Careers in Biomedical Engineering involve the use of traditional engineering knowledge and concepts to analyze and provide solutions for biological and medical problems. For example, they may work on developing new types of prostheses, or medical instruments and equipment. Biomedical Engineers often work in

• universities
• industrial facilities
• hospitals
• research laboratories
• government agencies

Biomedical Engineers should have excellent analytical skills, as well as problem-detection and problem-solving skills. Creativity is an important personal attribute, as well as the ability to focus on details while still maintaining a view of the ‘big picture’ of a project or product. Biomedical Engineers should work well independently, but also be able to work well a member of a team, and should have good written and verbal communication skills.

All careers in Biomedical Engineering require at least a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Biomedical Engineering; however this is a minimum requirement. In many cases a graduate degree is required, due to:

• the highly specific nature of the subject
• the requirement for most Biomedical Engineers to have research experience

The US Department of Labor predicts that employment opportunities for Biomedical Engineers will increase much faster than average, due to the increasing demand for more effective medical equipment and technology. However, anyone interested in these careers should expect to face plenty of competition for jobs, due to the growing interest in the Bioengineering field. The average starting salary for a Biomedical Engineer with a Bachelor’s degree is approximately $50,000, while an entry-level worker with a Master’s degree or higher can expect a salary of $60,000.

Biomedical Engineers can focus on a wide range of specialist subjects during their careers. Biomedical Engineers often specialize in areas such as biomaterials, medical imaging, biomechanics, and orthopedic engineering. In these various specialist subjects, Biomedical Engineers may work on developing artificial organs or devices such as hearing aids and pacemakers, diagnostic equipment or patient monitoring systems, or surgical devices such as laser systems for eye surgery.

Biomedical Engineers may also work in hospitals, where they provide expert advice on the selection, operation and maintenance of equipment and machinery, and when necessary may be involved in modifying or adapting existing machinery according to the needs of the hospital and its patients.

Biomedical Engineers must have excellent analytical skills, as well as problem-detection and problem-solving skills. They should work well independently, but also be able to work well a member of a team. Having good written and verbal communication skills is also becoming more important, and Biomedical Engineers should also plan to constantly update their training and knowledge by reading current literature and attending conferences and seminars on their specialist subjects.

For Biomedical Researchers, the focus is often on adding to the store of knowledge of their specialist subject, rather than on creating new products and items. For example, they may use computer-aided design programs to study the mechanics of how different organs work in the body, or the biomechanics of injury, to understand how the body responds to different types of injury or stimuli. The knowledge they discover can be used in the development of biomedical products, or in other areas of medicine, for example to improve treatment methods and speed up patient recovery.

Creativity is an important attribute for Biomedical Researchers. For them, the focus of their work is on new ways of understanding the human body and the types of engineering and mechanical devices that can improve medical equipment and patient treatments. In addition, they should have good problem-solving and analytical skills, as well as good written and verbal communication skills.

The ability to work well both independently and as part of a team is important. Biomedical Researchers must also constantly update their knowledge to stay at the forefront of their field, and ensure their work is relevant and useful to modern science.

Biomedical Product Developers design new biomedical products and equipment by applying their knowledge of engineering to complex biological and medical problems. For example, they might be involved in developing medical devices that:

• Monitor patient’s vital signs
• Develop artificial limbs, organs or prosthetic devices
• Apply the latest technological advances to the design of existing devices such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans or Ultrasounds

Developing these types of products requires that a Biomedical Product Developer combine expert knowledge of both biological systems and engineering concepts, and give special consideration to the special aspects of medical equipment. For example when designing new types of prosthetic devices or artificial organs, they must consider that the materials they use in creating such devices must be compatible with a living biological environment.

Biomedical Product Developers must be creative people, with the ability to apply their knowledge in new and innovative ways to create new and more effective products. Good problem-solving and analytical skills are important, as well as communication skills, and the willingness to keep their knowledge up-to-date and relevant to their field of expertise.