The academic programs of the department of biological engineering educate and prepare next-generation leaders to advance bioscience and biotechnology via quantitative, integrative, and design-oriented analysis & synthesis of molecular and cellular biological mechanisms. This new generation of engineers and scientists is learning to address problems through their ability to measure, model and rationally manipulate the technological and environmental factors affecting biological systems. Biological Engineering is at the forefront of a new engineering discipline. BE is the discipline of study where engineering principles in design, synthesis, and analysis are applied to biology on the molecular and cellular level. In essence, the synthesis of the life sciences with engineering principles allows us to understand how biological systems and processes work, and guides us in the development of new technologies, materials, and systems for many different applications.

Our young department now has over 200 graduates. Our trends so far show that half of BE alumni decide to continue their education by attending top graduate and medical schools, while ten percent decide to move directly into industry and use their knowledge gained at MIT to work at new startups and established pharmaceutical companies. Twenty percent of BE alumni decide to use the analytical skills they have gained in BE in consulting and financial investments. Truly, a background in Biological Engineering keeps many doors open for future careers.