Biomedical engineering is a multidisciplinary field that builds upon mathematics, physical sciences and chemical sciences; integrates engineering and life sciences; and is applied to wide-ranging issues in biology and medicine. The biomedical engineering program in the Department of Biomedical Engineering educates engineers in both breadth and depth of biomedical engineering, with specific activities in the domains of bioimaging; biotransport; biomaterials; biomechanics; molecular, cellular and tissue engineering; and micro/nano-biotechnology. Students are challenged to integrate the engineering and life sciences throughout the curriculum, including quantification of physiological processes, modeling and computer simulation of biological phenomena.

A majority of all biomedical engineers are employed by manufacturing industries, primarily in the medical instruments and supplies industries. Many pursue further professional training in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law and business, or further their education in graduate school. Biomedical engineers find jobs in health services, government agencies or as independent consultants. Newer areas of biomedical engineering are experiencing rapid growth, such as computer-assisted surgery and cellular/tissue engineering. In addition, the rehabilitation and orthopedic engineering specialties are growing, increasing the need for more biomedical engineers. Some employers of biomedical engineering graduates include Accenture, Epic, Johnson & Johnson, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Procter & Gamble, and Zimmer Biomet.