Bioengineering (BE)

Bioengineering research at Caltech focuses on the application of engineering principles to the design, analysis, construction, and manipulation of biological systems, and on the discovery and application of new engineering principles inspired by the properties of biological systems. Areas of research emphasis include: biodevices, bioimaging, bioinspired design, biomechanics, biomedical engineering, cell and tissue engineering, molecular programming, synthetic biology, and systems biology. The goal of the doctoral program is to prepare students to become leading scientists and engineers in academia and industry. The graduate program aims to educate students to be highly competent in their chosen area of research, but also provide them with a broad knowledge foundation in bioengineering. By graduation, students are expected to have a working knowledge of bioengineering in general and an in-depth knowledge of their chosen area, have independently planned and conducted research experiments in their chosen area, and successfully defended their thesis work in an open forum.

Students are not admitted to work toward the M.S. degree. In special circumstances, the M.S. degree may be awarded, provided Institute requirements are met.

In addition to satisfying the general Institute requirements, candidates for a Ph.D. in bioengineering at Caltech must satisfy the following requirements:

Coursework requirements provide maximum flexibility in building on undergraduate training and complementing the research activities of each student. To assist in the selection of a research area, to foster interactions within the entering class, and to discuss ethical guidelines for scientific research, students participate in three required discussion courses in their first year: current research topics in Caltech bioengineering labs (BE 267, first term); Reading the Bioengineering Literature (BE 201, second term); Responsible Conduct of Research (Bi 252, first term). Graduate students must take BE 201 again in their second year.

In addition to the required courses, students must take at least six electives (one-quarter courses totaling at least 54 units; grade of B or higher in each course) selected in consultation with the student’s adviser and the option representative. Two of these courses must be Bi/CNS/NB 195 and BE/Bi 103 a, unless the option representative deems the student’s past course work to have covered the topics of those courses and waives the requirement. Waived courses do not count toward the requirement of six electives. To maximize the opportunity for research during the early stages of the graduate career, coursework may be spread over the first and second years. Electives are listed below. Other courses may count as electives at the discretion of the option representative.

Bioimaging and biomedical devices electives: AM/CE 151 ab, APh 109, APh/EE 130, APh/EE 132, BE/EE/MedE 189 ab, Bi/BE 177, Bi/BE 227, APh/EE 131, EE/BE/MedE 185, EE/MedE 187, Ph 106 abc, Ph/APh/EE/BE 118 abc.

Biomechanics and bioinspired design electives: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc, Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc, Ae/BE 242, BE/Bi 106, BE 159, ChE 103 abc, ChE 151 ab, ChE/Ch 164, ChE 174, MedE/BE/Ae 243, Ph 127 abc.

Synthetic biology, systems biology, molecular programming, and cell and tissue engineering electives: BE 150, BE 153, BE 159, BE/Bi/APh 161, Bi 117, Bi 145 ab, BE/ChE 163, BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191ab, ChE 130.

Biology electives: BE 150, Bi/Ch 110 ab, Bi/Ch 111, Bi 114, Bi 115, Bi 117, Bi 118, Bi 122, Bi/BE 129, Bi 145 ab, BE 153, BE 159, BE/Bi/APh 161, Bi/CNS 150.

Math electives: ACM 100 ab, ACM/EE/IDS 116, ACM/ESE 118, AM 125 abc, ChE 105, CDS 110, CDS 140.

The flexibility of the coursework requirements enables research to be the primary activity from the very first term in residence. Students are encouraged to do two or more research rotations during the first year to sample research activities in multiple labs before selecting a Ph.D. adviser. Rotations are arranged by contacting individual faculty.

Each student must select a Ph.D. adviser by the end of the spring term of the first academic year. Advisers may be any Caltech faculty member working in an area related to bioengineering.

Before the end of the spring term of the first year in residence, each student meets with a faculty committee for a discussion of first-year progress and second-year plans. The committee must be composed of three faculty, plus the Ph.D. adviser(s), including a minimum of two bioengineering faculty. The student will give a brief presentation on research progress and future plans, as well as discuss fundamentals related to the research area.

Each student is to serve as a teaching assistant for one quarter of their residence.

By the end of the spring term of the second year in residence, each student must complete the coursework requirement, prepare a candidacy report, and pass an oral candidacy exam. The report should be brief, describing research progress to date and outlining plans for the remaining doctoral research. The candidacy report should be submitted to the committee members one week before the oral exam. The committee must be composed of three faculty, plus the adviser(s), including a minimum of two bioengineering faculty. The oral candidacy exam will include presentation of research progress, presentation of a proposed outline for the thesis, and questioning on fundamentals related to the research area. Students who complete the coursework requirement, prepare a candidacy report, and pass the oral candidacy exam will be recommended for candidacy. Students who are not admitted to candidacy by the end of the second year in residence will not be permitted to register in subsequent terms except with special permission from the option representative.

Following admission to candidacy, the doctoral student will select a Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC). The committee must be composed of three faculty, plus the adviser(s), including a minimum of two bioengineering faculty. This committee should meet at least once each year for the remainder of the student’s time at Caltech.

A final oral examination will be given after the thesis has been formally completed. The exam will consist of a public research presentation followed by a private defense with an exam committee. The committee must be composed of three faculty, plus the adviser(s), including a minimum of two Bioengineering faculty. The thesis examination will be a defense of the doctoral thesis and a test of the candidate’s knowledge in their specialized field of research.

A student may, with the approval of the bioengineering graduate option representative, elect a subject minor in bioengineering. Such a program shall consist of 45 units of upper division course work in bioengineering, with each course passed with a grade of C or better. Courses used to satisfy course requirements in the student’s major option may not be used to satisfy the minor requirements. Approval of each program must be obtained from the bioengineering graduate option representative.