Masters Capstone Project

The Capstone Project is designed to provide MA students on a professional track with the opportunity to integrate theoretical knowledge gained in their academic program with hands-on, real-world experience. This project aims to enhance students’ practical skills, professionalism, and industry readiness.

The goal of the Capstone Project is to gain practical skills and experience in applying knowledge of biomedical informatics and its methods to real world problems and research. Students engaged in Capstone Projects are not expected to make substantial research contributions but rather gain skills and demonstrate proficiency. Capstones also could be team-based and include a team of students.  

Examples of appropriate Capstone Projects include: 

  • Working with datasets in the context of existing projects. This includes data cleaning, wrangling, simple data analysis, and generating analytical reports. 
  • Assistance with conducting user studies of biomedical informatics interventions. This includes recruitment of participants, conducting study activities, and participating in analysis of results. 
  • Continuing course projects  

The Capstone Project can be mentored by DBMI faculty, a broader selection of Columbia University faculty, or by representatives from industry. Industry-sponsored Capstones can be done part-time as a course, or full-time as a summer internship.  

  1. How do I propose a capstone project mentored by DBMI faculty?
    1. Upon identifying a potential capstone project advisor, students fill out DBMI MA Capstone Project proposal form and submit it to their selected capstone project advisor for approval. The advisor reviews the form, ensuring that the selected project meets academic standards and aligns with the student’s program.
  2. How do I propose a capstone project mentored by Columbia University faculty or industry?
    1. Upon identifying a potential capstone project advisor among broader CU faculty or industry, students fill out DBMI MA Capstone Project proposal form and submit it to their Academic Advisor for approval. The Academic Advisor reviews the form, ensuring that the selected project meets academic standards and aligns with the student’s program.

You will register for BING 6001: Projects in Biomedical Informatics.When registering for the course, students will be placed on a waitlist automatically. After all necessary approvals are obtained, the Graduate Program Manager will remove students from the waitlist, and they will be enrolled automatically.

  1. Once the DBMI MA Capstone Proposal form is submitted to the academic or research advisor and approved, the student will submit the signed approval form to the Training Committee for second approval.  
  2. The committee verifies the integrity of the Capstone Project and approves it based on its educational value and alignment with program objectives.Upon committee approval, students are formally notified via email. 
  3. If this is an industry sponsored capstone project, the approval form is forwarded to the hosting company. Upon agreement, the mentor at the host company signs the approval form, confirming their commitment to supervise the internship. Please note if you are an international student, you must follow all the steps for CPT.

At the end of each semester, students who have completed their Capstone Project in that semester (or plan to complete it), will be asked to give a presentation to DBMI faculty and students. The supervisors of Capstone Projects (research advisor OR industry mentor/academic advisor) will be asked to submit a brief evaluation form for each student under their supervision.

Only for industry-sponsored Capstone Projects: to register for this course, students should have completed one (1) year (or 1 RU for part-time students) of their program and seek the appropriate approvals before starting this course.

You can find some through our current alumni network outreach proposals or by reaching out to companies who may be offering internships or capstone project opportunities. Please note that all projects must be proposed and approved.

If you have any additional questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Lena Mamykina (om2196@cumc.columbia.edu) or to the Graduate Program Manager, Angely Arriaza (aa5691@cumc.columbia.edu).