Biomedical Engineering

What You'll Do in a Biomedical Engineering Career

Combining biology and medicine with engineering, biomedical engineering professionals develop devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems. Many biomedical engineers do research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals. Biomedical engineers also design devices used in various medical procedures, such as the computers used to analyze blood or the laser systems used in corrective eye surgery.

Biomedical Engineering Job Opportunities

Biomedical engineers stand at the forefront of making the U.S. a healthier place. Their technical expertise and training prepares them for work in scientific research and development; for companies that manufacture pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies, and other health-related products; and for medical and surgical hospitals. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that biomedical engineeringoccupations will experience a phenomenal 72 percent employment growth rate between 2008 and 2018. Several factors have influenced the high demand for engineers who understand how to develop sophisticated medical devices and equipment:

• An aging population and a growing focus on health issues—biomedical engineering produces the leading-edge medical tools that can accurately and efficiently help diagnose, or rule out, serious medical conditions.
   
• Cost-effectiveness—when it comes to manufacturing complex medical devices and supplies, biomedical engineers have the medical and engineering expertise that companies need to produce that equipment in a cost-effective manner.

The Future of Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering fosters a positive relationship between medical science and technology, with the goal of achieving maximum benefits for human health and well-being. Consider just a few examples of the ways in which biomedical engineering continues to make an impact on everyday life in the U.S.:

• ScienceDaily reports that recent research conducted at Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES) has helped advance cancer detection and progression in the human body based on a revolutionary new technology called microfluidics, the behavior of fluids at the microscale level.
   
• According to News-Medical.net, biomedical engineering researchers at North Carolina State University recently developed a "smart coating" that helps surgical implants, such as hips, knees and dental replacements, better bond with bone, warding off infection and even encouraging bone growth.
   
• BusinessWeek details how biomedical engineering researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered through lab tests that rocking embryos before implanting them into the womb has the potential to increase the success of in vitro fertilization.

Biomedical Engineering Degrees

Performing the complex work of biomedical engineering requires highly specialized biomedical training. Biomaterials, biomechanics, medical imaging and orthopedic engineering are just a few of the specialties students can choose. Additionally, the BLS indicates that most biomedical engineers need a sound background in another engineering specialty, such as mechanical or electronics engineering.

Colleges and universities throughout the U.S. offer bachelor's, master's and PhDprograms in biomedical engineering. According to the BLS, a majority of biomedical engineering positions, particularly those in research and development, require a master's degree or higher. And IEEE indicates that many biomedical engineers go on to medical or dental school after earning their bachelor's degree.

Online Degree Options for Biomedical Engineers

Students interested in online education will find a handful of accredited colleges offering undergraduate and advanced degree programs in biomedical engineering. In particular, graduate students may find that an engineering master's degree with a specialization in biomedical engineering is the more prevalent online degree option.

Biomedical Engineer Salary

As the BLS reports, biomedical engineers earn a median annual salary of $77,400. Overall, annual salaries for biomedical engineers range from $47,640 to $121,970. The United States employs just over 15,000 biomedical engineers nationwide. And the top-paying states for the occupation include: Massachusetts, Minnesota, California, Connecticut and Illinois.