What Can I Do with a Biomedical Engineering Degree?

Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing field that combines engineering principles with medical science to design, develop, and implement solutions to healthcare problems. With a biomedical engineering degree, you can pursue a wide range of careers in the medical device industry, healthcare, research, and academia.

Explore Career Options in the Medical Device Industry

The medical device industry is a major employer of biomedical engineers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for biomedical engineers in this industry was $97,410 in May 2021. Some of the common job titles in this field include:

• Medical Device Design Engineer: Design and develop new medical devices and products, such as pacemakers, surgical robots, and diagnostic imaging systems.
• Medical Device Manufacturing Engineer: Oversee the production of medical devices, ensuring that they meet quality and safety standards.
• Medical Device Sales Engineer: Sell medical devices to hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers.
• Medical Device Regulatory Affairs Specialist: Ensure that medical devices comply with regulatory requirements and standards.
• Biomaterials Engineer: Develop and test new materials for use in medical devices and implants.

Pursue a Career in Healthcare

Biomedical engineers can also work directly in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and clinics. Some of the common job titles in this field include:

• Clinical Engineer: Maintain and repair medical equipment, ensuring that it is functioning properly and safely.
• Biomedical Equipment Technician: Install, calibrate, and maintain medical equipment.
• Healthcare Technology Manager: Manage the technology infrastructure and systems within a healthcare facility.

Conduct Research and Advance the Field

Biomedical engineers can also pursue careers in research and development. They can work in academia, government laboratories, or private industry to investigate new medical technologies and treatments. Some of the common job titles in this field include:

• Research Scientist: Conduct research in a specific area of biomedical engineering, such as biomaterials, tissue engineering, or medical imaging.
• Professor: Teach and conduct research in biomedical engineering at a university or college.
• Product Development Engineer: Develop new medical devices and products based on research findings.

Teach and Inspire the Next Generation

Biomedical engineers can also pursue careers in teaching. They can teach at universities, colleges, or technical schools to train the next generation of biomedical engineers. Some of the common job titles in this field include:

• Professor: Teach biomedical engineering courses and conduct research.
• Associate Professor: Assist professors in teaching and research.
• Assistant Professor: Teach introductory biomedical engineering courses and assist with research.

Generate Ideas for New Applications

Biocreative engineering is a new word that can be used to generate ideas for new applications of biomedical engineering. Biocreative engineering involves combining biological principles with engineering approaches to create innovative solutions to healthcare problems. Some potential areas for biocreative engineering include:

• Personalized medicine: Developing new treatments that are tailored to each patient’s individual needs.
• Regenerative medicine: Developing new ways to regenerate damaged tissues and organs.
• Bioelectronics: Developing new devices that can interface with the human nervous system.

Conclusion

With a biomedical engineering degree, you can pursue a wide range of careers in the medical device industry, healthcare, research, and academia. The field is growing rapidly, and there is a high demand for qualified biomedical engineers. If you are interested in making a difference in the world and improving people’s lives, then a biomedical engineering degree may be the right choice for you.

Additional Resources

• Biomedical Engineering Society
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
• American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

Tables

Table 1: Median Annual Salaries for Biomedical Engineers in Different Industries

Table 2: Common Job Titles for Biomedical Engineers in the Medical Device Industry

Table 3: Common Job Titles for Biomedical Engineers in Healthcare

Table 4: Common Job Titles for Biomedical Engineers in Research and Development