Preparation for Your

Junior Year in BME

Prof. Yitzhak Mendelson

Prof. Raymond Page

February 15, 2011

Academic Advisor What’s an advisor? Role changes as you progress:

• Information/advice on major, courses and

projects

• Educational mentoring and career counseling

• A contact person who can direct you to

services on and off campus

• A person who may write recommendation

letters for you

• An advocate to help you succeed!

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How Should I Prepare for a Career in

Biomedical Engineering?

Plan to become a competent engineer!

Acquire a working understanding of the life

sciences and engineering!

Biomedical engineers provide a vital link with

professionals having medical, technical,

business and other backgrounds

Excellent communication skills are essential!

Curriculum Enhancements

New courses offered in AY2011-12

– Replaced sophomore-level “Bridge

Courses” with more broad courses to

ensure core competencies

– Added 3 new junior-level lab courses

(1/6 unit)

– Made “BME 4701 – Cell and Molecular

Bioengineering” permanent (was 37XX)

– Added “430X BME Capstone Design”

to support design process for off-

campus MQPs

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Sophomore Bridge Courses • Replaced sophomore-level “Bridge Courses” to ensure core

competencies without sacrificing depth:

– Dropped BME2504 (Biomechanics) and BME2604 (Biotransport)

and added BME2511 (Biomechanics and Biotransport) and

BME2811 (Biomaterials and TE)

– Dropped BME2204 (Bioelectric Phenomena) and added

BME2210 (Biomedical Signals, Instruments and Measurements)

and BME2211 (Biomedical Data Analysis/Programming)

– Can’t receive credit for the ones they replace (e.g., BME2511 if

you already took BME2504 or BME2604; BME2210 or BME2211

if you already took BME2204)

– We advise that you DO NOT take the BME sophomore courses

in your track – rather take ES/ECE core courses in other

departments and upper-level BME courses in your track.

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New Junior-level Lab Courses

• Added 3 junior-level BME lab courses to provide

laboratory skills:

– BME350x – Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab

• Dr. Krystyna Gielo-Perczak

– BME381x – Biomaterials Lab

• Prof. Marsha Rolle

– BME382x – Cellular Engineering Lab

• Dr. Sakthikumar Ambady

– Note: 1/6 unit each!

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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BME Areas of Specialization

• Because BME is such a broad and

diverse discipline, it is convenient to

subdivide it into a number of different

specializations (or tracks)

• Help to bring focus to course and

project planning

• Not a minor or a concentration!

• Select one area and stick with it!

Consolidated Tracks

Now 3 areas of specialization (tracks):

Biomedical Instrumentation,

Biosignals, Image Processing

Biomechanics

Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

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WPI Degree Requirements

• Complete the Humanities and Arts requirement sophomore year

• Complete your IQP

Off-campus IQP – Global Perspectives Program – apply A-term

Sophomore year http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/IGSD/

On campus IQP – For students not participating in off-campus IQP

program, be sure to schedule an IQP for junior year before leaving for the summer http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Projects/available.html

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Advice on Course Selection

• Course charts in undergraduate catalog

• Information on recommended course sequence

• Courses that students “must” take: – BME3300: BME Design (A term)

– BME3111: Physiology and Engineering; Analyzing and interpreting data from living systems (C term)

• Think of background courses and experiences that you’ll need for your MQP:

Examples – Analysis/design skills: FEM/CAD, Circuits, Materials

– Lab skills: Wet lab, Cell culture, ECE labs, Testing

– Writing skills

What to do before meeting with my

academic advisor to get the most out

of our meeting?

• Read the WPI Undergraduate Catalog

(BME relevant sections…..☺!)

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Course Schedule

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2011/2012 BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Crse. # Course Title A B C D

BME1001 INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING D

BME2210 BIOMEDICAL SIGNALS, INSTRUMENTS & MEASUREMENTS B

BME2211 BIOMEDICAL DATA ANALYSIS/PROGRAMMING D

BME2511 INTRO TO BIOMECHNAICS AND BIOTRANSPORT A

BME2811 INTRO TO BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & TISSUE ENGINEERING C

BME3011** BIOINSTRUMENTATION AND BIOSENSORS C

BME3111 PHYSIOLOGY AND ENGINEERING C

BME3300 BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN A

BME350X SKELETAL BIOMECHANICS A^

BME3504 EXPERIMENTAL BIOMECHANICS B

BME 381X BIOMATERIALS LABORATORY C^

BME 38XX CELLULAR ENGINEERING LABORATORY B^

BME4023 BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION DESIGN I A

BME4504* BIOMECHANICS C

BME4701 CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOENGINEERING D

BME4814* BIOMATERIALS A

BME4828 BIOMATERIALS - TISSUE INTERACTIONS B

* CROSS-LISTED WITH MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

** CROSS-LISTED WITH ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

^ 1/6 UNIT LAB

Terms

Watch out for category II courses (check course schedules)

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• Fill out a BME tracking document

What to do before meeting with my

academic advisor to get the most out

of our meeting?

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• Fill out a tentative 4 year plan

What to do before meeting with my

academic advisor to get the most out

of our meeting?

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• Any questions you have about summer

jobs, internships, career planning, etc.

• Any questions you have about the BME

distribution requirements

• Remember to sign up with a time to meet

with your academic advisor on Thursday…

What to do before meeting with my

academic advisor to get the most out

of our meeting?

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How can I improve my job prospects

and marketability?

• Get involved in professional/community service

• Find a career oriented summer job

• Work in a lab on campus, at UMMS, or at another university

• Join the BMES (http://users.wpi.edu/~bmes/)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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REUs and summer internships

• Get one!!!

• Under student resources on BME website: http://www.wpi.edu/academics/Depts/BME/Resources/index.html

• REUs: http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm

• Career Development Center (CDC): http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/CDC/index.html

• Check out MassMEDIC for Massachusetts companies: http://www.massmedic.com/

Questions

?

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What’s the difference between BME/

Biomechanics/Bioinstrumentation tracks and

ME/ECE concentrations?

• Depends on what you want to know or do?

• Skills and experiences are most important (Department less)

– All engineering Departments at WPI are accredited by ABET. All are sufficiently flexible

• Distribution requirements needed to graduate – BME department requires greater depth in science (e.g., experimental biology,

human physiology, experimental physiology),

– ME/ECE departments requires a greater number of engineering and design courses

• BME possibly more suitable – BME up and coming – hot field! Top 30 fastest-growing jobs by 2018!

– http://www.boston.com/bostonworks/bighelp2010/fastest_growing_jobs_by_2018?pg=31

• ME/ECE possibly more suitable – Design of prosthetics, rehabilitation devices, RBE

– ME/ECE more established, more employers know what it is