Capstone Project Program
Bringing together students and partners to create new solutions to real-world problems.
Undergraduate biomedical engineering students focus on medical devices and biologicals for improving medical care. The BME Capstone Project Program is intended to mirror the type of experiences new graduates will face when they begin their careers.
In this context, the student team members learn project management and organization skills, enhance their technical breadth and depth, apply newly-acquired knowledge, and develop their documentation and presentation abilities.
Curriculum
The BME Capstone program is based on the FDA Waterfall Model, and incorporates design control standards (ISO 9001, ISO 13485) and Six Sigma techniques (PDCA, DMAIC). The BME Capstone experience is conducted through the BME 417/490 course sequence. Undergraduate senior students enroll in these two courses spanning two semesters for credit to fulfill their engineering degree requirements.
BME Capstone Project Program brings together students and partners from industry, clinical environments, higher education, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and so on (hereinafter referred to as “Partners”) to create new solutions to real-world problems.
Capstone project proposals are submitted via an online form in the preceding Spring by Partners. After review by the BME capstone program team and a “bidding” process whereby incoming capstone students select which proposals are of most interest to them, the project proposals are officially matched to capstone student teams at the beginning of the Fall semester, with student teams and Partners notified via email. The capstone projects run from the start of Fall through the end of the following Spring semester.
What the Capstone Project Program is:
- An educational experience for the students.
- An opportunity for Partners to interact directly with students, tap their creativity and problem-solving skills, and evaluate student talents in a project setting.
- An opportunity for students to learn about specific industries and companies, interacting and working in teams to address a “real-world” problem.
What the Capstone Project Program is not:
- Partner staff augmentation.
- Individual, or non-integrated, efforts.
- University sponsored research activity.
Program timeline for 2025-2026
Jan. 8, 2025
ASU SBHSE Biomedical Engineering (BME) Capstone Project Proposal solicitation (i.e., RFP) process begins. If you have more than one project to propose, please submit each idea separately.
All organizations interested in proposing a Capstone project and becoming project mentors and sponsors (hereinafter referred to as “Partners”), must submit a Capstone proposal online and sign the BME Capstone Partner Agreement (only one needed per Partner) by the deadline.
March 17, 2025
Initial submission deadline for capstone proposals and BME Capstone Partner Agreement (only one signed agreement needed per Partner per academic year).
Note: We recommend that any IP/NDA documentation required for the project is also submitted by this date to avoid delays after project selection.
March-April, 2025
Rolling deadlines to submit capstone proposal and BME Capstone Partner Agreement.
Capstone faculty review and evaluate proposals. Capstone Program Manager reaches out to prospective Partners for clarification on the scope of projects and possible proposal adjustments.
April 2025
Capstone proposals are shared with incoming capstone students (i.e., third-year BME students). Proposal information includes any special requirements attached to the project, such as NDA/IP agreements.
May 19, 2025
ALL incoming capstone student teams must submit a BME Capstone Student Team Project Application Form, which asks them to rank their preferences of projects for which they are both interested and demonstrate why they are qualified.
Note: Student teams who wish to generate and work on their own capstone project idea must still complete the form.
June 2025
Based on information provided in the BME Student Capstone Project Interest Form, capstone faculty review and evaluate student team interests, skills, and ability to complete Partners’ expected deliverables.
July-Early Aug. 2025
Capstone faculty will assign student teams to projects in preliminary* matches. Student teams and prospective Partners are notified over email.
Partners whose projects have been matched to a student team must submit any IP/NDA documentation required for the project to Capstone Project Program Manager Ding Ding Zheng ([email protected]) within two (2) weeks of the preliminary match notification.
Capstone student teams are strongly encouraged to schedule an initial meeting with the preliminarily-matched Partner to discuss the expectations, objectives, scope, and deliverables are for the project, and to check for overall alignment between student strengths, Partner expectations, and project needs.
Whether or not the capstone student team meets with the Partner during this time, please note that no work on the project should begin before the official start of the semester and the signing of any NDA/IP agreements.
Note: There is also the possibility that a proposed project does not fit and is not matched with any capstone team in a given year. Partners whose proposals are not matched for the upcoming academic year are also notified. Additionally, if a project proposal is not selected, the Partner will have the opportunity to resubmit the proposal for the next capstone cycle or convert the project idea into a MS applied project for an individual biomedical engineering student, if interested.
*This is described as a “preliminary” or conditional match during this period in case there is movement or changes amongst some of the student teams over the summer
*Aug. 21, 2025
Fall 2025 semester begins at ASU (Session A and C).
Late-Aug. 2025
Capstone student teams officially confirmed. Adjustments to student team-project matching are made, as needed.
Late-Aug. to early-Sept. 2025
Capstone student teams formally reach out to their Partner to begin the collaboration process, and work on the project begins. Student teams matched with a project that requires NDA/IP agreements must sign documentation within two (2) weeks of the start of the Fall 2025 semester.
If applicable, Partners who provide financial support to the BME Capstone Project Program will be invoiced for program fees within fourteen business days after they are officially matched with a capstone student team. Payment is due 30 days after receipt of the invoice unless approved otherwise.
Sept. 2025–April 2026
Students have regular check ins with their Partner and faculty professional mentor to move the project forward and produce any agreed-upon Partner deliverables.
In addition to classroom activities, training, and lab sections, student teams meet weekly to plan and execute their respective projects and have access to the Design Studio Complex and all fabrication resources at ASU. Faculty and Partner mentors participate and advise the teams as required. Planning meetings, project reviews, and so forth are scheduled by the students.
*Dec. 5, 2025
Last Day of Fall Classes (Session B and C).
Capstone student teams present posters at, and Partners are invited to attend, the Fall semester ASU SBHSE Capstone Symposium Showcase. [Location TBD]
Note: Beyond a presentation of their project idea and modeling approach, capstone student teams are encouraged to prepare to provide an example of their project/demonstrable experiment at the Symposium to better receive feedback on their project.
*May 1, 2026
Last Day of Spring Classes (Session B and C).
Capstone projects conclude with final presentations, and Partners are invited to attend the Spring semester ASU SBHSE Capstone Symposium Showcase. [Location TBD]
*Reflects ASU Academic Calendar dates.
Projects
For a project to qualify as a BME capstone project it must address a health care need through the design and development of a diagnostic or therapeutic medical device. As long as the project will satisfy a clinical need, it may be at the level of a component, device, or system. Projects that are related to the design and development of new tools that advance the development of diagnostic and therapeutic devices also qualify.
If your project has different needs or a different timeline, please work with the capstone program team to determine the timing that would best suit your project. We will try to be as flexible as possible within the constraints imposed by the class deliverables; we may adjust certain due dates and, to some extent, required content.
Past BME Capstone Projects
Partners
Through this program, clinical/industry mentors and sponsors (“Partners”) engage with students in a mutually-beneficial technical relationship. Challenges defined by Partners are addressed by teams of students working with guidance from faculty mentors and Partner advisors. For students, the program provides an opportunity to apply their technical skills and knowledge of design and engineering principles to the solution of a complex, team-oriented project over a two-semester course sequence. For the Partners, the Capstone Project Program provides a cost-effective opportunity to work on technical problems, and the opportunity to interact with students to gain access to new ideas and to mentor potential future talent.
Students typically work in teams of four to six to develop a solution from concept definition, prototyping, and testing, to implementation, managing, and executing the project. The students are expected to manage the execution of meetings, develop and execute budgets, and master schedules. Partners access the students’ creativity and expertise to solve their technical problems while enjoying the opportunity to assess potential intern and workforce candidates. This is a unique and powerful recruiting opportunity for Partners.
Prospective capstone partners respond to a request for proposals (RFP) in early spring by submitting their capstone project proposals through our online portal. All proposals are vetted by the capstone faculty and viable projects are selected.
In late Spring, the Capstone faculty present a slate of possible projects to third-year BME students (who will begin the capstone experience in the upcoming Fall semester) and, based student team interests, skills, and relevant qualifications to complete the Partner’s expected deliverables, the capstone faculty will assign student teams to projects.
A Capstone project may be proposed by the Partner for execution by a student team. The project is an academic experience performed over a two-course sequence covering the fall/spring semesters. The emphasis of the Capstone project is for students to make, or realize in an appropriate tangible manner, their products and new designs for the Partners, not simply create concepts and reports. As mentioned above, depending on the project scope and deliverables, funding may be required for specialized materials, facilities use fees, external support, team travel, and so on.
Partners should note that SBHSE does not guarantee that the final deliverables will be market-ready and assumes no liability in connection with the Capstone project deliverables. The delivery of the final implementation and summary reports at the end of the second semester marks the end of the project. No maintenance or support can be provided after the end of the second semester.
Capstone project proposal procedure
To submit a Capstone Project proposal, interested parties should complete the SBHSE BME Capstone Project Proposal Request Form. Please contact Program Manager Ding Ding Zheng ([email protected]) for the form. All organizations interested in a Capstone project must submit a Capstone proposal online by the deadline and sign off on the Capstone Partner Agreement.