Revised: July 2021 Page 1
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Concentrations
Bioelectrics and Neural Engineering: Bioelectricity is the study of electrical fields and potentials within the body.
In the bioelectrical concentration students learn how to examine and control these fields towards developing medical
devices and restorative therapies. The core classes within this concentration focus on 1) examining nerve and cardiac
bioelectrical fields from a computational standpoint and 2) understanding techniques to model neurons and to
stimulate and record from individual and large populations of neurons. Electives within this concentration include
courses on medical imaging, systems-level neuroscience, and introductions to microelectronics and signal
processing. Students graduating from BME with a bioelectrical concentration will be able to work as engineers in
the rapidly expanding fields of neural engineering, medical diagnostics, and medical systems industries, or pursue
advanced degrees in medicine, basic medical sciences, or bioelectrical engineering. Advisor: Prof. Cindy Chestek
Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine: Biomaterials is the study of interactions between living and non-living
materials. Students trained in biomaterials must have a thorough understanding of the materials they work with and
properties of the biological system they seek to replace or regenerate. Biomaterials are also an integral component
in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Biomaterials research areas include: design of orthopaedic, dental,
cardiovascular and neuro-sensory prostheses, artificial organs, blood-surface interactions, cellular and tissue
engineering, drug delivery, biosensors, microencapsulation technology, and implant retrieval analysis. Students
graduating from BME with a concentration in biomaterials will be capable of working in the medical device, tissue
engineering or pharmaceutical industries, academic or government laboratories, or pursuing further education in
Ph.D. or professional programs. Advisor: Prof. David Kohn
Biomechanics and Biotransport: Biomechanics is a hybrid discipline requiring a thorough understanding of
classic engineering mechanics, physiology and cell biology, and the interface between the two. Biomechanics also
has important applications in cutting-edge fields like tissue engineering and mechanotransduction. In tissue
engineering, one tries to regenerate new tissues to replace defects in existing tissue. This requires knowledge of
tissue-mechanical function. Mechanotransduction is the study of how cells sense and react to mechanical stimulus,
a field with applications in such diverse areas as hearing (haircell movement in fluids) and orthopaedics (bone and
tendon response to physical stress). Graduates in this concentration will be prepared for a wide range of industries
concerned with mechanical effects on the human body including surgical device industries, automotive safety, and
biotech industries concerned with mechanically functional tissue. Students will also have excellent preparation to
attend medical school or pursue a Ph.D. Advisor: Prof. David Kohn
Biomedical Imaging and Ultrasonics: Since the invention of x-ray computerized tomography more than 25 years
ago, imaging has become the primary noninvasive diagnostic tool available to the clinician. Although many
principles are common to all imaging modalities, biomedical imaging scientists and engineers must understand the
basic physics and operating principles of all primary modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
radiography and nuclear medicine, optics, and ultrasound. Major biomedical imaging companies require such multi-
modality expertise to design new devices and procedures. In addition, clinical problems increasingly require the
techniques of cell and molecular biology to design both new contrast agents and imaging methods for a wider range
of applications. The biomedical imaging curriculum recognizes trends and requires students to have a solid
background in signal processing and imaging science, and simultaneously be literate in both the basic life sciences
and the basic operating principles of several imaging modalities. Graduates of this program will be well prepared
to work in the medical imaging industry, to attend medical school, or to study for a Ph.D. in BME. Advisor: Prof.
Xueding Wang
Biotechnology and Systems Biology: Advances in cellular and molecular biology have changed and expanded the
ways therapeutic devices and drugs are designed. Modern biotechnology depends on scientists and engineers who
study the fundamental properties of cell, molecular, and tissue biology, and apply these to engineer materials and
technology to interact with living systems. Goals include production of improved biomaterials for medical implants
and prosthetics, tissues engineered for specific functionality, and new therapeutic drugs. The biotechnology
