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Bioelectric concentration

The Bioelectrical concentration has two components:

1. A track emphasizing the technology of micromachined measurement and activation devices which are components of implantable devices such as Neuroprostheses or pacemakers. This program will give students a circuits background with some experience in the fabrication of solid-state devices.

2. The theory and practice of systems related to modeling of physiological systems and the design of integrated sensor and actuator systems. The systems option program allows the student to obtain a background in signal processing and control.

The bioelectric area has a long history of education and research in both EE and BME graduate programs. This new degree program allows students to pursue these areas in an integrated fashion much sooner and obtain a strong foundation in Electrical Science and Engineering that flows smoothly into graduate studies in Biomedical Engineering. A goal is to produce students who can see the interdependence of different engineering disciplines in the development of modern medical devices and analysis systems. Individuals completing this program will be able to work as engineers in the rapidly expanding medical diagnostic, therapeutic and systems industry. Others could pursue Ph.D. programs in either Electrical Engineering, Systems Science or Biomedical fields or advanced degrees in medicine or basic medical science.Using this background to enter any of these areas will assure a long-term appreciation of the interdisciplinary approach.

Biomechanics concentration

Biomechanics permeates a wide range of fields that affect our everyday lives. Examples include designing work tasks to reduce physical stresses, designing surgical fixation devices to withstand load bearing, and designing vascular protheses and surgical procedures that ensure proper blood flow. As such, biomechanics is truly 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 tissues. This requires knowledge of tissue mechanical function. Mechanotransduction is the study of how cells sense and react to mechanical stimuli, a field with applications in such diverse areas as hearing (hair cell movement in fluids) and orthopaedics (bone and tendon response to physical stress). The goal of the biomechanics concentration is to provide the student with a rigorous background in the classical engineering fields of dynamics, solid mechanics and fluid mechanics, as well as the life science disciplines of physiology and cell and molecular biology. More importantly, the concentration teaches the student how to integrate mechanics and biology. Graduates in this concentration will be prepared for a wide range of industries concerned with mechanical affects on the human body including, but not limited to, 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 in biomedical engineering.

Biochemical concentration

Advances in cellular and molecular biology have changed and expanded the ways that 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 this to engineer chemicals and materials 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 curriculum emphasizes critical areas of chemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology, but also exposes student to a broad range of engineering approaches necessary for this interdisciplinary field. Graduates of this program will be well prepared for jobs in the pharmaceutical or medical device industries, to attend professional schools, or study for a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering.