20 Biomedical Engineering Research Topics for High School Students

If you’re a high school student interested in biomedical engineering, doing your own research project can be one of the best ways to explore the field and stand out on college applications. Research lets you experiment, test your own ideas, and see how biology and engineering come together to solve problems. Looking at a variety of topics before choosing one can help you figure out what excites you the most and make sure you pick a project that fits your interests and skills.

Why should I do biomedical engineering research in high school?

Taking on biomedical engineering research in high school helps you develop skills that go beyond your classroom science. Planning and running a project teaches you how to manage your time, stay organized, and take responsibility for your work. Collecting and analyzing data builds critical thinking, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Completing an independent project shows colleges that you take initiative and are genuinely interested in biomedical engineering, which can give you a solid edge in your applications.

Research also helps you dive deeper into biology, engineering, and technology, giving you practical experience with the tools and methods used in labs. It prepares you for internships, future research opportunities, and advanced courses, while helping you figure out which areas of biomedical engineering you enjoy most. 

With that in mind, here are 20 biomedical engineering research topics for high school students to explore!

20 Biomedical Engineering Research Topics for High School Students

1. 3D Printing in Prosthetics: Design vs. Clinical Outcomes

This topic looks at how 3D printing has changed prosthetic limbs, making them cheaper, lighter, and easier to customize. You can study different designs and materials used in 3D-printed prosthetics and compare them with traditional prosthetics. A research approach could include reviewing case studies to see how patients use these prosthetics, their comfort, durability, and overall effectiveness. You can also explore the challenges of 3D printing, such as material limits or fitting issues, and how these affect clinical outcomes.

2. Brain-Machine Interfaces and the Future of Prosthetics

This topic examines how brain signals can be used to control robotic arms and legs. You can explore current experiments that connect the nervous system with prosthetic devices, showing how thoughts are translated into movement. Your research can focus on comparing different interface technologies, their accuracy, response time, and reliability, as well as the challenges of integrating biology with engineering in prosthetic design. You can also look at how these devices affect users’ daily lives and independence.

3. Wearable Sensors for Health Monitoring

This topic focuses on how wearable sensors track vital signs such as heart rate, oxygen levels, or sleep patterns. You can study different types of sensors and compare their accuracy, reliability, and usability. Your research can also examine limitations, including sensor errors, data privacy issues, and challenges in long-term monitoring, and how these factors affect their effectiveness in healthcare.

4. Nanoparticles in Targeted Drug Delivery

This topic explores how nanoparticles are designed to deliver drugs directly to diseased cells. You can study different types of nanoparticles, how they carry and release drugs, and how accurately they target specific cells. Your research can also look at current results, the effectiveness of these methods, and challenges such as side effects, stability, or scalability before widespread use in medicine.

5. Artificial Organs and Biocompatibility

This topic examines how artificial organs, such as hearts or kidneys, are designed to function safely in the human body. You can study different materials used in these organs and compare how the body responds to them. Your research can focus on immune reactions, long-term compatibility, and the challenges of creating organs that work effectively without causing harmful side effects.

6. Tissue Engineering and 3D Bioprinting

This topic explores how 3D bioprinting is used to create tissue-like structures. You can study current achievements, such as printing skin, cartilage, or small tissue models, and examine the challenges that prevent bioprinting from producing fully functional organs. Your research can focus on issues like cell survival, vascularization, material choices, and how closely these printed tissues match real biological functions.

7. Robotics in Surgery

This topic looks at how robotic systems, such as the Da Vinci surgical robot, are used in medical procedures. You can study their impact on surgical precision, operation times, recovery periods, and overall costs. Your research can also examine challenges like training requirements, equipment limitations, and how these systems compare with traditional surgical methods in terms of outcomes and patient safety.

8. Biomedical Imaging Advances

This research examines the development of medical imaging, including X-rays, MRI, and fMRI, and their role in diagnosing diseases. You can analyze the accuracy of each technique, the conditions they detect best, and their availability for patients. The study can also consider safety, cost, and recent improvements in imaging technologies.

9. Neural Prosthetics

This topic focuses on prosthetic devices controlled directly by brain signals. You can examine different designs and technologies, compare case studies, and analyze factors that contribute to successful outcomes or challenges in these experiments. Your research can also explore how these prosthetics affect user mobility, control, and daily life.

10. Rehabilitation Engineering

This research focuses on devices designed to help patients recover mobility, such as exoskeletons. You can study how effective these devices are for stroke or spinal cord injury patients and compare different technologies. Your research can also examine factors like ease of use, patient outcomes, and limitations that affect their overall effectiveness in rehabilitation.

11. Biosensors for Disease Detection

This research looks at how biosensors identify diseases early. You can study examples such as glucose monitors or sensors for cancer biomarkers, comparing their accuracy, response time, and reliability. Your research can also examine challenges like false readings, detection limits, and factors that affect their use in real-world medical settings.

12. Smart Materials in Biomedical Devices

This topic examines materials that respond to changes in their environment. You can study how shape-memory alloys or hydrogels are used in biomedical applications such as stents, implants, or drug delivery systems. Your research can explore how these materials improve device performance, the challenges in their design, and any limitations affecting their use in medical treatments.

13. Cardiovascular Devices

This research focuses on medical devices such as artificial valves, stents, and pacemakers. You can compare clinical outcomes across different devices and examine how engineers address challenges like clotting, durability, and long-term performance. Your study can also consider patient safety, device reliability, and improvements made over time.

14. Biomechanics of Human Motion

This topic examines how engineers study human movements such as walking, running, or lifting. You can review biomechanics research and analyze how findings are applied to improve prosthetic design, sports performance, or injury prevention. Your research can also explore tools and techniques used to measure motion and the challenges in translating data into practical applications.

15. Ethics in Biomedical Engineering

This topic explores ethical questions around technologies such as genetic engineering, artificial organs, and brain implants. You can study public perception, medical regulations, and real-world case studies to understand how ethical considerations shape research and application. Your research can also examine conflicts between innovation, patient safety, and societal values.

16. Bioinformatics in Biomedical Research

This research examines how computational methods are used to analyze medical and biological data. You can study applications such as genetic sequencing, protein modeling, or disease prediction, and explore how these tools contribute to personalized medicine. Your research can also look at the limitations of algorithms, data quality issues, and challenges in translating computational results into clinical practice.

17. Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

This topic examines how AI is applied in healthcare, including diagnosis, medical imaging, and predictive modeling. You can study examples of current applications, evaluate their effectiveness, and explore challenges such as bias, errors, and ethical concerns. Your research can also consider how AI impacts patient care, decision-making, and the role of healthcare professionals.

18. Biomedical Signal Processing

This topic studies how biological signals, such as ECG (heart activity) or EEG (brain waves), are analyzed and interpreted. You can examine techniques used to filter noise, extract meaningful information, and monitor patient health. Your research can also explore how these methods support diagnosis, treatment decisions, and the development of medical devices.

19. Hydrogels in Drug Delivery and Tissue Repair

This topic focuses on how hydrogels are used in medicine to release drugs over time or support tissue healing. You can study different hydrogel designs, their effectiveness, and challenges such as durability, biocompatibility, and controlled release. Your research can also examine how these materials are tested and applied in real-world medical treatments.

20. CRISPR in Biomedical Engineering Applications

This topic examines how CRISPR and other gene-editing tools are used in biomedical engineering, especially for developing therapies for genetic disorders. You can review current preclinical studies, analyze different delivery methods, and assess ethical concerns related to applying CRISPR in humans. Your research can also explore challenges in efficiency, safety, and translating laboratory results into clinical practice.

Do research biomedical engineering with the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

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