The road to earning a bioengineering PhD starts in college, by majoring in a science such as biomedical engineering. The next step is to apply to a bioengineering graduate program, which includes getting letters of recommendations and taking the entrance exam. Finally, once you are admitted to a program, you must complete specific coursework and write a dissertation.
Bioengineering involves applying engineering ideas to address issues in biology or medicine. Bioengineers might use concepts from kinetics, biomechanics, bioinformatics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, or other engineering areas to make contributions to the development of things such as medical devices, medical diagnostic equipment, or genetically altered plants. Often, people who want to pursue careers in bioengineering seek the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree because having the PhD enables them to successfully attain long-term or permanent jobs at universities, in the health industry, at government agencies, or in various other settings.
Completing an undergraduate major in biomedical engineering is useful if you want to someday earn the bioengineering PhD. If your college does not offer a major in biomedical engineering, then you could double major in biology and engineering to begin gaining the academic background you will need to apply for graduate bioengineering study. Whatever science-related major you select, keep in mind you will need to achieve excellent grades because having a high grade point average (GPA) will convince prospective graduate programs that you are worthy of being accepted and are capable of doing doctoral level work in a bioengineering PhD program.
Applying to a bioengineering PhD program typically happens either during the final undergraduate year or after you have worked in a bioengineering environment for perhaps two years. As part of the application process, there will be a number of things you must do. For example, you will need to get letters of recommendation from college professors, take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), fill out graduate bioengineering applications, and participate in interviews with various prospective bioengineering graduate programs.
Once selected for a bioengineering PhD program, you will have to go through a four- to six-year program where you successfully complete doctoral bioengineering coursework such as cellular physiology, neural engineering, medical imaging systems, biomechanics, or molecular biophysics. Also, you will need to maintain a minimum grade point average to remain in good standing in the doctoral program. Typically, maintaining a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 out of 4.0 or equivalent is required.
In addition to the required doctoral coursework, you will most likely be required to serve as a teaching assistant, assist with professors’ research, and complete an internship. Also required will be the doctoral dissertation, where you will carry out your own original research under the supervision of a professor who will serve as the dissertation chairperson along with other professors who will serve on your dissertation committee. Then, upon successful completion of the dissertation, you will become a bioengineering PhD.