Impact Week 2024 empowers bioengineering PhD students with hands-on training, fostering innovation from day one.

The Knight Campus welcomed 7 new PhD students to the Department of Bioengineering during Impact Week 2024, held from Sept. 20-27. This immersive, week-long program is designed to equip students with the tools and knowledge needed to jumpstart their professional development and accelerate their paths toward becoming independent applied scientists and engineers. Through hands-on workshops and collaborative activities, students began building the foundational skills they’ll need to thrive in the world of bioengineering.

As the week progressed, students gained practical experience working with various tools and frameworks, such as story templates and rubrics, while diving into critical skills like cognitive empathy and designing solutions with the end user in mind. These sessions not only enhanced their communication, innovation, and problem-solving abilities but also prepared them to create tangible societal impact through their research. 

The final day featured a lively speed networking event, designed to foster connections and encourage students to discuss how their research will contribute to their fields.  

For David Dzamesi, a new student from Ghana, the program's focus aligned with his career aspirations.

“I’m focused on drug delivery systems, specifically how we can use biomaterials to improve the way we deliver treatments to patients,” Dzamesi said. “Coming from an environment with limited resources, being here at Knight Campus can give me the tools and support to meet this challenge.”  

Dzamesi’s reflections embody the Knight Campus’s mission, which is not only to train the next generation of scientists but also to empower them to translate their research into solutions that benefit society.

Impact Week concluded with “Science Story” presentations, short, inspired science talks on the lecture stage in the Beetham Family Seminar Room followed by a Q&A before an audience of fellow doctoral students that serve as the culmination of a week’s worth of training and personal growth. The week was capped with a celebratory happy hour, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead for the new cohort.