Engineering Meets Biology and Medicine

Biomedical engineering applies quantitative engineering analysis and design to biological and medical problems. It is a field dedicated to revealing basic knowledge of disease mechanisms to improve human health, and to developing new technologies and therapies to improve the quality of life.

The aim of our undergraduate program is to provide students with the training necessary to bridge the gaps between medicine, engineering and biomedical research. We provide a broad foundation in chemical, mechanical, materials science and electrical engineering to prepare students for careers in biomedical research and design with a quantitative engineering emphasis. Our undergraduate program is also designed to provide students with sufficient coursework for advanced training at graduate, medical, or in other health professions. The outlook for biomedical engineers is incredibly promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for biomedical engineers will grow by 7% between 2016 and 2026.

Our faculty make our department truly special. Several of our professors have been recognized by professional societies as among the best researchers and educators in the country. Undergraduate students have opportunities to do research in nanomedicine, biomechanics, neuroengineering, tissue engineering and more, enriching their coursework.

Research focus areas include:

• Musculoskeletal & Neural Engineering includes the study of the normal growth and aging, function, injury, degeneration, repair, regeneration, rehabilitation, and augmentation of musculoskeletal and neural tissues and systems
• Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy applies experimental and computational approaches to explore biomechanical function across multiple scales: the molecule, cell, tissue, organ, and whole body.
• Disease Modeling includes determining underlying mechanisms of human disease using computational models of molecular, cellular, and higher-level systems.
• Tissue and Regenerative Engineering is used to study, model and modify biomolecules (including nucleic acids and proteins) and cells, as well as to determine the regulatory networks that control genetic, biochemical, cellular, and physiological functions.

Sample curriculum