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Learn about Graduate & Professional School
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WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING? Overview Overview The Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program at Hopkins is world-renowned. Its curriculum includes a set of “core knowledge” that all biomedical engineers should possess: molecular and cellular biology, linear systems, biological control systems, modeling and simulation, thermodynamic principles in biology, and engineering analysis of systems level biology and physiology.4 In addition, each student takes a sequence of advanced engineering courses within one of four focus areas: Biological Systems Engineering, Cellular/Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials, Computational Biology and Imaging, and Sensors, Microsystems and Instrumentation. The program challenges biomedical engineering majors to analyze problems from both an engineering and biological perspective.5 The department offers three degree programs to undergraduates:
According to the Department of Biomedical Engineering, most graduates work in one of three major areas: basic and applied research in an area of biomedical science, medical practice or research following graduate or medical school, or professional engineering practice in industrial settings, hospitals or biomedical institutions.9 Graduates are employed by universities, government laboratories, and industry to evaluate systems and develop products for use in the fields of biology and health. Their work ranges from research and development to more business-oriented aspects of engineering, such as sales, customer engineering and technical management.10 Those who pursue research and development in biomedical engineering will find the field heavily specialized. While there is continual change and creation of new specialty areas due to rapid advancement in technology and science, below are some of the more established areas of research that those interested in biotechnology should explore.11
These specialty areas are often interrelated and expanding. All areas of biomedical engineering require working with teams of physicians, nurses, therapists and technicians to solve problems. Because their skills include both medicine and engineering, they often serve as the interface between the two fields, connecting the needs of one with the abilities of the other.13 Communication abilities, both written and verbal, are particularly important because biomedical engineers often interact with specialists in a wide range of fields outside of engineering.14 Because teamwork is central to the work of biomedical engineers, they must be able to work cooperatively.15 Biomedical engineers must be comfortable working and presenting in all environments, including laboratories, hospitals, universities and corporations. Some biomedical engineers are technical advisors for marketing departments of companies while others work in management and strategic planning for large corporations The mission of the undergraduate degree program in Biomedical Engineering is to provide a state-of-the-art biomedical engineering education so that students will be prepared to enter graduate (MS or PhD) or professional (Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Business, Public Health or Law) schools, or to enter industrial careers in biomedical engineering or a related field.16 However, the field is extremely competitive, and students must be proactive to ensure that they are well qualified both in the classroom and in the workplace. Biomedical engineering students should first focus on becoming a good engineer, and then on acquiring a working knowledge of the life sciences and terminology.17 When entering the job market or applying for graduate school, graduates should be able to point to well-defined engineering skills as well as demonstrated real world experience. Pursuing both academic research and internship opportunities within the industry are ideal ways to obtain these skills.18
Hopkins Biomedical Engineering alumni go into a variety of career fields. Since 2003 the Career Center has surveyed recent graduates about their academic and career plans 6 months after graduation. Here is a summary of their responses. Hopkins Alumni in Biomedical Engineering inCircle - a professional and social networking site for Hopkins students and alumn where you can identify alumni by career field, major and orgnaization. LinkedIn.com -a professional networking site where you can identify Hopkins alumni. Join the LinkedIn Johns Hopkins University Alumni Group to add over 4000+ alumni to your network. The Career Center is here to help you navigate the graduate school search process. Click here for guidelines and preparing for Graduate School and Professional School. For information on the specific programs, the best people to talk to are the experts in your field you wish to study, faculty members and graduate students in that specific discipline. We strongly encourage you to talk with your advisor and other faculty members with whom you have a good working relationship. This will also help when you request letters of recommendation. The Career Center has a handout to guide you in asking for letters of recommendation. Professional Associations and Honor Societies Hopkins Biotech Network Links Accredited Programs:
Graduate Programs:
Biomedical Engineering Academic Program Annual Report:
Endnotes: 1 Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate
Advising Manual, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University 3 Bioengineering Overview, Sloan Career Cornerstone Center 4 Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Advising Manual, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University 5 ibid 6 ibid 7 ibid 8 ibid 9 ibid 10 ibid 11 Careers in Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Society 12 ibid 13 Bioengineering Overview, Sloan Career Cornerstone Center 14 ibid 15 ibid 16 Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Advising Manual, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University 17 Careers in Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Society 18 ibid |
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