Bioengineering department, Stanford University
Stanford Bioengineering is an academic department jointly housed in the School of Engineering and School of Medicine, conducting interdisciplinary research in synthetic biology, gene editing, AI, bioimaging, and bioprinting across 30+ faculty labs, while serving undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students through degree programs and translational partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersStanford, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bioengineering department, Stanford University does
Stanford Bioengineering is an academic department of Stanford University founded in 2002 as a joint unit of the School of Engineering and the School of Medicine, focused on combining life sciences and engineering across synthetic biology, gene editing, AI/machine learning for biology, bioimaging, protein engineering, microbiome research, biomechanics, bioprinting, and molecular diagnostics. It operates more than 30 faculty-run labs and serves undergraduate students (BS Bioengineering, BS Biomedical Computation), coterminal MS candidates, graduate students (PhD, Master's, MD Scholarly Concentration, dual and joint programs), and postdoctoral scholars. The department's business model is academic: it generates revenue through university tuition and fees, sponsored research from federal agencies (NIH, NSF, DoD) and foundations (Gates, Vannevar Bush), licensing royalties on proprietary technologies, philanthropic gifts, and executive education via Stanford Biodesign.
The department's core research outputs span hardware platforms, biological tools, and computational methods. Notable proprietary technologies include the Foldscope paper microscope (reaching over 2 million users globally and licensed to Foldscope Inc.), The Squid open-source confocal microscope (licensed to Cephla), the Gravity Machine virtual-reality microscope, CRISPR/Cas9 and RNA-editing platforms from Stanley Qi's lab, AI-driven proteome mapping from Emma Lundberg's lab, cell-free protein synthesis platforms from Michael Jewett's lab, fungal fermentation platforms from the Hill-Maini Lab, and a 3D bioprinting effort aimed at implanting a human heart. Outreach and educational products include the LABraries initiative (with MIT Media Lab), CRISPR education kits for high school classrooms, and Clubes de Ciencia Mexico (15,000+ students across 8 countries).
The department's go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: it recruits students through academic admissions, faculty through coordinated joint searches (notably with the Arc Institute in 2025), and industry/clinical partners through Stanford-Coulter Translational Research Grants, Stanford Biodesign programs, corporate partnerships, and alumni networks. Recent strategic moves include the 2025 Arc Institute joint faculty search, the 2025 Chef-in-Residence Program with Mugaritz and the Doerr School of Sustainability, the 2026 deep-sea research partnership with Schmidt Ocean Institute, and the appointment of Markus Covert as the new department Chair. Faculty have received NIH Pioneer Awards, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowships, Rhodes Scholarships, and other recognitions, and the department has trained 242 faculty worldwide and awarded 616+ degrees since founding.
Bioengineering department, Stanford University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bioengineering department, Stanford University
- Legal name
- Stanford University
- Website
- https://bioengineering.stanford.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Stanford Bioengineering is an academic department jointly housed in the School of Engineering and School of Medicine, conducting interdisciplinary research in synthetic biology, gene editing, AI, bioimaging, and bioprinting across 30+ faculty labs, while serving undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students through degree programs and translational partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bioengineering department, Stanford University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education - Bioengineering Research and Training
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF), Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC), Bioprocess Development & Scale-Up/Scale-Down Platforms (DoE, high-throughput, modeling) (HLAAAJAF)
Keywords
Where Bioengineering department, Stanford University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stanford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bioengineering department, Stanford University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Academic Tuition and Fees: As a Stanford University academic department, Bioengineering generates revenue through undergraduate and graduate tuition, coterminal program fees, and graduate application fees ([email protected]). Revenue supports faculty positions, teaching labs, and facilities.
- Sponsored Research and Grants: Department faculty and researchers generate significant research funding through federal agencies (NIH, NSF, DoD), foundations (Vannevar Bush Fellowship, Gates Foundation), and industry sponsors. The Stanford-Coulter Translational Research Grants Program provides internal funding for translational projects.
- Licensing and Technology Transfer: Technologies developed in the department are commercialized through licensing agreements. The Squid microscope is licensed to Cephla; Foldscope is commercialized through Foldscope Inc. Revenue supports further research and development.
- Gifts and Philanthropic Donations: The department solicits charitable contributions through the 'Give' channel on its website (bioengineering.stanford.edu/get-involved/give), supporting fellowships, research initiatives, and community programs.
- Executive Education and Professional Programs: Stanford Biodesign programs and professional education offerings generate revenue through participant fees for innovation fellowships and executive training in health technology.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bioengineering department, Stanford University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stanford Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary academic department jointly housed between the Stanford School of Engineering and School of Medicine, offering undergraduate, coterminal, master's, PhD, and MD-affiliated degree programs alongside postdoctoral training. The department operates 30+ faculty-led research labs producing technologies in synthetic biology, CRISPR gene editing, AI-driven proteomics, bioimaging, cell-free protein synthesis, 3D bioprinting, and sustainable food systems. Outputs include commercialized open-source tools (Foldscope 2.0, The Squid), translational research via Stanford Biodesign, and community biology initiatives (LABraries, Foldscope distribution).
Product overview
Stanford Bioengineering is an academic department offering educational programs (undergraduate, graduate, PhD) and conducting research across multiple specialized areas. Key products include The Squid (open-source confocal microscope), The Gravity Machine (virtual reality microscope for microbes), and Foldscope 2.0 (paper microscope). The department operates the Stanford Synthetic Biology initiative and runs the Chef-in-Residence Program for food sustainability research. Research outputs include CRISPR education kits and the ColoTech pro-diagnostic for colorectal cancer detection.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BS Bioengineering Degree Program
- BS Biomedical Computation Degree Program
- Coterminal MS Program
- PhD Program in Bioengineering
- Master's Program in Bioengineering
- MD Scholarly Concentration in Bioengineering
- Stanford Biodesign Innovation Fellowship
- Foldscope 2.0
Quantifiable outcome
- 616+ degrees awarded and 242 faculty trained worldwide since founding in 2002
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Bioengineering department, Stanford University
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bioengineering department, Stanford University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability10 records
Feature11 records
Bioengineering department, Stanford University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Schmidt Ocean InstitutecoreResearch partnership through R/V Falkor (too) enabling the Prakash Lab's deep-sea expedition that discovered 31+ new species. Schmidt Ocean Institute provides research vessel infrastructure, ROV SuBastian, and operational support for at-sea research. The expedition deployed The Squid and Gravity Machine imaging tools aboard the vessel.
- CephlacoreCephla licensed The Squid open-source confocal microscope from the Prakash Lab for commercialization. This brings the lab's imaging technology to market for broader scientific and research use beyond academic settings.
- Arc InstituteflagshipStanford Bioengineering and the Arc Institute launched a coordinated joint faculty search, combining recruitment efforts to attract top faculty talent in bioengineering. This represents a strategic alignment between the department and the Arc Institute's mission in long-term multidisciplinary research.
- MugaritzflagshipTwo-Michelin-star restaurant Mugaritz in Spain's Basque Country, led by Ramon Perisé Moré, is the inaugural Chef-in-Residence at the Hill-Maini Lab. The collaboration explores the intersection of gastronomy, sustainability, and bioengineering through fungi-based food innovation, bridging culinary arts and scientific research.
- Doerr School of SustainabilityflagshipStanford's Doerr School of Sustainability co-sponsored the Chef-in-Residence Program with the Bioengineering Department and Hill-Maini Lab, reflecting interdisciplinary collaboration between sustainability and food systems bioengineering.
- Stanford Office of the Vice President for the ArtsflagshipStanford's VP for the Arts office co-sponsored the Chef-in-Residence Program, integrating artistic and creative disciplines with bioengineering research in sustainable food systems.
- MIT Media Lab (Community Biotechnology Initiative)coreStanford and MIT scholars collaborated on the LABraries initiative, proposing a national network of public biology labs. Dr. David Sun Kong of MIT Media Lab co-led the project with Stanford researchers including Drew Endy and Callie Chappell. The initiative draws inspiration from public libraries to democratize biology access.
- U.S. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)flagshipDr. Gerald Epstein, former Assistant Director for Biosecurity and Emerging Technologies at OSTP, consulted on the LABraries initiative, providing biosecurity expertise and federal government perspective on public biology lab policy.
- Foldscope Inc.coreFoldscope Inc. commercializes the Foldscope paper microscope invented at Stanford by Manu Prakash and Jim Cybulski. The company distributes Foldscope and Foldscope 2.0 globally, enabling the democratization of microscopy access through a network of consumer and educational buyers.
- Biodesign NEXTcoreBiodesign NEXT provided support to the ColoTech capstone team beyond the classroom, advancing both technical development and commercialization aspects of the early colorectal cancer detection project that won the DEBUT 2024 NCI Cancer Prize.
- Northpond Ventures / Northpond LaboratoriescoreStanford Medicine and Northpond Ventures launched Northpond Laboratories, with Markus Covert serving as Stanford Bioengineering's faculty lead. The partnership supports biomedical research infrastructure and innovation.
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubcoreChan Zuckerberg Biohub partnered with Berkeley-Stanford-UCSF Next Generation Faculty Symposium to showcase rising stars in bioengineering and biomedical sciences. CZ Biohub co-sponsored the virtual symposium as part of the Berkeley-Stanford-UCSF collaboration.
- Stanford Ethics, Society, and Technology (EST) HubcoreStanford EST Hub supports the Bio Futures Fellows Program along with the Bio Policy & Leadership at Stanford (Bio.Polis) Initiative and the Department of Bioengineering, funding interdisciplinary fellowships at the intersection of biotechnology, ethics, and public policy.
- Science Clubs International (SCI)flagshipUS-based organization co-founded by Rogelio Hernández-López that implements the Clubes de Ciencia program across 8 countries, expanding international reach of the STEM outreach initiative.
- Clubes de Ciencia MexicoflagshipSTEM outreach program co-founded by Rogelio Hernández-López that delivers hands-on workshops to high school and college students across Iberoamerica. The program has served over 15,000 students across 8 countries, with graduate students and postdocs designing and delivering curriculum annually.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bioengineering department, Stanford University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Caltech Bioengineering: Caltech's Department of Bioengineering with strengths in bioimaging, synthetic biology, and molecular biophysics. Comparable small-elite department model with similar faculty-to-student ratios and research output.
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering: Harvard-affiliated bioengineering research institute with strong translational mandate and high-profile faculty. Comparable in impact-driven bioengineering research model and licensing output.
- Georgia Tech / Emory Biomedical Engineering: Joint biomedical engineering program combining Georgia Tech engineering strengths with Emory medical school clinical access. Comparable large-scale BME program competing for translational grants and industry partnerships.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub: Bay Area biomedical research institute that has co-sponsored Next Generation Faculty Symposium with Stanford and Berkeley. Comparable in mission to accelerate bioengineering research and technology development.
- MIT Department of Biological Engineering: MIT's flagship bioengineering department offering BS, MS, and PhD programs with parallel synthetic biology, bioimaging, and translational research strengths. Closest structural analog to Stanford BioE among peer institutions and direct competitor for top graduate students and faculty.
- UC Berkeley Bioengineering: Joint department between Berkeley College of Engineering and School of Medicine with parallel synthetic biology and computational bioengineering research. Already co-hosts the Stanford-Berkeley-UCSF Next Generation Faculty Symposium and partners on multiple joint programs.
- Arc Institute: Stanford-adjacent independent research institute with parallel faculty search efforts. Competes for the same pool of bioengineering talent and operates with overlapping synthetic biology and genomics research priorities.
- Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering: One of the oldest and largest US biomedical engineering programs, jointly housed across engineering and medicine schools. Comparable in scale, translational funding, and medical-device innovation pipeline.
- Duke Biomedical Engineering: Duke's Pratt School of Engineering BME department with parallel medical-school integration and translational focus. Competes for graduate students and federal research funding in adjacent therapeutic areas.
- UCSF Bioengineering: UCSF bioengineering program with medical-school-anchored translational focus. Co-participates in joint faculty search initiatives with Stanford and recruits from overlapping applicant pools.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bioengineering department, Stanford University social profiles
Digital presenceBioengineering department, Stanford University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bioengineering department, Stanford University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Bioengineering department, Stanford University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Bioengineering department, Stanford University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Bioengineering department, Stanford University
What does Bioengineering department, Stanford University do?
Stanford Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary academic department jointly housed between the Stanford School of Engineering and School of Medicine, offering undergraduate, coterminal, master's, PhD, and MD-affiliated degree programs alongside postdoctoral training. The department operates 30+ faculty-led research labs producing technologies in synthetic biology, CRISPR gene editing, AI-driven proteomics, bioimaging, cell-free protein synthesis, 3D bioprinting, and sustainable food systems. Outputs include commercialized open-source tools (Foldscope 2.0, The Squid), translational research via Stanford Biodesign, and community biology initiatives (LABraries, Foldscope distribution).
Is Bioengineering department, Stanford University a public or private company?
Bioengineering department, Stanford University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bioengineering department, Stanford University founded?
Bioengineering department, Stanford University was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bioengineering department, Stanford University based?
Bioengineering department, Stanford University is headquartered in Stanford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bioengineering department, Stanford University make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Academic Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsored Research and Grants, licensing and Technology Transfer, gifts and Philanthropic Donations and executive Education and Professional Programs.
Who are Bioengineering department, Stanford University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Caltech Bioengineering, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Georgia Tech / Emory Biomedical Engineering, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, MIT Department of Biological Engineering, UC Berkeley Bioengineering, Arc Institute, Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering, Duke Biomedical Engineering and UCSF Bioengineering.
Does Bioengineering department, Stanford University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bioengineering department, Stanford University.
What industry is Bioengineering department, Stanford University in?
Bioengineering department, Stanford University's product category is Higher Education - Bioengineering Research and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAD, Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development), with a secondary code of HLAGAIAF, Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.