9 PhD Programmes in Bioengineering in USA for 2024

Biomedical Engineering blends traditional engineering techniques with biological sciences and medicine to improve the quality of human health and life. The discipline focuses both on understanding complex living systems – via experimental and analytical techniques – and on development of devices, methods and algorithms that advance medical and biological knowledge while improving the effectiveness and delivery of clinical medicine.

The study of biosystems engineering merges engineering and agricultural science to improve quality of life while maintaining the environment and preserving natural resources.The focus of biosystems engineering is to enhance the production and profitability of agricultural and biological products.

Our department's research environment is vibrant and growing, and holds more promise with the recently-formed PhD program in chemical and biological engineering. This program is different from the majority of chemical and biological/biomolecular engineering (i.e., CBE) departments across the country. Generally, CBE departments require PhD students to take the core chemical engineering graduate courses for their degree, and provide elective courses in biology, microbiology, biotechnology, etc., to supplement the training of students focusing on biological-related dissertations. In our program, students are required to take both chemical engineering and biology/biological engineering graduate courses to fulfill their degree requirement. At a minimum, students will take two courses from the following biological engineering topics: biochemical engineering, industrial microbiology and biotechnology, metabolic engineering, biocatalysis, bioseparations, and molecular biology. This structure ensures that graduates have the foundation and skill set to be proficient as both a chemical and biological engineers.

The Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering is designed to prepare rising scholars and researchers to apply engineering principles to problems in medicine and biology; to understand and model attributes of living systems and to synthesize biomedical systems and devices in order to produce original research.

Graduates with a Doctoral Degree in Engineering Science (Bioengineering) will demonstrate: an in-depth understanding of the basic and advanced topics in bioengineering; the ability to use common tools and techniques in bioengineering; the ability to create and perform independent research on an original and novel topic in bioengineering; and others.

The doctor of philosophy in bioengineering prepares students for bioengineering careers in industry, government, or academia. An advanced degree in this area provides numerous opportunities to work in health care, the biomedical industry, government regulatory agencies, and academia.

The optional Ph.D. bioengineering emphasis is open to all doctoral students currently enrolled at the University of California Santa Barbara in one of the 13 participating engineering and/or science departments and programs.