A&T Approved to Launch Ph.D. in Bioengineering

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (June 8, 2026) — North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has received approval to offer a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in bioengineering through its College of Engineering (COE), marking a major milestone in the university’s continued expansion of advanced research and graduate education.

The new doctoral program will make N.C. A&T the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to offer a standalone Ph.D. in bioengineering. It will be housed in the Department of Chemical, Biological and Bioengineering (CBBE) within the COE, which emphasizes interdisciplinary innovation and prepares students to address complex challenges in healthcare, biotechnology and emerging engineering fields.

The Ph.D. in bioengineering builds on A&T’s undergraduate and master’s bioengineering programs established in 2010 and 2011, respectively — also the first standalone HBCU programs of their kind.

“This new Ph.D. program is a transformative step for the College of Engineering and for North Carolina A&T,” said Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, Ph.D., COE dean. “It strengthens our ability to produce highly skilled researchers and innovators, expands opportunities for our students to pursue advanced study at a top-tier HBCU, and reinforces our commitment to addressing critical challenges in human health and biotechnology through interdisciplinary research.”

The program is supported by the university’s expanding research enterprise, including initiatives such as the National Institutes of Health-funded Center for Neurovascular Engineering Research and adVanced Education (NERVE Center), led by Yeoheung Yun, Ph.D., professor and graduate program coordinator for bioengineering. It is aimed to enhance bioengineering research and training capacity at the university.

The doctoral program reflects growing research strengths in areas such as cellular and tissue engineering, artificial intelligence, biomaterials and medical technologies. In particular, the program is strengthened by two focused Ph.D. concentrations: neurotechnology and neural engineering and molecular, cellular and systems engineering. These concentrations align with emerging national priorities in biomedical innovation, including regenerative medicine translational research, such as stem cell studies, and workforce development.

“This approval represents years of sustained effort to build the academic, research and infrastructure foundation needed for a doctoral-level bioengineering program,” said Jianzhong Lou, CBBE department chair. “It addresses the growing demand for interdisciplinary expertise at the interface of engineering, biology and medicine.”

Graduates of the proposed doctoral program will be prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and healthcare as postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, research scientists and research and development leaders. Labor market data indicate continued demand for doctoral-level bioengineers, with projected employment growth exceeding national averages across engineering occupations.