• Work in hospitals, universities, industry and research laboratories.
• Use traditional engineering expertise to solve problems in biology and medicine.
• With other professionals, help design artificial hearts, pacemakers, dialysis equipment, surgical lasers and other medical devices, instruments and software.
• Develop ways to modernize laboratory and clinical procedures.
• Supervise and advise those who maintain biomedical equipment.
• Investigate equipment failures.
• Build customized devices for special health care or research purposes.
• Advise hospitals about equipment purchases and installation.

Education/Training

• College prep courses in high school, emphasizing math and science.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, chemical or industrial engineering, with a specialty in biomedical engineering; many go on to graduate school for masters or doctoral training.
• Specialized biomedical training; most programs take four to six years.
• State licensing exams.

Salary

• Averages $29,000 - $60,000

More Information

• Biomedical Engineering Academic Program Annual Report.  Available on the Internet on the BMEnet at  http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/bme/academic/grand/html or, for a small fee, from Louisiana Tech University, Biomedical Engineering Dept., PO Box 10348, Ruston LA 71272

• Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
  8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 110
  Landover, MD 20785-1999
  301-459-1999
  http://mecca.org/BME/BMES/society/index.htm