Technology is a key feature of modern medical care: think X-rays, COVID test kits, pacemakers, knee implants, artificial limbs and MRIs. Doctors use these tools every day to provide critical care to patients across the world.
Many of these innovations are thanks to the efforts of biomedical engineers. Biomedical engineering , a subfield of bioengineering, sits at the intersection of engineering, biology and health care.
These engineers work at the cutting edge of a rapidly evolving industry, developing technical solutions to biological challenges. They often work with health care providers to identify problems in health care, then use their specialized skill set to design equipment, devices or computer systems.
“If you want to support, enhance or improve the condition a person has, then that would be an application of bioengineering,” says University of the Pacific bioengineering professor Shelly Gulati. “If you want to be able to do monitoring of health variables, steps, stuff like that, then that would be a way to measure health that requires an engineering solution.”
The health care field, like much of our economy, is highly technology-driven. You can see that reflected in the growing need for bioengineers and biomedical engineers. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data, for example, expects employment to grow by around 7% over the next decade. Compare that to the average career, which the BLS projects to grow by 4% in the same period.
If you’re thinking about getting into the field as you head toward college, we’ll go into more detail about how it differs from the broader field of bioengineering, cover what biomedical engineers do and go over some jobs you can do with the degree.
Bioengineering vs. biomedical engineering
Bioengineers use the principles and technology of engineering to tackle biological problems. As we’ve mentioned, you likely see their work when you go to the doctor. But they also do innovative work with consumer goods, energy or materials production, sustainability industries, agriculture and more.
For example, some food you eat may be bioengineered or made with bioengineered crops. Athletes use bioengineered technology to monitor and improve their training regiments. And bioengineering principles can be deployed to create sustainable biofuels.
“Students who come from the bioengineering perspective are motivated by the problem,” Gulati says. “They’re motivated by the application of the problem to one of those areas and they will learn what other disciplines’ information is going to be necessary to solve that problem.”
One of those problems is health, where is where biomedical engineering comes in. This field applies engineering concepts to biological systems and health care. It seeks to advance tools that help doctors provide better care for their patients.
Biomedical engineers may work on technologies used in diagnostics, like MRI machines, or in treatments like laser eye surgery. You might already benefit from these engineers’ work without even realizing it.
What do biomedical engineers do?
There are several pathways biomedical engineers can take. They may conduct research for a company, government body or other organization, creating or improving medical devices. In these roles, biomedical engineers connect patients’ problems with their specialized know-how.
“Observation is a really important part,” Gulati says. “You can explore the empathy piece of how that nurse or doctor engages with the patient. Asking how the patient was feeling through this process, asking a lot of those questions at the user level. And then, from there, designing a solution that would benefit that.”
Alternatively, they may work in production, ensuring a company creates high-quality, reliable technologies, medication or other goods.
Because of their specialization, biomedical engineers may also go into government service as part of a regulatory team. Some may also work as field engineers, installing and servicing specialized technologies
In any of these pathways, biomedical engineers have to identify problems, then draw upon a broad array of engineering or scientific disciplines to create appropriate solutions. The range of potential issues means there’s plenty of room to pursue work that calls upon your interests, whether that be robotics, neuroscience or chemistry.
Entry-level biomedical engineering jobs
Compared to other engineering fields, biomedical engineering is a young discipline. It’s also a fast-evolving one, as its advances build on each other and open new frontiers.
Joining the field means you will work with cutting-edge technologies and processes. It also opens doors for you to work on issues you’re really passionate about.
“Sometimes students will bring ideas like, ‘I observed my grandparent with this. They’re navigating the world with this challenge. How can I support and help with that?’” Gulati says. “We want to help that family have a higher quality of life.”
There are many avenues you can take into the field.
Biomedical field service engineer
You encounter biomedical devices in almost any health care environment, from doctor’s offices to hospitals. Field service engineers ensure those devices operate properly by installing, servicing and maintaining them.
Biomedical field service engineers may also train medical staff on proper use and care for the technology. Though you see them far less often than doctors and nurses, these engineers also play a vital role in your health care.
Systems engineer
Systems engineers take a broad view of the projects they work on and often remain involved with a product from its initial stages through development and production. They’re generally responsible for making sure all the pieces fit together, troubleshooting product issues and communicating with all parties involved.
Because biomedical engineers are trained to take this broad perspective, especially with an eye toward the relationship between a solution and the people who need it, they fit into these jobs very naturally.
Project engineer
The term “project engineer” covers a broad range of actual jobs which can vary widely depending on the company and industry. Generally, though, these positions are responsible for coordinating the technical side of a project.
Consider, for example, a project engineer who’s tasked with finding a solution for a client. They may work with a design engineer to identify or create the equipment which fits the project’s needs and budget. Then they might source the materials and coordinate with another team to assemble it into a functional product.
Other jobs
- Manufacturing engineer
- Clinical research associate
- Clinical specialist
- Process engineer
- Design engineer
Bioengineering at Pacific
If you want to pursue a career in biomedical engineering, Pacific’s bioengineering degree can give you a leg up as you enter the job market.
One of the biggest advantages of Pacific is its relatively small student population, averaging around 23 students per class. Because Pacific’s engineering programs have a strong emphasis on practical education and lab work, you’ll gain experience working on teams and develop relationships with your classmates.
Pacific also touts a 14-to-1 ratio of students to faculty members, which gives you more opportunities to build relationships with our faculty. That means there are opportunities to get involved in research, potentially even working alongside a professor.
On top of that, Pacific also offers the Cooperative Education (CO-OP) program. You can apply on an online job board for internships offered exclusively to Pacific students. These paid positions typically last for about six to eight months.
“That was one of the biggest attractors for UOP, because there is this company Abbott that I actually had the honor to work with,” Minervini says. “I knew they had this partnership and it’s easier to apply because you’re competing at the local level versus competing with students across the U.S.”
During her CO-OP internship with Abbott, Minervini worked as a systems engineer. Her team ensured the company’s devices met customer needs and regulatory requirements. Minervini’s work there also helped her secure an independent internship with the biotech company Genentech.
Unlike most other Pacific engineering programs, obtaining a CO-OP internship isn’t required to earn a bioengineering degree. That’s part of the degree’s flexibility, according to Gulati, who said students are encouraged to take advantage of bioengineering’s flexibility. They can specialize in certain topics through elective clusters, pursue research opportunities and/or get a CO-OP internship depending on what makes sense for them.
Finally, bioengineering students will also pull together their education and experience to work on a senior project. This gives you an opportunity to make a personal fascination into a real project.
“One example I can think of: students built a bioreactor that was intended to grow cells, care for cells and make sure they can live,” Gulati says. “That was related to a tissue engineering faculty research project.”
Showing your experience with a practical project can help you set yourself apart from other recent graduates as you enter the job market.
Biomedical engineering
If you’re looking for a way to combine your interests in engineering and innovative health care work, biomedical engineering might be the pathway for you. Pacific’s bioengineering program can help you step into this world, and potentially even create a product or technology that can help raise standards for patient care.
It’s a standout field for people with diverse interests, looking for a way to pull them all together. Biomedical engineering in the workforce can mean many different things, depending on the forms of science and engineering that you’re working with.
“Be ready for a lot of self-exploration,” Minervini says. “It’s not as straightforward as other engineering fields … because it overlaps with everyone else. You have to put in a lot of thought and try to get involved to understand what you would like to delve into more.”
