Academics

Biomedical engineering is a dynamic and growing field based upon the application of the tools of engineering to the subject matter of biology and medicine. At Brown, BME spans from basic science to immersion in the clinic, from head (neuroengineering) to toe (orthopedics), and from molecules through cells and tissues to whole organisms.

Undergraduate Program

About the Biomedical Engineering Concentration

Biomedical engineering is a dynamic and growing field based upon the application of the tools of engineering to the subject matter of biology and medicine. The undergraduate program in biomedical engineering is an independent concentration structured as a joint program between the Division of Biology and Medicine and the Division of Engineering. In this sense, the program has a different structure and course requirements than the tracks in other engineering disciplines. The program is managed under the umbrella of the Center for Biomedical Engineering. Students thus have access to the strong teaching and research programs of both Divisions as well as to a number of courses and research-programs existing at the interface between the two Divisions as well as Brown’s affiliated hospitals. Biomedical engineering at Brown is a unique and distinctive interdisciplinary vocation. Students must master much of the essential materials of two disciplines and be comfortable in two worlds, which utilize diverse tools in different ways to produce exciting results. Although considerable effort is required, the subject is truly fascinating and most students react to the field and its rigors and challenges with enthusiasm.

 

Graduate Program

The biomedical engineering program at Brown provides cutting-edge, interdisciplinary, graduate-level education at the interface of engineering, biology, and medicine. The program features an interdisciplinary approach in five, complementary research areas:  I) Biosensors & Bioplatforms, II) Integrative Biomaterials, III) Mechanobiology & Biomechanics, IV) Neuroengineering & Neurotechnology, and V) Tissue Regeneration & Engineering. Research in these areas is advancing the understanding of fundamental problems in engineering, biology, and medicine, while developing new therapies to improve the quality of life for people with medical problems. The program is distinguished by its quantitative rigor and strong collaborative connections among academic science, clinical medicine, and industry. Graduate students take engineering, biology, and medical school courses, gain valuable clinical experience at nearby teaching hospitals associated with Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School, and engage in stimulating internships at companies commercializing biomedical technologies. These opportunities, coupled with an emphasis on dissertation research, give graduate students both the intellectual and the practical skills required for developing today's emerging science into useful biomedical technologies and therapies.

 

BME Courses

Areas of Depth in the Biomedical Engineering Curriculum 

In addition to its emphasis on the fundamentals of life sciences, engineering, mathematics and chemistry, the courses and curriculum for biomedical engineering has four synergistic areas of depth that align with the teaching and research interests of the BME faculty. Below are some of the courses offered in those areas. New courses are being developed all the time, particularly the higher level graduate courses as well as special topics courses, so consult the most recent course catalog to find other courses offered by Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science and Biology & Medicine in these exciting areas.