Students who enjoy math, physics and chemistry, but who also have a keen interest in biology and medicine, should consider a career in Biomedical Engineering (BiomedE). Synthetic heart valves, the MRI scanner, and automatic bio-sensors for rapid gene sequencing are each examples of BiomedE. BiomedE is the newest engineering discipline, integrating the basic principles of biology with the tools of engineering.

With the rapid advances in biomedical research, and the severe economic pressures to reduce the cost of health care, Biomedical Engineering plays an important role in the medical environment of the 21st century. Over the last decade, Biomedical Engineering has evolved into a separate discipline bringing the quantitative concepts of design and optimization to problems in biomedicine.

The opportunities for biomedical engineers are wide ranging. The medical-device and pharmaceutical industries are increasingly investing in biomedical engineers. As gene therapies become more sophisticated, biomedical engineers will have a key role in bringing these ideas into real clinical practice. Finally, as technology plays an ever-increasing role in medicine, there will be a larger need for physicians with a solid engineering background. From biotechnology to tissue engineering, from medical imaging to microelectronic prosthesis, from biopolymers to rehabilitation engineering, biomedical engineers are in demand.

Department Administration

Department Chair
Douglas Noll, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Professor, Professor of Radiology, Medical School
1107 Carl A. Gerstacker Building

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