The ARCS National University Relations Committee (URC) proudly announces the approval of the joint OSU-UO Bioengineering PhD program on October 1, 2024. The ARCS Foundation Oregon board submitted this program for approval to the National URC in September.  

The program offers a dual-shield diploma, granting graduates a diploma from both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. It opens doors to the world-class facilities and resources at both universities. With roots tracing back to OSU’s undergraduate bioengineering program in the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering (CBEE), this initiative meets the rising demand in the bioscience sector—particularly critical in Oregon, where the industry grew by an impressive 31% from 2001 to 2010. 

Bioengineering uniquely combines life sciences and engineering, encouraging innovations that improve human health and quality of life. The program has harnessed the best of both campuses since its first OSU bioengineering graduate cohort in 2017 and its first joint OSU-UO cohort in 2020. Faculty and resources are shared across institutions, drawing in more applications and an increasingly qualified pool of candidates. 

Students in this program receive a dynamic education that prepares them to excel across private, governmental, and academic sectors. Their training spans technical expertise, entrepreneurship, and professional skills, with a curriculum that meets the demands of this interdisciplinary field. With research spanning regenerative medicine, biomedical AI, protein engineering, neuro-engineering, and more, the program’s 40 bioengineering faculty members guide students to become leaders in emerging biosciences. 

Since its establishment in 2020, the joint bioengineering graduate program has enrolled 50 students, with OSU graduating 20 bioengineering PhDs. The first UO cohort of five PhD students is expected to graduate in the 2024-25 academic year.  

At UO, the program is housed in the visionary Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, making it the first ARCS National-approved program at the Knight Campus. 

We invite you to watch Dr. Bob Guldberg, Executive Director of UO’s Knight Campus, speak about his vision for scientific innovation in his TEDx Talk: Bob Guldberg's TEDx Talk. 

Previously approved ARCS programs at UO include: 

• Biology 
• Chemistry and Biochemistry 
• Human Physiology 

ARCS Oregon anticipates funding its first scholar in this pioneering joint program in the Fall of 2025. We’re thrilled to support the next generation of bioengineering trailblazers!