Mechanical, electrical, computer, and materials engineering concepts are applied to medical disciplines biomedical engineers. They research the human body and apply their engineering skills to assist doctors and scientists in developing solutions to a variety of health issues. Degrees in biomedical engineering can lead to jobs in research, industry, and hospitals. Biomedical engineering is divided into several sub-disciplines from which a student can choose.
A bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in biomedical engineering is typically the first step for anyone interested in becoming a biomedical engineer. A bachelor of engineering (B.E.) or bachelor of science in engineering (B.S.E.) is the equivalent degree at some universities. A master of science (M.S.) or master of engineering (M.E.) degree can open up more career options, particularly for those who want to specialize in a narrow field. A doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in biomedical engineering is typically required for those interested in pursuing a research career in the field. Many biomedical engineers also pursue a doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree, allowing them to care for patients or conduct clinical research.
The majority of people who pursue biomedical engineering degrees specialize in one field, though they gain a basic understanding of other fields as well. In biomedical engineering, there are several sub-disciplines that can be roughly divided into those that work with medical instrumentation or computer modeling, and those that work more directly with the human body. The areas of orthopedic bioengineering and rehabilitation engineering, which both involve the creation of artificial biomaterials like bones, ligaments, and tendons, as well as the design of prosthetics and assistive technology, have the most overlap.
Bioinstrumentation is a component of biomedical engineering degrees in instrumentation and modeling. The design of devices and computers for diagnosing and treating disease falls under this category. Clinical engineers work in hospitals to ensure that the hospital’s instrumentation and computer records are up to par.
Computers are used to process experimental data and construct mathematical models of physiological responses in computational modeling, which is a large part of the field of systems physiology. It can even create human organ simulations that can be used to test new treatments. Genomes, proteins, and other cell components are studied using bioinformatics and computational biology. This is a process that necessitates a massive amount of data and is greatly aided and accelerated the use of computer programs.
Almost any part of the human body can be the focus of a biomedical engineering degree. Cardiovascular systems, tissue engineering, and biomechanics — which studies human movement — are some of the specializations available. Molecular, cell, and genetic engineers work at the molecular level and are also involved in nanotechnology.