Become a Capstone Project Sponsor
The department of bioengineering invites capstone design projects sponsored by industrial and clinical entities. By submitting information on products or processes, students will use this information to formulate real-world solutions.
During their capstone project, students are engaged in experiential learning opportunities that allow for capstone project sponsors to pair with talented bioengineering students to conceptualize, conduct competitive analyses, develop software, model and analyze solutions, build and test a final product, and present the results professionally to capstone project sponsors during a formal end-of-semester event.
Logistics
In exchange for accepting sponsorship, you will receive concept generation and selection, consideration of alternatives, development of a working prototype or device (in MOST cases), test data, consideration of patentability, and suggestions for further testing. As a sponsor, you will not be responsible for grading or other administrative details, but you will be asked to assess the design team at the end of each term, and this assessment will contribute significantly to each student's grade. If you would like to participate but are not sure about an idea to submit, please contact us at any time and we would be happy to work with you to come up with an appropriate design problem.
In turn, the students benefit from working on a project that is relevant to current engineering practice.
As this is a course project, all IP remains with the capstone project sponsors. Sponsors may consider naming students as inventors, co-authors, etc.
If a project requires specialized materials or parts, the sponsor is responsible for purchasing the parts and shipping them to the University.
The projects should involve the creation of a prototype, device, or instrument, and should not be exclusively "research projects".
Senior Design/M.Eng. in Bioengineering Capstone Project Sponsorship
A collaboration between the bioengineering Undergraduate Program and the Master of Engineering Program, students receive very broad training through coursework in life sciences, physical sciences, biomaterials, biomechanics, electronics, and bioinstrumentation. In addition, they have extensive training in their concentration area (therapeutics, biomechanics, tissue engineering, imaging and sensing, computational biology/bioengineering). Groups are made up of 3-4 students depending on project needs.
The main criteria for a project are that it be design-oriented, have a biological application and be well defined but open-ended. The design project should be of realistic scope and time frame for both development and prototyping in 6-9 months and one for which some design concepts exist, but you are flexible about the solution. As a sponsor you will be providing ideas about problems to be solved, asked to meet with students periodically to serve as a client, and provide expertise related to the problem.
Undergraduate Capstone Faculty: Dr. Holly Golecki
Graduate Capstone Faculty: Dr. Jenny Amos
Questions? Contact bioe-meng@illinois.edu
MS in Biomedical Image Computing Capstone Project Sponsorship
Capstone in the Biomedical Image Computing (MS in BIC) program provides students the opportunity to integrate and apply what they have learned throughout their coursework in biomedical imaging, machine learning, and computational principles. Working in teams, the students’ capstone project serves as the culminating requirement for the MS in BIC degree, bringing together quantitative and engineering approaches to propose innovative solutions to machine learning real-world problems in biomedical imaging.
Projects are proposed by clients from industry, hospitals, and clinical partners who present challenges in biomedical imaging that require computational and engineering solutions. Conducted in the fall semester, teams engage in market assessment, competitive analysis, engineering design, software development, prototyping, and testing, with regular check-ins to ensure progress and alignment with client needs. Alongside faculty guidance, students may visit client sites and draw on external expertise to refine their solutions.
Graduate Capstone Faculty: Dr. Fan Lam
Questions? Contact bioe-bic@illinois.edu