcomm and developing CDMA — the wireless system that made mobile communication possible worldwide. Years later, professor Peter Asbeck created transistors that amplified weak signals without draining battery life, paving the way for smaller, longer-lasting phones. More recently, Alexander Vardy and his colleagues designed algorithms that help 5G networks deliver faster downloads and smoother streaming. Together, their breakthroughs turned early digital research into the smartphones we rely on every day – so every time you make a call, stream a video or send a photo, you’re using technology shaped by generations of UC San Diego engineers.
Transformative Technology
Every advancement we help spark has you in mind. From the moment you wake up to the time you log off, technology developed by UC San Diego helps shape how you connect with others, navigate the world and take care of your health.
Our researchers help turn breakthrough ideas into everyday tools. They helped advance the technologies that made smartphones possible and opened the door for AI tools that can translate language, support everyday recommendations and help clinicians make faster decisions.
Our teams also develop new materials, from plant-based textiles used in everyday clothing to tiny sensors that can monitor heart health and blood pressure from your skin, as well as storage systems that keep billions of photos, videos and memories safe in the cloud.
At UC San Diego, engineers work side by side with doctors, artists, athletes and ethicists to ask not just “Can we build this?” but “Who does it help, and how do we make it safe and responsible?” The result is technology that doesn’t just change the world. It makes everyday life better.
Research in Action
Revolutionizing Preventative Healthcare With Just A Touch
Moving Performance Forward
From Lab to Clinic: The Muscle Physiology Lab at UC San Diego
Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation commits $220M to Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance
La Jolla billionaire couple donate $220 million to study health lessons to be learned from elite athletes
Researchers Develop Clinically Validated, Wearable Ultrasound Patch for Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring
Sweat-powered Sticker Turns Your Drinking Cup into a Health Sensor
UC San Diego among six U.S. institutions in new Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance
Wearable Gadgets Could Help Catch COVID-19 Before Symptoms Show
Wristband Sensor Provides All-in-one Monitoring for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Care
SPEAK UP AND SUPPORT LIFE-CHANGING RESEARCH.
Meaningful impact takes sustained support from individuals, industry and government alike. Learn what fuels breakthroughs and how you can help by staying informed, contacting your representatives and supporting research in the ways that make sense for you.
