Bioengineering
Bioengineering (BioE) is a broad field at the intersection of biology or medicine with engineering or computing.
BioE has had a presence at Olin from the beginning, both through faculty research and the curriculum. Students wishing to explore BioE may do so by pursuing the Bioengineering concentration within the Engineering degree (E:Bio) or by choosing a different major and focusing on Bioengineering concepts and applications through choices of courses and projects. In either case, students can work with relevant faculty to develop a course plan that is relevant to their BioE area of interest.
E:Bio Concentration
The E:Bio concentration is inherently interdisciplinary, rooted in engineering problem solving, a deep understanding of biology, and human-centered design and prepares students to approach problems important to biology, medical research, and clinical studies. While students can pursue almost any area of BioE through development of a personalized plan of study, the focus of BioE research at Olin tends to be in the space of medical devices, global health, diagnostics, assistive technology, neuroscience, and computational biology.
Bioengineering at Olin is a flexible, student-designed concentration at the intersection of biology, engineering, and design. Students create an individual course plan, in consultation with bioengineering and other relevant faculty, that lays out their chosen bioengineering focus area and explains how their courses support that area of study. Course plans include bioengineering-relevant courses, advanced biology, advanced math, and other relevant electives. Requirements for the E:Bio concentration can be found in the course catalog. Courses relevant to E:Bio students are also available at affiliated schools, Wellesley and Brandeis. Additionally, students have the opportunity to complete a 2-semester design capstone in bioengineering.
BioE Resources
- ENGR2141/AHSE2141: Engineering for Humanity (adaptive and assistive tech design)
- ENGR 3252: Technology, Accessibility, and Design
- ENGR3232 or SCI2235: Biomimicry
- ENGR 3232: Biomedical Device Design
- MTH2135/ENGR3635: Neurotechnology, Brains and Machines
- ENGR 4190: Senior Capstone Program in Engineering (SCOPE)
- Some Recent SCOPE projects:
- Identifying Potential New Materials for Endoluminal Vacuum Therapy (2024 Boston Scientific)
- Improving Cancer Diagnostic Accuracy During ERCP Procedures (2023 Boston Scientific)
- Fluidics in Next Generation Endoscopes (2022 Boston Scientific)
- Developing Next-Generation Endoscope Technology (2020 Boston Scientific)
- Adjustable PET/CT Scanner Accessory for Improving Patient Comfort (2020 GE Healthcare)
- Some Recent SCOPE projects:
- ENGR 3290 or 4290: Affordable Design and Entrepreneurship (ADE) 2023 ADE project briefs
- Global Health track – Early Identification of Hearing Loss to Improve Life Outcomes: Increasing early access to hearing screening devices to enhance immediate well-being of children and improve their overall life outcomes.
- Air Quality Track – Supporting EJ Communities in Their Work for Air Justice: Reducing the burden of air pollution in near-source communities by building awareness and capacity for agency.
For currently offered courses, please consult the course catalog.
(Note: These are examples; not all courses may be currently offered.)
| Area of Focus | Medical Devices (ME/ECE flavors) | Biomechanics | Computational Biology |
| BioE Core |
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| Advanced Math |
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| Advanced Bio |
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| Elective |
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- Chhavi Goenka, Assistant Professor of Engineering (Returning SP 2024)
- Using light and sound waves for non-invasive diagnostics through the Health Equity and Access Lab (HEAL)
- Scott Hersey, Associate Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Health and air quality, sensors
- Jean Huang, Associate Professor of Biology
- Environmental microbiology
- Elizabeth Johansen, Senior Lecturer in Design and Biomedical Engineering
- Medical devices, digital health technology, and global health start-ups
- Chris Lee, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
- Rapid prototyping (esp. additive manufacturing) and finite element analysis of medical devices; and mechanical properties of biomaterials.
- Sam Michalka, Associate Professor of Computational Neuroscience and Engineering
- Brain-machine interfaces, cognitive neuroscience, assistive/adaptive tech
- Joanne Pratt, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Immunology, cancer, medicinal properties of plants
- Paul Ruvolo, Associate Professor of Computer Science
- Computer vision/adaptive tech
Have questions?
Contact Alisha Sarang-Sieminski, Dean of Student Affairs; Professor of Engineering, with any questions.
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