PhD Requirements
for the Bioengineering Program

Aims and Scope

The Bioengineering graduate program trains doctoral candidates to unite engineering analysis and synthetic approaches to solve frontier problems in biological engineering from molecular to organismal length scales. Students must satisfy the PhD requirements within one of three sub-options: BioDevices and BioImaging (BDBI), BioMechanics and Bio-Inspired Design (BMBID), or Synthetic and Systems Biology (SSB). 

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
          
In addition to satisfying the general Institute requirements, candidates for a PhD in Bioengineering at Caltech must satisfy the following requirements:

Coursework. To provide appropriate training for graduate students working in diverse areas within the field of bioengineering, the academic program of the Caltech Bioengineering option is differentiated into three versions aligned with the sub-options of BioDevices and BioImaging (BDBI), BioMechanics and Bio-Inspired Design (BMBID), and Synthetic and Systems Biology (SSB). Each candidate must satisfy the coursework requirements for one of the three sub-options. These requirements are intended to build upon undergraduate training and to complement concurrent research activities. All students must maintain a course load of 36 units each term during the first year, and receive a grade of C or higher in each course. An incoming student with prior proficiency in any required course can instead take an elective (including research rotations) with the approval of the Option Representative. However, all students will be responsible for the required material during the Qualifying Exam.

BDBI Requirements (Year 1, only)

Boot Camp: Prior to first term
Math track: Three terms selected from ACM 95/100 abc, ACM 101 abc, AM 125 abc
Biology track: BE 201 ab
BDBI core track: Two terms selected from APh 109, Bi 227, EE/BE 166, EE/BE 185
BDBI elective track: Three terms selected from Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc, Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc, AM 151 abc, APh 109, APh/EE 130, APh/EE 131, APh/EE 132, APh/BE 161, APh/BE 162, APh/BE 165, BE/Ae 243, Bi/Ch 110, Bi/Ch 111, Bi/Ch 113, Bi 145 ab, Bi/CNS 150, Bi 227, ChE 103 abc, ChE/BE 163, CDS 110 ab, CDS 140 ab, EE/BE 166, EE/BE 185, EE 187, Ph 106 abc, Ph/EE 118 ab, Ph 127 abc
Research track: Optional research rotations BE250

BMBID Requirements (Year 1)

Boot Camp: Prior to first term
Math track: ACM 95/100 abc
Biology track: Three terms selected from BE 201 abc, Bi 145 ab
BMBID core I track: Three terms selected from Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc, ChE 103 abc, ChE 151 ab, ChE 174
BMBID core II track: Three terms selected from Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc, ChE/Ch 164, Ph 127 abc
Research track: Optional research rotations BE250

BMBID Requirements (Year 2)

BMBID elective track: Two terms selected from Ae/BE 242, APh/BE 161, APh/BE 162, APh/BE 165, BE/Ae 243, ChE 174

SSB Requirements (Year 1, only)

Boot Camp: Prior to first term
Math track: ACM 95/100 abc
Biology track: Bi/Ch 110, Bi/Ch 111, Bi/Ch 113
SSB core track: APh/BE 161, ChE/BE 163, ChE/BE 169
Research track: Research rotations in three labs BE250

Research Rotations. One-term research rotations allow first-year Bioengineering graduate students to sample relevant research activities in several labs before selecting a PhD advisor. Research rotations are required in the SSB sub-option and highly recommended in the BMBID and BDBI sub-options.  Rotations should be organized by each student in collaboration with individual faculty.

Boot Camp. The Bioengineering Boot Camp is a week-long crash course in which incoming BE grad students work with interested current students, postdocs and professors side by side in an informal and friendly atmosphere that emphasizes the fun of learning and trying new things together. Participants think about basic questions such as sizes and rates in biology, and make experimental measurements using both standard and cutting-edge techniques.  Sample projects include fluorescence microscopy of bacteria and yeast, Matlab image analysis of lipid bilayer vesicles, quantitative measurements of gene expression, manipulation of samples via optical tweezers, and whatever excites us at the time.

Advisor Selection. Students are expected to select a PhD advisor by the end of the third term of the first academic year. Each student is individually reponsible for finding an appropriate advisor. Advisors may be chosen from the list of BE faculty, or from any of the faculty in the Divisions of Engineering and Applied Science, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Biology. Advisors in other divisions may be chosen in consultation with the BE Option Representative.

Qualifying Exam. An oral qualifying examination will be administered to all Bioengineering graduate students during the summer term following the first year of coursework. Each student will be examined on three subjects reflecting the required coursework in the selected sub-option:

BDBI: math track, biology track, either biodevices or bioimaging
BMBID: math track, biology track, either solid, fluid, or statistical mechanics
SSB: math track, biology track, SSB core track

Candidacy Exam. Students will be examined on the subject of their PhD research at the end of the second year of residency. This examination will be a test of the candidate’s preparation and knowledge to conduct research in his or her specialized field of doctoral research. The exam committee will consist of at least three professors in addition to the advisor(s). 

Thesis Exam. A final oral examination will be given after the thesis has been formally completed. The exam will consist of a public research presentation followed by a private defense with an exam committee consisting of at least three professors in addition to the advisor(s). The thesis examination will be a defense of the doctoral thesis and a test of the candidate’s knowledge in his or her specialized field of research.

Master's Degree

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