Program Overview

Biomedical Engineering, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in biomedical engineering prepares students to use contemporary methods at an advanced level during a professional career in engineering design, development, and research. Each student's course of study is based on individual background, career objectives, and sound academic practice. An individual program for each student may be developed from courses offered by the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering and other departments, particularly mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physiology, mathematics, and biological sciences.

Overview of the Program

Faculty members in the department have teaching and research expertise in cardiovascular and fluid biomechanics, musculoskeletal biomechanics, biomaterials and tissue engineering, bioinstrumentation, biosystems, biomedical imaging, biological signal analysis, bioinformatics and computational biology, pulmonary engineering, computational neuroscience, and other allied fields. PhD programs may center on any one of the previously described areas through the choice of appropriate coursework and research topic.

Learning Outcomes

By completing the graduate curriculum in biomedical engineering, students will be able to:

• demonstrate broad knowledge of the field of biomedical engineering and deep knowledge in their specific area of study;
• communicate complex technical ideas concisely and effectively to both general and specialized audiences through verbal, visual, and written formats;
• formulate research questions, pose testable hypotheses, employ methods that enhance the reproducibility of research, and apply critical thinking skills to produce solutions to complex engineering problems that intersect with biology and human health; and
• operate with professionalism and under standards of ethical conduct.

Program Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy program in biomedical engineering requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate work, including acceptable transfer credit. At least 42 s.h. must be earned in formal coursework taken after the BSE is awarded, and at least 12 s.h. must be earned through research and the thesis. Students who enter with an MS may count a maximum of 30 s.h. of approved transfer credit toward the PhD, but they must earn 39 s.h. of graduate credit at the University of Iowa, including at least 12 s.h. in research and the thesis.

Graduate Core Courses

All PhD students must successfully complete the Graduate Core Courses as part of their graduate curriculum. Students are expected to complete them during their first year of study. The Graduate Core Courses include:

• ENGR:7270 Engineering Ethics
• HHP:3550 Human Physiology With Laboratory
• ME:5113 Mathematical Methods in Engineering (or equivalent graduate mathematics course; approval of academic advisor required before registering)

Admission Requirements

Admission to the PhD program is conditional until students successfully complete a qualifying examination. The biomedical engineering faculty administers the exam and decides whether a student's performance is adequate for admission to the PhD program. Admission to PhD candidacy requires a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 on all graduate work at the University of Iowa.

Combined Programs

Students may work toward the Doctor of Medicine degree and a PhD in biomedical engineering in a combined degree program offered by the Carver College of Medicine and the College of Engineering. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the combined degree program.

Career Opportunities

Biomedical engineers with PhDs can pursue career opportunities in the health care industry in the fields of biomedical devices, diagnostic equipment, and software. Graduates have started careers in research, design, development, sales, and entrepreneurship, and they have advanced to administrative and leadership positions in their organizations. Graduates also have careers with health care providers, such as in hospitals, or use their biomedical engineering expertise to advance careers in medicine and law. In addition, PhD graduates have careers in academia or at research institutions where they advance the understanding of human health.

Sample Plan of Study

A sample plan of study for the Biomedical Engineering PhD program is provided below:

• First Year:
  • Fall: BME:5010 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, ENGR:7270 Engineering Ethics, HHP:3500 Human Physiology, ME:5113 Mathematical Methods in Engineering, Other required course
  • Spring: BME:5010 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, Other required course, Other required course, Other required course
• Second Year:
  • Fall: BME:5010 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, Other required course, Other required course, Other required course
  • Spring: BME:5010 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, Other required course, Other required course, Other required course
• Third Year:
  • Fall: BME:5010 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, Optional coursework or additional research hours, Other required course, Other required course
  • Spring: Exam: Doctoral Comprehensive Exam, Dissertation Prospectus, BME:5010 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, Optional coursework or additional research hours, Optional coursework or additional research hours, Optional coursework or additional research hours
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: BME:5010 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, BME:7999 Research: Biomedical Engineering PhD Dissertation, Optional coursework or additional research hours
  • Spring: BME:5010 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, BME:7999 Research: Biomedical Engineering PhD Dissertation, Optional coursework or additional research hours, Exam: Doctoral Final Exam