Explore undergraduate research opportunities in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
Experiential Learning Opportunities
An important component of BME undergraduate education is experiential learning. All BS graduates complete two semesters of Biomedical Engineering Laboratory (EBME 313 and EBME 314) during their junior year. BS graduates also complete a two-semester BME Design Project (EBME 370 and EBME 380), typically during their senior year as their "Senior Capstone" experience. However, Case BME also offers a Student Employment Program where students can participate in co-op, internship, or part-time opportunities in actual research and/or industrial settings. During the summer over half of our students (freshman-senior) are participating in some type of hands-on learning experience. Over 85% of our graduates have had some type of experiential learning opportunity. In fact, many have multiple experiences by the time they graduate.
Undergraduate Research
Our undergraduates participate in research laboratories of the BME faculty during the academic semesters and during the summer. Additionally, the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical engineering and the proximity of the BME department to many other departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Medicine, as well as University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, MetroHealth Medical Center, and the VA Medical Center has created an abundance of opportunities for undergraduate research in those facilities as well.
Co-op and Industrial Internships
Cooperative Education is a voluntary, non-credit, formalized academic program, which enables students to integrate classroom theory into practice. Most biomedical engineering students begin the co-op during their junior year. Co-op assignments are typically for two-seven month periods, each consisting of a summer and contiguous fall or spring semester.
The course load for the student is not impacted; however, the timeline for completion of course is extended by one year. Students are involved in meaningful, responsible projects during their co-op assignment. The Co-op Program is housed under the Dean's office of The Case School of Engineering (CSE) in the Office of Engineering Student Programs (OESP).
However, the Case BME department also has a Student Employment Program, which works in conjunction with OESP to augment the number of co-op opportunities available to BME students. While co-op experiences can be both industrial or research based, special emphasis is placed on cultivating and securing industrial placements for students. Students who are unable to co-op, but still wish to gain industrial internship experience can also receive assistance under the BME Student Employment Program in securing industrial summer internships.
Visit the School of Engineering Co-op site for more information.