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Two BME graduate students bring home scholarships from Innovate-A-Thon Prosthetics event

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 23:10:58 +0000

Two BME graduate students bring home scholarships from Innovate-A-Thon Prosthetics event Alexander Jame… Fri, 11/08/2024 - 16:10

Alexander Servantez

Two biomedical engineering graduate students were invited to participate in the October Innovate-A-Thon competition.

Master’s students Sahana Balaji and Sophia Ramsey represented the University of Colorado Boulder in the two-week hybrid event, sponsored by nonprofit organization Education2Success. They competed with and against students from Boise State University to design above-the-knee prosthetic solutions for citizens in Tanzania.

Balaji and her team took home the top prize: a $600 scholarship for each team member. She also said the competition was a great opportunity to showcase and develop her innovation prowess in front of a panel of industry professionals and entrepreneurs.

Sahana Balaji, BME master's student and member of the winning team in the October Innovate-A-Thon competition.

“My background is very computational, specifically on women’s health. I didn’t have the same experience with computer-aided design as the others in the competition, so I kept on questioning whether or not I’m cut out for this,” she said. “In the end, I learned a lot and I proved that my background can come in handy.”

According to Steven Szymeczek, director of the Innovate-A-Thon, the competition is judged on both the prosthetic technology and a business model that is creative and feasible. It also needs to be economically sustainable and relevant to Tanzanian culture.

Balaji’s group designed a flexible, ball-jointed prosthetic leg with a 135-degree range of motion. It grants Tanzanian users peak mobility to perform all cultural activities without any risks of wear-and-tear.

Their design also featured a simple approach, relying on interchangeable parts rather than cutting-edge technology. Balaji said this strategy allowed them to account for users who lack the resources and money to replace their prosthetic device or visit a clinic if things did go awry.

“We could have implemented electronics into our prosthetic,” Balaji said. “But do Tanzanian people have the budget, time or means to fix those parts if there were problems?

“Ultimately, we decided to implement locally sourced material. We used tools and parts that you could find in a hardware store, so that users can fix the device themselves and have time to visit the clinic within their own schedules for any other major issues.”

Sophia Ramsey, BME master's student and participant in the October Innovate-A-Thon competition.

The approach ended up putting them over the top, said Szymeczek. But the scoring was very close. Each team presented models so innovative and thoughtful that there was nearly a three-way tie for first place. Szymeczek said it was one of the most competitive iterations of the Innovate-A-Thon to date.

“Sometimes it varies between the best scores and the lowest scores,” he said. “These scores were very close, and it’s a testament to all the background and expertise they showed and learned during this program.”

Among the teams just short of first place was Sophia Ramsey’s. Although the BME MS student was unable to take home the top prize, her participation alone scored her a $500 scholarship. And just like Balaji, she said the experience and connection held the true value.

“The program really gives you a good snapshot of what it’s like to be an engineer in the field with tight deadlines and a team to collaborate with,” Ramsey said. “I’m also getting set up with some of the industry professionals who judged and advised this competition to explore some future career opportunities.”

This iteration of the Innovate-A-Thon was the first to feature students from CU Boulder. Szymeczek says their team will launch more competitions in the future, and they hope to see more students take advantage of this opportunity.

Two biomedical engineering master's students brought home scholarships for their exceptional prosthetic designs in the October Innovate-A-Thon competition.

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A sketch of the winning prosthetic design that earned BME graduate student Sahana Balaji and her team $600 scholarships at the October Innovate-A-Thon competition.

Biomedical engineering’s Career Symposium returns for its third year

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 20:10:17 +0000

Biomedical engineering’s Career Symposium returns for its third year Alexander Jame… Fri, 10/11/2024 - 14:10

Alexander Servantez

More than 160 CU Boulder students put on their best business attire on Monday for the third annual Biomedical Engineering Career Symposium. Their mission? Go toe-to-toe with the workforce.

The symposium, organized by the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and run by students, provided an opportunity for students to connect and learn from various company representatives in the med-tech industry. It featured company information sessions, company tabling, product demonstrations, and one-on-one meetings with experienced industry professionals.

Fourteen companies and organizations, including CONMED, Medtronic and others, were in attendance to recruit some of Boulder’s finest aspiring biomedical engineers. In past years, students have received job and internship opportunities with the help of the symposium. At the very least, students walked away with valuable insight into the diverse career paths the industry has to offer.

This year’s iteration of the event looked a little different. �鶹��Ժ were required to attend a ProReady workshop in order to register for the symposium. Designed by Engineering Career Services, the ProReady initiative supports student career development, and these workshops helped prepare students to speak to company representatives in a professional setting.

“Last year, we had companies telling us that students were struggling to interact with representatives,” said Vivian Shi, a third-year student and BMES Career Symposium Committee member. “This year, our biggest focus was changing that, and I think we did a good job."

A BME student chats with a company representative at the 2024 BME Career Symposium.

Many of the students in attendance echoed some of those same sentiments. BME senior Christian Moon, who has been to multiple career symposiums, saw first hand how the workshop and symposium has affected his comfortability and confidence.

“Being able to practice interviews is nice,” Moon said. “It can be awkward to talk to people and talk about yourself. But it’s good practice and useful when interacting with people who are actually in the industry.”

Putting together an event like this is no easy task. On top of their own individual coursework, the BMES Career Symposium Committee spent long, tireless nights bringing the ballroom to life for their fellow BME classmates.

Clare Keeler, BMES Career Symposium committee chair, recalled the extensive planning involved, including difficulties wrangling commitments from companies or finding the perfect room arrangement. However, seeing vibrant and life-changing relationships being built during the event made all their hard work worth it.

“Overall, it makes me very happy that I was able to provide this experience for other students. It was a really long process dating back to April. My goal was to expand the symposium, and it just feels amazing seeing it come to life,” Keeler said.

Some company representatives gave their praise for this year’s symposium, including CONMED representative and former CU Boulder alumna Mia Fox.

Fox co-founded the BME Career Symposium and was a part of the BME program’s first graduating class in 2023. She knows first hand just how difficult coordinating this event can be, and she was proud of the committee for building on the legacy her class started during her time on campus.

“The committee has done a good job taking feedback from both students and company representatives,” Fox said. “They ran with that and they did a really good job.

“This event is unique. It’s different. It’s run by students, for students. I hope everyone continues to see the importance in that going forward.”

More than 160 of CU Boulder's finest Biomedical Engineering students attended the third annual Career Symposium in search of post-college opportunities.

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Three male BME students talking to a male company representative at the 2024 BME Career Symposium.

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Three current BME students talking to a company representative at the 2024 BME Career Symposium.

Celebrating our Native American and Indigenous Communities

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Celebrating our Native American and Indigenous Communities Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/01/2023 - 00:00

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LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate program welcomes 12 students

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 17:26:31 +0000

LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate program welcomes 12 students Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/17/2023 - 11:26

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CU Engineering offers debt-free degrees for first-gen Colorado students

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 21:09:05 +0000

CU Engineering offers debt-free degrees for first-gen Colorado students Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/24/2023 - 15:09

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First-ever class in biomedical engineering at CU Boulder graduates this spring

Anonymous — Thu, 25 May 2023 22:25:04 +0000

First-ever class in biomedical engineering at CU Boulder graduates this spring Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/25/2023 - 16:25

Michael Lock Swingen

The first-ever graduating class in biomedical engineering at CU Boulder received their diplomas this spring, marking a significant achievement not only for the students but for the program as well.

The graduation ceremony was held in the Byron R. White Club in Folsom Stadium on May 11. The event was packed with family and friends of the 14 undergraduates and one Master of Science student.

Photos of the full ceremony are available on Flickr.

In his opening remarks, Program Director Mark Borden said that he had been dreaming of this day for years and that it exceeded his expectations. He also highlighted the tight bond the small group of students formed with each other over the past four years.

Biomedical engineering is a highly interdisciplinary discipline that lies at the interface of medicine, biology and engineering. Most of the equipment in hospitals and clinics is designed, built and tested by biomedical engineers. They also generate new biomimetic engineering designs in fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence.

The program has proven popular with a diverse group of students – this year’s undergraduate class was 71% women, representing the highest percentage of women graduates of any academic program in the college.

“Electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, physicians and biologists all realized they held the pieces of a larger puzzle that promised to help and improve the lives of millions of people,” graduating senior Quinn Beato said in his address during the ceremony. “Together, these connections charted a new map to explore biomedical applications.”

The journey wasn’t always easy for the first-ever graduating class, graduating senior Catalina Bastias Diaz shared in her remarks. There were no practice exams, study guides or fixed curriculum. Some of the classes were entirely new, like biomaterials and biotransport.

But at the same time, the students got to know their professors outside the classroom, had the opportunity to give back to the program by being course assistants and engage with medical companies at a level that other majors don’t get the chance to.

After graduation, many of the students plan to go into industry, where they will work on designing and manufacturing cutting-edge medical devices. Others plan to further their knowledge in engineering in graduate school, while others plan to pursue medical school.

“As biomedical engineers, we have the unique ability to change lives for the better,” Diaz said. “Through our innovative work, we can improve patient outcomes, advance medical technology, and make a real difference in the world.”

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Video: Celebrating the strength of our community during Women's History Month

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 15:19:56 +0000

Video: Celebrating the strength of our community during Women's History Month Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/09/2022 - 08:19

The future of engineering at CU Boulder is one of inclusivity, diversity and resilience. BME professor Juliet Gopinath and undergraduate student Sacha Ramirez are among the woman featured as we celebrated Women's History Month and strive to create an equitable future for all.

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One of BME's first graduates reflects on how the program strengthened his resume

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 17:20:47 +0000

One of BME's first graduates reflects on how the program strengthened his resume Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/07/2021 - 11:20

Rachel Leuthauser

John Myers (MBioEngr’21) was the first student to graduate from the Biomedical Engineering Program with a thesis-based master’s degree. Now, he has a more competitive edge as he plans his future education and career.

John Myers (MBioEngr'21)

If it wasn’t for the COVID-19 pandemic, John Myers may have never ended up at the University of Colorado Boulder.

After receiving his master’s degree in biochemistry from Oxford University in 2020, Myers thought he would either continue his education or get a job. Opportunities continuously fell through because of the pandemic, until Myers connected with the director of the Biomedical Engineering Program at CU Boulder, Professor Mark Borden.

“I found out about the program and Professor Borden from my father,” Myers explained. “While I was writing up my thesis last year, my parents were trying to help me find opportunities for the following year. My father works at CU, which is part of why he suggested the program to me, to be closer to family during the pandemic.”

Myers’ father, Professor Chris Myers, knows the success of the College of Engineering and Applied Science well. He is currently the chair of the Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering Department at CU Boulder.

Myers said his father encouraged him to get in contact with Borden. Following a discussion with Borden and biomedical engineering Professor Corey Neu, Myers decided to apply. Upon his acceptance, Myers became one of the first people to enroll in the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.

“John was the first MS thesis student,” Borden said. “That requires a formal research component with a written thesis, in addition to the coursework.”

Myers focused his research on the effectiveness of ultrasound contrast agents. He said the Biomedical Engineering Program’s curriculum had a great impact on his understanding in that area of study.

John Myers exploring Colorado.

“In the sense of what courses I could sign up for, it was quite a great experience,” Myers said. “Coming off an education in both the United States and England, I had some background missing in biomedical imaging. The good thing about being in the Biomedical Engineering Program at CU Boulder was that there were opportunities to try to fill in some of those gaps.”

Myers took classes in life sciences and electrical engineering to broaden his perspective. He said adding these subjects to his resume makes him more competitive when applying to PhD programs or jobs.

“I still don't have a physics degree for example, but I have a much broader background in some of the abilities that someone with a physics degree might have, especially in my area of interest,” Myers explained.

With his second master’s degree and an abundance of new knowledge in-hand, Myers said he is now looking for a doctorate position or a job in research.

“My dream kind of position would be to just to find a group I enjoy working for,” Myers said. “That’s the most important bit, to be able to have a good working relationship with whomever you have to work for.”

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Summer intern brings fresh perspective to CU research lab

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 20:30:23 +0000

Summer intern brings fresh perspective to CU research lab Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/01/2021 - 14:30

Jesse Duran, a senior at Fort Lewis College in Durango, spent the summer working on research projects in the lab of Shu-Wei Huang, an assistant professor in the Biomedical Engineering program.

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Biomedical engineering career paths

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 19:43:42 +0000

Biomedical engineering career paths Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/31/2021 - 13:43

Demand for biomedical engineers in the United States is high, and it’s only going to keep growing.

Employment for biomedical engineers is expected to grow five percent by 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That translates to about 1,400 biomedical engineering job openings each year, for a total of 22,200 biomedical engineers being employed in 2029.

“The future is really bright for these students because of this possibility,” Professor Mark Bordon, the program director for the University of Colorado’s Biomedical Engineering Program, said. “It’s a popular major because it deals with something that’s a fundamental importance to everybody. Which is how does the human body work. It’s at the intersection of medicine and engineering.”

Career paths for CU Boulder BME students

Biomedical engineering students at CU Boulder get a multi-disciplinary education in chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering to prepare for their future careers. The coursework gives them the skills to go into one of three fields: industry, research or medical school.

Industry

MedTech
- Develops medical devices to detect and treat disease, improve quality of life and improve human performance
Consulting
- Work with medical organizations, research institutions and companies to provide guidance and recommendations
Clinical Engineer
- In a hospital:
  - Purchase, install and maintain hospital equipment
  - Work with physicians and patients on using the technology
- In a clinical trial:
  - Perform trials on new medical technology and devices

Industry Professional Development

Research

Biomedical research is well-funded
- The National Institutes of Health 2021 budget was $43 billion, compared to the National Science Foundation's budget of $8.5 billion.
- More funding means more research opportunities
Various PhD programs available
- Inside discipline: Biomedical engineering PhD
- Outside discipline: Other engineering programs or schools of medicine

Research Opportunities

Medical School

Pursue a medical degree to become a physician or surgeon
Doctor and surgeon positions are expected to grow five percent by 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pre-Med Opportunities

Biomedical engineering students have multiple opportunities in the job market; including careers in the industry, in research or at medical school.

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