All undergrad BioE students must take the two-semester Senior Design sequence (BioE 396/7) toward the end of their curriculum. These courses are intended to give students experience managing a project from start to finish, and applying their course knowledge to real-life design challenges. Specific course objectives include:

•  Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
•  Apply standard engineering practices and project management skills
•  Work effectively on a team
•  Communicate effectively, orally and in writing

Historically the BioE student design teams are among the strongest in the College of Engineering, and last year was no exception. BioE teams were well represented among the winners at the Engineering EXPO last spring.

EXPO Winners
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006

The fall term is fast approaching, and I am once again writing to solicit proposals for Senior Design projects. Last year we had 45 students working in groups on 15 separate projects, and this year's enrollment is expected to be nearly as high. Thank you to the many faculty members who proposed excellent projects last year. The ability to offer our students a wide range of quality projects is the first step toward ensuring that students have a rewarding and productive Senior Design experience.

Why Sponsor A Project?
Sponsoring a project can be rewarding in many different ways. Mainly it is an excellent way to get a team of 3-4 committed students, who work for free, yet have a great deal invested in a successful outcome! Costs of supplies are partly offset by the BioE Department, though excessive costs are the responsibility of the sponsor.

BioE students receive very broad training, completing coursework in the life sciences, physical sciences, electronics, computer programming, mechanics, and a variety of required and elective BioE topics (e.g. biomaterials, biomechanics, bioinformatics, tissue engineering) that provide a solid foundation for undertaking a wide range of projects.

Project Criteria
The main requirement for a project is that it be design-oriented, well-defined, and doable within an academic year. The importance of the design requirement needs to be stressed since this comes directly from the organization that accredits the BioE program. Although pure hypothesis driven research does not qualify as design, it may be possible to cast a more traditional research project in design terms. I will be happy to discuss any project ideas and help frame them appropriately.

Projects in which students serve as technicians, or simply realize a recipe for a solution are not appropriate either.

Typical projects involve designing a specific device, process, or product, but they originate from diverse sectors including research and clinical faculty, industry, and non-profit institutions. Projects from prior years can be found by clicking the links above under Previous Projects.

Role Of The Sponsor
As a project sponsor, you or a designee from your group should be identified as project supervisor. This person should be available to communicate regularly with the students, and provide feedback on progress. The student team will also have regular meetings with me, the course director, to monitor the academic requirements of the course and overall progress. As a sponsor you need NOT be responsible for grading and other administrative details, but you will be asked to assess the members of your student design team at the end of each term, and this assessment contributes significantly to each student's grade.

Resources
To be successful each student team requires a space to work in, technical mentoring, and funding. The relative amounts of these resources vary greatly among projects, and come from different places. Do not be deterred from proposing a project simply because you feel you cannot offer all these resources. The most important part of the project is the idea. The course director will work with the student team and sponsor to insure that each team has what it needs.

If you would like to propose a project please email:
Terry Layton (tnl @ uic.edu)

• Project Title
• Project Sponsor (include email)
• Project Supervisor (include email; may be same or different as sponsor)
• Complete description of project
• Skills or expertise relevant to project

A good rule is to describe the project in terms of a well-defined problem that needs to be solved, or requirements that need to be met.

Project Selection and Creation of Teams
All proposed projects will be presented to students during approximately the first two weeks of classes (which begin 28Aug). Sponsors are invited and encouraged to present their own projects during BioE 396 class time. Indeed the sponsor is usually the best person to “sell” their project. Please contact David Schneeweis if you wish to arrange this.

After all projects are presented, students are invited to rank their top several project choices. With this information the course director creates the student teams and matches them to a project.

Pre-Arranged Projects
Although most projects and teams are created as described above, occasionally students take the initiative to identify their own sponsors and projects. In such cases the students and/or sponsor should contact the course director.