Title

Engineering Education

Empowering future biomedical engineers through transformative learning

Overview

Engineering Education in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering is a transformative and interdisciplinary field focused on improving how engineers are taught and trained. Rooted in a rich history of engineering pedagogy, the department integrates social science, learning theory, and biomedical innovation to prepare students for impactful careers in healthcare and technology.

Research Focus

Our research enhances how bioengineers are educated through innovative frameworks emphasizing:  

  • Critical thinking and creativity in engineering problem-solving
  • Technological proficiency and real-world application
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to learning and teaching
  • Empathetic engineering design and ethical decision-making 

We design curricula and pedagogical methods that prepare students to tackle complex clinical challenges while fostering a patient-centered mindset in technology development.

Application Areas

  • Teaching and Learning Enhancement: Evidence-based strategies for classroom and lab instruction
  • Policy and Institutional Reform: Research-informed changes in STEM education policy
  • Technology Integration: AI and machine learning in biomedical engineering curricula
  • Global Health Education: Designing accessible and equitable health technologies
Sections
Research Initiatives
  • STELAR (Studio for Transforming Engineering Learning and Research): A multidisciplinary initiative embedded in the department that develops and refines new approaches to engineering education
  • Cross Inclusive Excellence in Engineering (CIEE) Research Group: Led by Dr. Kelly J. Cross, focusing on engineering education research (EER) and discipline-based education research (DBER)
Photo of Leslie Chan and graduate student Vishal Manickam
Collaborative Partnerships

We engage with academic and research partners to promote best practices in engineering education:  

  • University of Michigan (UM): NSF-funded research in engineer formation and stress culture
  • University of Cincinnati (UC) & University of Nevada Reno (UNR): Exploring trauma in engineering spaces
  • University of Washington (UW): NSF research on broadening participation in engineering
  • Rowan University (RU): Virtual Communities of Practice for engineering educators
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC): Research on epistemic justice in STEM
microscope
Student Opportunities
  • Undergraduate & Graduate Research Programs: Innovative education research during the academic year and summer
  • Internships: STEM policy internships like NSF’s Summer Scholars Program
  • Fellowships: Apply for prestigious awards like the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellowship.
  • Support Programs: Access resources through the Center for Engineering Education and Development (CEED) and the Office of Student Achievement (OSA) that enhance student success.
  • BME Student Organizations: Get involved in student organizations that promote leadership, networking, and community engagement.
Photo of Leslie Chan and her two graduate students (l to r): Vishal Manickam and Khoi Le
Alumni Success Stories
  • Isabel Boyd: Best Paper, ASEE Student Division
  • Janice Hall: NSF GRFP, ASEE Postdoctoral Fellow, Virginia Tech Best Dissertation Award
  • Julia Brisbane: ASEE Postdoctoral Fellowship
Photo of Zhou Fang in lab standing next to laboratory equipment wearing PPE.