The University of Virginia’s Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), in partnership with Riipen, is launching a project-based learning program to complement the technical design experiences students already complete in their master of engineering program. These projects give graduate learners the opportunity to strengthen the adjacent skills employers consistently identify as critical for biomedical engineers; business acumen, regulatory awareness, and stakeholder communication.

By engaging with these projects, employers gain access to highly capable students who bring both technical and analytical depth, while students gain exposure to the commercial, ethical, and regulatory considerations that shape how biomedical innovations move from the lab to the marketplace.

About the Learners 

• Graduate students enrolled in the Master of Engineering program in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia.
• Already possess deep technical expertise through design placements and research experiences.
• Seeking opportunities to expand professional skills that complement their scientific training, particularly in commercialization, communication, and regulatory compliance.
• Trained in experimental design, product development, and data analysis, and eager to apply those skills in real-world, multidisciplinary contexts.
• Selected participants demonstrate professionalism, intellectual curiosity, and readiness to contribute to employer-defined challenges.

Project Details

• Entry- to intermediate-level scope, designed to reinforce professional skills adjacent to core biomedical expertise.
• Runs February 2nd - April 17th, 2026
• Approximately 50-70 total hours per learner over the 10-week project period.
• Teams of 6 students will be pre-assembled to balance technical, analytical, and communication skills.
• Projects are structured to provide tangible outcomes for employers while supporting UVA’s goals of career readiness and experiential learning.

Employer Role

Employers play a critical role in helping students engage authentically with real-world challenges. Rather than providing a fully defined problem, ideal partners share access to the context, stakeholders, and data that allow students to analyze the environment and define the problem for themselves. This reflective, discovery-oriented process mirrors how challenges emerge in the workplace—helping students build both confidence and professional judgment.

Typical time commitment is 5-7 hours over the 10-week project, and includes:

• Kickoff Meeting: Introduce the organization, its context, and the challenge area—framing the opportunity but allowing students to determine the specific problem statement.
• Stakeholder Access: Facilitate short interviews, informal conversations, or observational opportunities so students can hear different perspectives and validate their problem framing.
• Information Sharing: Provide data, documentation, or process artifacts that help students understand the system they’re analyzing.
• Check-ins & Feedback: Review written updates or early drafts to confirm the students’ understanding of context and direction.
• Final Review: Participate in the closing presentation or discussion to provide feedback on both findings and the problem-solving process.

This approach ensures students develop their analytical, communication, and problem-definition skills while producing actionable insights for your organization.

What Employers Provide 

• Challenge Context: An introduction to an organizational area, process, or question that students can explore and define further.
• Stakeholder Access: Connection to 1–2 relevant team members or departments for observation or brief interviews.
• Data & Documentation: Access to datasets, reports, or other materials that inform how the organization operates within the chosen area.
• Point of Contact: A single representative who coordinates access and responds to student questions within 24–48 hours.
• Feedback Windows: Opportunities to review early-stage thinking (problem framing) and final deliverables.

Project Deliverables 

Upon completion, student teams will produce professional outputs aligned with their project type. Deliverables may include:

• Market or Stakeholder Analyses: Documentation of customer needs, competitor landscape, or key adoption barriers.
• Regulatory Landscape Summaries: Identification of applicable regulations, quality standards, or approval pathways.
• Strategic Recommendations: Proposals to improve product positioning, documentation practices, or process efficiency.
• Presentation or Report: A concise, professional summary of the problem, analysis, and recommendations.

Example Deliverables:

• Market entry analysis for a new wearable health technology.
• Risk and quality assessment plan for a medical device prototype.
• Communication framework for translating technical data to non-technical investors.
• Regulatory roadmap identifying U.S. and international compliance milestones.