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What can you do with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering?

Biomedical Engineering is a field that combines biological principles with technological or mechanical methods, resulting in medical devices designed to improve people's health and potentially even save lives. We'll run through popular career paths for biomedical engineering students.

May 10, 2023
  • Education
what-can-you-do-with-a-bachelor-s-degree-in-biomedical-engineering

What is biomedical engineering?

Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field that combines the principles of medicine, biology, and engineering to develop medical technology and healthcare solutions. It applies scientific principles to understand how

  • the human body works
  • develop systems and technologies that help diagnose and treat diseases
  • design medical devices and prosthetics such as pacemakers and X-ray machines
  • improve healthcare delivery systems
  • create computer simulations for analysis of biological processes.

Suppose you have a keen interest in Biology, Mathematics, and Science and want to impact the healthcare industry positively. In that case, a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering might be the right study program for you.

Biomedical engineering fields

Biomedical engineers can work in hospitals, universities, or research laboratories.

You will develop and improve medical equipment, instruments, and computer software for diagnosing disease. This includes designing medical implants such as prosthetics and orthotics, surgical robotics, and artificial organs. Additionally, you may be involved in creating new medical treatments and technologies to improve patient care.


Biomedical engineers can also be employed in the pharmaceutical industry.

You will utilize the skills you have learned during your Bachelor's in biomedical engineering to design drugs or new drug delivery systems. Additionally, biomedical engineers may help develop biotechnologies such as tissue engineering, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy. You could also use your degree to work in the biomedical device and health informatics industries, creating medical devices to monitor vital signs or developing innovative software for hospital databases.

Biomedical engineering careers in product testing and quality assurance

In addition to research and development, biomedical engineers can work in product testing and quality assurance. Biomedical engineers may be responsible for conducting safety tests on medical products before they are released to the public, ensuring their safety and effectiveness.

Overall, you can pursue various career paths with a biomedical engineering degree, depending on your interests and skill set. With the proper education and experience, you can make a real difference in the world by helping to improve medical treatments and patient care.


Popular biomedical engineer roles:

Bio-mechanical Engineer

You will integrate mechanics to integrate mechanics in solving medical or biological problems. You will be involved in developing innovative technology to enhance patients' lives, such as replacement heart valves, kidneys, or pacemakers.

Sometimes bioengineers may build custom devices for unique healthcare or research needs. An example would be building a device that repairs the damage inside the cancerous cells of an organ.

Rehabilitation Engineer

You will design, develop and evaluate technologies to improve the lives of people with physical disabilities. This may include developing tools to help rehabilitate patients or designing custom equipment such as wheelchair ramps, prosthetics, and hearing aids. You could also use your engineering skills to create computer software that helps people manage their disability-related activities more effectively.

Clinical Engineer

You will be responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing medical equipment. You will also have to manage the safety of medical devices such as X-ray machines or CT scanners. Additionally, you may assist in conducting research, developing protocols, and analyzing data related to clinical trials.

You may work with physicians to oversee the adaptation of equipment based on the unique requirements of the hospital. Clinical engineers may also work in medical product development and manufacturing companies.


Bioengineering Researcher

You will use the principles of engineering and life sciences to investigate and develop new medical treatments. This may involve conducting experiments, analyzing data, writing research papers, or presenting findings at conferences. You could also work on developing innovative medical technology, from improving existing prosthetics to creating artificial organs.

Bioengineering researchers collaborate with physicians, doctors, psychiatrists, or chemical engineers; they work on how a new drug can be used to understand what happens after a heart attack.

Biomedical Engineering Consultant

As a Biomedical engineering consultant, provide guidance and recommendations to institutions and organizations in the medical field, including:

  • Hospitals
  • Private clinics
  • Research Labs

Biomedical engineering consultants are vital in optimizing processes, implementing new medical technologies, and finding ways to make healthcare providers easier through various devices.

Biomedical engineering is a highly rewarding and complex field. With technological advancements, biomedical engineers can use their expertise to solve medical problems and improve patient care. As the world of healthcare continues to evolve, biomedical engineers will play an increasingly important role in developing innovative treatments and medical devices. Whether you want to develop new medical technology or help improve existing treatments, a biomedical engineering degree provides the skills and knowledge to pursue various exciting career paths. No matter what way you choose, with a biomedical engineering degree, you'll be able to make a difference in people's lives.

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Biomedical Engineering