Welcome to
Biomedical Engineering

Individual Development

Our doctoral degree program trains students in cutting-edge research to solve real-world problems. Our approach to coursework includes a Personal Learning Plan, which tailors educational experiences to meet individual needs. A student's coursework is selected in consultation with the student's supervisor, dissertation committee and the graduate advisor to ensure adequate breadth and depth of knowledge across one or more of our eight research areas. Students are encouraged to take advantage of on-campus professional development resources to aid in their individual development.

Graduates of our program are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry and government labs. 

  Doctoral candidates in our program typically complete the degree in ~5.6 years.

 Applicants who hold bachelor's degrees in a field related to BME are eligible to apply.

Program Requirements

In addition to coursework requirements, students must complete a qualifying exam by the end of their first year in the program, a dissertation proposal between the second and third year, and a final oral defense typically at the end of the fifth year. All Ph.D. students in biomedical engineering are required to complete at least one semester as a teaching assistant.

Students are holistically supported through a variety of opportunities, including training in the responsible conduct of research, creation of an individual development plan, graduate research seminars, professional development seminars and BMEntored—a peer mentorship program for first-semester doctoral students. Detailed information about program requirements are found in the Graduate Program Handbook.

Supervisor Selection 

To meet individual needs, our department supports both a direct match and rotation system for supervisor selection. Students may join labs of BME faculty and non-BME faculty who are members of our Graduate Studies Committee. Prospective students may contact faculty directly to inquire about open positions in each lab.

How to Apply

See our Admissions page to learn more about eligibility, application instructions, and application deadlines. 

The overarching theme of this program is to train comprehensive imaging scientists in the skills necessary to improve the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases

The basic requirement to complete this portfolio program is 12 hours of coursework (4 courses), which provide the requisite core knowledge for an imaging scientist. Learn more about portfolio programs at The University of Texas at Austin Graduate School. If you are interested in completing the Imaging Science and Informatics Portfolio Program, please contact the Graduate Program Administrator. 

Core Areas

• Instrumentation, Devices, and Contrast Agents
• Image processing
• Modeling and visualization
• Informatics

Program Highlights

• Prestigious fellowship supported by NIH grant T32 EB007507
• Comprehensive and cohesive scope of education
• Personalized mentor team
• Graduate portfolio in Imaging Science from UT Austin
• Capstone laboratory course
• Innovative externship opportunities
• Clinical immersion experience

Required Courses for Portfolio Completion (12 credit hours)

1. Approved course in Biomedical Imaging Modalities (3 credit hours)
2. Approved course in Image Processing (3 credit hours)
3. Approvd course in Modeling and Visualization (3 credit hours)
4. Approved course in Data Mining and Informatics (3 credit hours)

Some, but not necessarily all, of these courses may count toward your doctoral degree requirements as well. Additionally, optional coursework and seminars are available to portfolio students.

Fellowship in Imaging Science and Informatics

The Department of Biomedical Engineering was awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) training grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), an Institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant includes competitive fellowships to support selected biomedical engineering doctoral students in the Imaging Science and Informatics Portfolio Program. The prestigious one-year fellowship includes a stipend, funds for educational and research supplies, and two semesters of tuition.

To be eligible for the fellowship, one must be an admitted doctoral student in Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. After admissions to the BME doctoral program, candidates will have the opportunity to request consideration for the fellowship.

This very prestigious fellowship supports interdisciplinary training through an extended support network of faculty and clinical mentors, toward the goal of becoming a comprehensive imaging scientist. Students with research interests that extend beyond imaging sciences and informatics have been successful at diversifying their training through this program, while having the honor of being a Ruth L. Kirschstein Fellow.

Required Courses for Fellowship Recipients (18 credit hours + seminars):

In addition to the 12 credit hours (4 courses) required to complete the Portfolio listed above, Kirschstein Fellowship Recipients must complete the following additional 6 credit hours (2 courses):

1. BME 381J.8 Functional Imaging Lab (3 credit hours)
2. Approved course in Image Processing (3 credit hours)
3. Approved course in Modeling and Visualization (3 credit hours)
4. Approved course in Data Mining and Informatics (3 credit hours)
5. BME 385J Imaging Clinical Immersion (3 credit hours)
6. BME 381J.8 Functional Imaging Lab (3 credit hours)
7. BME 197E Professional Responsibilities Seminar (1 credit hour)
8. BME 197P Professional Development Seminar (1 credit hour)

Some or all of these courses may count toward your doctoral degree requirements as well. Notice that students who complete the fellowship program will also meet the requirements for the portfolio program. The program directors and the Graduate Advisor are available to help students select their elective coursework. Discuss with the Graduate Advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator.

Professional Development Opportunities

There are several professional development opportunities related to imaging science and informatics that are required for fellowship recipients and recommended for portfolio students:

• Summer Externship Experience between first and second year
• Co-supervision and recommendations for committee structure
• Professional Responsibilities in Imaging (BME 197E)
• Graduate Professional Development Seminar (BME 197P)

Contact

Professor H. Grady Rylander, Training Program Co-Director
E-mail Address

Professor Mia K. Markey, Training Program Co-Director
E-mail Address

 BME Courses are offered within the four technical areas:   

Area 1 Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation
Area 2 Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering
Area 3 Computational Biomedical Engineering
Area 4 Biomechanics

The department's Graduate Advisor helps student identify suitable courses in each area.

Sample Course Offerings

For course locations and times of current offerings, please see the Course Schedule.
For descriptions of other BME and non-BME courses, please see the Course Catalog.   

• BME 381J.3 Biomedical Imaging: Signals and Systems
• BME 381J Fluorescence Micro/Spectroscopy
• BME 381J Lasers and Optics
• BME 381J Optical Design
• BME 381J Medical Imaging
• BME 381J Functional Imaging Laboratory
• BME 381J.7 Digital Image and Video Processing
• BME 382J Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics
• BME 382J Drug Delivery
• BME 381J Molecular Biophysics: Measurements and Methods
• BME 382J.1 Cell and Tissue Engineering
• BME 382J.4 Advanced Engineering Biomaterials
• BME 383J Geometric Modeling and Visualization
• BME 383J Computational Biomolecular Engineering
• BME 383J Computational Methods for Biomedical Engineers
• BME 383J.4 Biomechanics of Human Movement
• BME 383J.5 Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics in Biological Systems
• BME 383J.7 Data Mining
• BME 384J.1 Biomedical Instrumentation
• BME 385J Biomedical Micro- and Nanotechnology
• BME 385J Fields Forces and Flows
• BME 385J Advanced Oral Communication for International Engineering Students
• BME 385J Approaches to Modeling Simulation of Cardiac Function
• BME 385J, Topic 36 Engineering Applications of Immunology and Disease Pathology
• BME 386 Product Realization/Technology Commercialization Seminar