Guangqiang “Jay” Jiang grew up in the rural Chinese village of Yangchun, about 200 miles west of Shanghai, a place where children followed their parents into the fields to work.

Jiang, 52, a USC Viterbi alumnus, Ph.D. BME ’05, and a pioneering medical device entrepreneur who recently sold his company to Boston Scientific, farmed alongside his father beginning at age 8, planting and harvesting rice and fertilizing orange trees by hand.

The stakes were high. Not only did his family need to meet quotas, but they had to grow enough fruits and vegetables to feed themselves. They did so through tireless hard work and the magic of science; Jiang’s father spent hours reading books and used his newfound knowledge to dramatically increase crop production. The young Jiang quickly absorbed those agricultural lessons.

But his father wanted something more for his son, encouraging Jiang to become the first in their village to go to university. So he did. Jiang attended Tsinghua University, arguably China’s best. There was no question what he would study: “Engineering was a natural,” Jiang said. “I’m very good with my hands. I like fixing stuff.”

He later brought that strong work ethic, love of science and formidable intellect to USC. Working at the Alfred Mann Foundation while simultaneously pursuing his Ph.D., Jiang wrote his thesis about his work conceiving a method to bond ceramics and titanium to form a strong and reliable biocompatible package for implantable medical devices.

Jiang later went on to cofound Axonics, an Irvine-based medical device company, in 2013. As chief technology officer, Jiang and his team developed an implantable system — encased in ceramics and titanium to prevent overheating when charged wirelessly — that stimulates the sacral nerves to help restore normal bladder and bowel functions. European regulators green-lit the medical device in 2016, with FDA approval coming three years later.

In late 2024, medical device giant Boston Scientific acquired Axonics for $3.7 billion.

“I got into the medical device field because I wanted to make people’s lives better, to alleviate their pain and reduce their symptoms,” Jiang said. He added that he hopes Boston Scientific, now Axonics’ parent company, will drive sales of the Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM) System for the benefit of many. So far, he noted, SNM products have helped more than 75,000 patients.

The market for Axonics’ products is largely untapped. An estimated 40 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence and other symptoms of overactive bladder, with another 6 million being diagnosed annually. Only 1% of the population currently receives sacral neuromodulation treatment for the conditions, Jiang said.

Other medical devices treat overactive bladders, but not as well as Axonics’ SNM systems, Jiang said. By finding a way to make ceramics more durable, he helped create a sturdier, longer-lasting medical device.

Jiang also discovered a strong bonding agent for ceramics and titanium. Previously, implantable packages that held rechargeable batteries, communication chips and charging coils were constructed exclusively of titanium, making them susceptible to overheating during charging. Ceramics, by contrast, transfer energy more efficiently and aren’t prone to internal burning and patient harm. “We built a better mousetrap,” Jiang quipped.

The holder of 40 U.S. and 80 international patents and a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Jiang credits USC for much of his professional success.

“The knowledge I gained in biomedical engineering, particularly in neuroscience, really expanded my expertise,” said Jiang, a member of the BME Advisory Board. “USC Viterbi is a top-notch engineering school with a wonderful reputation and community.”

It’s also a family affair. Jiang’s wife, Qingfang Yao, earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering in 2005. Their son Matthew recently received a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and computer science. In May, Jiang delivered the keynote address at one Viterbi’s master’s commencement ceremonies, encouraging graduates to stay curious, embrace challenges and keep learning.

Said Jiang: “You are now part of the Trojan family. Go out there and make an impact!”