What is Biomedical Engineering?
The field of biomedical engineering involves the application of physical and engineering principles and methods to biology and medicine. The fundamental aim is to quantitatively understand the properties of biological systems.
New discoveries and developments in biology and medicine are occurring with greater frequency now than ever before. This has lead to the rapid change and growth of biotechnology research and industry. Biomedical engineering is a booming transdisciplinary field that bridges the gap between technology, medicine and biology. It integrates physical, chemical, mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering principles with the ultimate aim of improving healthcare.
Breaking news: Negotiations are well underway for direct entry into Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Biomedical)/MBBS Dual Degree. Watch this space.
Why choose to study Biomedical Engineering?
Study and work opportunities are limitless at the interface of biomedicine and engineering. As a biomedical engineer, you may be involved in the design, construction and development of:
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health monitoring devices or computers, e.g. blood chemistry sensors, or devices for surgery, intensive care, or mobile use,
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diagnostic systems, e.g. medical imaging systems (such as CT, PET, MRI, SPECT, ultrasound),
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therapeutic systems, e.g. surgical laser system, automated drug delivery, gene therapy, tissue engineering,
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mechanical and computer models of physiological function, e.g. a virtual heart, aortic valve, biochemical pump,
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prosthetics and implantable mechanical aids, e.g. cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, blood oxygenators, artificial vessels, organs, joints and limbs,
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clinical laboratories and units utilising advanced biomedical technologies.
Employment opportunities in Australia and overseas include hospitals, biotechnology companies, medical equipment manufacturers, research institutes, regulatory authorities (e.g. FDA) and government health departments. Many Biomedical Engineering students go on to do further study in either Masters or PhD degrees. These programs are available at the University of Queensland.
Why study Biomedical Engineering at UQ?
The University of Queensland is a hotspot for biotechnological advancement in Australia, housing state-of-the-art facilities in a broad range of research fields. Extensive access to a multitude of well equipped laboratories at the University of Queensland ensures that we provide high-quality research and teaching in Biomedical Engineering. The staff guiding the Biomedical Engineering program are also engaged in highly active and successful research collaborations in local academia, hospitals and industries. Their research links include:
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magnetic resonance engineering (Centre for Magnetic Resonance, UQ)
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sports mechanics (Human Movements, UQ)
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biomedical imaging (Centre for Magnetic Resonance, UQ)
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X-ray imaging (Veterinary Clinic, UQ)
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sleep apnea research (Mater Misericordiae Hospital, South Brisbane)
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respiratory medicine instrumentation (Royal Children's Hospital)
You can view the attributes our graduates can expect to acquire here.
Tailoring your Program to suit you
We can now offer the flexibility of a range of biomedical engineering programs to suit your personal needs. Your choice will determine the level of specialisation of your qualification in this field which, in turn, will tailor the development of your skills to match your career objectives. The following list outlines the options of program structure available to you. Follow the hyperlink at each point for a further description.
· Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Biomedical) [4 years]
· Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Systems or Mechatronic) with Biomedical Engineering Minor [4 years] plus Graduate Certificate (GCEng), or Graduate Diploma (GDipEng), of Engineering
· Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Biomedical) plus Master/Doctorate of Philosophy by research
For more information contact the program director:
Prof. Stuart Crozier (stuart@itee.uq.edu.au)
ph 3365-7098