Celebrating 2026 Poster Session and Design Awards

On April 24, the Engineering Centers Building atrium buzzed with excitement. Forty-five design teams made last-minute adjustments to their prototypes, straightened their posters, and wondered if their team would be a winner in this year’s Spring Poster Session and Design Awards.

Every year, students in BME 301 and BME 402 end their academic year by showcasing the incredible work they’ve done to solve biomedical needs for real-world clients. Some teams have worked on the same project for over 2 years, while others tackled brand-new challenges this past fall. Over the years, multiple BME Design projects have led to the creation of startup companies and patents.

Award Winners

Tong Biomedical Design Awards

Awarded to innovative solutions and outstanding prototypes for projects that have performed an in-depth analysis of their commercial and intellectual property potential. Presented by industry judges.
Sponsored by Peter and Janet Tong and the Tong Family Foundation

Design Excellence Awards

Awarded to critical path research or specialized one-of-a-kind devices for projects that have thoroughly addressed the client’s problem through rigorous design, construction, testing and validation. Presented by faculty judges.
Sponsored by the Day of the Badger Giving Campaign

BME and UWSMPH-TECH Collaborative Innovation Award

Awarded to innovations for real challenges that UWSMPH faculty face through projects that have demonstrated a collaborative effort with the medical school and medical students.
Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Student Choice Awards

Based on overall peer evaluation results.