Biomedical Engineering PhD

Program Code: G-BME-PHD
Degree Designation: Doctor of Philosophy
Department: Biomedical Engineering Department
Website: bme.duke.edu/phd

Program Summary

 Biomedical engineering is the discipline in which the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and associated technology are applied to biology and medicine. Contributions range from modeling and simulation of physiological systems through experimental research to solutions of practical clinical problems. The goal of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering is to combine training in advanced engineering, biomedical engineering, and the life sciences so that graduates of the program can contribute at the most advanced professional level. The doctoral dissertation should demonstrate significant and original contributions to an interdisciplinary topic, accomplished as an independent investigator. The major, current research areas of the department are: bioelectric engineering, biomaterials, biomechanics and mechanobiology, biomedical imaging and biophotonics, biosensors and bioinstrumentation, computational modeling of biological systems, drug and gene delivery, immune engineering, neural engineering, synthetic and systems biology, and tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Every biomedical engineering PhD student is required to serve as a teaching assistant as part of their graduate training.

Academic Requirements

• 30 Credits of Coursework

  • Life Science course—3 credits

  • Advanced Mathematics course—3 credits

  • Additional courses—24 credits

• 2 Seminars

• 2 Semesters of Teaching Assistantship (TA)

• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

  • Orientation

  • 4 RCR forums

• Thesis and Defense