Bioengineering

The Department of Bioengineering (BioE) is a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary department jointly supported by the School of Engineering opens in a new tab and the School of Medicine opens in a new tab. Quantitative biology is the department's foundational scientific core. By combining the analytical rigor of engineering with the molecular and cellular insights of the life sciences, Bioengineering at Stanford seeks to advance scientific discovery, clinical medicine, biotechnology manufacturing, environmental quality, and public policy.

The department operates as a dynamic bridge across campus, partnering in research and education with other engineering departments—including Chemical, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering—as well as clinical and basic science divisions across Stanford Medicine.

Academic Programs

The Department of Bioengineering offers undergraduate and graduate degrees designed for students who want to develop engineering tools for which the raw materials, basic sciences, and future frontiers are defined by the unique properties of living systems:

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Bioengineering: An undergraduate major that enables students to integrate engineering and the life sciences. The curriculum provides a fundamental engineering foundation, preparing students for leadership roles in biotechnology, medicine, public health, and environmental engineering.

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Bioengineering: A professional graduate degree that deepens technical competency, computational expertise, and translational design skills.

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Bioengineering: A premier, research-intensive doctoral program. Students conduct original, cutting-edge research under the mentorship of world-renowned faculty, preparing for careers in academia, industrial R&D, and biotechnology entrepreneurship.

  • Graduate Admissions & Competencies: Entering graduate students are expected to possess core competencies in mathematics (through multivariable calculus and differential equations), biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission.

Research Frontiers and Clinical Dimensions

Bioengineering research at Stanford is highly interdisciplinary, focusing on translating engineering innovations into clinical and environmental solutions. Key research and educational thrusts include:

• Biomedical Devices and Computation: Engineering next-generation medical devices, wearable sensors, and advanced computational models to analyze complex biological systems.

• Biomedical Imaging: Developing novel imaging technologies, contrast agents, and diagnostic tools to visualize physiological processes in real time.

• Regenerative Medicine and Cell/Molecular Engineering: Designing synthetic biomaterials, stem cell therapies, gene-editing platforms, and engineered tissues to repair or replace damaged organs.

• Clinical Applications: Actively applying bioengineering solutions to critical medical fields, including cardiovascular medicine, neuroscience, orthopedics, neurology, oncology, and environmental health.

Campus Footprint and Facilities

Because of its dual-school sponsorship, the department’s laboratories, offices, and personnel are integrated across several state-of-the-art facilities on both the academic and medical campuses:

• Shriram Center for Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering: Home to the departmental headquarters and core teaching laboratories.

• James H. Clark Center: A hub for highly interdisciplinary, boundary-crossing biosciences research.

• Richard M. Lucas Center for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging: Focused on advanced clinical and translational imaging research.

• Additional Sites: Research groups are also housed in the William F. Durand Building for Space Engineering and Science, the William M. Keck Science Building, and the Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy (Y2E2) Building.