BioPoint at WPI offers this unique graduate training program open to all graduate students matriculated in the following departments and programs:
Understanding the dynamic, evolving and growing sphere of the biotech, biopharma and medical device industries will position science and engineering graduate students to be immediate contributors and leaders in developing the next generation solutions to complex, interdisciplinary problems in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and the environment.
The BioPoint program for graduate students has been designed to complement traditional training in bioscience, digital and engineering fields. Students accepted into one of the home BioPoint departments or programs (see list below) will have the flexibility to select research advisors and take electives in other departments to broaden their skills. Additionally, students may select industry advisors in biomanufacturing to understand emerging life sciences industrial trends, and network in the “bio”sphere or select business advisors to learn entrepreneurship in the life sciences. BioPoint curriculum is designed to be individual, interactive, project-focused and diverse, and includes innovative courses, seminars, journal clubs and industrial-based projects.
How it Works
Students need to apply to a home program.This fall, BioPoint is starting an umbrella program that will made available to accepted graduate students in BioPoint affiliated departments (BBT, BME, CBC, CE, BSB, CS, DS, FS, PH) that plan to carry out their thesis work with a member of BioPoint. Starting next year, we will open the umbrella program up to applicants for recruiting. Applications will be first reviewed by the home department, then by the BioPoint Steering Committee with representation from the above listed departments/programs. Students accepted into the program will be expected to meet the requirements of both their home department and the BioPoint program.
The Steering Committee will work closely with each department/program to best align electives to reduce the time impact on a student’s completion of their degree and program requirements. Students will be allowed to choose thesis advisors from IBE faculty that are affiliated with the students’ home department/program. The student’s thesis committee will contain at least two members of their home department/program.
The key feature of the program is getting interdisciplinary training while the student is completing their doctorate. In their first year, students will be required to take a 1 credit course each semester for the first year that will connect students with others in the program and research across different disciplines and in industry. Students will be encouraged to identify areas of high-need (i.e. tissue engineering, vaccine development, etc.) that they will incorporate into their thesis research.