With projected job growth and strong research funding, the department will offer hands-on training, industry internships, and cross-campus collaboration.
In recognition of a growing field, Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (COECS) has created a Department of Biomedical Engineering. The newly established department will focus on three key areas: biomaterials and tissue engineering; smart health systems; and bio-robotics.
The COECS faculty are already performing state-of-the-art research and development around health and medicine funded by government funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Florida Department of Health, and other philanthropic entities. Sponsored research topics include advanced biomedical devices for point-of-care testing, tissue engineering, hybrid bio-robotics for assistive technologies, opto-electronics and bio-photonics, and processing and analyzing of bio-signals for detection of pathology.
The existing research in Florida Atlantic University’s engineering has created fertile ground for the formation of a new department dedicated to biomedical engineering and further boosts the COECS’s burgeoning research program, according to a release from the univeristy. Moreover, the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical engineering also will magnify research excellence university-wide through collaborations with the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Schmidt College of Medicine, and Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.
“The impetus to create our new Department of Biomedical Engineering was spurred by the significant projected growth of job opportunities related to this field nationally, statewide, and, in particular, in Southeast Florida,” says Stella Batalama, PhD, dean of Florida Atlantic University’s COECS, in a release. “We have invested in a brand-new clean room that will help our students learn micro- and nano-manufacturing techniques for medical devices and sensors as well as a new biomedical laboratory fully loaded with state-of-the-art instrumentation. These substantive investments together with the innovative educational curricula will collectively provide a hands-on educational experience in biomedical engineering, designing and manufacturing of devices and other technologies to improve health, while also preparing students for medical school or advanced studies.”
AI-Integration and Advanced Degrees
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a projected growth of 5% from 2022 to 2032 for employment of bioengineers and biomedical engineers, faster than the average for all other occupations (3%). As of May 2023, the median annual wage for bioengineers and biomedical engineers was $99,550.
“We are excited to launch our Department of Biomedical Engineering to provide students interested in both engineering and the medical fields with innovative curricula that focuses on technical knowledge, advanced research methods and instrumentation, integration of computer science knowledge, and internship opportunities. Florida Atlantic University’s four-year biomedical engineering program will be one of the first programs in the nation to offer the opportunity for studying and integrating artificial intelligence into a 4+1 BS/MS program. In this program, the students will receive a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering and a master’s in AI,” says Javad Hashemi, PhD, inaugural chair and professor of Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, who currently serves as associate dean for research and a professor in the COECS, in a release. “From cancer to neurological disorders to cardiovascular disease, our biomedical engineers will be the masterminds behind innovative AI-powered technologies and therapies that are changing the landscape of medicine and health care as we know it.”
In terms of more advanced degrees in the biomedical field, a flexible PhD program is being designed to accommodate formal joint student advising with faculty from Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Schmidt College of Medicine, and Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. An MD/PhD pathway also will be available for a select group of high-achieving students. All tracks within these programs require a research course, an internship with a medical institution or industry and will offer an opportunity for an international experience.
Enrollment Open Now
Florida Atlantic University expects to enroll approximately 25 students by the end of year one and about 200 students by year four. The new Department of Biomedical Engineering is located on the Boca Raton campus with courses and laboratory work also available on the John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter.
“The Department of Biomedical Engineering is an exciting addition to our programs within the College of Engineering and Computer Science and builds on our existing strengths and resources, our stellar faculty, and the outstanding collaborations we have across the university,” says Batalama in a release. “Biomedical engineering students will learn from faculty across many engineering departments and will be part of cross-disciplinary collaborations on campus and throughout the community.”
According to the American Society for Engineering Education, in 2021, 8,165 bachelor’s degrees were awarded nationally for biomedical engineering, ranking in the top 10 degrees awarded in engineering disciplines, just slightly below computer engineering (8,244).
Applications are being accepted for admission this year. For more information or to apply, contact Javad Hashemi, PhD, at 561-297-3438 or [email protected].
Photo caption: The Department of Biomedical Engineering will focus on biomaterials and tissue engineering, smart health systems, and bio-robotics.
Photo credit: Alex Dolce
