BioEngage – Bioengineering Education & Engagement for Personalized Healthcare
BioEngage is an education and outreach program designed by Prof. Valera to integrate cutting‑edge bioengineering research into undergraduate education as a transformative approach to training the next generation of innovators in engineering and personalized healthcare.
The guiding vision of BioEngage is that a university’s greatest intellectual asset is the research conducted within its walls, and that embedding this research directly into undergraduate learning experiences provides a uniquely powerful pathway for developing students’ creative problem‑solving abilities, technical proficiency, and long‑term engagement in research
The BioEngage program was conceived and developed by Prof. Enrique Valera.
Research‑Infused Undergraduate Coursework: BioEngage will incorporate research outcomes from Prof. Valera research projects into undergraduate courses through modular, research‑infused content. These modules will be designed for incorporation into existing bioengineering and related engineering courses and will include: 1) case studies based on microfluidic device design, single‑cell analysis, and personalized diagnostics; 2) problem‑based learning assignments derived from real experimental challenges encountered in research projects; 3) data analysis exercises using experimental datasets generated by the research program. These materials will allow students to engage with contemporary research questions while developing core engineering competencies.
Hands‑On Laboratory Experiences: BioEngage will provide undergrad students with hands‑on lab experiences directly connected to the Prof. Valera research, including: 1) participation in microfluidic device fabrication and testing; 2) exposure to molecular diagnostic assays; 3) experience with imaging, data acquisition, and quantitative analysis. Students will be progressively integrated into lab activities based on their skills, commitment, and academic stage, ensuring meaningful engagement rather than observational participation.
Structured Undergraduate Research Mentorship: Building on the PI’s established mentoring practice, BioEngage will formalize a tiered mentorship structure, including: 1) one‑on‑one mentoring by the PI; 2) pairing each undergrad researcher with a grad student mentor; 3) regular progress monitoring, and feedback, and participation in research meetings; 4) present their work in group meetings, undergrad research symposia, and conferences; 5) assignment of independent study or research credit based on demonstrated progress and commitment; 6) encouragement and support to submit research proposals to Illinois Scholars Undergraduate Research (ISUR) Program, leveraging the Prof. Valera research projects as a foundation for developing competitive, student-driven research plans. Participation in ISUR will provide undergraduate students with structured research funding, formal experience in proposal writing, and increased visibility within the UIUC’s research ecosystem. PI has been collaborating continuously with ISUR over the past five years. Undergraduate students will be fully integrated into the research group, contributing to ongoing projects, and being recognized as co-authors on the papers to which they have contributed. The PI will continue to advise students on academic and career pathways, including grad school preparation, and will provide letters of recommendation based on sustained research engagement.
Outreach Exhibits: As a public‑facing component of BioEngage, the PI will develop interactive exhibits for the UIUC Engineering Open House and IGB World of Genomics at the Chicago Science Museum to showcase: 1) microfluidic technologies developed in the Prof. Valera research projects; 2) concepts of single‑cell analysis and personalized healthcare; 3) demonstrations illustrating how engineering research translates to real‑world impact. The exhibits will be designed to engage STEM K-12 students and teachers, pre‑college students, undergrads, families, and the broader community, reinforcing the societal relevance of engineering research and inspiring future participation in STEM.
