Northwestern vs. Johns Hopkins: Which Is Better for Undergraduate Biomedical Research?

For an undergraduate focused specifically on biomedical research, Johns Hopkins offers the deeper built-in research ecosystem and is likely the stronger choice. Its undergraduate programs sit alongside the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a large academic medical system, creating unusually direct exposure to clinical and translational research. Hopkins also has a particularly established reputation in biomedical engineering, molecular biology, neuroscience, and public-health-related research.

Biology and biomedical engineering students can pursue labs on the Homewood campus as well as research connected to the East Baltimore medical campus, where major work in cancer, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, infectious disease, and medical devices takes place. The biomedical engineering department’s close ties to medicine make it easier to encounter projects that combine engineering, biology, data science, and clinical questions, which is a meaningful asset for someone considering a research doctorate or an MD-PhD path.

Northwestern is still an excellent biomedical-research option, particularly through its biomedical engineering program, Feinberg School of Medicine, the Simpson Querrey Institute, and extensive Chicago research community. Its Evanston undergraduate campus and Chicago medical campus are distinct locations, however, so taking full advantage of medical-campus research may require more intentional planning and commuting. At both schools, the practical quality of mentorship will depend heavily on the individual lab, how early you seek a position, and whether a faculty member has capacity to supervise undergraduates.