Engaging Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Students in Lab on a Chip Research through a Course-Based Project

A course-based project was developed and implemented to engage undergraduate biomedical engineering students in Lab on a Chip research. The research project was integrated within BME 432 - Lab on a Chip, which introduces students to the theory and application of microfluidic systems in medicine and biology. Once the project had been described to the students on the first day of the course, all subsequent lectures were designed to deliver content required for each stage of the device development process, including concept generation, design, fabrication, and testing. In order to assess the impact of the project on student interest and attitudes toward the Lab on a Chip research field, pre- and post-course surveys were developed and administered. The results from the surveys showed increased student-reported knowledge, confidence in developing devices, and level of interest in pursuing further studies, training, and careers in the area of Lab on a Chip. Additionally, student responses recorded at various time points throughout the course identified research skills that were developed as a result of the project.