The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) was established at UAB in 1979 and the Master of Science degree was approved.

The Ph.D. degree was approved in 1983.

In 2000, the BS degree program began and was accredited in 2007.

BME is one of five departments in the School of Engineering along with Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering; Electrical & Computer Engineering; Materials Science & Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

Hear why current graduate students chose to pursue their BME graduate degree at UAB



MISSION
The mission of the BME Department is to improve healthcare by making scientific discoveries, solving problems and advancing technology using quantitative methods to prepare graduates to succeed in the evolving fields of biomedical engineering and biotechnology. Graduate students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UAB apply engineering principles and technology to solve problems in the life sciences and medicine, and to develop new technologies to improve healthcare.

Research is multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary, and many research opportunities are available through our ongoing collaborations with the Medical and Dental Schools. The BME department provides students with real-world experience, cutting-edge research opportunities, industry co-ops, and internships. 

Biomedical Engineering Graduate Catalog
ABOUT
BME is a young graduate program that has seen dramatic growth in size and quality since its founding. In the late 1980’s, there were four faculty members in the Department of Biomedical Engineering; today 13 faculty members have primary appointments in the department. The BME department has developed a strong record of extramurally funded interdisciplinary research with emphasis in the areas of biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical imaging, biomedical implants, cardiac electrophysiology, computational biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. More than 40 faculty from Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Arts & Sciences and Optometry hold secondary appointments in BME and mentor our 35 graduate students.  BME secondary faculty members teach BME courses, give seminars and lectures to BME students, and serve as thesis advisor or mentor to BME students. Today over 60 UAB scientists and engineers are working collaboratively with BME faculty and students to develop the next generation of biomedical engineering technologies.

GRADUATES
To date BME has awarded 270 Master’s, 82 PhDs and 113 BS degrees.  BME graduates are employed in industry, government and academia in engineering, health care delivery, product development,  manufacturing, programming, regulatory, sales, product design, research, development, teaching and other technical positions. Recent graduates have found employment at Agenta Biotechnologies, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BioHorizons Implant Systems, Inc., Biological Innovations, GE Medical, Johnson & Johnson, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Medis Medical Imaging Systems, Medtronic, Melodis Corporation, Novartis, RTI Biologics, Inc., Southern Research Institute, St. Jude Medical, SurModics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., US Food and Drug Administration and Wright Medical.

FACILITIES
Our facilities are located in the heart of the UAB campus, just blocks away from the UAB Medical  Center and Dental School. Faculty occupy approximately 20,000 sq. ft of modern, well-equipped laboratory space in the Hoehn Engineering Building, Volker Hall, the Worrell Research Building, the Business and Engineering Complex, and the Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building.

HONORS
UAB has earned the highest Carnegie classification: “Very High Research Activity”, which puts it among only 95 research universities in the US and in the top 20 in the United States in Federal funding.  In 2008, UAB was rated one of the top five “Best Places to Work” by The Scientist Magazine. Currently, Princeton Review ranks UAB in the top 15% of Colleges and Universities, plus ranks the university at #4 in Student Diversity.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

UAB Graduate Course Catalog

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (M.S.B.M.E.)

Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering (Ph.D.)

For detailed information, contact:
Dr. Timothy M. Wick
Professor and Chair, BME Graduate program Director
UAB Department of Biomedical Engineering
807 Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Bldg.
1825 University Blvd.
Birmingham AL 35294-2182.

Telephone 996-6936
E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: http://www.uab.edu/engineering/departments-research/bme