Student Spotlight: Why Nicholas Austin Chose CU Denver Bioengineering to Turn His Ambitions into Action

For Nicholas Austin, a future physician in the making, CU Denver has been more than a place to earn a degree, it’s been a major pathway towards a career in medicine. 

As a bioengineering student in CU Denver’s College of Engineering, Design and Computing (CEDC), Nicholas is turning his passion for helping others into a tangible career through hands-on experience, cross-disciplinary research, and the unique opportunities that come with studying at the intersection of engineering and medicine.

From Community College to Cutting-Edge Research

Nicholas began his college journey at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, where he earned his Associate of Science. Thanks to CU Denver’s strong transfer pathways, he was able to apply his credits toward a bachelor’s in bioengineering, a transition that opened doors to CU Anschutz’s medical labs and the kinds of hands-on lab experience most students don’t experience until grad school. 

“I chose CU Denver because of the relationship between the Denver and Anschutz campuses,” Austin says. “Because of my degree, I get to study on the Anschutz campus and work in labs there, which has been an incredible hands-on experience.”

The partnership between CU Denver’s downtown campus and CU Anschutz is what makes CU Denver’s bioengineering program unlike any other in Colorado. It’s the only bioengineering program in the state located on a medical campus, giving students direct access to clinicians, researchers, and the technologies that are redefining modern healthcare.

Where Engineering Meets Medicine

CU Denver’s bioengineering program gives students a rare dual-campus advantage: the innovation, industry partnerships, and entrepreneurial energy of downtown Denver, paired with the clinical immersion and research rigor of a top-tier medical campus.

Here, students don’t just learn about biomedical technology—they help design it. They collaborate directly with physicians, researchers, and engineers to solve real-world healthcare challenges, from medical device innovation to tissue engineering and advanced diagnostics.

This experiential approach prepares graduates for more than just engineering careers. Many, like Nicholas, continue to medical school or research careers, ready to bridge the gap between engineering innovation and clinical application.

Rooted in Colorado, Reaching Toward the Future

Nicholas has spent most of his life in Colorado and is proud to call the state home. “I love everything about the mountains,” he said. “Whether it’s hiking, camping, or snowboarding.” 

It’s fitting that Nicholas has found his calling in Colorado, a state that’s quickly becoming a national hub for bioengineering and health innovation via it’s thriving biotech and health innovation ecosystem. Along the Front Range, research institutions, startups, and healthcare leaders are working side by side to develop next-generation medical technologies.

From the Fitzsimons Innovation Community at CU Anschutz to the growing network of biotech and medical device companies across the Denver metro area, CU Denver offers an unparalleled place to learn, grow, and launch a career in this field. For students like Nicholas, it’s the ideal place to build a future rooted in Colorado and aimed at changing the world.

As Nicholas prepares to complete his engineering classes this spring, Nicholas is already looking ahead. “I plan to take pre-med courses next with the goal of becoming a physician,” he shared. 

Empowering Students to Build Their Future

CU Denver’s College of Engineering, Design and Computing has given Nicholas the foundation to begin a strong and impactful career in medicine. From transfer pathways to immersive learning in one of the nation’s top medical campuses, his story reflects what makes CU Denver special: a place where students can build on their strengths, connect with opportunity, and create their own path forward.

Ready to launch your career at the intersection of engineering and medicine?

Learn more about CU Denver’s bioengineering program and apply today.