Welcome to
Biomedical Engineering

A new ultrasound technology developed by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin can activate drugs delivered to targeted cells or parts of the body, a leap forward in the ability to control interactions between molecules for enhanced treatments.

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Cosgriff-Hernández received a five-year, National Institutes of Health grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development entitled “Model-Directed Design of Vaginal Stents to Prevent Post-radiation Stenosis.”

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Designed to prepare the next generation of innovative “pharmacoengineers,” this program empowers graduate students to lead the development of pharmaceutical therapeutics and diagnostics. Leveraging unparalleled cross-disciplinary training, the program provides you with a unique educational experience that goes beyond what is available in traditional graduate programs at The University of Texas at Austin or any academic institution across the country. 

With this comprehensive, interdisciplinary education you will be equipped to drive innovation in pharmacoengineering by:

• Enhancing medication efficacy
• Improving targeted drug delivery for optimal bioavailability
• Accelerating drug discovery beyond traditional methods.

Pharmacoengineering Portfolio Program Overview

You will develop a range of skills and knowledge in:

1. Data driven and machine learning approaches to drug design and delivery
2. Modeling of drug-target interactions across the molecular, cellular and tissue-level scales
3. Novel drug delivery strategies
4. Methods for monitoring delivery and/or mapping distribution of the therapeutic agent as well as assessing its activity and efficacy against a targeted medical condition

What is a Portfolio Program?

Graduate portfolio programs provide opportunities for enrolled graduate students to obtain transcriptable credentials in cross-disciplinary academic areas of inquiry while they are completing the requirements for a graduate degree in a particular discipline. Portfolio programs promote cross-disciplinary scholarship and study by bringing together faculty and students from a variety of disciplines whose interests transcend boundaries of traditional academic disciplines. The Office of Graduate Studies provides an overview of the university’s general portfolio program requirements.

Eligibility

The program is open to graduate students across UT Austin but is especially suited for those with backgrounds in drug discovery and delivery, biomolecular and biochemical modeling, molecular and cellular biology, and pharmaceutical sciences. It is particularly designed for students in the following disciplines:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Chemical Engineering 

Course Requirements

1. Students will normally apply to enter the program during their first or second year in their doctoral studies. Students will submit their applications during either of two admissions cycles per year (two weeks before the first day of class for the fall and spring semesters)
   
   
2. Students will complete four thematically related graduate courses, each with at least 3 credit hours. The four courses will include three courses (9 credit hours) offered by at least two graduate programs outside of the student's primary degree major. Additionally, the following requirements need to be satisfied:
   • One course at molecular or cellular level and one at system (larger than cell) level
   • One computational course
   • Achieve a 3.0 GPA or better within portfolio program courses
     
     
3. Students must complete one independent study/project and/or one internship. Doctoral Dissertations may be used to satisfy the independent study requirement of a portfolio program
   
   
4. Students must fill out the Graduate School’s Portfolio Completion Reporting Form and send it to the Program Director

Application Information

Submit application materials to the committee: pharmeng-adm@utlists.utexas.edu 

• A letter of intent with Name, EID, and degree program, signed by the student’s PhD advisor and co-signed by the student’s Graduate Advisor of the primary degree program.
• One page statement describing applicant’s interest and motivation
• A list of completed graduate courses with grades
• Proposed coursework and project/internship for completing the portfolio

Application Deadlines:

July 1: Fall 2025 semester

Dec 1: Spring 2026 semester

Contacts:

Program Director & Professor Pengyu Ren

Graduate Program Administrator Jenny Kondo

Steering Committee:

• Renee Acosta, College of Pharmacy
• Kevin Dalby, Medicinal Chemistry
• Andy Eliington, Molecular Bioscience
• Nicholas Peppas, Biomedical Engineering & Chemical Engineering
• Tyrone Porter, Biomedical Engineering
• Pengyu Ren, Biomedical Engineering
• Bill Williams, Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery

Research Focus

Developing sustainable diagnostic solutions to address global health disparities.

Research Interests

The Panpradist lab (Panda Lab) is committed to advancing accessibility and sustainability in diagnostic technologies, delivering actionable health information even in resource-limited settings – from rural clinics in Texas or bedside care environments. By employing a value-centered engineering design approach, the lab fosters interdisciplinary collaborations with key stakeholders, including with local medical centers, the Dell Medical School, industrial partners and international health ministries. To promote equitable research, the lab seeks to transform the typical trajectory of medical technology development and implementation by engaging with historically marginalized communities and researchers.

Technical areas and applications: The lab integrates molecular tools such as isothermal molecular techniques and advanced synthetic biology innovations, including DNA logic circuits and engineered phages, with low-cost hardware and open-access software to create novel diagnostic solutions. Current applications include developing sensitive detection methods for drug resistance in pathogens like HIV and TB as well as new class of biosensors for detecting bacterial sepsis. Beyond human health, the Panpradist lab aims to address the boarder intersections of health and safety. This includes tackling challenges in food and water safety through integrated point-of-care technology platforms.

Additional Links

Related Website

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS  

The project, supported by a $2.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, is set to make reconstruction more suitable for patients whose reconstructive goals are more complex than reproducing their preoperative appearance, promoting psychosocial adjustment to cancer survivorship and reducing time in care.

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Assistant Professor Huiliang (Evan) Wang received the Biomedical Engineering Teaching Award at the 2024 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) conference.

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