Senior Capstone Project, University of Washington 1 Senior Research/Design Capstone Requirement

Senior Capstone Project, University of Washington

1

Senior Research/Design Senior Research/Design Capstone RequirementCapstone Requirement

Senior Capstone Project, University of Washington 2

OutlineOutline Rationale for the capstone project Scope of the Bioen 482 project The structure of the capstone experience CREE The Bioen 481 class--Ramping up the 482 project


Rationale for the capstone project We believe that Bioengineering students are best served by an

early personal exposure to the excitement and challenges of hands-on research and development.

Bioengineering 482, the required 8-credit Senior Capstone Research/Design Project, assists in the transition from student to engineer by providing training in research and design implementation.

A successful research/design experience is the centerpiece of the undergraduate education in Bioengineering.

While laboratory involvement can commence at any time, it must begin by Autumn Quarter of Senior year.


Impact of the Capstone Project BenefitsBenefits

– To the Undergraduate StudentTo the Undergraduate Student» Invaluable experience in research and design in their chosen fieldInvaluable experience in research and design in their chosen field» Synthesis of classroom experiencesSynthesis of classroom experiences» Marketable skills and items for their CVMarketable skills and items for their CV

– To the Mentoring Graduate Students and PostdocsTo the Mentoring Graduate Students and Postdocs» Experience mentoring and managing subordinatesExperience mentoring and managing subordinates» Acceleration of their own research projectsAcceleration of their own research projects» Assistance from highly motivated students on a specific timetableAssistance from highly motivated students on a specific timetable

– To the FacultyTo the Faculty» Enhanced progress on existing research projectsEnhanced progress on existing research projects» Low-cost initiation of new projects and generation of preliminary dataLow-cost initiation of new projects and generation of preliminary data

– To the DepartmentTo the Department» Expanding the scope of existing research strengths to the undergraduate experienceExpanding the scope of existing research strengths to the undergraduate experience

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors– Research laboratory spaceResearch laboratory space– The time of faculty, staff and graduate studentsThe time of faculty, staff and graduate students


The Challenge: balancing project content The Challenge: balancing project content between research and engineeringbetween research and engineering

Scientific ResearchScientific Research– Discovering mechanisms Discovering mechanisms

underlying the universeunderlying the universe

– Finding out what happensFinding out what happens

– Finding out why things happenFinding out why things happen

– Finding out how things are Finding out how things are organizedorganized

– Finding the mathematical Finding the mathematical structure behind the factsstructure behind the facts

Engineering DesignEngineering Design– The systematic and creative The systematic and creative

application of scientific and application of scientific and mathematical principles to practical mathematical principles to practical ends such as the design, ends such as the design, manufacture, and operation of manufacture, and operation of efficient and economical structures, efficient and economical structures, machines, processes, and systems. machines, processes, and systems.

– Making things that perform a Making things that perform a useful (bioengineering) function or useful (bioengineering) function or solve an unmet needsolve an unmet need

In all cases the final research/design project must include elements that were In all cases the final research/design project must include elements that were designed by the studentdesigned by the student


It’s not all black and whiteScientific ResearchScientific Research

BasicBasic Quantitative and descriptiveQuantitative and descriptive Understanding the nature of a problemUnderstanding the nature of a problem Developing tools to better understand Developing tools to better understand

problemsproblems

Engineering DesignEngineering Design AppliedApplied QuantitativeQuantitative Solving a (biomedical) problemSolving a (biomedical) problem Developing tools to solve that problemDeveloping tools to solve that problem

Student’s projects are betweenStudent’s projects are between

EngineeringDesignScience


Project Quality ControlProject Quality Control Approved projects must have Approved projects must have bothboth a research and a a research and a

design componentdesign component– Following an existing research protocol, no matter how Following an existing research protocol, no matter how

complex, does not constitute adequate designcomplex, does not constitute adequate design

– Design not geared toward the solution of a medical or Design not geared toward the solution of a medical or biological problem does not constitute adequate research biological problem does not constitute adequate research

The project write-ups that students write in Bioen 481 in The project write-ups that students write in Bioen 481 in Spring quarter of their Junior year are reviewed for Spring quarter of their Junior year are reviewed for content by the Student Affairs Committee of the content by the Student Affairs Committee of the Department at the beginning of the Summer quarter. Department at the beginning of the Summer quarter.


What happens in capstone projects? I

Individual projects often Individual projects often look a lot like the “standard look a lot like the “standard model” of normal researchmodel” of normal research

Left out of the cycle to right Left out of the cycle to right is the requirement for is the requirement for frequent communication frequent communication with mentors.with mentors.

While salary is not provided While salary is not provided for coursework, faculty for coursework, faculty must must have funds available have funds available for supplies and, perhaps, for supplies and, perhaps, equipmentequipment

3 Perform experiments

4 Analyze data

Obtain financial support

2 Build Apparatus?

1 Design experiments

5 Make conclusions

6 Communicate with peers

Update the model*

*Generate new hypothesis


What happens in capstone projects? II

More engineering-More engineering-oriented projects may oriented projects may have a cycle more like have a cycle more like that at right. that at right.

Obtaining financial Obtaining financial support is just as support is just as necessary for necessary for engineering-oriented engineering-oriented projects as in science-projects as in science-oriented onesoriented ones

5 Designtest protocol

6 Performtest protocol

2 Design experiments

4 Build apparatus and/orwrite software

1 Establish ormodify

hypothesis

7 Performexperiments

& data analysis

8 Evaluate results

10 Addressfeedback

3 Plan fordata analysis

9 Communi-cate results &conclusions


Project ExpectationsProject Expectations If the project is well designed and carried out, the output If the project is well designed and carried out, the output

of the project (data, designs, analysis, etc.) should form of the project (data, designs, analysis, etc.) should form the core (or all of) a publication in a research journal.the core (or all of) a publication in a research journal.

Students are graded by their faculty mentor for the entire Students are graded by their faculty mentor for the entire project (often 1 year long) in the quarter in which the project (often 1 year long) in the quarter in which the student completes it.student completes it.

Completion requirements include a written document in Completion requirements include a written document in the format of a paper for publication, and, for honors the format of a paper for publication, and, for honors students, an oral presentation. students, an oral presentation.


Capstone Project ScopeCapstone Project Scope Not too smallNot too small

– The work should be significant, and The work should be significant, and novelnovel. . – Work should be publishable in a peer-reviewed journal, either as Work should be publishable in a peer-reviewed journal, either as

a first author publication, or as a section of one in which another a first author publication, or as a section of one in which another person is the primary authorperson is the primary author

Not too bigNot too big– Being overly ambitious is a trap. Being overly ambitious is a trap. – Projects should be broken into Projects should be broken into small stepssmall steps that are that are

accomplishable in much less than the time available to the accomplishable in much less than the time available to the student. student.

– This anticipates the problems that are This anticipates the problems that are bound bound to happen. to happen.


From whose laboratories

can the students choose? Bioengineering Core FacultyBioengineering Core Faculty– Tenured and Tenure Track (have state dollars to support them, and so have Tenured and Tenure Track (have state dollars to support them, and so have

teaching duties)teaching duties)– Research Track (salaries supported by research dollars, and may not have any Research Track (salaries supported by research dollars, and may not have any

teaching duties)teaching duties)– Research Scientists are not allowed by UW to be advisors of graduate students

Bioengineering Adjunct FacultyBioengineering Adjunct Faculty– Are UW as graduate faculty advisors Are UW as graduate faculty advisors notnot in Bioeng, but have once advised or in Bioeng, but have once advised or

are currently advising Bioeng graduate studentsare currently advising Bioeng graduate students Bioengineering Affiliate FacultyBioengineering Affiliate Faculty

– Scientist/Engineers not at UW, but with some form of collaborative research or Scientist/Engineers not at UW, but with some form of collaborative research or educational project with Bioeng. educational project with Bioeng.

– They may be chosen as capstone advisors only by permission of the department, and with a core faculty member as a co-advisor.


CREE CREE A recent NIH-funded undergraduate training grant A recent NIH-funded undergraduate training grant

(David Castner, PI)(David Castner, PI) 12 competitively selected students are placed in clinical 12 competitively selected students are placed in clinical

research labs for 3-month summer projects co-mentored research labs for 3-month summer projects co-mentored by clinical and Bioengineering faculty.by clinical and Bioengineering faculty.

Grant provides stipend, travel to an NIH conference, Grant provides stipend, travel to an NIH conference, seminars; has some required activities seminars; has some required activities

CREE summer projects may be used as the jump-off CREE summer projects may be used as the jump-off point for a 482 projectpoint for a 482 project

Applications due by January of the Junior yearApplications due by January of the Junior year


Preparing for the Capstone ProjectPreparing for the Capstone Project Each student must find a laboratory in which to Each student must find a laboratory in which to

do the projectdo the project This may require soul-searching on the part of This may require soul-searching on the part of

the students to identify their interests, followed the students to identify their interests, followed by a good deal of research on the professors, their by a good deal of research on the professors, their research and their laboratoriesresearch and their laboratories

There is a schedule of pre-research tasks they There is a schedule of pre-research tasks they must perform must perform


Fall and Winter of Junior Year Fall and Winter of Junior Year Tasks for StudentsTasks for Students By the end of Fall quarter By the end of Fall quarter

– Identify general area of research interest and names of exactly 3 faculty Identify general area of research interest and names of exactly 3 faculty members to be interviewed before the end of Winter quarter. members to be interviewed before the end of Winter quarter.

– Whether or not the student will also apply to CREE.Whether or not the student will also apply to CREE. Before or during Winter quarterBefore or during Winter quarter

– Interview 3+ faculty members (after having researched the labs, talked to grad Interview 3+ faculty members (after having researched the labs, talked to grad students, etc.), leading to a mutual decision to accept student in one laboratory students, etc.), leading to a mutual decision to accept student in one laboratory for the 482 projectfor the 482 project

By the first class of Bioen 481 in SpringBy the first class of Bioen 481 in Spring– Identify which 3 faculty the student interviewed and whenIdentify which 3 faculty the student interviewed and when– Identify the lab in which the student will work. Identify the lab in which the student will work. – Indicate whether a firm agreement has been reached with the PI Indicate whether a firm agreement has been reached with the PI

By week 4 of Spring quarterBy week 4 of Spring quarter– Identify the specific research topic for your projectIdentify the specific research topic for your project


Examples of specific advice to the studentsExamples of specific advice to the students View at least one recent research video by each of the top 3 View at least one recent research video by each of the top 3

candidates (archived on a departmental web site)candidates (archived on a departmental web site) Speak to post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students to find Speak to post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students to find

out what the labs are like (techniques used, work style, funding out what the labs are like (techniques used, work style, funding stability, presence of other undergrads, pressure level, social life, stability, presence of other undergrads, pressure level, social life, etc.)etc.)

Remember that misery loves company, so also talk to students Remember that misery loves company, so also talk to students that left the labsthat left the labs

Familiarize yourself with at least one recently published research Familiarize yourself with at least one recently published research paper by the grouppaper by the group

Arrange for a ~30 minute meeting with at least 3 professors to Arrange for a ~30 minute meeting with at least 3 professors to discuss possible work in their laboratories. discuss possible work in their laboratories.


Examples of Student-Faculty Examples of Student-Faculty Interview IssuesInterview Issues

Students should:Students should:– be warned that there are reasons why they may be turned down by be warned that there are reasons why they may be turned down by

facultyfaculty– dress as if they are going to job interviewsdress as if they are going to job interviews– prepare appropriate informative paperwork (transcript, list of prepare appropriate informative paperwork (transcript, list of

courses, other lab experiences) and bring it or deliver it before the courses, other lab experiences) and bring it or deliver it before the interviewinterview

Students should not:Students should not:– Be overly casual (in speech, actions, or dress)Be overly casual (in speech, actions, or dress)– Be excessively familiarBe excessively familiar– Be late or cancel without warningBe late or cancel without warning– Come without substantial familiarity with the faculty member’s Come without substantial familiarity with the faculty member’s

researchresearch


The Bioen 481 Class Spring quarter, Junior year

Four major aims– To provide all students with the personal and professional

skills necessary to working with their mentors in a research laboratory.

– To ensure that all students prepare a plan for completing their Capstone Research/Design projects on time.

– To explore the nature of science and engineering and how they interact with the individuals, society, and world around them

– To prepare students for making intelligent and informed career decisions during and after college


Lecture and In-Class Discussion Topics Topics include Topics include

– Comparison of Scientific Research Comparison of Scientific Research and Engineering Designand Engineering Design

– Developing Good Technical Developing Good Technical Writing SkillsWriting Skills

– Surviving and Thriving in a Surviving and Thriving in a Research LaboratoryResearch Laboratory

– Career Paths for BioengineersCareer Paths for Bioengineers– The Intimate Relationship between The Intimate Relationship between

Science, Engineering and Science, Engineering and GovernmentGovernment

– Funding Science and EngineeringFunding Science and Engineering– What Differentiates Good What Differentiates Good

Science/Engineering from BadScience/Engineering from Bad– Developing Bioengineering EthicsDeveloping Bioengineering Ethics– Predicting the Important Predicting the Important

Bioengineering Technologies for Bioengineering Technologies for the Next 50 Yearsthe Next 50 Years

There are generally guest lectures There are generally guest lectures on the following topicson the following topics– Intellectual PropertyIntellectual Property– Science, Engineering and the LawScience, Engineering and the Law– Technology TransferTechnology Transfer– The Nature of Small BusinessesThe Nature of Small Businesses– Global Health IssuesGlobal Health Issues– Medical EthicsMedical Ethics


Why Reading Science Fiction Enhances the 481 Learning Experience

Most of what our students are taught is about things that pertained >20 Most of what our students are taught is about things that pertained >20 years in the pastyears in the past

Most of our students’ working careers will occur 10 - 50 years in the Most of our students’ working careers will occur 10 - 50 years in the futurefuture

A successful career will, in part, be based on our students making good A successful career will, in part, be based on our students making good guesses of what will be important in the future.guesses of what will be important in the future.

Good science fiction writers as a profession extrapolate from what we Good science fiction writers as a profession extrapolate from what we know to what we may know and do. know to what we may know and do.

In a good SF story, and author can try out new ideas, new technology, In a good SF story, and author can try out new ideas, new technology, and new science, in a realistic contextand new science, in a realistic context

The story can extrapolate the personal/social/political implications of The story can extrapolate the personal/social/political implications of the science/technologythe science/technology

A good science fiction writer is running a form of simulation.A good science fiction writer is running a form of simulation.


481 Class “deliverables” I Several self-selected sets of students are responsible for leading

small group discussions of key ideas presented in specific science fiction readings that their group reads

These readings are generally science fiction books that incorporate as central themes issues of importance to Bioengineering (e.g., tissue engineering, sale of human organs,alteration of human genetics, cloning, machine-based artificial intelligence)

Teams are graded on the degree to which they create informative and stimulating discussion related to the topics presented in the readings for the session.


481 Class “deliverables” II We find that many of our students are completely

dissociated from news events of any kind. This activity is included to promote a habit of life-long

connection with the unfolding events around them. For a period during the class students are asked to keep a

log of news items related to bioengineering topics. News items may come from any source, including

newspapers, television, the internet, and direct experience. The students are graded on the quantity and quality of the

entries in this log.


481 Class “deliverables” III Students perform a brief patent search using one or more sources

(USPTO, for example). Students play the role of an inventor in a small company who

believes he or she has invented a new and effective biomedical device—the nature of the device is chosen as part of the assignment.

The task is to find out if such a device already exists, how it differs (or they differ) from the “novel” device, who owns the patents and who licensed them, and whether the company that licensed the patent(s) is likely to be able to commercialize that technology, or has already done so.

The deliverable is a 2-page write-up including patent numbers.


481 Class “deliverables” IVClass “deliverables” IV Students write and hand in two drafts of their 482 research plan. Students write and hand in two drafts of their 482 research plan.

The papers contain 4 principal elements:The papers contain 4 principal elements:– the social and technical background of their capstone project (3 pages)the social and technical background of their capstone project (3 pages)– a specific set of experiments to be carried out during the next year (3 pages)a specific set of experiments to be carried out during the next year (3 pages)– a timetable of all work to be done during the next year, including both classes a timetable of all work to be done during the next year, including both classes

and research, with estimated dates of completion of all steps (1 page)and research, with estimated dates of completion of all steps (1 page)– a detailed bibliography for parts 1 and 2, done in numbered format (with in-a detailed bibliography for parts 1 and 2, done in numbered format (with in-

text citations) and full titles of all references (1 page)text citations) and full titles of all references (1 page) The first draft is graded for content, but not formThe first draft is graded for content, but not form The second draft is graded for both form and content. The second draft is graded for both form and content.

– In it, writing must be in good formal (not colloquial) English, with attention In it, writing must be in good formal (not colloquial) English, with attention paid to punctuation, reference formatting, grammar, etc. paid to punctuation, reference formatting, grammar, etc.


481 Class “deliverables” V A 3-minute oral presentation of the research plan

is made to the entire class as a test of oral presentation skills as a final exam

This gives all Juniors a chance to see what interesting projects their fellow student are undertaking

This has been remarkably popular despite the fact that it is an exam.


481 Class GradingTaskTask PointsPoints

Attendance: 18 x (1 points)Attendance: 18 x (1 points) 1818

Active Participation in DiscussionsActive Participation in Discussions 77

Leading reading discussion sessionLeading reading discussion session 77

News LogNews Log 44

Patent searchPatent search 44

First Draft of Research PlanFirst Draft of Research Plan 1010

Second Draft of Research PlanSecond Draft of Research Plan 2525

Oral Presentation of Research Plan:Oral Presentation of Research Plan: 2525

TotalTotal 100100


ConclusionsConclusions There are still only two classes that have completed 482 projects, so There are still only two classes that have completed 482 projects, so

the program is still a work in progress. the program is still a work in progress. Undergraduate students are making substantial contributions to the Undergraduate students are making substantial contributions to the

research programs of their mentors.research programs of their mentors. Graduate students and faculty mentors have been pleasantly Graduate students and faculty mentors have been pleasantly

surprised at the eagerness, competence and efficiency of the surprised at the eagerness, competence and efficiency of the undergrads.undergrads.

Most students have been completing their 482 projects on time and Most students have been completing their 482 projects on time and to everyone’s satisfaction.to everyone’s satisfaction.

Some 482 projects (as well as internships) have led to hiring of Some 482 projects (as well as internships) have led to hiring of Bioengineering students by companies that have participated directly Bioengineering students by companies that have participated directly or indirectly in those projects.or indirectly in those projects.

So far, the experiment has been a great success. So far, the experiment has been a great success.


Things to changeThings to change Add a slide near the beginning that shows the Add a slide near the beginning that shows the

timetable more clearly and points out that timetable more clearly and points out that BIOEN 482 is 8 credits. The required BIOEN 482 is 8 credits. The required prerequisite, BIOEN 481 prepares the prerequisite, BIOEN 481 prepares the students for 482, is 4 credits. students for 482, is 4 credits.

Documents

Senior Capstone Project, University of Washington 1 Senior Research/Design Capstone Requirement