Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
He puts whole essay's worth of information on every slide. Not easy to keep up since the exams will cover everything in the slides. I took this class early on in my undergrad so my study strategies had room for improvement. I recommend taking this class later if you can, even if you are on the biomaterials track.Rate My Professors ↗
Long readings are assigned with reading quizzes before each lecture and the readings are pretty dense. Three exams make up most of your grade. Dr. Ashton is a nice person and very passionate about his research in biomaterials, but he goes through lecture slides quickly considering how much information they contain and lectures can be a bit dry.Rate My Professors ↗
Hands down worst BME class I have taken. The first day he tells you the only way to succeed in the class is to memorize the slides. Then, he proceeds to give you a 50 page reading assignment every lecture. I spent days studying for the exams (which make up the entire grade btw) just to get average. Lectures are boring, he just reads off the slides.Rate My Professors ↗
If you are interested in biomaterials and tissue engineering, you wont be after this class. Dr. Ashton doesnt explain any background information and spends the entire hour and fifteen minutes talking at you about concepts you dont understand and refuses to clarify them. The reading makes no sense and he tests you on it after admitting its hard.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Independent Study in BME involves directed projects where students conduct and report on independent biomedical engineering research.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2017: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Spring 2019: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Covers biological systems governing biomaterial applications, current materials for biomedical use, analytical techniques for evaluation, and major medical applications where biomaterials are important.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Randolph Ashton
Dr. Randolph Ashton required students to memorize 50-page readings and dense slide content, with three exams making up most of the grade. Students found the pace quick and the material challenging.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Master's research and thesis course conducted under faculty supervision, culminating in a written thesis and defense.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Advanced Independent Study under faculty supervision where students conduct and report on an independent biomedical engineering project.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2023 · limited samplePre-dissertation research under faculty supervision where students integrate biological and physical sciences to address research questions.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Research and thesis course under faculty supervision where students conduct studies using experimental, computational, or theoretical approaches and communicate results in a written thesis and defense.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Research and thesis course focusing on independent neuroscience research and broad understanding of general principles.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | BME 399 | Independent Study |
| Spring 2027 | BME 430 | Biological Interactions with Materials |
| Spring 2027 | BME 790 | Master's Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | BME 799 | Advanced Independent Study |
| Spring 2027 | BME 890 | Pre-dissertation Research |
| Spring 2027 | BME 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | NTP 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | BME 200 | Biomedical Engineering Design |
| Fall 2026 | BME 300 | Biomedical Engineering Design and Leadership |
| Fall 2026 | BME 399 | Independent Study |
| Fall 2026 | BME 790 | Master's Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | BME 799 | Advanced Independent Study |
| Fall 2026 | BME 890 | Pre-dissertation Research |
| Fall 2026 | BME 990 | Research and Thesis |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_19e63952d55457ddc8283101",
"source": "enrollment",
"source_instructor_id": "rashton2",
"identity_basis": "netid",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "Randolph Ashton",
"email": "RASHTON2@WISC.EDU",
"first_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
"last_observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
"ratings": {
"review_count": 4,
"quality": 1.75,
"difficulty": 4,
"quality_count": 4,
"difficulty_count": 4,
"profile_id": "rmp:2774686",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2774686",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 18:43:03.905177+00:00",
"courses": {
"course_aa3646d4c8240c9a870f5a3a": {
"review_count": 4,
"quality": 1.75,
"difficulty": 4,
"quality_count": 4,
"difficulty_count": 4
}
},
"bayesian_quality": 3.340994650413725,
"prior_mean": 3.65919358049647,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"current": true,
"courses": [
{
"course_uid": "course_038c76577642b449852ec7ad",
"course_id": "BME 790",
"title": "MASTER'S RESEARCH AND THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 9,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_620f9845a13c856a49f67686",
"course_id": "BME 799",
"title": "ADVANCED INDEPENDENT STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 5,
"gpa": 4
},
{
"course_uid": "course_83a5fcab0196b930212b2093",
"course_id": "NTP 990",
"title": "RESEARCH AND THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 12,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_968c7128c2904b0f5c4a2cab",
"course_id": "BME 890",
"title": "PRE-DISSERTATION RESEARCH",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 9,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_aa3646d4c8240c9a870f5a3a",
"course_id": "BME 430",
"title": "BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.298
},
{
"course_uid": "course_be26c13be7bfe03b5ccf3457",
"course_id": "BME 990",
"title": "RESEARCH AND THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 9,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_f1d43194969e514dbc330d4f",
"course_id": "BME 399",
"title": "INDEPENDENT STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.988
}
],
"revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/RANDOLPH_ASHTON"
}