2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This Work-in-Progress (WIP) paper describes an ongoing educational research initiative aimed at strengthening the biotechnology workforce pipeline and improving student retention in Biomedical Engineering (BME). Although the regional life sciences sector has grown by 42%, workforce training continues to pose significant challenges. The project targets high first-year attrition rates, which range nationally from 40% to 60%, by introducing an experiential learning module centered on biocompatibility. This module provides first-semester students with practical experience in biomaterials testing, cell culture, and microscopy, thereby fostering early development of professional identity and technical competence within the curriculum.
The intervention was assessed using a mixed-methods approach that included pre- and post-module surveys adapted from the Pittsburgh Freshman Engineering Attitudes Survey, as well as a quantitative evaluation of student work using the Engineering Habits of Mind framework. Preliminary results demonstrate a statistically significant 25% improvement in students’ technical communication and critical response skills (p < 0.001). Additionally, attitudinal data revealed a 20% increase in mean scores for professional persistence, indicating greater disciplinary commitment. Notably, first-to-second semester retention increased to 83%, surpassing the previous five-year average of 80%. These findings indicate that early exposure to authentic research practices enhances the perceived relevance of course content and clarifies career pathways within the biotechnology sector. These results provide a basis for a more rigorous longitudinal study and for developing additional educational modules to further improve student engagement and better align training with biotechnology workforce requirements.