Biomedical engineering · Vancouver, BC

Recording the
living story
of development.

I’m Sanchit Chopra, a PhD candidate at the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering. I develop DNA event-recording technologies to help reveal how cells change and organize during embryonic development.

Yachie Laboratory · UBC
CELL HISTORYDNA RECORDDEVELOPMENT
Molecular memory · cellular fate
UBC SBMEPhD candidate · 2024–2028
Yachie LaboratoryDNA event recording
Cell lineage tracingGenome engineering
Calgary → VancouverEngineering roots
01 / Research

A molecular record
of cellular change.

Embryonic development unfolds over time, while many measurements offer only a snapshot. My work explores ways to store molecular events in DNA—creating a record that can help researchers reconstruct how cells differentiate and form tissues.

ANCESTRAL CELLEVENTCELL FATE
Illustrative lineage map · concept
Current research · Yachie Lab

Writing cellular events into DNA

At the Yachie Laboratory, I’m developing DNA event-recording technologies to decipher spatiotemporal differentiation trajectories during mouse and human embryogenesis. The goal is to connect molecular events to the histories and fates of cells.

CELL LINEAGE TRACINGGENETIC CIRCUITSGENOME EDITING
02 / The approach

From event
to evidence.

The research sits at the intersection of synthetic biology and developmental biology: engineering molecular tools that make transient biology more traceable.

⌁
01 — CAPTURE

Detect a molecular event

Build recording strategies around cellular events, including gene-expression signals that mark changing cell states.

⟲
02 — RECORD

Store information in DNA

Use genome-engineering approaches to preserve a molecular trace that can outlast the event itself.

⌘
03 — RECONSTRUCT

Read developmental history

Interpret recorded information to help map when and how cells move along differentiation trajectories.

03 / Selected work

Engineering for
living systems.

A path from biomanufacturing design to molecular tools for understanding how biological systems develop.

01 · CURRENT RESEARCH

DNA event recording for embryogenesis

Developing molecular technologies to capture and record cellular events, with the aim of deciphering spatiotemporal differentiation trajectories in mouse and human embryos.

UBC · Yachie Laboratory
02 · ENGINEERING CAPSTONE

A semi-continuous platform for monoclonal antibodies

With a multidisciplinary team, developed a concept for biologics manufacturing. The capstone team placed first in its category.

University of Calgary · Schulich School of Engineering
04 / About & recognition

Curiosity, built
through engineering.

Originally from Calgary, I studied chemical engineering with a biomedical focus before joining UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering. I’m interested in building tools that help make complex biology measurable.

2026

Theodore E. Arnold Fellowship

University of British Columbia · Recognizing academic excellence and research potential

2024–26

President’s Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award

The University of British Columbia

2024

Faculty of Applied Science Graduate Award

The University of British Columbia

2024

Amgen Pitch Competition · 2nd place

The University of British Columbia

05 / Contact

Let’s talk about biology in motion.

For research conversations, collaborations, and questions about my work, please connect through LinkedIn or the Yachie Laboratory.