Involvement in biomedical engineering is growing at BYU as more and more labs research ways to improve the wellbeing of others.
An annual research conference on Jan. 30 allowed students from many disciplines to grow not only in knowledge and understanding but also in the spiritual community of a religious university.
While there is no biomedical engineering program at BYU, the Biomedical Engineering Association (BEA) gathers students and professors who are interested in the field. The club hosts the annual Biomedical Engineering Research Conference each year.
This year, there were more students presenting than any year previous.
Zach Olivier, club president, enjoys seeing a lot of growing interest in the club since starting in leadership four years ago.
“I think maybe that also has something to do with the new medical school that was announced,” Olivier said, referring to the July 2024 announcement by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that a medical school will be created at BYU.
Of the medical school, President C. Shane Reese announced that “significant energy is being devoted to developing and solidifying the plans” and that the school will provide “another way to lift God’s children.”
The conference started with a keynote address from Matthew Maltese, co-founder of X-Biomedical, Inc. and mechanical engineer. Maltese shared how he took his engineering skills and integrated them with not only business skills, but also his spirituality.
Jessica Springer, a mechanical engineering student who presented at the conference, recognized Maltese’s enthusiasm to present at BYU.
He was super excited to share that without his relationship with the Savior, he wouldn't be where he is today,” Springer said. “I just thought, wow, this is one of the cool things about being at BYU is that these things can intertwine a little bit.
After Maltese’s thoughts, students moved to stand with their posters and explained their research to the students and faculty that moved around the room. 31 research teams in total presented. Judges mingled with the crowd to choose three winners.
Springer presented her research on the impact the hormone relaxin has on pregnant women’s feet. She appreciated the dialogue she was able to have with attendees of the conference.
“I think one of my favorite parts of these conferences is just being able to share what we spend so much time doing everyday with people who are interested,” Springer said.
She and her research team have multiple ideas to expand on their results and continue their studies.
The BEA is focused on networking and getting students connected with real industry experiences and projects. Olivier feels united with other engineers—especially in biomedical engineering—in their efforts to serve others around them.
That's just sort of been my goal as an engineer: to do my best to help other people with the skills that I've been given and also the skills that I've worked really hard to get as a student at BYU.
For Springer, biomedical engineering is not just about serving others. It’s something she’s been inspired to do to “take care of the human family.”
“I honestly think that me even getting involved in research was all part of a divine plan in a way because I just think that there were so many coincidences that couldn't have been coincidences,” Springer said.
Students like Springer and Olivier participate in clubs and research across BYU campus that demonstrate the university’s motto; “Enter to learn, go forth to serve.”
