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Bioengineering

Applications for BE-ROW Summer 2025 are still open!

  • Follow this link to receive notifications about future program offerings.

 

The UC San Diego Department of Bioengineering, in collaboration with UC San Diego Extended Studies, offers a series of engaging courses designed for high school students interested in exploring the field of bioengineering. These courses emphasize experiential learning through interactive, hands-on laboratory activities.

Students typically progress through the sequence beginning with BE-BOAT, followed by BE-ROW, and culminating in BE-SHIP. However, students who demonstrate exceptional performance in BE-BOAT may request to advance directly to BE-SHIP.

Students will need:

  • Access to a computer and cell phone. Computers and cell phones will need internet access, a camera, a microphone, audio input and output, and Zoom software.

The courses will include live instructional sessions scheduled on both weekdays and weekends. To accommodate students with scheduling conflicts, recorded sessions will be made available to ensure continued access to course content. In addition, weekly work sessions with instructional assistants will be offered at flexible times to provide individualized academic support.

To maintain a low student-to-instructor ratio and ensure a high-quality learning experience, enrollment in each course is limited. Given that many courses have reached capacity in previous years, early application is strongly recommended for priority consideration.

For inquiries, please email:

Please note: The Research Scholars Summer program will operate exclusively as a commuter program. As such, housing, transportation, and meal accommodations will not be provided. Prospective applicants, including those residing outside the San Diego area or internationally, are welcome to apply provided they are able to independently manage all necessary logistical arrangements.

I. BE-BOAT

The Bioengineering Broad Overview and Techniques (BE-BOAT) courses provide students with a comprehensive introduction to core scientific and engineering principles in bioengineering, complemented by hands-on experience using custom lab kits, pre-lab planning, data analysis, and post-lab discussions. These courses not only build foundational skills in experimental design and interpretation but also serve as preparation for advanced research opportunities through the Bioengineering Research (BE-ROW) course.

*Students are encouraged to apply to one or more courses; a separate application must be submitted for each course. Students may also apply to both BE-BOAT and BE-ROW concurrently; however, admission into BE-ROW is contingent upon the successful completion of the associated BE-BOAT course.

BioEngineering Broad Overview and Techniques (BE-BOAT)

 Mammalian Cell and Tissue Culture (MCTC)

  • Dates: June 16, 2025 to June 27, 2025
  • Units: 3.00 Pre-College units, 9000 level
  • Application: Click here to apply!
  • Application Deadline: Closed
  • Course Delivery: Online or In Person
  • Tuition: $2,600 (Online), $2,900 (In Person)
  • Location: Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall
  • Schedule: 
    • Students can expect 30 hours of work with minimal to no homework. Time will consist of lectures, discussions, activities, and work sessions. 
    • Mondays through Fridays - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT. Noon to 1:00 p.m. is lunch break. Lunch is not provided.

In this course, students will engage in hands-on training within their home-based laboratory environment to develop foundational skills in mammalian cell and tissue culture, alongside a comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles and applications underlying these techniques. Specifically, students will learn to:

  1. Plan, prepare, and administer solutions to support the propagation of mammalian cells and the cultivation of tissues.
  2. Visualize and capture digital microscopy images of cultured cells and tissues.
  3. Interpret biochemical assays to quantify cellular and tissue growth.
  4. Analyze both qualitative and quantitative data using an integrative approach.

Participants will gain experience with standard laboratory equipment commonly used in academic and industry settings, including micropipettes, serological pipettes, culture plates, and digital light microscopes. Through this training, students will acquire core competencies in mammalian cell and tissue culture, which are essential for investigating the mechanisms and potential treatments for diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, myocardial infarction, diabetes, osteoporosis, and arthritis. Moreover, these skills form a critical foundation for further study in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, as well as Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.

Students will need:

  • Computer and a cell phone, each with internet access, camera, microphone, audio output, web browser, and Zoom software.

Fees, Eligibility, and Laboratory Kit Requirements for Remote Participants:

Students enrolled in the home lab (online) format will receive laboratory kits shipped directly to their designated address; these kits are included in the tuition fee and may be provided on a loan basis. To remain in good standing and maintain eligibility for future UC San Diego Research Scholars programs, all loaned materials must be returned promptly upon course completion. Students should also anticipate an estimated out-of-pocket cost of approximately $50 for locally sourced miscellaneous supplies.

International applicants are advised that additional shipping fees may apply. Furthermore, due to customs regulations in certain countries, some students may encounter restrictions that prevent the delivery of required materials. Nevertheless, all interested applicants are encouraged to apply, as individual circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria – Grade Level and Age Requirements:

Applicants must be current high school students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For enrollment in online courses, students must be at least 14 years of age by the start date of the course. For participation in in-person courses, students must be at least 15 years of age by the commencement of the program.

BioImaging & 3D Printing (BI3DP)

The fields of biomedical imaging and 3D printing are undergoing rapid advancement, transforming both research and clinical applications. In this course, students will acquire:

  • Practical, hands-on skills in biomedical imaging and 3D printing.
  • Foundational knowledge of how these technologies are applied within the biological sciences and biomedical engineering.

In addition, students will explore:

  • The acquisition and storage of two-dimensional and three-dimensional biological image data.
  • Methods for visualizing this data.
  • Techniques for manipulating digital images.
  • Processes for converting both simple designs and complex biomedical images into 3D printable models.

Working within a home-based “lab” environment, students will complete guided exercises, including the remote 3D printing of anatomical plates and medical models. Each laboratory session will be accompanied by instruction in the fundamentals of image analysis, as well as opportunities for students to discuss and present their findings, fostering both technical competence and scientific communication skills.

Students will need:

  • Computer and a cell phone, each with internet access, camera, microphone, audio output, web browser, and Zoom software.

Fees, Eligibility, and Laboratory Kit Requirements for Remote Participants:

Students enrolled in the home lab (online) format will receive laboratory kits shipped directly to their designated address; these kits are included in the tuition fee and may be provided on a loan basis. To remain in good standing and maintain eligibility for future UC San Diego Research Scholars programs, all loaned materials must be returned promptly upon course completion. Students should also anticipate an estimated out-of-pocket cost of approximately $50 for locally sourced miscellaneous supplies.

International applicants are advised that additional shipping fees may apply. Furthermore, due to customs regulations in certain countries, some students may encounter restrictions that prevent the delivery of required materials. Nevertheless, all interested applicants are encouraged to apply, as individual circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria – Grade Level and Age Requirements:

Applicants must be current high school students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For enrollment in online courses, students must be at least 14 years of age by the start date of the course. For participation in in-person courses, students must be at least 15 years of age by the commencement of the program.

II.BE-ROW

In this course, students collaborate with active researchers and work in teams to design and carry out a bioengineering research or design investigation from their home “lab,” building on foundational knowledge from a BE-BOAT course or by permission. Through structured project experiences in areas such as BioMechanics, BioImaging, and Tissue Engineering, students engage in the full research process—from literature review and study design to data analysis, scientific writing, and presentation.

BioEngineering Research Orientation Workshop (BE-ROW)

Introduction to Bioengineering Research (BEI2R)

  • Dates: July 14, 2025 to August 8, 2025
  • Units: 3.00 Pre-College units, 9000 level
  • Application: Apply here!
  • Application Deadline: July 4, 2025
  • Course Delivery: Online
  • Tuition: $2,600
  • Prerequisite: Successful completion of one BE-BOAT course or instructor's permission. 
  • Schedule:
    • Students can expect 15-20 hours of in-class work each week in addition to six to 11 hours of homework.
    • Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. PT - three live-online hours of lecture and discussion.
    • Tuesdays, Thursdays: 9 a.m. to Noon PT - six live-online office hours with program assistants. 

What distinguishes research in Bioengineering from traditional research in biology or technology development in other engineering disciplines? This course offers students the opportunity to explore that question through a guided, team-based biomedical engineering research or design project conducted from their home-based “lab.” BEI²R builds upon foundational knowledge gained through a BE-BOAT course or by instructor permission.

Students will collaborate with active researchers and engage in the full research cycle, including literature review, problem definition, bioengineering modeling, study design, experimental data acquisition, results analysis and interpretation, scientific writing, and formal presentation of findings. A range of pre-defined research topics will be available in areas such as BioMechanics, BioImaging, 3D Printing, MechanoBiology, Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine, with project assignments based on student interests.

Students will need:

  • Computer and a cell phone, each with internet access, camera, microphone, audio output, web browser, and Zoom software.

Fees, Eligibility, and Laboratory Kit Requirements for Remote Participants:

Students enrolled in the home lab (online) format will receive laboratory kits shipped directly to their designated address; these kits are included in the tuition fee and may be provided on a loan basis. To remain in good standing and maintain eligibility for future UC San Diego Research Scholars programs, all loaned materials must be returned promptly upon course completion. Students should also anticipate an estimated out-of-pocket cost of approximately $50 for locally sourced miscellaneous supplies.

International applicants are advised that additional shipping fees may apply. Furthermore, due to customs regulations in certain countries, some students may encounter restrictions that prevent the delivery of required materials. Nevertheless, all interested applicants are encouraged to apply, as individual circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria – Grade Level and Age Requirements:

Applicants must be current high school students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For enrollment in online courses, students must be at least 14 years of age by the start date of the course. For participation in in-person courses, students must be at least 15 years of age by the commencement of the program.

III. BE-SHIP

The Bioengineering Scholar High School Internship Project (BE-SHIP) provides high school students with the opportunity to independently propose, execute, and present a bioengineering research project in collaboration with a university research laboratory. Structured around the Bioengineering Research Project (BERP) sequence—comprising a proposal phase followed by a research and reporting phase—the program supports a range of academic goals: Fall and Winter sessions are particularly aligned with preparation for science and engineering fairs, while Spring and Summer sessions are intended to support advanced students in refining their research for conference abstracts, manuscripts, or other scholarly outputs.

BioEngineering Scholar High School Internship Project (BE-SHIP)

BioEngineering Summer High School Internship Program (BE-SHSP)

  • Dates: June 9, 2025 to August 8, 2025
  • Units: 12.00 Pre-College units, 9000 level
  • Application: Please email bextship@ucsd.edu to request to be admitted to the course. 
  • Application Deadline:
  • Course Delivery: Hybrid
  • Tuition: Please contact precollege@ucsd.edu
  • Pre-Requisite: BERP-B or BE-I2R, AND Instructor's approval.
  • Schedule:
    • Students can expect 120 hours of participation and work.

This competitive summer internship program offers rising high school students a state-of-the-art research experience within the field of Bioengineering. Over the course of eight weeks, students will be integrated into cutting-edge research laboratories at UC San Diego, working under the guidance of a laboratory mentor and faculty investigator on projects spanning from early-stage scientific discovery to applied biomedical development. Research topics may include molecular, cellular, and tissue-level investigations, with applications related to musculoskeletal diseases such as sports injuries, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and skeletal dysplasias. In addition to hands-on research, participants will gain a broad overview of the field through specialized lectures, site visits to local biotechnology and biomedical engineering companies, and career pathway discussions led by leading experts in the

Fees, Eligibility, and Laboratory Kit Requirements for Remote Participants:

Students enrolled in the home lab (online) format will receive laboratory kits shipped directly to their designated address; these kits are included in the tuition fee and may be provided on a loan basis. To remain in good standing and maintain eligibility for future UC San Diego Research Scholars programs, all loaned materials must be returned promptly upon course completion. Students should also anticipate an estimated out-of-pocket cost of approximately $50 for locally sourced miscellaneous supplies.

International applicants are advised that additional shipping fees may apply. Furthermore, due to customs regulations in certain countries, some students may encounter restrictions that prevent the delivery of required materials. Nevertheless, all interested applicants are encouraged to apply, as individual circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria – Grade Level and Age Requirements:

Applicants must be current high school students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For enrollment in online courses, students must be at least 14 years of age by the start date of the course. For participation in in-person courses, students must be at least 15 years of age by the commencement of the program.

BioEngineering Research Project A – Proposal (BERP-A)

  • Dates: Fall 2025 dates coming soon!
  • Units: 3.00 Pre-College units, 9000 level
  • Application: Apply here!
  • Application Deadline: Closed
  • Course Delivery: 
  • Tuition:
  • Pre-Requisite: 
  • Schedule:
    • Students can expect 30 hours of participation and work.

Plan a Bioengineering Research Project: In this preparatory course, students collaborate with a bioengineering research laboratory to develop a design- or science-focused internship project suitable for execution in the following academic quarter. Building upon foundational knowledge acquired through a prerequisite BE-BOAT course, students will engage in a structured process that includes literature review, problem or research question definition, study design, and preliminary pilot studies. The resulting research proposal may be tailored to support applications to science and engineering fairs or other scholarly venues.

Fees, Eligibility, and Laboratory Kit Requirements for Remote Participants:

Students enrolled in the home lab (online) format will receive laboratory kits shipped directly to their designated address; these kits are included in the tuition fee and may be provided on a loan basis. To remain in good standing and maintain eligibility for future UC San Diego Research Scholars programs, all loaned materials must be returned promptly upon course completion. Students should also anticipate an estimated out-of-pocket cost of approximately $50 for locally sourced miscellaneous supplies.

International applicants are advised that additional shipping fees may apply. Furthermore, due to customs regulations in certain countries, some students may encounter restrictions that prevent the delivery of required materials. Nevertheless, all interested applicants are encouraged to apply, as individual circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria – Grade Level and Age Requirements:

Applicants must be current high school students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For enrollment in online courses, students must be at least 14 years of age by the start date of the course. For participation in in-person courses, students must be at least 15 years of age by the commencement of the program.

BioEngineering Research Project B – Research (BERP-B)

  • Dates: Winter 2026 dates coming soon!
  • Units: 3.00 Pre-College units, 9000 level
  • Application: Apply here!
  • Application Deadline: Closed
  • Course Delivery: Online or Hybrid
  • Tuition:  $2,600 (Online), $3,000 (Hybrid) in addition to a potential $500 lab fee.
  • Pre-Requisite:  Enrollment must be approved by the instructor. Please email bextship@ucsd.edu for further information.
  • Schedule: 
    • Students can expect 6-10 hours of in-class work each week in addition to three to six hours of homework.
    • Classtime consists of lectures, discussions, and lab meetings. Weekly times will be based around a student's availability. 

Conduct a Bioengineering Research Project: In this course, students will implement their proposed research project through active experimentation and data acquisition, with potential support from a collaborating research laboratory. Students will analyze and interpret their findings, develop a scientific abstract and research paper, and prepare a formal presentation of their work. Projects may be structured to align with the requirements of science and engineering fair submissions or other academic presentation formats.

Fees, Eligibility, and Laboratory Kit Requirements for Remote Participants:

Students enrolled in the home lab (online) format will receive laboratory kits shipped directly to their designated address; these kits are included in the tuition fee and may be provided on a loan basis. To remain in good standing and maintain eligibility for future UC San Diego Research Scholars programs, all loaned materials must be returned promptly upon course completion. Students should also anticipate an estimated out-of-pocket cost of approximately $50 for locally sourced miscellaneous supplies.

International applicants are advised that additional shipping fees may apply. Furthermore, due to customs regulations in certain countries, some students may encounter restrictions that prevent the delivery of required materials. Nevertheless, all interested applicants are encouraged to apply, as individual circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria – Grade Level and Age Requirements:

Applicants must be current high school students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For enrollment in online courses, students must be at least 14 years of age by the start date of the course. For participation in in-person courses, students must be at least 15 years of age by the commencement of the program.

Other Program Information

BioEngineering Application

Students can access the application for all available courses from the "Apply Now" tab.

BioEngineering Acceptance

Program and enrollment information will be e-mailed to all students accepted into the program 7-10 business days after application is submitted. 

BioEngineering Cancellation/Refund Policies (FALL-SPRING)

Cancellation and Refund Policy for Fall, Winter, and Spring Courses:

  • Cancellation or withdrawal requests submitted at least seven days prior to the course start date will receive a full refund.
  • Cancellations made within seven days of the course start date will receive a 50% refund.
  • Tuition will not be refunded for students who are dismissed from the program or who withdraw due to homesickness, behavioral concerns, or failure to adhere to program policies.
  • For courses with prerequisites and/or instructor approval requirements, a full refund will be issued if the student is not approved to continue.
Requests must be sent to precollege@ucsd.edu. Refunds will take approximately four to six weeks for process.

BioEngineering Cancellation/Refund Policies (SUMMER)

Cancellation and Refund Policy for Summer:

  • Cancellation or withdrawal requests submitted at least six weeks prior to the course start date will receive a full refund.
  • Cancellations made within four weeks of the course start date will receive a 50% refund.
  • Tuition will not be refunded for students who are dismissed from the program or who withdraw due to homesickness, behavioral concerns, or failure to adhere to program policies.
  • For courses with prerequisites and/or instructor approval requirements, a full refund will be issued if the student is not approved to continue.

Requests must be sent to precollege@ucsd.edu. Refunds will take approximately four to six weeks for process.

 

Awards & Testimonials

Awards our Students Have Received:
  • International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management: Awardee
  • California Science & Engineering Fair: Awardee and Nominee
  • Regional Science & Engineering Fair: Special Awards  
Hear From Our Students:
  • "I loved working in the lab and gaining exposure to what it's like to be a student researcher!"
  • "My PI spent many meetings helping me with my presentation and overseeing my research. My mentors were so patient and allowed me to slowly become independent in the research."
  • "My mentors were extremely thoughtful, deliberate, and nice in guiding my project and making it an immersive learning experience."