Mentoring for INnovative Design Solutions (MINDS): Key Design Considerations and Collaborative Teamwork across...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering Education
• Product Design and Development
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Background:

• Biomedical engineering curricula often lack comprehensive training in the practical aspects of product development.
• There is a need for students to gain experience in interdisciplinary teamwork and understand the commercialization pathway for medical devices.
• Industry and faculty mentorship are crucial for guiding students through complex design challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Mentoring for INnovative Design Solutions (MINDS) Scholars Program.
• To evaluate the program's impact on students' understanding of the design process, clinical translatability, and commercialization factors.
• To assess the development of students' teamwork and communication skills.

Main Methods:

• The MINDS program utilizes an experiential learning approach, integrating students from various universities with faculty and industry mentors.
• Participants engage in open-ended design projects, focusing on intellectual property, regulatory strategy, and market identification.
• Pre- and post-program surveys were administered to assess changes in knowledge and skills.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in students' understanding of the design process, regulatory strategy, intellectual property, market definition, and product requirements.
• Students demonstrated enhanced teamwork, communication, conflict resolution, and time management skills.
• Participation increased students' likelihood of pursuing careers in product development and entrepreneurship.

Conclusions:

• The MINDS program effectively equips biomedical engineering students with essential design, commercialization, and soft skills.
• Experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration are vital for preparing students for careers in biomedical innovation.
• The program successfully bridges the gap between academic learning and industry-relevant product development challenges.