Biomedical Engineering

Sagar Patel

POE Career Report

10/09/09

1
 Table Of Contents

General Description Pg. 3-4

Job Prospects Page Pg. 5, Appendix A

Undergraduate Prep. Pg. 6 – 8

Interview Pg. 9 – 10, Appendix B

Work Cited Pg. 11

2
 General Description

Biomedical Engineering, also called BME, is applying engineering skills,

analyzing, and problem-solving skills in medicine and also in biomedical sciences to

research and answer questions. Also, skills of engineering, biological sciences, and

medicine come together to improve the quality of human health and life . A lot of

biomedical engineers answer questions that other people ask . They research, solve,

and explain their answers. A lot of medical problems use engineering to help them

solve their problems. “Biomedical engineers combine biology, medicine, and

engineering and use advanced knowledge of engineering and science to solve

medical and health-related problems.” (CollegeGrad) Engineers also test and

evaluate medical products and systems. A biomedical engineer has to have expertise

in three types of sciences, engineering, biological, and medical . Someone who wants

to become an engineer in this field needs to have high sufficient amount of scientific

and technical knowledge. Biomedical engineering is usually based on the traditional

engineering grounds. If you want to get deeper and have a specific type of

engineering under biomedical, there are ones such as medical electronics, clinical

engineering, biomaterials, and rehabilitation engineering . Biomedical engineers also

involved with the management of technology in hospitals and health car delivery .

3
Most biomedical engineers work in hospitals, industries, academic areas, and

somewhere in government bodies. In this field, a lot of communication is happening

between you and your co-workers. Working in teams is a big part of biomed

engineers. Most of the things you do in biomed is a lot of lab work, emailing people

to communicate results and failures, ask questions, answer questions, inform other

people about current projects. “It is a interdisciplinary field,”(Jim Patton) meaning

all of the information does not come from one person, a group of people work

together. Big part of this field is being able to work with others and communicating .

4
 Job Prospects

Employing industries:

 Hospitals

 Schools

 Government Agencies

Salary :

$80,000 to around $100,000

Job Postings: Appendix A

5
 Undergrad Prep

ABET Universities:

 University of Michigan
 Bucknell University
 Purdue University

Undergraduate Courses :

Freshman Year  

First Semester Hours

MATH 180—Calculus I 5

ENGR 160—Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and

3
Public Content

BIOS 100—Biology of Cells and Organisms 5

BIOE 101—Introduction to Bioengineering 2

Second Semester Hours

MATH 181—Calculus II 5

PHYS 141—General Physics I (Mechanics) 4

ENGL 161—Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and

3
Research

CHEM 112—General College Chemistry I 5

ENGR 100—Orientation 0

Sophomore Year

First Semester Hours

6
 MATH 210—Calculus III 3

PHYS 142—General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) 4

BIOE 240—Models of Physiological Data and Systems 3

CHEM 114—General College Chemistry II 5

BIOS 286—Biology of the Brain 3

Second Semester Hours

MATH 220—Introduction to Differential Equations 3

BIOE 250—Clinical Problems in Bioengineering 3

ECE 210—Electrical Circuit Analysis 3

CME 260—Properties of Materials 3

CS 108—Fortran Programming for Engineers 3

Junior Year

First Semester Hours

BIOE 339—Biostatistics I 3

BIOE 325—Biotransport 3

PHYS 244—General Physics III (Modern Physics) 3

BIOE 310—Biological Systems Analysis 3

BIOS 484—Neuroscience I 3

Second Semester Hours

BIOE 205—Bioengineering Thermodynamics 3

ECE 430—Bioinstrumentation and Measurements I 3

BIOE 431—Bioinstrumentation and Measurements I 2

Laboratory

7
 Concentration Area Electives 6

General Education Core course 3

Senior Year

First Semester Hours

BIOE 460—Materials in Bioengineering 3

BIOE 396—Senior Design I 3

Concentration Area Elective 3

General Education Core courses 6

Second Semester Hours

BIOE 397—Senior Design II 3

BIOE 475—Neural Engineering I 3

BIOE 476—Neural Engineering I Laboratory 2

Concentration Area Elective 2

General Education Core courses 6

Interview

Jim Patton

218 SEO, MC 063,

851 South Morgan Street

Chicago, Illinois 60607-7052   

(312)413-7664  

1)Q. Why did you choose to become a biomedical engineer?

A. Jim was fascinated with the human body, he wanted to go to medical school, but
had a good aptitude in engineering.

8
2)Q. What college(s) did you attend for this field?

A. He attended University of Illinois for his undergraduate for degrees in mechanics

and biomedical engineering. Then went to Michigan State for his masters. And lastly
he attended North Western for his PhD in biomedical engineering. He also got his
post doctorate at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

3)Q. What are some things you do during the day?

A. Reading emails is a big thing, he spends half his day emailing other people about
the labs and research he does, answers to people like me for interviews, and writes
journal articles after his research. Then he teaches his students or helps his
students, prepares for class, writes up reports, makes presentations. Also he has a
lot of meetings to go to. The day of the interview, he has two meetings for a project
they were working on at UIC.

4)Q. What are some classes you had to take for this field?

A. Jim said he took typical classes, mostly science and math based. Calculus, Biology,
Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Statistics and Dynamics.

5)Q. How much do you think someone could expect to make in this field?

A. He said straight out of college, with a good find, around $70,000.

6)Q. How many years did it take you to finish the schooling for biomedical
engineering?

A. Jim had a longer time than normal person would because of “gaps,” but four and a
half years for his undergrad, two and a half for masters and four and a half for his
PhD. Ending up at a total of eleven and a half years.

7)Q. What are some positive things about this career?

A. He loved the traveling, self decision to do what he wants, ask and find answers to
his own questions, chooses what to study, gets to teach, loves to research, likes the
lab and using the machines, and also being a mentor to the students.

8)Q. What are some negative things about this career?

A. One thing is that he doesn’t have his own secretary, because of money being tight,
he doesn’t have a lot of people to work under him. Also he is so busy with his work,
he doesn’t have time to think of other stuff.

9)Q. What do you usually do at your work?

A. He teaches, does his own lab work, overviews the lab, works with others, replies
to peoples emails, meetings with team members, and talk about how to conduct
experiments.

9
10)Q. What intrigues you the most about biomedical engineering?

A. Well he started off working for ford as a mechanical engineer, but it didn’t feel
right, so he feels that in biomedical engineering helps change the world.

11)Q. What advice would you give to a student who is interested in biomedical
engineering?

A. He emphasized that math is very, very important. He said to always think like a
scientist, also said to ask a lot of questions, and think a lot.

Work Cited

"Biomedical engineering -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 05 Oct. 2009.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomedical_engineering>.

"Biomedical Engineering Program Earns Initial ABET Accreditation || Bucknell

University." Welcome to Bucknell || Bucknell University. Web. 08 Oct. 2009.

<http://www.bucknell.edu/x55773.xml>.

10
"Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University." College of Engineering, Purdue

University. Web. 08 Oct. 2009. <https://engineering.purdue.edu/BME/>.

"BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING WEB." BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING WEB - Main Page.

Web. 04 Oct. 2009.

<http://www.bme.uconn.edu/ugrad/bmeugradmnu.htm>.

"Biomedical Engineers: Training, Salary, & Career Information." CollegeGrad.com.

Web. 05 Oct. 2009. <http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/proft09.shtml>.

"UIC - Bioengineering." Welcome to UIC. Web. 10 Sept. 2009.

<http://www.uic.edu/depts/bioe/index.htm>.

"What is Biomedical Engineering?" Web. 04 Oct. 2009.

<http://www.gsbme.unsw.edu.au/whatisit.htm>.

Appendix A

1. Unknown Business Name

BioTech/BioMedical/Science
Full Position
Location: Chicago Illinois 60601
Experience Level: 0-2 years
Requirements: Requirements: Prepares final report incorporating
information from all sources. FTE status: FT-80 Requirements Master of
Science in biomedical or mechanical engineering with strong background in
biomechanics is required. Bachelor of Science considered with significant
relevant experience in biomechanics. Minimum experience is 2-3 years in
biomedical or biomechanics. Experience working with children with
neuromuscular disabilities and the treatment approaches available for these
patients is highly desired. Experience working with athletes and the

11
 treatment approaches available for these patients is highly desired. Other
requirements include previous exposure to the techniques involved in
kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic data collection, the interpretation
of pathological and normal gait analysis data, sports biomechanics data and
ability to effectively communicate with laboratory staff, physicians, and
research project investigators. Computer literacy, including ability to work in
Windows environment, is required.
Salary: Not Posted
Link:
http://www.careerjet.com/job/b5f81c4b0396d4fd10104b7e5ccd3217.html

2. Vista Medical Center East

Biomedical Electronics Technician/Clinical Engineering
Full Time
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Description: The successful Biomedical candidate will apply electronics
principles and materials technology to healthcare. This includes repairing,
calibrating and testing medical devices for patients needs and managing the
use of clinical equipment in a hospital setting.
Education Requirements: Bachelor’s or Associates in Biomedical Electronics
Technology or Engineering, or equivalent military training in medical
equipment maintenance.
Experience: 3-5 Years in the biomedical field. MUST HAVE HOSPITAL
EXPERENCE ON MEDIAL EQUIPMENT.

Hours per shift – 8; Hours per week – 40, Day Shift.

Link: https://chs.taleo.net/careersection/10001/jobdetail.ftl?
lang=en&job=474042&src=JB-12080 &
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?
ipath=EXIND&siteid=cbindeed&Job_DID=J3G0RT6067KJGLW77L7

3. Central DuPage Hospital

Biomedical Clinical Engineer Manager
Location: Winfield, Chicago
Supervise activities of biomedical equipment technicians engaged in
maintenance, repair, and calibration, of biomedical equipment used by
medical facilities. Apply computer knowledge, and analyze and solve work
problems, and assist employees to solve problems.
Requirements: Bachelors Degree, requisite industry and management
experience, minimum of 5 years related experience. Knowledge of preventive
and corrective care standards for Biomedical, Radiology, and Oncology
equipment is essential.
Salary: Not Listed.
Employment Type: Full Time

12
 Link: http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?
IPath=QHKCV&ff=21&APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J3F6B169C88D5FFM3Z2

4. Cleveland Medical Devices Inc.

Job Type: Full Time
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Developing diagnostics and rehabilitation systems for those who movement
disorders resulting from clinical disorders. Clinical data collection and
organization, analysis and signal processing and assisting in the clinical
validations, test engineer, product development, and assistance with
regulatory documentation, and prep.
Requirements: B.S. in biomedical engineering with at least 2 years
experience.
Experience in physiological signals processing and analysis, using data
acquisition hardware and software, and proficiency in technical writing.
Link: http://cleveland.careerboard.com/cgi-bin/a/highlightjob.cgi?
jobid=423911&job_id=423911&source=indeed

Appendix B

Email for Interview

To Jim Patton:
Too whom it may concern,

I am Sagar Patel, a student at Maine East High School, and I am looking for an
engineer to interview for a school project for an engineering class. This is a career
research project. I wanted to interview a biomedical engineer because the field
intrigues me.  Please let me know at your earliest convince when you are available
for a phone interview. Thank You.

Hope to hear from you soon,

13
Sagar Patel

Reply:
Sure, I can do this.  Sagar, how about this next Monday at 3 pm?
JIM

Thank You Letter:

Jim,
Thank you so much for the interview. I extremely appreciate it. I will email or call
again if I have more questions. But other than that, thanks again!

14