Ashesi has received accreditation to begin a new Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering program, developed over the last two years with partners and industry leaders. Applications are open for students to join in September 2025 or January 2026 for the inaugural class. While other programs focus primarily on the biomedical sector, this interdisciplinary degree trains versatile engineers ready to innovate across biotechnology, bioinformatics, neuroengineering, and beyond.
The new program builds on Ashesi’s expanding bioengineering research footprint, catalyzed by the university’s participation in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition since 2017. In 2023, the Biolith team, comprising Ashesi undergraduates, earned a gold medal in Paris for engineering bacteria that detect and extract lithium. In 2024, the student team Sea Titans also won gold for developing a bio-concrete pentapod that tackles coastal erosion and sea plastic pollution. The projects underscore the depth of synthetic biology expertise on campus.
“As a university, we started discussing introducing biological engineering to our curriculum in response to the COVID‑19 pandemic and the influx of vaccine companies wanting to set up production in the region,” says Dr. Elena Rosca, Head of Ashesi’s Engineering Department. “We are looking to educate engineers who can step in to support the development of these factories and vaccines or any other medicines being developed in Africa.”
The Biological Engineering program shares its rigorous multidisciplinary core—spanning engineering design, ethics, and leadership—with other Ashesi majors, while layering on specialized biological engineering coursework. A hallmark of the degree is a year-long capstone project, during which students partner with faculty mentors to tackle real-world challenges—from repurposing medicines using bioinformatics, to designing responsive and intelligent prostheses. Students who graduate from the program, will be able to:
- Apply engineering design to develop solutions with community health, safety, and welfare in mind.
- Engage in cross-functional teamwork, combining ideas from engineering, biology, and business.
- Be able to step into roles in public and private sectors—ranging from hospitals and biotech firms to founding startups in bio-manufacturing.
