Bioengineering

Department of Bioengineering

Advance Discovery. Engineer Your Future.

The Knight Campus Bioengineering PhD program offers world-class facilities, collaborative mentorship, and a culture of innovation. Join a program at the intersection of biology, engineering, and human health. 
Apply by December 1.
 

Apply Now



 

Department of Bioengineering

Advance Discovery. Engineer Your Future.

The Knight Campus Bioengineering PhD program offers world-class facilities, collaborative mentorship, and a culture of innovation. Join a program at the intersection of biology, engineering, and human health. 
Apply by December 1.
 

Apply Now



 

A PhD Program With a Purpose

Our commitment to all students in the program is to jumpstart and accelerate your research and career preparation. We provide key strategies and tools to catalyze your professional growth as an independent applied scientist or engineer. We aim to help you maximize your success during your graduate training and prepare you for the next stages of your career.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Professional Development

Science Communication

Technical Skills & Grant Writing

Research Areas

The Knight Campus has 15 independent, bioengineering faculty-led labs, ranging in focus from 3D printing and laser microfabrication to gene therapy, tissue regeneration, and polymer chemistry. Many of our faculty are also entrepreneurs and assist in the development of numerous startups. Researchers at the Knight Campus have access to state-of-the-art facilities for their research and a collaborative environment with expert mentors.

01

Neural Engineering

We develop novel implantable interfaces to the brain and peripheral nervous system to advance fundamental science and improve human lives through therapeutic neuromodulation.

Explore Neural Engineering   

02

Regenerative Rehabilitation and Human Performance

We develop and integrate engineered technologies to measure, model, regenerate and enhance the performance of tissue systems. The overall goal of this focus area is to improve human performance throughout all aspects of life, from young to old, healthy to injured and novice to elite.

Explore Regenerative Rehab   

03

Biomaterials

We work at the interface of materials chemistry and biomedical engineering.  We determine what is missing from the engineer’s toolbox and design new functional materials, 3-D structures, tools and devices that address key challenges in the clinic.

Explore Biomaterials   

04

Protein Engineering and Synthetic Biology

We develop new bio-inspired methods to build biological parts (proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids) and systems with designed properties and predictable behaviors.  We repurpose biological cells as factories allowing simple large-scale low-cost manufacturing of complex macromolecules.

Explore Synthetic Biology   

05

Medical Sensors and Devices

We push the envelope of implantable and wearable medical sensors and devices to change the ways we study and treat diseases and injuries, by tapping advances in materials and data science, as well as device architecture.

Explore Medical Sensors/Devices   

06

Biomedical Artificial Intelligence

We develop models of complex biological systems using carefully curated datasets and the latest advances in machine learning. These AI systems are trained to make automated, repeatable, data-driven decisions, which ultimately leads to better patient outcomes.

Explore Biomedical Artificial Intelligence   

The People Behind the Program

Meet a few of the many researchers, scholars, and staff members advancing our mission to accelerate scientific discovery and impact.

 
Rose Hulsey-Vincent

PhD Candidate

Rose Hulsey-Vincent

Graduate student in the Gardner lab, working to understand the neural basis of syntax, and a NIH F31 Recipient. 

Felix Deki, Knight Campus courtyard

Assistant Professor, Bioengineering

Felix Deku

Revolutionizing brain disorder treatments through innovative neuroengineering. 

Yan Pacheco

PhD Candidate

Yan Carlos Pancheco

Graduate student in the Willett and Hettiaratchi lab, studying inflammation due to bone defects, and a NSF GRFP Recipient. 

Kylie Williams and Bob Guldberg in Knight Campus lab

Bioengineering Alum '24

Kylie Williams

First Bioengineering PhD graduate, and current Clinical Engineering Director at Penderia Technologies. 

Headshot of Calin Plesa

Assistant Professor, Bioengineering

Clain Plesa

Building synthetic biology tools at whole new scales.

Bioengineering student, Lia Strait, in a suit on the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington DC

PhD Candidate

Lia Strait

Graduate student in the Guldberg lab, developing methods to improve bone regeneration, and refining her science policy skills. 

caroline foskett

Bioengineering Minor, KCUS Scholar

Caroline Foskett

Undergraduate student in the Hettiaratchi lab, developing methods to improve healing outcomes for patients with real lab experience.

Mark Blaine at Brewing Innovation Lab

IMPACT Team Member

Mark Blaine

 Journalist and science story teller, helping our scientists train and refine their science communication skills. 

Knight Campus Bioengineering News

Saumya Keremane, a PhD candidate in the Ambati and Taylor labs, has been awarded a Rita Levi Montalcini scholarship from the Dompé Foundation in Italy to support her graduate work. The Dompé Foundation supports promising scientists pursuing STEM degrees and has funded more than 50 graduate students at leading universities across the U.S.

The University of Oregon team based at the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact earned a Gold Medal at the 2025 iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris, becoming the first UO team ever to achieve the top award level in the international synthetic-biology competition.

Researchers from the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact participated in the Cascadia Corridor Research Symposium in Seattle, highlighting the range of research taking place across the Knight Campus. 

MORE BIOE NEWS »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Knight Campus (@uoknightcampus) • Instagram photos and videos

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