Posted on July 3, 2009 by jmmeijer
I have suggested a number of times on this blog that biomedical engineering programs need to increase the level of traditional engineering content. Here is an anecdotal example of a corporation asking for this type of experience for a senior Principal Research Engineer position. Whoever created the description had been told or had decided that only Biomedical Engineer/Bioengineer degrees with a “solid core” of traditional engineering would be acceptable. Note the degree level to which this applies to is M.S. and Ph.D. No similar requirement was given for the other engineering degrees. The requirement can’t be used because the other acceptable degrees are traditional engineering degrees. The description clearly implies that they are not interested in seriously considering the qualifications of individuals without significant traditional engineering coursework or experience applying traditional engineering theory. I think the implications are clear for newly graduated B.S. Biomedical Engineers/Bioengineers as well. New hires and advancement at this corporation need to demonstrate significant traditional engineering education or experience.
This is only one corporation for a sampling of similar feedback from engineers working in the medical device and pharmaceutical field see:
Biomedical Industry Feedback
Excerpt from job announcement;
“SOURCE: Respironics
POSITION: Principal Research Engineer(2309BR)
REQUIREMENTS:
Education: MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
or Materials Science; or Biomedical Engineering (BME) / Bioengineering
with solid core in traditional engineering disciplines.”

Filed under: Bioengineering Curriculum, Bioengineering Jobs, Biomedical Engineering Jobs, Career Related Data, Engineering Education | Tagged: Biomedical Engineering Careers, Biomedical Engineering Curriculum, Biomedical Engineering Jobs | Leave a Comment »
Posted on July 3, 2009 by jmmeijer
The Biomedical Engineering programs attract a higher proportion of women than any other engineering program. I thought it would be interesting to show just how high the proportion is in some programs. I am not aware of any explanation. My guess is that the opportunity to contribute to the health of the community may be a motivating factor. People who work in the healthcare field are typically attracted to the prospect of helping patients in need. Biomedical Engineering positions hold the promise of working on projects that will positively impact the lives of many patients if they proceed to commercialization.
| School |
Total Graduates |
% Female |
| Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus |
71 |
49% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus |
35 |
49% |
| Mississippi State University |
25 |
48% |
| University of Miami |
25 |
48% |
| The University of Texas at Austin |
91 |
46% |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus |
22 |
45% |
| Stony Brook University |
20 |
45% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus |
36 |
44% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh |
36 |
44% |
| Washington State University |
9 |
44% |
| Yale University |
21 |
43% |
| University of Rochester |
35 |
43% |
| University of Pennsylvania |
61 |
43% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
54 |
43% |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
31 |
42% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus |
91 |
42% |
| Carnegie Mellon University |
41 |
41% |
| SUNY at Binghamton |
17 |
41% |
| Louisiana Tech University |
17 |
41% |
| Johns Hopkins University |
110 |
41% |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering |
22 |
41% |
| Syracuse University |
27 |
41% |
| University of Connecticut |
37 |
41% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
52 |
40% |
| Drexel University |
72 |
40% |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham |
10 |
40% |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus |
70 |
40% |
| Case Western Reserve University |
101 |
40% |

Filed under: Bioengineering, Bioengineering Curriculum, Biomedical Engineering, Colleges and Universities | Tagged: Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Curriculum | Leave a Comment »
Posted on July 3, 2009 by jmmeijer
The Biomedical Engineering programs attract a higher proportion of women than any other engineering program. I thought it would be interesting to show just how high the proportion is in some programs. I am not aware of any explanation. My guess is that the opportunity to contribute to the health of the community may be an important motivating factor. People who work in the healthcare field are typically attracted to the prospect of helping patients in need. Biomedical Engineering positions hold the promise of working on projects that will positively impact the lives of many patients if they proceed to commercialization.
| School |
Total Graduates |
% Female |
| Florida International University |
25 |
64% |
| Bucknell University |
13 |
62% |
| Oregon State University |
17 |
59% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology |
26 |
58% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University |
28 |
57% |
| Texas A & M University |
45 |
56% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus |
22 |
55% |
| Tufts University |
48 |
54% |
| Saint Louis University-Main Campus |
17 |
53% |
| Brown University |
16 |
50% |
| University of Toledo-Main Campus |
28 |
50% |
| Western New England College |
8 |
50% |

Filed under: Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Curriculum, Colleges and Universities | Tagged: Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Curriculum, Biomedical Engineering Student | Leave a Comment »
Posted on June 27, 2009 by jmmeijer
Top 20 schools which offer B.S. Biomedical Engineering degrees by graduating class size. These schools represent 1641 graduates. They represent about half the total number of B.S. BME graduates for 2007. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 300 new Biomedical Engineering jobs every year between 2006 and 2016. As can be seen there is a significant mismatch between the actual number of graduates and the projected number of jobs. Anyone interested in these programs should note that the size of a department does not necessarily indicate a high level of quality when it comes to preparing a student for a corporate career.
How to increase your odds;
Experience Will Help Get You That Biomedical Engineering Position
Additional information;
The Number of Biomedical Engineers Graduating into Job Market in 2007 vs. Job Projections
| School |
Total Graduates |
Male |
Female |
| University of California-San Diego |
166 |
113 |
53 |
| Duke University |
118 |
86 |
32 |
| Johns Hopkins University |
110 |
65 |
45 |
| Case Western Reserve University |
101 |
61 |
40 |
| The University of Texas at Austin |
91 |
49 |
42 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus |
91 |
53 |
38 |
| University of California-Irvine |
84 |
52 |
32 |
| Vanderbilt University |
83 |
55 |
28 |
| Drexel University |
72 |
43 |
29 |
| University of California-Davis |
71 |
46 |
25 |
| Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus |
71 |
36 |
35 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities |
71 |
45 |
26 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus |
70 |
42 |
28 |
| University of California-Berkeley |
70 |
51 |
19 |
| Northwestern University |
69 |
48 |
21 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
66 |
40 |
26 |
| University of Pennsylvania |
61 |
35 |
26 |
| Washington University in St Louis |
60 |
42 |
18 |
| University of Southern California |
60 |
38 |
22 |
| Marquette University |
58 |
40 |
18 |

Filed under: Bioengineering Jobs, Biomedical Engineering Job Outlook, Biomedical Engineering Jobs, Career Related Data, Colleges and Universities, Program Information | Leave a Comment »
Posted on June 7, 2009 by jmmeijer
Sometimes it seems that the future has always been with us. The new genomic revolution in medical science that we are experiencing is and will give scientists and engineers unparalleled control of biological organisms. One organism which may help revolutionize medicine is the bacteriophage. Basically a bacteria killing machine it has been researched and in use for years in Europe and Russia with considerable success. In 2006 the FDA approved the use of bacteriophages to reduce pathogens in food processing plants by using them to clean surfaces touched by food products. First applications were to be in Europe where use of this organism is more accepted than in the U.S.
Legions of fierce ‘bacteria-eaters’ march on
FDA Approves Viruses as Food Additive for Meat
Bacteriophage

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »