PhD in Bioengineering

Your degree will take your training to the next level, giving you the breadth of knowledge and the experience you need to make innovative change.

As a student in our doctoral program, you'll become a leader in the bioengineering field. You'll master the technological changes that are revolutionizing the medical profession.

A major feature of our curriculum is teaching students how to discover solutions through the creative process and then develop them to direct applications in clinical practice and commercialized technologies.

While you're here, you'll have the opportunity to work with some of the top scientists in the field.

• We develop computational models to study blood flow in the brain to understand how aneurysms form, progress, and rupture and to correct eye diseases. This work receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.

• We are using the latest ultrasound technology to improve prosthetics for arms, hands, and legs and to combine with photonics for high-resolution photoacoustic microscopy. These projects are funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense.

• We are putting together maps of neuron connections in the brain to understand brain function and studying dopamine pathways related to disease with funding from the National Institutes of Health.

• Our researchers are working on novel therapeutics using biomaterials and nanoparticles to treat cancer and tissue degeneration and to develop next-generation vaccines with support from the National Institutes of Health.

The PhD program is open to students with engineering or science degrees since an introductory set of courses provides complementary knowledge in either the biological or engineering fields not covered in the student's previous education. Each student then completes core courses in Research Methods, Multidisciplinary Research, Clinical and Commercialization Courses, and Statistics prior to 4 courses specializing in one of the following 4 concentrations:

• Biomedical Imaging and Devices

• Computational Biomedical Engineering

• Biomaterials and Nanomedicine

• Neurotechnology and Computational Neuroscience

University-wide technical electives and lab rotations are also included. Each student is guided through the process of a qualifying exam, research proposal, and research dissertation by a committee of four experts in the chosen field, leading to a broad foundation in Bioengineering combined with deep expertise in a chosen field. Our graduates go on to high-level industry and academic positions both nationally and internationally.

We will waive the application fee for applicants who submit their application by November 15. Please click here to complete the initial form prior to starting an application. This will prompt an email with further instructions. Please contact Carol McHugh for inquiries.

Check out the catalog for more information.

Graduate Student Handbook here.