The Bioengineering Capstone Experience

The Bioengineering Capstone Experience serves as a rite of passage, akin to an internship, where students learn to collaborate in teams, meet project deadlines, manage resources efficiently, and apply critical thinking to solve significant, real-world problems. This educational journey spans multiple teams working across two semesters and culminates in a final presentation day in May, where student teams unveil their achievements to an audience of faculty, staff, sponsors, and peers. 

Throughout the semester, students work in teams to engage with industry sponsors and clinicians working on projects, bringing visions for medical devices and tools to life through collaboration. This partnership provides a rich opportunity for students to address complex challenges and push projects toward commercial viability. 

“Not only did the student prototypes advance, but the students grew in their professional roles and communication skills across the experience," said Jenny Amos, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and instructor of the Bioengineering Capstone Experience who focuses on the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) roles in the projects.  

 The main criteria for a project in the capstone course are that it be design-oriented, have a biological application, and be well-defined but open-ended. Projects involve the creation of a prototype, device, or instrument of a realistic scope that can be developed and prototyped within 6 months. Sponsors provide ideas about problems to be solved, meet with students periodically, and offer expertise related to the problem.   

“Working with the bioengineering department and the students has been a pleasure. This was a fun experience and I hope to continue in the fall,” said clinical sponsor Dennis Dietzen, professor of pathology & immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, and Medical Director of Laboratory Services at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. 

The final presentation day is more than just showcasing a device or technology; it is about demonstrating the potential impact these innovations could have on healthcare and beyond. Additionally, it provides an invaluable opportunity for students to hone their presentation skills and deepen their knowledge of the product and the process. 

“We see so much development in the teams throughout the year in the course. The showcase is a fantastic opportunity for students to educate their peers and community members on the project they've spent so much time and energy developing,” stated bioengineering professor Holly Golecki, instructor of the Bioengineering Capstone Experience who focuses on the undergraduate roles in the projects. 

Professor of bioengineering and capstone instructor Ali Ansari, who also focuses on undergraduate student roles, said, “The showcase is such a wonderful opportunity for the students to show the physical representation of their growth and mastery. It is truly a pleasure to watch them become more confident as engineers as well as much more adept at identifying the problems that they have to solve and how best to apply the skills that they already have to solve them. The way that the course is taught and structured enables this growth, and I am very proud to be any part of that transformation.”  

A complete list of projects may be viewed here. As the department of bioengineering continues to offer this capstone course every fall and spring semester, we invite those with ideas for medical devices or bioengineering tools to consider sponsoring a project. Additional information may be found here. 

Project faculty advisors for this year were Professors Jenny Amos, Ali Ansari, Joe Bradley, and Holly Golecki. Teaching Assistant Project Mentors included Eliot Bethke and Seokjin Yeo.