Undergraduate �鶹��Ժ

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.

BME �鶹��Ժ Gain Engineering Experience Through SPUR Research Program

Radhika Patel — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:51:19 +0000

BME �鶹��Ժ Gain Engineering Experience Through SPUR Research Program Radhika Patel Tue, 09/17/2024 - 11:51

This summer, several undergraduate students in the Biomedical Engineering program participated in the CU Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) conducting research in campus labs. The students, their projects, and their sponsoring labs can be found below.

Three students are conducting research in Dr. Wei Tan's lab, a BME faculty member. Bridget Antreasin is studying The Design and Fabrication of Novel Vascular Grafts; Anna Sallee studies the Thin coating of Metallic Vascular Stents; Meghan Stancliff is studying Modeling the Link Between Desing and Well-Being Outcomes of Campus Transport. Two students are conducting research in Dr. Wyatt Shield’s lab. Alisha Kumari studies Programming Active Particle Behavior by Depositing Precisely Shaped Metallic Surface Patches; Vivan Nguyen is studying the Design and Fabrication of Active Magnetic Particles with Unique Geometries. In Dr. Ortiz Peleg’s lab, undergraduate student Andrew Swanson studies Adaptations of Honeybees Swarm in Response to Environmental Perturbations. Sam Zanotti is studying Advanced Materials and Bioinspiration in Dr. Francois Barthelat’s lab. In Professor John Crimaldi and Dr. Aaron True’s lab, David Katilius studies the Fluid Dynamics of Olfaction. Madison Seckman is studying Graphene-Based Semipermeable Membrane Electrode (grME) Fabrication Parameters in Dr. John Pellegrino’s lab. In Dr. Sarah Calve’s lab, student Nathan Day studies Optogenetic Control of Tissue-Engineering Robotic Jellyfish Using Smooth Muscle. Student Cole Thomas is studying Droplet Motion through Microchannels in Dr. Robert Davis’s lab. In Dr. Michael Toney and Trisha Nickerson’s lab, student Matteo Campbell studies Alternative Sanitation Compost.

CU SPUR is open to all undergraduate students in the Engineering and Applied Sciences program. The program aims to engage students in research with college faculty and graduate students. CU SPUR is just one of the research programs available to students in the College, other programs include CU DLA and YOU’RE@CU. Participating in research allows students to gain hands-on learning and allows them to take what they have learned in the classroom and see how it is used in real-world applications. �鶹��Ժ can benefit from networking opportunities and mentoring by joining a research team.

BME �鶹��Ժ Share Their Experience

“In the Tan lab, my work focuses on the characterization of coaxial electrospun fibers as a vascular graft material. The goal of the project is to create a graft material that mimics the mechanical properties of the native blood vessels and acts as a scaffold to allow for tissue regeneration. This experience has allowed me to apply much of the knowledge gained from my coursework, and it has helped me gain insight into graduate school.” - Bridget Antreasin (pictured on the right)

“This summer I worked on quantifying thrombogenicity using human plasma. The procedure I am working on provides a facile, fast, high-throughput means to quantify the thrombogenicity of a vascular implant using the absorbance readings of separated plasma.” - Anna Sallee (pictured above on the left)

“Engagement with external sources, or stakeholders, outside of the design team (e.g. community members, field experts, people interacting with the product, etc.) is prevalent within engineering design, and my research aims to look into how designers interact with and represent these sources. Specifically, we’ve been looking into what conditions may make designers more or less likely to take stakeholders’ perspectives and the accuracy to which they represent stakeholder perspectives.

This opportunity has allowed me to meet some incredible people and mentors and has taught me so much about engineering design—a discipline of engineering I didn’t know existed until eight months ago. Doing design research has enabled me to seamlessly combine my interests in engineering, anthropology, psychology, and writing. Because of this research, I’ve been able to find a field of engineering that I’m extremely passionate about.” - Meghan Stancliff

“In this project I used two-photon lithography to print particles and metal deposition to deposit unique metallic surface patches on them. Our goal was to test the trajectory of particles in three systems: magnetics, catalysis, and electrokinetics. I really enjoyed working in the lab and learning how to utilize machines and software that I hadn't before.” - Alisha Kumari (pictured on the right)

“My project mainly focuses on the idea of magnetic microrobots. Spherical magnetic rollers have been well explored in the past, so we wanted to look at and design particles of unique and interesting geometries. Specifically, we wanted to study how these particles' behavior differs from spherical ones such as in their speed or in their trajectories. These differences could play a major role in how they can maneuver in biological systems.

SPUR has allowed me to have hands-on experience in a research lab as well as in clean-room fabrication. It has given me the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge, which has not only solidified those ideas, but has also allowed me to learn even more in these fields of study. I have grown to be a more confident student and a better learner. I have also been connected with other undergrads and graduate mentors in the lab that have given me valuable advice moving forward in my academic career.” - Vivian Nguyen (pictured left above)

"My research mostly consists of development of image processing algorithms in MATLAB to get meaningful information from our CT scans of honeybee swarms that we artificially create in our lab. I am also responsible for monitoring the X-ray machine while we gather data for our experiments and a little bit of beekeeping in our outdoor apiary. Getting a bit outside of the realm of biomedical engineering while still applying techniques I’ve learned in classes has been really interesting and fun! I attached a couple images of me taken over the summer.” - Andrew Swanson

“They look to combine theoretical mechanics, numerical modeling, optimization, experimental mechanics, 3D printing, and also a bit of biology. This led them to replicate the mechanics of fish fins through a simple laser-cut model. They hired me as a biomedical engineering student to explore how this can be applied in the medical field, specifically catheters. My job was to replicate the steerable tip of a catheter with our "fish fin" morphing material.” - Sam Zanotti

"Essentially, I was contracted to design a wind tunnel that would allow a couple hundred bees to be blown by wind speeds that are typically seen in nature. These bees would be forced into the standing position rather than flying so that researchers could understand more about their antenna (the part that smells) and how they respond to wind and odors within the wind.” - David Katilius

“PhD. students Caleb Song and Tom Disorbo mentored me on their project, from which I derived my summer project: Graphene Based Semipermeable Membrane Electrode (grME) Fabrication Parameters. GrMEs are composed of a thin polymer layer and an anisotropically conductive layer of graphene sheets. They are 25-mm in diameter, and it can take anywhere from 2-3 days to make one membrane. Eventually, the lab would like to put grMEs in a fuel cell that will be used to power prosthetics with blood flow, therefore removing the need for lithium-ion batteries."- Madison Seckman

“The overall goal of this research project is to deform a thin layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using primary human smooth muscle cells from the bladder. This will eventually be used to create a jellyfish-like construct that we can use to model biological pumps to study biotransport mechanisms and systems. A similar project to this was done by researchers in 2013 using rat cardiomyocytes and an electric field in lieu of pacemaker cells. We aim to create a similar construct using smooth muscle cells instead. Smooth muscle differs from cardiac muscle in the way it contracts and responds to stimuli.

Unlike the rapid, rhythmic contractions of cardiac muscle (often regulated by the pacemaker cells), smooth muscles exhibit slow, sustained contractions over a longer period of maintained tension. As we iterate, we will see how the different properties of smooth muscles will affect the design and function of our bioinspired construct. The objective is to create a swimming construct similar to a juvenile jellyfish using smooth muscle cells and work our way up to more complex biological models. Overall, this project can provide us with valuable information about physiological processes involving smooth muscle-driven transport including vasoconstriction, lymphatic circulation, peristalsis, and micturition. Furthermore, it will contribute to advances in biohybrid and bioinspired robotics.” - Nathan Day

“In this lab we studied the deformation of 8% Glycerol and PDMS droplets as they pass through various constrictions in a straight channel. The SPUR program was a great opportunity for me to decide whether or not to pursue research as a career.” - Cole Thomas

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BME receives ABET accreditation

Lisa Romero De Mendoza — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:38:40 +0000

BME receives ABET accreditation Lisa Romero De… Mon, 09/09/2024 - 08:38

The University of Colorado Boulder's Biomedical Engineering Bachelor of Science program is now accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The accreditation is retroactive to the first year of graduates (2023) and is based on the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Programs.

ABET is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that accredits programs in engineering, computing, applied and natural science, and engineering technology. ABET accreditation assures confidence that a collegiate program has met standards essential to prepare graduates to enter critical STEM fields in the global workforce. Graduates from an ABET-accredited program have a solid educational foundation and can lead the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

The ABET accreditation review process is an intensive team effort, and the process yields data and insights; that can be use it to deliver the best educational experience for students. More than 2,000 professionals from academia, industry and government carry out every aspect of ABET accreditation. They know their profession’s dynamic and emerging workforce needs and review academic programs to ensure they provide the technical and professional skills graduates need to succeed.
ABET accreditation tells your prospective students, peers and the professions you serve that your program:
Has received international recognition of its quality.
Promotes “best practices” in education.
Directly involves faculty and staff in self-assessment and continuous quality improvement processes.
Is based on “learning outcomes,” rather than “teaching inputs.”
Can more easily determine the acceptability of transfer credits.

The Biomedical Engineering Program wishes to thank the many people involved with this process, which include current faculty, staff and students; alumni; and the BME Industry Advisory Board. Special thanks go to BME faculty members, Drs. Jessica McLoughlin and Mark Borden for leading this effort and Vanessa Dunn, Director of Analytics, Assessment and Accreditation for the College of Engineering and Applied Science. We are grateful to all these folks for their contributions and time.

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Celebrating the Bright Futures of the Biomedical Graduates

Anonymous — Thu, 16 May 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Celebrating the Bright Futures of the Biomedical Graduates Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/16/2024 - 00:00

Thursday, May 9, 2024 marked a momentous occasion, a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and an unyielding quest for knowledge. It was a celebration of a graduating class, a cohort of bright minds ready to make a significant impact on the world of biomedical science.

The journey to this point has been anything but easy. With this class being only the second graduating class, the number of graduates has significantly expanded over the last year. Last year, the department had 15 graduates (14 Bachelors and 1 Masters), and this year, that number jumped to 73 graduates (3PhD, 10 Masters, and 60 Bachelors). From the foundational principles of biology to cutting-edge advancement in biotechnology and biomedical engineering, these students have demonstrated exceptional resilience and intellectual curiosity.

Throughout their time at CU Boulder, these students have been supported by an outstanding faculty, whose commitment to excellence in teaching and research has provided a strong foundation for their academic and professional growth. The collaborative environment fostered within the Biomedical Engineering Department has allowed students to engage in meaningful research projects, many of which have the potential to revolutionize healthcare.

Antoinette Gawin, President and CEO of the Terumo Corporation, was this year's keynote speaker. Ms. Gawin's remarkable journey and leadership in the medical technology industry served as an inspiration to all of the graduates. Her insights and experiences will undoubtedly provide invaluable guidance as the graduates embark on their own professional paths.

As the graduates step into the next chapter of their lives, they carry with them the spirit of innovation and a deep sense of purpose. The field of biomedical science is ever-evolving, and our graduates are well-equipped to tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Whether they pursue careers in research, clinical practice, industry, or further education, their contributions will undoubtedly shape the future of medicine and healthcare.

To the Class of 2024, we say congratulations! May your careers be filled with success, discovery, and fulfillment. The University of Colorado, Boulder is immensely proud of your achievement and eagerly anticipates the remarkable contributions you will make to the world! Congratulations, Biomedical Graduates of 2024, and a special thank you to Antoinette Gawin for joining us on this special day and inspiring the next generation of biomedical professionals!

To view and download the pictures from the Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony, please visit this link.

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Senior Design Expo 2024

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 22:32:59 +0000

Senior Design Expo 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/30/2024 - 16:32

Team Hydration - BME Senior Design Award Winner. Members include: Sam Slatcher, Jake McIntyre, Paige Casey, Keri Spitler, Ellie Goldman and Josh Jenkins

This year, 13 Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program senior design teams joined the College of Engineering & Applied Science Senior Expo to showcase their projects, a culmination of work that spanned two semesters. Some of the industry sponsors for this year included: Terumo BCT, Denver Life Sciences, Medtronic, Tolmar and Cardiost.

The Biomedical Engineering Program’s senior design course gives students the opportunity to apply the engineering knowledge they have gained at CU Boulder to a real-world, open-ended design challenge. Industry sponsors propose a project that emulates the sort of challenges and problems students will encounter in an entry-level engineering position. Each project is then matched with a student team.

During the year-long experience, each student assumes a leadership role and contributes to the technical aspects of the project. Teams meet with their industry sponsor to ensure appropriate progress is made on the project and present their proof-of-concept prototype in the spring.

All of the teams did a terrific job with their projects and presentations highlighting their knowledge and skills! Congratulations to all of them!

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Congratulations to our 2024 BME Program graduating student award winners!

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 03:21:32 +0000

Congratulations to our 2024 BME Program graduating student award winners! Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/17/2024 - 21:21

Several students from the Biomedical Engineering Program have earned 2024 Graduating Student Awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science and from the program.

These honors are awarded to students who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions and achievements to the program, the college and the community.

Several students from the Biomedical Engineering Program have earned 2024 Graduating Student Awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science and from the program.

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CU Boulder leads the charge toward gender parity in engineering

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:41:50 +0000

CU Boulder leads the charge toward gender parity in engineering Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/11/2024 - 09:41

CU Boulder's journey towards gender parity in engineering is a clear signal that diversity in STEM is achievable. In just two decades, CEAS has transformed its engineering landscape, growing its female undergraduate class from 18% in 2003 to 30% in 2023.

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BME �鶹��Ժ Gain Engineering Experience through the DLA Program

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 21:45:35 +0000

BME �鶹��Ժ Gain Engineering Experience through the DLA Program Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/04/2024 - 14:45

This academic year, several Biomedical Engineering (BME) undergraduates participated in the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship (DLA) Program conducting research in campus labs. �鶹��Ժ, their projects and sponsoring labs follows. At the conclusion of the program this spring, students will share their findings during the DLA research symposium in April.

Three BME students are conducting research in the lab of Wyatt Shields, BME faculty member. Celeste Busch is studying the Effect of Nanoparticle Formulation on Macrophage Epigenetics; Gavin Channell studies Acoustically Purified Elastomeric Particles for Cell-based Cancer Immunotherapy; and Chris Orear is studying the Ionic Liquid-mediated Transdermal Drug Delivery for Skin Disease. Iris Li is Evaluating Neural Influences of Virtual Reality Training with Allie Anderson, BME faculty. Julian Conrad Oppenheimer studies Novel Soil pH Sensors for Monitoring Soil Nitrogen Cycle in the Mechanical Engineering lab of Gregory Whiting. Isabelle Racine studies Statistical Modeling of River Ice in Alaska in Mike Gooseff's Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering lab. Student Keri Spitler in the lab of Corey Neu is Characterizing mechanical stability through restoration of nuclear architecture.

CU DLA is open to all students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and pairs undergraduate researchers with graduate student and faculty mentors on a variety of topics. CU DLA is just one of the research programs available to students in the College, other programs include the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) and YOU’RE@CU (Your Own Undergraduate Research Experience at CU). Participating in research provides hands-on learning and has been found to improve analytical, critical thinking and communication skills. �鶹��Ժ benefit from the mentoring and networking opportunities from joining a research team. And conducting research may inform students' long-term academic/career decisions.

These research programs are part of the College's Active Learning Program, directed by Sharon Anderson. "�鶹��Ժ who have taken part in these undergraduate research programs tell us that they feel the experience was extremely valuable. It is often mentioned that when they are applying for internships and/or full-time positions that the conversation around their research experience often dominates the conversation. Even if they are not applying for a position that has anything do with the research that they did," said Anderson. "Employers are interested in students who have experiences like these as they demonstrate that they have worked on teams, have communication and problem solving skills in their repertoire."

Application cycles for both the SPUR (Summer Program for Undergraduate Research) and DLA research programs are occuring this spring. The SPUR deadline is March 17. The DLA deadline is May 15th.

BME students share about their experiences

I work with Dr. Ellyse Schneider, in Dr. Corey Neu's Soft Tissue Bioengineering Lab, to better understand how external mechanical forces affect genomic architecture and gene expression. This includes building a unique sgRNA library and utilizing the CRISPR-Cas9 system that was developed in the Neu lab.

This research has provided me with a unique opportunity to put into practice the knowledge I've acquired throughout my college journey, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Additionally, research has offered me invaluable experiences collaborating with peers that isn't possible within the traditional classroom. As this DLA program has allowed me to continue this research, it has given me invaluable practice presenting my research both written and verbally. Keri Spitler

My research in the Shields lab centers around delivering an anti-inflammatory drug transdermally to treat atopic dermatitis. To do this, we use hydrogels that contain drug and ionic liquids, which have been shown to disrupt the stratum corner and should allow the drug to penetrate further into the skin. The DLA program has been instrumental in funding and supporting my research this year, and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity they’ve given me to further pursue my interest in drug delivery.

Photo is of Chris Orear presenting his research at the 2022 ACS Colloids Symposium.

My work in the Shields lab is all about characterizing mechanical properties of polymers, and their ability to serve as biocompatible drug release mechanisms. My DLA experience has really interested me in graduate school.

The picture of Gavin Channell is in the clean room in the Colorado Shared Instrumentation in Nanofabrication and Characterization (COSINC) research facility.

My project in the Shields lab is on understanding and controlling how macrophage phenotypes are impacted by physical stimuli. I differentiate stem cells collected from bone marrow into macrophages, then associate them with particles I've made of different sizes, shapes, and materials, then study how they impact the cells’ phenotype, as well as their circulation in the body (of mice). The goal of the research is to make drug delivery to cancer more efficient to help eliminate the negative side effects of treatments like chemotherapy.

DLA has not only provided me with a way to practically apply information I learn in classes like biomaterials and biotransport, but I've gained many new connections in both academia and industry through the program and my lab that have led to several professional and grad school opportunities. Celeste Busch

At CU's Bioastronautics Labs under the mentorship of Allie Anderson, I work in a team to help fill in the gap of knowledge about tools to counter neural decrements for astronauts who undergo long duration exploration missions by quantifying the brain activity of subjects with fNIRS and EEG while completing tasks in VR. So far, I've spearheaded our rapid prototyping of testing equipment and part of our Excel and MATLAB data analysis pipeline.

Being in the DLA program has taught me instrumental skills for my career, from applying competitively to a research lab to keeping me accountable and thinking critically about my research, and this has connected me to a wonderful lab team! Iris Li

In the Gooseff lab, I am currently researching how to build a model to accurately measure the thickness of river ice in Alaska. This research can help showcase the evolving climate change in the world along with displaying the significant necessity that river ice poses for people in Alaska.

The DLA program has helped me to grow my technical skills while actively participating in a research lab. This opportunity has led me to explore more avenues within research that I never knew about. Isabelle Racine

The BME Program encourages its students to participate in a range of experiential learning opportunities, including research, during their tenure with CU.

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Boulder County Medical Society Spring Event Showcased BME Projects

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 22:11:14 +0000

Boulder County Medical Society Spring Event Showcased BME Projects Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 02/27/2024 - 15:11

In conjunction with the CU Boulder Computer Science Department, the Boulder County Medical Society hosted a spring event on campus focused on AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Medicine. The event included three faculty talks with discussion. Several student teams shared their relevant capstone projects with attendees. The Biomedical Engineering Program showcased three of our senior design projects. The video shows a few highlights of the event.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h9wPSfjhcM]

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Not All Classrooms Have Four Walls - BME Student Shares What's Possible

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:55:17 +0000

Not All Classrooms Have Four Walls - BME Student Shares What's Possible Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/19/2024 - 08:55

The Engineers Abroad Program allows you to satiate your international curiosity while advancing your education and making your engineering degree stand out. The program is comprised of several programs varying in length. The BME program has several recommended semester-long programs; however, students have many options when selecting summer programs. For the semester-long program, it is recommended that students travel in their junior year during the spring semester. The key thing for studying abroad is to plan early - doing so can help ensure that students stay on track and graduate within four years. To get started, please meet with your academic advisor. The deadline for summer and fall 2024 is March 1st.

Maddie Bender is a senior Biomedical Engineering (BME) student graduating in Spring 2024. In addition to minoring in Electrical Engineering, she is also planning on pursuing a Masters degree through BME's Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's (BAM) Program. We asked Maddie to share her study abroad experience.

Tell us about your Engineers Abroad experience. Where did you go?

I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain my Spring semester of my junior year. I lived in a 10-person apartment in the heart of Madrid and had my own bedroom. I studied at a school called Carlos III University which was a 30-minute train ride from downtown Madrid.

What did you study? Why were you interested in this country/program?

While I was abroad, I took one engineering course and three Spanish culture courses. Since many of the BME-specific classes are semester-specific, I needed to take an equivalent course to "Bioinstrumentation" while abroad so I could graduate on time. I found a class called "The Introduction to the Design of Medical Instrumentation" at Carlos III which was later approved by CU Boulder. I also wanted to go to Spain because I knew a small amount of Spanish and wanted to improve. Additionally, I knew I wanted to travel around Europe and Madrid has a very accessible airport that flies to almost every European country.

What influenced your decision to study abroad?

I've wanted to study abroad my whole life as my parents and friends said it was one of the best things they had done. My main goal was to travel around Europe since that is something I'd never done before.

Do you feel that your experience has enhanced your academic/career prospects?

While abroad, I had the opportunity to design, manufacture, and test an electrocardiograph machine. This project enhanced many engineering technical skills. I also learned certain topics that were not covered in CU Boulder's Bioinstrumentation. For example, a large part of my class focused on signals and signal processing. This added knowledge has made my current classes more manageable, as I have already seen the information. In addition, I was able to learn from various Spanish professors who were currently working in biotechnology and research. I felt that I learned about the field of biomedical engineering outside of the US and understood how prominent it is in other countries as well.

Has studying abroad impacted your graduation timeline?

No, it did not. I am still able to finish my undergraduate degree in 4 years since I took an equivalent to Bioinstrumentation. I knew I wanted to go abroad, so I saved my free electives to be taken then.

Why do you think students should study abroad?

I think students should study abroad because it is an opportunity to live/travel abroad without the crazy prices. I highly recommend it as an engineer because it gives you a break from the tremendous course load at CU. Even though I was taking an engineering class in Madrid, we only had two tests and no homework, so I had more time to travel and explore Madrid.

What might you tell a student who is considering studying abroad? What should they be considering?

You should be planning from the moment you start school. Since the BME curriculum is rigorous, it is important to stay on track and save your free electives for when you study abroad.

What were some of the most memorable aspects of your time abroad? Anything else you’d like to share?

My favorite part was traveling. I went to 7 countries and visited a bunch of super cool cities. Some of the cities I went to were Lisbon, Florence, Barcelona, Mallorca, London, Amsterdam, Cinque Terre, Nice, Ibiza, and the Canary Islands. The food is also amazing and not nearly as expensive as it is in the US. I didn't know anybody studying in Madrid, so I would go on weekend trips with my friends in other countries which was super fun. Also, as a shopping fanatic, Madrid has some of the best shopping in the world; such good shopping that I had to buy another suitcase on my way home! Madrid also has amazing nightlife and there is always something to do.

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