Independent Study

Independent study research projects are an integral and immensely popular component of undergraduate BME education at Duke. In any given semester, about one-third of the majors are taking an independent study course. Up to two such courses may be counted as BME electives. Independent study courses are taken in the Junior and/or Senior years.

In an independent study course students work with a faculty supervisor to focus on a special topic of the student's choosing by self-guided readings, developing and/or running computer simulations, and/or laboratory experiments. Students interested in independent study are encouraged to approach faculty members to discuss opportunities. For ideas on whom to approach, look through the BME faculty list for professors whose research and interests match yours.

Advantages of Independent Study

Independent study course work can be used to satisfy requirements toward Graduation with Departmental Distinction (GwDD), provided the student's GPA is at least 3.500.

In addition, the best research projects are eligible for the BME Departmental awards: the Helmholtz Award and the Clark Awards.

Students participating in the Grand Challenges Scholar Program and/or contributing to the efforts of the Duke Smart Home may obtain independent study credits for their work if their project is supervised by a BME faculty.

Examples

• Implementing a Rechargeable Battery for an Implantable Neural Acquisition System
• Functional Endoscopic Imaging for Enhanced Detection of Cancerous Lesions
• Electrophysiological Characterization of a Novel Genetically Engineered Biological Pacemaker
• Biomechanics of Microbicide Gel Distribution and Efficacy
• Improved In Vivo Visualization of Injected Anesthetics Using Ultrasonic Decorrelation Algorithms
• Emergent Network Bursting and Synchrony in Computer Simulations of Neuronal Cultures
• Evaluation of Pediatric Skull Fracture Imaging Techniques
• Guidance of Surgical Robotics with 3-D Ultrasound
• Uses of the Pratt Pouch with Antiretroviral Medication for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV
• Pitch Mismatch in Bilateral Cochlear Implants Using an Acoustic Mode
• Nanotherapeutics: Dual Functional Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery and Tissue Engineering

Course Listings

Students engaged in independent study research projects register for BME 394 (190), BME 493 (191), and/or BME 494 (192) (Projects in Biomedical Engineering). Up to two of these courses (during junior and senior years only) can be counted as BME General Electives.