Biomedical Engineering in 2023

Biomedical Engineering in 2023

The reason is simple: Biomedical engineers are basically the rock stars of science, applying principles like chemistry, biology, electronics, and math to make amazing things possible that would otherwise seem impossible. The possibilities of this broad field will continue to expand over the next few years as technology continues to evolve at an explosive rate—all the more reason why it’s important to keep learning more about it now!

What you need to study

Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies engineering principles and design to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes. This includes therapeutic interventions and health diagnostics. It also includes diagnosis, medical instrumentation, robotics, biomaterials, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, gene therapy and nanotechnology-based diagnostic systems for early detection of diseases or to improve the treatment options. 

Therefore to study biomedical engineering you will need not only experience with various design applications but also knowledge of computer hardware and software as well as extensive mathematics skills in order to calculate things like fluid dynamics and make adjustments based on results from modeling programs such as Matlab.

Which companies are leaders today

NuTek Medical and Zimmer Biomet are two companies that represent leaders today. NuTek is a company based in Silicon Valley, California that provides software for diagnostic products for the healthcare industry, supplying hospitals with point-of-care devices to measure human immune systems. Zimmer Biomet is a medical technology firm that manufactures products for the health care industry, focusing on orthopedics, neuroscience, and cardiovascular devices. Together these two companies comprise over 50% of the current biomedical engineering market.

Where do engineers get jobs?

Engineers generally find jobs in the manufacturing, research and development, or construction industries. Within these industries, engineers are typically either applied or design engineers. Applied engineers are hands-on problem solvers who have a mechanical or electrical engineering background and solve problems through experimentation, analysis, and testing. Design engineers concentrate on new product development, utilizing CAD software to explore different ideas and provide 3D models for modeling prototypes that can be tested.

degree after graduation?

Biomedical engineering students have a wide range of jobs to choose from. Students may be employed as biomedical engineers, or get a job as an engineer with another company and use their skills for biomedical engineering when designing new products, such as medical equipment. Other options are to apply your knowledge in research or academia. 

Many schools offer these opportunities through summer programs, student projects and co-ops that give you hands-on experience. Explore them all before you decide on a major so you can discover which one is the best fit for you!

How do I stay relevant and keep learning?

I am consistently looking for opportunities to learn about innovations in the field. Whether it's hearing about them from friends or finding out myself, I try to make time for things that will help me keep current with my knowledge and industry trends. For instance, a few weeks ago I found out that someone who works at one of the companies I'm interested in reached out through LinkedIn with an opportunity to speak on a panel. One thing that has helped me do this is by following relevant Twitter feeds and Facebook pages, reading publications like IEEE Pulse, or downloading podcasts. In addition to professional activities such as conferences, symposia and workshops; keeping up with new technology developments can also be done by following events taking place on YouTube or attending Maker Faires sponsored by organizations like TechShop.