PULSE
Celebrating 25 Years of UT Biomedical Engineering
For the past twenty-five years, the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin has brought together extraordinary students, faculty, alumni and partners to advance human health through the integration of science, engineering and medicine.
Founded on a mission to develop clinically translatable solutions that improve lives, the department has cultivated a community of biomedical engineers, innovators and leaders who are transforming health care in Texas and beyond. As we mark this milestone, we honor the people who have built a world-class community defined by discovery, innovation and impact.
Cheers to 25 Years
25th Anniversary Chairs Conversation
To celebrate 25 years as a department, current department chair Tyrone Porter sat down for a reflective chat with former chairs Ken Diller and Nicholas Peppas.
You Had to Be There
The first class of biomedical engineering grads threw a dance party in 2004. 20 years later, they still disagree over who won.
Bowties and Biomedical Engineering: The Legacy of Ken Diller
The trailblazing professor and Texas BME founding father retires after 53 years at UT.
A Message from the Chair
Welcome to the first-ever all-digital edition of Pulse Magazine. We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Department of Biomedical Engineering this year and 60 years of graduate education, so it felt like a great time to do something a little different.
FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
Andrew Dunn Discovers New Method for Monitoring Brain Blood Flow During Surgery
The BME professor and his group of postdoctoral students have developed a technology for monitoring brain blood flow that addresses longstanding challenges.
Tom Yankeelov Is Reshaping the Fight Against Cancer
The BME professor is leading research on the prediction science for how tumors and the patients fighting them will respond to treatment.
BME Welcomes Ted Ho and Zheng Xia
We spoke with the newest kids on the BME block about their research, their introduction to Austin and their interests outside the lab!
Engineering Excellence: 2026 BME Faculty Awards & Honors
Our faculty continue to shape the future of biomedical engineering through groundbreaking research and innovation.
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
Our community has heart. And lungs. And a scalpel.
For our students and faculty, outreach projects within BME are their own reward.
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS
Connective Tissue
In the aftermath of family health complications, BME alumnus Tyler Melton sees medicine as more than just a salary.
Nirmala Ramanujam Elected to the National Academy of Engineering
The BME alumna was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering’s 2026 class, one of the highest distinctions an engineer can receive.
UT BME inducts 2025 Academy of Distinguished Biomedical Engineers
Jennifer Barton, Thomas Milner, Jennifer West and Kristy Wood were recognized for their exemplary leadership and contributions to the field.
A Closer Look at Texas BME
Our department is home to one of the top biomedical engineering programs in the nation.
Let’s reminisce!
We’re celebrating 25 years as a department, and we want to take a trip down memory lane. Share your favorite BME memories with us!
