Majors at the University of Connecticut

Biomedical Engineering

Pacemakers, lasers, life support systems, and medical imaging techniques are all products of teams of biomedical engineers. Biomedical engineering is the combination of fundamentals in engineering, biology and medicine. Through cross-disciplinary studies, students work to improve healthcare by applying analytical and experimental techniques to medical needs. Biomedical engineers study biological structures and apply this knowledge to design medical devices and evaluate new tools used to diagnose disease and repair/replace diseased organs. Individuals who choose this engineering major usually do so because they want to work in the health field and because they want to be of service to people.

Academic Department

• UConn's Department Biomedical Engineering

Nature of Work

Graduates of the Biomedical Engineering Program can work in a variety of environments. However, no matter where they work the result of their labors is the same. Individuals design devices and techniques that involve mechanical means of operation. In order to achieve this result, they must carry out research and analyze their results to acquire the knowledge needed to solve new problems. They must then apply their findings to practical medical and biological products. The field of biomedical engineering is vast, therefore most scholars develop a specialization, and because of this, the nature of work is a little different.

Sample Job Titles

Potential Employers

Biomedical engineering graduates can find employment in the manufacturing industry, hospitals--in selection and use of medical equipment, research facilities of education and medical institutions, and in teaching. The government is another potential employer. Biomedical engineering graduates can work for regulatory agencies, performing product testing and establishing safety standards. Marketing departments also hire technical advisors to ensure accuracy.

Useful Skills

One important skill for students to have is excellent communication abilities. Often biomedical engineers are the link between professionals with medical, technical and other backgrounds, so the ability to communicate effectively is very important. Research and analytical skills are also very important. Individuals should be observant, technologically inclined, and define themselves as problem-solvers.

Getting Experience

UConn offers a combination of classroom and laboratory instruction with real world experience in industry through co-ops and internships. These are excellent ways for students to gain career related experience. Other opportunities to increase experience level include participating in a shadowing or work study program. These practical experiences serve two major functions: to increase a student's marketability, and to provide the student with knowledge to make an informed decision about future specialization.

Employment Opportunities

As research expands it creates new developments in technology. As new technology is developed the levels of research expand. Thus employment opportunities will continue to grow, most rapidly in the research industry. Hospitals and educational institutions will also remain strong employers of biomedical engineers.

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