Biomedical engineers play a vital role in the medical field. By developing new theories on life systems or designing medical instruments, the knowledge, inventions, and people behind many biomedical engineering jobs have improved lives all over the world. Biomedical engineers have made numerous contributions, including microscale devices to inhibit cell growth, artificial bones, tendons, and discs, highly sensitive monitors and medical imaging systems, artificial hearts, synthetic blood, medical robotics, and tissue engineering, to name a few.
Biomedical engineering jobs appear to originate in three areas: research, design, and instruction. Each has distinct responsibilities and areas of expertise. It is up to the individual to determine which area she is most interested in.
The term “biomedical research” encompasses a wide range of activities. Biomedical engineers who work in research must draw on a diverse set of skills in their daily work, including mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering backgrounds. Furthermore, all aspects of living systems, including anatomy and physiology, must be understood.
Medical devices will become the primary focus for those interested in biomedical engineering jobs with a design emphasis. They’ll work on artificial limbs, organs, surgical lasers, and other high-tech machines. They’ll also create systems to keep hospitals, labs, and clinics up to date on all of the procedures. Those involved in the design aspect of biomedical engineering may also be able to teach staff how to use the new devices they created.
Instruction is the third facet of biomedical engineering. On the university level, there are positions available. Those who accept biomedical engineering jobs as instructors will teach classes, advise students, serve on biomedical engineering committees, and participate in university research projects.
Fortunately, there are more biomedical engineering jobs that are specific to a specific area while still falling into one of the three categories listed above. A bioinstrumentation engineer, for example, will design devices that will be used to diagnose and treat various diseases. Computers, ranging from microprocessors to microcomputers used in medical imaging, are an important part of bioinstrumentation.
Biomaterials engineers, biomechanics engineers, clinical engineers, and systems physiology engineers are some of the other biomedical engineering jobs. Biomaterials engineers study and develop artificial materials used inside the human body to ensure that they are safe and compatible. Biomechanics engineers study how fluids work inside the body and how mechanics is applied to medical problems using the laws of mechanics. Clinical engineers work with doctors to ensure that medical devices and instruments purchased for hospitals meet their needs. Systems physiology engineers study a wide range of living organisms, from viruses to humans, using engineering strategies and techniques.