Summer 2026 Camp Dates:

• Week 1: June 22 - 26, 2026 – High School 3D Bioprinting 
• Week 2: July 6 -10, 2026 – High School 3D Bioprinting 
• Week 3: July 20 - 24, 2026 – Middle School + High School Week
• Week 4: July 27 - 31, 2026 – Elementary School Week
• Week 5: August 3 - 7, 2026 – Elementary School Week 

About CampBioE 2.0

CampBioE 2.0 is a dynamic day camp that engages scholars (2nd – 12th grade) in the wonders of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEM+) through exposure to cutting edge, hands-on activities related to bioengineering and STEM+.

This innovative program is designed to:

• Inspire and educate the next generation of scientific and medical professionals,
• Develop leaders in STEM+ with backgrounds and perspectives that can identify and serve the needs of all members of our communities, and
• Provide 2nd – 12th grade scholars from all socioeconomic backgrounds with an opportunity to experience STEM+ in a dynamic and bias-free environment.

Location & Program Details 

University of Pittsburgh Community Engagement Center - Homewood
622 N Homewood Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Light breakfast and lunch provided

Registration cost: $500*

*The camp registration fee will be waived for scholars whose household qualifies for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania.

For those who qualify for a fee waiver, a refundable deposit of $25 is required to reserve each scholar's spot.

Curriculum Information + Registration

Weeks 1 and 2 focus exclusively on 3D printing and are open only to high school scholars. During these weeks, scholars will learn 3D design and bioprinting, including how to convert a commercial 3D printer into a bioprinter to create vascular scaffolds using hydrogel-based biomaterials.  

Apply now!

Weeks 3, 4, and 5 introduce a broad range of STEM+ topics with a focus on bioengineering, with past activities including building bones from unconventional materials, using ferrofluids for drug delivery and filtration, and designing scaffolds for wound repair. High school scholars interested in STEM+ topics beyond 3D printing are encouraged to enroll in Week 3.  

Register now!

Admissions Process  

Weeks 1 and 2 

• For our 3D printing collaboration with VESSELS, CampBioE 2.0 uses a two-step admission process. Interested scholars will complete a short application that will be reviewed by our leadership on a rolling basis. Scholars accepted into the program will receive notification of acceptance and details regarding next steps (i.e., onboarding paperwork and payment/fee-waiver invoices to confirm their participation) within a month of applying. 

Weeks 3 - 5 

• Registration for Week 3, 4, and 5 of CampBioE 2.0 is on a first come, first served basis.

Our Payment Policy

Payment in full is due within 30 days of invoicing to confirm a scholar’s admission to CampBioE 2.0. Scholars approved for a fee waiver are required to submit a $25 refundable deposit within 30 days of invoicing to reserve their spot. This deposit will be refunded in full following the scholar’s full attendance (Monday - Friday) at camp. CampBioE 2.0 reserves the right to retain this deposit in the event of a no-show. 

What's New

We are excited to announce the continuation of our signature outreach program, CampBioE, now called CampBioE 2.0. Since its inception in 2007, CampBioE focused on 6th – 12th grade scholars, reaching more than 1,200 scholars from Western PA and beyond. Many of our former scholars have identified bioengineering as their intended career choice, with a number of them matriculating into our Bioengineering department and then working for some of the very companies that helped to support our camp. This positive feedback loop has been truly inspiring.

Recognizing the importance of early engagement in STEM⁺, we have extended our programming to include elementary scholars (2nd – 5th grade). Launched in Summer 2024, CampBioE 2.0 will continue the goals of CampBioE, now reaching scholars in 2nd – 12th grade. We want our CampBioE 2.0 scholars to know that the doors to the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh are open to them at an early age and that we are committed to their successful matriculation and professional careers.

Collaboration Alert!

CampBioE 2.0 will be collaborating with the Vascular Medicine Institute’s VESSELS program to incorporate 3D bioprinting into the curriculum! High school scholars (9th – 12th grade) will have the opportunity to convert a commercial plastic 3D printer into a 3D bioprinter which will then be utilized to design novel scaffolds. Scholars in 2nd – 8th grade will also work with the 3D bioprinters during their respective week of camp. 

Economic Initiative:

CampBioE 2.0 is a champion of multiplicity in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEM⁺). We are proud that we have achieved approximately equal participation in terms of gender over the years. Yet, we still face challenges related to the participation of students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Thanks to donations from our sponsors and generous individuals, we are able to waive the registration fee for scholars whose household qualifies for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania. The eligibility guidelines are based strictly on household income and can be found at National School Lunch Program | Department of Education | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For more information about our economic initiative, please contact campbioe@pitt.edu. 

Camp Leadership and Counselors:

CampBioE 2.0 is led by Dr. Katrina Knight and Dr. Daniel Shiwarski, professors in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, and Pitt bioengineering undergraduate students. Bioengineering undergraduates serve as both camp counselors and role models for participants as they share their experience as college students and the path they took to get to bioengineering. Prior to the start of camp, leadership and counselors work together to create engaging and thought-provoking STEM+ activities that they hope will inspire the next generation of scientific and medical professionals. 

CampBioE 2.0 Leadership