AHEC Connecticut
MEDICAL ENGINEERING - Biomedical Engineer
To be a successful Biomedical Engineer you should...
- have a strong aptitude for math and science
- have logical and analytical thinking skills as well as creativity and inventiveness
- have concern for and commitment to health care
- have the ability to make good decisions
- be patient and persevering
- desire to work with all types of people and as a team member
- have good listening skills and have the ability to communicate clearly
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What will my job be like?
A biomedical engineer uses traditional engineering expertise to analyze and solve problems in biology and medicine, providing an overall enhancement of health care. Students choose the biomedical engineering field to be of service to people, to partake of the excitement of working with living systems, and to apply advanced technology to the complex problems of medical care. The biomedical engineer works with other health care professionals including physicians, nurses, therapists, and technicians. Biomedical engineers may be called upon in a wide range of capacities: to design instruments, devices, and software; to bring together knowledge from many technical sources to develop new procedures; or to conduct research needed to solve clinical problems.
A biomedical engineer may specialize in any of the following:
- Bioinstrumentation
- Biomaterials
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Engineering, computers, imaging
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Systems Physiology
- Telemedicine
- Teleradiology
Where could I work?
Biomedical engineers are employed in universities, hospitals, and the research facilities of educational and medical institutions. Biomedical engineers may work alone or as part of a team along with other engineers; medical and administrative personnel; and life, social, and physical scientists.
Other workplace settings:
- Government Regulatory Agencies
- Industry
- Undersea and Space Programs
What is the average annual salary?
$78,334
What is the future of this career?
Biomedical engineers are expected to have employment growth that is much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. The aging of the population and the focus on health issues will drive demand for better medical devices and equipment designed by biomedical engineers.
What type of education and/or training do I need?
Most biomedical engineers hold bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering; however others choose mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering with a specialty in biomedical engineering. A master’s or doctoral degree is often required.
Where can I get the education and/or training?
- Gateway Community College, New Haven
- Rensselar at Hartford
- Trinity College, Hartford
- University of Connecticut, Storrs
- Yale University, New Haven
Do I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is not required in the state of Connecticut.
Where can I get more information?
Biomedical Engineering Society
8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 110
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 459-1999
www.bmes.org
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
1110 N Glebe Rd, Suite 220
Arlington, VA 22201
(800) 332-2264
www.aami.org