SCC Home » Academics » School of Math & Science » Biomanufacturing » Faculty
Solano Biotech Educators
Meet the Solano Community College Biotech Faculty
Gulnur Sanden
Professor of Biomanufacturing
Professor Gulnur Sanden serves as the Director of the Biomanufacturing program. She started at Solano College in May 2017, making the transition from industry where she served as Project Engineer that headed several projects designing cardiac devices for Oscor Incorporated, a medical device design and manufacturing company. Dr. Sanden earned her Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Florida. She also earned two Master’s degrees in Physics, one from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the other from Kocaeli University in Turkey. She also earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Kocaeli University.
Jim DeKloe
Professor of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Jim DeKloe, Professor of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, serves as the director and founder of the Industrial Biotechnology program at Solano Community College. In the past, he served as the regional director of the Southwest Region of Bio-Link, the nationwide consortium of community and technical colleges that teach biotech. On sabbatical he worked in the manufacturing department of biotech pioneer Genentech Inc. He also served as a consultant to help biotech giant Amgen redesign the training programs for their biomanufacturing technicians and for their quality assurance associates. He currently serves on the advisory committee for the Explorer Education Division of BioRad, and on the advisory committees of multiple college and high school biotechnology programs. In 2000, the Association of Community College Trustees chose Jim as the Distinguished Faculty Member of the Pacific Region which includes the Western United States and Canada, Hawaii Alaska and Guam. In 2011 Solano College faculty chose Jim as the Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year. In 2015, he became a finalist for the Award of Excellence for Faculty Innovation by the American Association of Community Colleges.
Ed Re
Professor of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Ed Re, Professor of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, has taught biotechnology at Solano College since 2004. Dr. Re earned his PhD and B.S from the University of California, Davis. Before joining the faculty of Solano College, he worked as a scientist at Novozyme and developed industrial enzymes that are important in the production of biofuels. In 2015, he became a finalist for the Award of Excellence for Faculty Innovation by the American Association of Community Colleges.
Mike Silva
Professor of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Mike Silva, Professor of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, is one of Solano’s own. After completing an AS from Solano College in 2008, Mike completed his undergraduate education at UC Santa Barbara and completed a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from CSU Channel Islands. He conducted research at the City of Hope in Duarte, CA, and currently works in biomanufacturing at the Genentech Vacaville facility. Watch this video with Mike discussing why he pursued science, and how he supports SCC’s Biomanufacturing students.
Jennifer Low
Laboratory Technician
Jennifer Low, the laboratory technician in charge of the Biotechnology Laboratory at Solano College's main campus, has served as the lab director for a decade. Jennifer earned a Bachelor's Degree in Food Science from UC Davis. In 2015, she received the Classified Employee of the Year award at Solano College.
Ruhpreet Bains
Laboratory Technician
Ruhpreet Bains serves as a laboratory technician working to prepare labs for the Industrial Biotechnology and the Biomanufacturing Bachelor's degree programs. After taking her lower division biology and chemistry courses at Solano College, Ruhpreet transferred to the University of California, Davis where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology. After graduation she worked in several labs including working as a chemist for Delta Environmental Laboratories and as a quality control specialist for the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield. Ruhpreet is currently working to complete Masters of Science in Environmental Management at the University of San Francisco. Her MS will have a concentration in climate change and energy. She is also working on a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) certification.
Christine Kucala
Laboratory Technician
Christine Kucala, laboratory technician in charge of the laboratories on Solano College’s Vacaville Center has worked at Solano College for over six years. She earned a Chemistry degree from St. Louis University and a Masters of Business Administration. She has extensive industry experience. She worked for Anheuser-Busch for 15 years full-time and 6 years part-time, working in the analytical labs, in the research pilot brewery, as a group manager of the Brewing Department, and as the Quality Assurance group manager. She also has experience in the wine industry as a quality manager overseeing Robert Montavi, Franciscan, Simi, and Ravenswood wineries. She works part-time in the laboratory of the Solano County Public Health department, performing tests to assure the quality of drinking water. In 2007, her peers chose her as Classified Employee of the Year award for Solano College.
Irene Camins
Laboratory Technician
Irene Camins, laboratory technician in charge of the laboratories on the campus of Solano College's Vallejo Center. She completed a masters degree, and has worked in a variety of positions for various companies in the biotechnology industry, including Cetus, the pioneering Bay Area biotech company.