Frequently Asked Questions:

Biomedical Engineering

Subject 1: Introduction & Intent:

The intent of this FAQ is to provide a viable source of information for

people interested in Biomedical Engineering. We wrote it because, every
year, the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tulane University
receives hundreds of "What is Biomedical Engineering" inquiries. It is
the goal of this FAQ document to answer these questions and provide
some resources for additional learning.

Subject 2: Table Of Contents

1.Introduction & Intent

2.Table of Contents
3.What advantages will I gain from reading this FAQ?
4.How is engineering applied to medicine and biology?
1.What is "bioengineering" and is it the same as "biomedical
engineering"?
2.What is agricultural engineering?
3.What is rehabilitation engineering?
4.What is clinical engineering?
5.What is genetic engineering? How does it relate to biomedical
engineering?
6.What is biomedical equipment technology (BMET)?
7.What is Medical Physics?
5.Where can I go to study biomedical engineering?
6.What are the home page addresses of schools offering biomedical
engineering?
7.What is accreditation?
8.Where can I apply for grants?
9.Where can I find a listing of biomedical jobs?
10.What kinds of professional organizations exist for biomedical
engineers?
11.Where can I find news groups pertaining to biomedical
engineering?
 12.What books and journals can I read to learn more about
Biomedical Engineering?
13.Resources Cited

Subject 3: What advantages will I gain from reading this FAQ?

This FAQ is intended to provide an in-depth description of what

biomedical engineering is, how it is defined, and what resources are
available to learn more about biomedical engineering. It is the goal of
this FAQ to be a source of knowledge for all to use, from those
considering studies in biomedical engineering to the seasoned
professional engineer.

Subject 4: How is engineering applied to medicine and biology?

Education:

"Biomedical engineering combines engineering expertise with medical

needs for the enhancement of health care. It is a branch of engineering
in which knowledge and skills are developed and applied to define and
solve problems in biology and medicine. Students choose the biomedical
engineering field to be of service to people; for the excitement of
working with living systems; and to apply advanced technology to the
complex problems of medical care. The biomedical engineer is a health
care professional, a group that includes physicians, nurses, and
technicians. Biomedical engineers may be called upon to design
instruments and devices, to bring together knowledge from many
sources to develop new procedures, or to carry out research to acquire
knowledge needed to solve new problems."

Specific Activities

Examples of work done by biomedical engineers include:

Designing and constructing cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators,

artificial kidneys, blood oxygenators, and prosthetic hearts, blood
vessels, joints, arms, and legs. Designing computer systems to monitor
patients during surgery or in intensive care, or to monitor healthy
persons in unusual environments, such as astronauts in space or
underwater divers at great depth. Designing and building sensors to
quantify components of the blood's chemistry, such as potassium,
sodium, O2, CO2, and pH.
Designing instruments and devices for therapeutic uses, such as a
laser system for eye surgery, a catheter to clear out a blocked blood
vessel, or a device for automated delivery of insulin. Developing
strategies for clinical decision-making based on expert systems and
artificial intelligence, such as a computer-based system for selecting
seat cushions for paralyzed patients or for, managing the care of
patients with severe burns or for diagnosing diseases. Designing clinical
laboratories and other units within the hospital and health care delivery
system that utilize advanced technology. Examples would be a
computerized analyzer for blood samples, ambulances for use in rural
areas, or a:
Cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Designing, building and investigating medical imaging systems based
on X-rays (computer assisted tomography),
Isotopes (positron emission tomography), magnetic fields (magnetic
resonance imaging), ultrasound, or newer Modalities.
Constructing and implementing mathematical/computer models of
physiological systems to help life scientists better
Understand how those systems operate.
Designing and fabricating biomaterials and determining the
mechanical, transport, and biocompatibility properties of
Implantable artificial materials.
Creating new diagnostic procedures, especially those requiring
engineering analyses to determine parameters that are not directly
accessible to measurements, such as in the internal organs or brain.
Investigating the biomechanics of injury and wound healing.

4.1 What is "bioengineering" and is it the same as "biomedical

engineering"?

The term "bioengineering" (used interchangeably with "biomedical

engineering") describes a wide range of activities in which the
disciplines of engineering and the biological or medical science intersect.
Representative examples of the work that biomedical engineers do are
listed above. There are several other fields that partially interested with
the discipline of Biomedical engineering, or that are sub fields. They are
described in the following sections.
4.2 What is agricultural engineering?

Agricultural engineering includes appropriate areas of mechanical,

electrical, environmental, and civil engineering, construction
technology, hydraulics, and soil mechanics.
The use of mechanized power and machinery on the farm has increased
greatly throughout the world, fourfold in the United States since 1930.
Research in energy use, fluid power, machinery development, laser and
microprocessor control for maintaining grain quality, and farm
structures is expected to result in further gains in efficiency with which
food and fiber are produced and processed.
Agricultural production presents many engineering problems and
opportunities. Agricultural operations--soil conservation and
preparation; crop cultivation and harvesting; animal production; and
commodities transportation, processing, packaging, and storage--are
precision operations involving large tonnage's, heavy power, and critical
factors of time and place. Facilities designed to aid farm operations help
farm workers to minimize the time and energy requirements of routine
jobs.

Four primary branches have developed within agricultural engineering,

based on the problems encountered. Farm power and machinery
engineering is concerned with advances in farm mechanization--
tractors, field machinery, and other mechanical equipment. Farm
structures engineering studies the problems of providing shelter for
animals and human beings, crop storage, and other special-purpose
facilities. Soil and water control engineering deals with soil drainage,
Irrigation, conservation, hydrology, and flood control. Electric power
and processing engineering is concerned with the distribution of electric
power on the farm and its application to a variety of uses, such as
lighting to control plant growth and certain animal production
operations."

4.3 What is rehabilitation engineering?

"In rehabilitation engineering, technology is employed to replace or

augment some physical function that is impaired or missing."[Smith
1990] Rehabilitation engineering is a newly evolving term, which entails
the design, construction, and implementation of devices, which assists
individuals in overcoming disabilities. Rehabilitation engineers must be
able to "devise strategies to help people "overcome" limitations."[Smith
1990] The rehabilitation engineer must also be able to "train individuals
with impairments to minimize their functional limitations."[Smith 1990]
The rehabilitation engineer must have extensive knowledge of the
human body so as to gauge the needs and limitations of the client. The
rehabilitation engineer must be able to construct assist devices, which
rely upon undamaged or partially damaged sensory systems to complete
a desired task. Applications of rehabilitation engineering include:

The designing of independent living centers which allow physically or

neurologically disabled individuals to live independently through the
use of assistive services [Smith 1990] the creation and implementation of
augmentative communication systems which give the ability to
communicate to
Those disabled individuals [Smith 1990]
The designing of materials, which help, improve the quality of life
and health of a client. Examples include the designing of a seat of a
wheel chair to improve circulation; the engineering of a more efficient
motor to propel wheel chairs, power carts, etc. [Smith 1990] the use of
work site accommodations to create an environment such that disabled
people can participate in the work
Force [Smith 1990] the modify devices such as a steering wheel,
accelerator pedal, or break pedal so that a disabled client can
independently operate a motor vehicle

4.4 What is clinical engineering?

The term clinical engineering, first developed at George Washington

University in 1967, has come to mean an engineer, working in a health
care delivery environment, who draws upon mathematics, physics,
statistics, and the applied sciences to solve problems in the medical field.
The clinical engineer is an application than theoretical. The clinical
engineer must be able to:

Specifically assist medical-center personnel in defining their

problems and needs in connection with biomedical Instrumentation
Design and supervise the construction and testing of special-purpose
electronic equipment when commercially available apparatus cannot
meet requirements
 Conduct continuing study and research in contemporary
developments, design, and construction methods as applied to
medical and health care
Develop methods for calibrating and performance-checking
biomedical instrumentation, maintaining a set of
Fundamental electrical standards and instruments adequate for this
work
Supply background in physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering,
control theory, and mathematics provide informal
Instruction in electronic theory and practice to instrumentation
section specialists and other medical-center
Electronics technicians for improved understanding of current
developments (i.e. neural networks, robotics, and microprocessors)
Provide technical supervision for those aspects of a medical-center
electrical safety program that involve the instrumentation section
Provide direction of service in the diagnosis and solution of
maintenance problems
Develop and conduct instructional courses in instrument electronics
Represent the medical center in dealings with outside organizations
involving professional engineering responsibilities
Act as a consultant and adviser to research and clinical specialists in
negotiating development projects and recommending solutions to
instrumentation and electrical- safety problems Within an organization,
his instructions may be limited to general administrative and policy
matters, or there may be professional autonomy in relationship with
medical personnel regarding instrumentation and other engineering
matters
Represent the medical center at conferences on biomedical
instrumentation and electrical safety and in dealing with engineers from
manufacturers and other organizations

4.5 What is genetic engineering?

The term genetic engineering is "used to describe the activities of

biologist, biochemist, microbiologist, and medical research
workers.[Kammermeyer 1989] Genetic engineering in its real sense
means the synthetic preparation of composite molecules in which
foreign DNA has been inserted into a vector molecule(bacteria, virus,
etc.)"[Kammermeyer 1989] "Genetic engineering includes cloning DNA
by microbial enzymes called endonucleases, splicing or recombining
fragments of DNA, inserting eucaryotic DNA into bacteria so that large
quantities of the foreign genetic material can be produced, determining
nucleotide sequence of a segment of DNA."[Britannica 1994a]
Achievements of genetic engineering include:
The manufacturing of somatostatin, insulin, human growth factor
and interferon from E.Coli bacteria the manufacturing of blood
proteins essential to the treatment of hemophilia using yeast
The construction of vaccines from peptide chains the construction
of antibodies in an artificial medium used to combat illnesses the
recovery of essential minerals through the use of manufactured
recombinant bacteria future research includes the development of the
"biochip", an organic chip made of protein which will replace the
silicon microchip

4.6 What is biomedical equipment and technology (BMET)?

As a generalization, engineers are people who design new systems and

devices, and technicians are people who build, install, and maintain
them. In a typical hospital there are thousands of complex electronic
and mechanical devices used to assist physicians, nurses, and therapists
in caring for patients. Examples include respirators, cardiac monitors,
imaging systems, and incubators. Hospitals hire people trained in
equipment repair and installation to keep their technological facilities in
good working order. The job requirements for these Biomedical
Equipment Technicians are a 2-year college degree (Associate of
Science), good mechanical skills, and an internship for on-the-job
experience. A 4-year degree in engineering is not necessary to obtain a
job as a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) in a hospital. But
some larger medical centers also hire a
Clinical Engineer to oversee the entire technological infrastructure of
the hospital, supervise the BMETs doing repair work, and integrate new
equipment into existing clinical facilities. A B.S. or M.S. degree in
engineering is needed to become a Clinical Engineer.

4.7 What is Medical Physics?

"Medical physics is a branch of physics, it is also a branch of medicine...

combining the technical challenges and pleasures of physics with a
strong component of service to people." [Frey 1995] Medical physicists
differ from basic physicists in two aspects. The first "is being able to
work with the sick and dying- from very old to very young"[Tolbert
1996] The second aspect is in the pursuit of solution to problems. In
basic physics, if failure occurs, "the experimenter replaces the burned-
out
Components in the circuit, introduces new discrimination in the
circuit... In medical physics, however, the solution is literally pursued
life-or-death consequence. The safety of the tried and tested is not only
preferred, but required."
"The medical physics profession is split into six major sub-specialties:
radiation therapy physics, diagnostic imaging physics, magnetic
resonance imaging physics, radiation safety and health physics, nuclear
medicine physics, and other applications of physics in medicine, for
example, hypothermia and photo-dynamic therapy."
Radiation therapy physics is a branch of medical physics which uses
radiation to destroy malignant tissues such as cancerous tumors.
Radiation therapy physicists are responsible for designing new methods
of radiation treatment, implementing the newly designed method, and
finally, ensure the safety of the patient using the newly formed
treatment. "The bottom line in therapy is to treat the tumor with the
maximum dose and give the minimum dose to normal tissue."[
Diagnostic imaging physics is a broad term used in medical physics
because almost all of the other branches of medical physics use
diagnostic imaging as part of their processes. The first method of
diagnostic imaging ever used was the x-ray in which radiation passes
through the body and forms an image of the internal structure on
special film. Other diagnostic imaging processes include: tomography
which focusing x-rays on a specific plane of tissue; computerized axial
tomography (CAT) scanning; isotope scanning which involves the
injection of radioactive isotopes which are then detected using special
equipment; positron emission tomography, similar isotope scanning;
nuclear
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which creates "thin slices" of
tissues; and ultrasound which uses high frequency sound waves to
create internal images.[
Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, is a process by which the internal
structure of the body is examined without using x-rays. The MRI uses a
large magnet, radio waves and a computer to generate two or three-
dimensional images. The magnetic resonance imaging physicists devises
newer and better methods of obtaining MRI's. The MRI physicist
strives to create detailed images to aid in early detection of diseases,
which in turn helps ensure early treatment.
Radiation safety and health physics "is an interdisciplinary science
and its application, for the radiation protection of humans and the
environment. Health Physics combines the elements of physics, biology,
chemistry, statistics and electronic instrumentation to provide
information that can be used to protect individuals from the effects of
radiation."
Nuclear medicine is the use of radioactive isotopes, such as iodine-
131, carbon-14, etc., along with various scanning devices, such as
gamma cameras, tomography equipment, or magnetic resonance imager
to view internal organs.
The purpose of nuclear medicine is to examine internal organs based
on the principle that different organs will absorb radioactive material.
The radioactive material will then emit radiation, which can be detected
by various devices. The nuclear medicine physicists are responsible for
developing new tools by which the above methods can be improved
upon. Improvements entail safer radioactive elements for use in the
body, development of new tools or new methods which will create a
more detailed picture of the internal organs.[

Subject 5: Where can I go to study MS in Biomedical Engineering?

Printed sources of information

Directory of Engineering & Engineering Technology: Undergraduate

Programs

[American Society For Engineering Education]

In the 1995 edition, sixteen universities are listed as having accredited

undergraduate biomedical programs. Though this is not as
comprehensive volume as the on-line publications, it is a valuable
resource to those without access to the Internet.

Peterson's Guide to Undergraduate Programs in Engineering and

Applied Sciences 1996

[Peterson 1996a]

Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs in Engineering and Applied

Sciences 1996

[Peterson 1996b]
Sources on the Internet
There are four comprehensive resources on the Internet, which are of
interest for those with access.

Biomedical Engineering Academic Program Annual Report

(URL http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu/bme/academic/grand.html)
Peterson's Listing of Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering
Programs
(URL http://www.petersons.com/ugrad/select/u4majors.html)
Peterson's Listing of Graduate Biomedical Engineering Programs
(URL http://www.petersons.com/graduate/select/504005se.html)
Foreign English Speaking Biomedical Programs
(URL http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu/bme/academic/acadold.html)

Subject 6: What are the homepage addresses of schools offering

biomedical engineering?

Biomedical Engineering Home Pages

Biomedical Engineering Program
(List of the Universities, which offer M.S. In Biomedical Engg)
(ALL THE UNIVERSITES ARE ACCREDITED)
(Source: www.Whitaker.org/academic)
LIST 1: UNIVERSITES IN USA
1. Aalborg University---http://www.miba.auc.dk/sundhedsteknologi/
2. Alfred University---http://fourier.bme.med.ualberta.ca/
3. Arizona State University---http://www.eas.asu.edu/~bme
4. Boston University-http://www.bu.edu/eng/BME/
5. California State University-Sacramento-www.csus.edu
6. Carnegie Mellon University--http://betelgeuse.pc.cc.cmu.edu/bhe/
7. Case Western Reserve University-----http://bme.cwru.edu/
8. City College of New York--http://www-me.engr.ccny.cuny.edu/CBE
9. Clemson University ---------http://www.eng.clemson.edu/bio
10. Columbia University -http://www.seas.columbia.edu/~bme/
11. Cornel University, Ithaca ----www.cornel.edu
12. Dartmouth College-http://thayer.dartmouth.edu/
13. Drexel University------http://www.biomed.drexel.edu/
14. Duke University ------http://bme-www.mc.duke.edu/
15. Florida International University---http://www.eng.fiu.edu/bmei
16. Georgia Institute of Technology-http://www.bme.gatech.edu/
17. Harvard University-http://hst.mit.edu/
18. Johns Hopkins University--http://www.bme.jhu.edu/
19. Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences--http://www.kgi.edu/
20. Louisiana Tech University-http://www.latech.edu/tech/engr/bme
21. Marquette University-http://www.eng.mu.edu/~bien/index.html
22. Massachusetts Institute of Technology---http://web.mit.edu/beh/
23. Mayo Graduate School---http://www.mayo.edu/education/mgs/gs.html
24. Michigan Technological University-http://www.biomed.mtu.edu/
25. Mississippi State University--http://www.abe.msstate.edu/
26. New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newwark--www.njit.edu
27. North Carolina State University----http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/
28. Northwestern University---http://www.nwu.edu/bme
29. Ohio State University----http://www.bme.ohio-state.edu/bme_home/
30. Pennsylvania State University --http://www.engr.psu.edu/bio/
31. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute---http://www.rpi.edu/dept/biomed
32. Rice University---http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioeng/
33. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey -http://biomedical.rutgers.edu/
34. Saint LouisUniversity-http://www.slu.edu/colleges/parks/departments
35. Stanford University--http://www.stanford.edu/group/bioeng
36. Texas A&M University, college station--http://biomed.tamu.edu/
37. Trinity College-http://www.trincoll.edu/academics/spec_programs/
38. Tufts University- http://www.cs.tufts.edu/~vanvo/biomed.html
39. Tulane University, New Orleans-http://www.bmen.tulane.edu/
40. University of Akron----------http://www.biomed.uakron.edu/
41. University of Alabama in Huntsville-www.uah.edu
42. University of Alabama, Birmingham--http://bmewww.eng.uab.edu/
43. University of Alberta---http://fourier.bme.med.ualberta.ca/
44. University of California Berkeley-www.coe.berkeley.edu/bioengineering/
45. University of California San Diego-http://www-bioeng.ucsd.edu/
46. University of California San Francisco-
47. University of Cincinnati--http://www.eng.uc.edu/dept_biomed/
48. University of Florida---http://www.bme.ufl.edu/
49. University of Hartford--http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~biomed/
50. University of Illinois Chicago--http://www.uic.edu/depts/bioe/
51. University of Iowa-http://www.icaen.uiowa.edu/~bme/
52. University of Miami-www.eng.miami.edu/cgi-bin/CoE/show_dept? BME
53. University of Michigan-http://www.bme.umich.edu/
54. University of Minnesota-http://www.bme.umn.edu/
55. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill-http://www.bme.unc.edu/
56. University of Pennsylvania-http://www.seas.upenn.edu/be/behome.html
57. University of Pennsylvania-http://www.seas.upenn.edu/be/behome.html
58. University of Pittsburgh--http://www.engr.pitt.edu/bioengineering/
59. University of Rochester-http://www.bme.rochester.edu/
60. University of Texas Austin-http://www.bme.utexas.edu/
61. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center-
62. University of Utah-http://www.bioen.utah.edu/
63. University of Virginia-www.med.virginia.edu/som-bs/biomed/BME.html
64. University of Washington Seattle-http://depts.washington.edu/bioe
65. University of Wisconsin-Madison--http://www.engr.wisc.edu/interd/bme/
66. University of Wyoming--http://wwweng.uwyo.edu/ee.html
67. University of California Davis-www.engr.ucdavis.edu/college/departments
68. Vanderbilt University-http://www.bme.vanderbilt.edu/
69. Wake Forest University-http://www.rad.bgsm.edu/me/
70. Washington University, St.Louis-http://www.seas.wustl.edu/
71. Wayne State University--http://ttb.eng.wayne.edu/
72. Western New England College-http://www.wnec.edu/html/IIA3a1.html
73. Worcester Polytechnic Institute-www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/
74. Wright State University-http://www.cs.wright.edu/bhe/
75. Yale University---http://info.med.yale.edu/bme/
 LIST 2: UNIVERSITES IN CANADA.
(Source : http://www.aucc.ca)
1)NORTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Biomedical Program
Electronics Engineering Technology
11762-106 Street
Edmonton, AB T5G 2R1
Tel: (780) 471-7716; Fax: 491-3072
URL: www.nait.ab.ca
2)THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty of Medicine
Room 1098
Research Transition Facility
Edmonton, AB T6G 2V2
URL: www.bme.med.ualberta.ca
Tel: (780) 492-6339; Fax: 492-8259

3) THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING GRADUATE PROGRAMME
Department of Electrical &Computer Engineering
ICT BUILDING /ROOM 402
2500 University Drive N.W. , Calgary ,
Alberta , Canada T2N 1N4
Telphone:(403)220-5806 fax: (403) 282-6855
e-mail: grad-studies@enel.ucalgary.ca
www.enel.ucalgary.ca

4)BRITISH COLUMBIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

School of Health Sciences
3700 Willingdon Ave
Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
URL: www.health.bcit.ca
Tel: (604) 432-8994; Fax: 435-5153
Toll free: 1-800-663-6542
5)SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
School of Engineering Science
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Tel: (604) 291-4371; Fax: 291-4951
URL: www.ensc.sfu.ca
6)UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Faculty of Graduate Studies
180-6371 Crescent Road
Vancouver BC V6T 1Z2
Tel: (604) 822-3380; Fax: 822-5802
URL: www.grad.ubc.ca
7)UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Electrical &Computer Engineering
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Tel: (204) 474-9806; Fax: 275-3773
URL: www.ee.umanitoba.ca
email: enquiries@ee.umanitoba.ca

8)UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
Division of Biomedical Engineering
College of Engineering
57 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9
Tel: (306) 966-4729; Fax: 966-5205
URL: www.engr.usask.ca/dept/biomed

9)COLLEGE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC

Engineering Technology Centre
Ridge Road Campus, PO Box 1150
St. John's, NF A1C 6L8
Tel: (709) 758-7079; Fax: 758-7126
URL: www.northatlantic.nf.ca
10)MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND
Faculty of Engineering and Applied
Science
Medical Engineering Research Group
St. John's, NF A1B 3X5
Tel: (709) 737-8991; Fax: 737-4042
URL: www.engr.mun.ca
11)DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
School of Biomedical Engineering
5981 University Ave
Halifax, NS B3H 3J5
Tel: (902) 494-3427; Fax: 494-2527
URL: www.dal.ca/bme
12)UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
Institute of Biomedical Engineering
PO Box 4400
Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3
Tel: (506) 453-4966; Fax: 453-4827
URL: www.unb.ca/biomed
13)UNIVERSITÉ DE MONCTON
Département d'informatique
Moncton, NB E1A 3E9
URL:
www.umonction.ca/sciences/informatique
Tel: (506) 858-4552; Fax: 858-4541
14)UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Engineering Program
Faculty of Sciences
550 University Ave
Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3
URL: www.upei.ca
Tel: (902) 566-0342
15)CARLETON UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6
Tel: (613) 520-7400
URL: www.eng.carleton.ca
email : donald_russell@carleton.ca
16)FANSHAWE COLLEGE
Biomedical Technology
PO Box 4005
1460 Oxford St. East
London, ON N5Y 5R6
Tel: (519) 452-4105; Fax: 452-4420
URL: www.fanshawe.ca
17)QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
Biomedical Engineering Unit and
Clinical Mechanics Group
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6
Tel: (613) 533-2581; Fax: 533-6489
URL: http://me.queensu.ca/mecheng.htm
18)McMASTER UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
John Hodgins Engineering Building
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7
Tel: (905) 525-9140 Ext.24646
URL: http://www.eng.mcmaster.ca
19)UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
School of Engineering
Albert Thornbrough Building
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Tel: (519) 824-4120 ext. 2430
Fax: (519) 836-0227
URL: www.eos.uoguelph.ca
20)RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering and Applied
Sciences
350 Victoria Street
Toronto, ON M5B 2K3
Tel: (416) 979-5000 ext. 6078
URL: www.ee.ryerson.ca
21)UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA
School of Engineering
PO Box 450, Station A
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
Tel: (613) 562-5700
URL: www.site.uottawa.ca
22)UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering.
Department of Otolaryngology
4 Taddle Creek Rd, Rosebrugh Bldg, 4
Toronto, ON M5W 1A4
Tel: (416) 978-6712; Fax: 978-4317
URL: www.utoronto.ca/ibbme
EMAIL: admissions.ibbme@utoronto.ca
 23)UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
Faculty of Engineering
200 University Ave West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Tel: (519) 888-4567 ext. 3298
URL: www.eng.uwaterloo.ca
24)UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
Faculty of Graduate Studies &
Research
Windsor, ON N9B 3P4
Tel: (519) 253-4232 ext. 2109
URL: www.uwindsor.ca
25)UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
Engineering Science Building
London, ON N6A 5B9
Biomedical Engineering
Tel: (519) 661-4288; Fax: 850-2308
URL: www.engga.uwo.ca
email id: bmegrad@eng.uwo.ca

26)CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Sir George Williams Campus
1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd West
Montreal QC H3G 1M8
Department of Mechanical and
Industrial Engineering
URL: www.me.concordia.ca
Tel: (514) 848-4190; Fax: 848-3175
Engineering and Computer Science
URL: www.encs.concordia.ca
Tel: (514) 848-3060; Fax: 848-4509
27)McGILL UNIVERSITY
Biomedical Engineering Department
Faculty of Medicine
Lyman Duff Medical Sciences Bldg.
3775 University Ave
Montreal, QC H3A 2B4
Tel: (514) 398-6737; Fax: 398-7461
URL: www.bmed.mcgill.ca

LIST 3: UNIVERSITES IN United Kingdom. (U.K)

(Source : www.prospects.ac.uk OR www.educationuk.org)
1)KEELE UNIVERSITY -----http://www.keele.ac.uk/
http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/stm/cstm.html
e-mail id:prospectus-request@keele.ac.uk
2) UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER---http://www.ulst.ac.uk/
E-MAIL---online@ulster.ac.uk
3)UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE---http://www.dundee.ac.uk/
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/biomedeng/
4)ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY--http://www.biomed.abdn.ac.uk/
E MAIL: office@biomed.abdn.ac.uk
6)MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY--http://www.isbe.man.ac.uk/
email : isbe@man.ac.uk
7)LEEDS UNIVERSITY ----http://www.leeds.ac.uk/
admission: Email: pg-admissions@mech-eng.leeds.ac.uk

8)IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE,

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON-----http://www.ic.ac.uk/
DEPT OF BME: http://www.bg.ic.ac.uk/

Subject 7: What is accreditation?

"The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is

primarily responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and certifying the
quality of engineering, engineering technology, and engineering-related
education in colleges and universities in the United States. ABET
develops accreditation policies and criteria and conducts a
comprehensive program of evaluation of degree programs. Programs
that meet the prescribed criteria are granted accredited status. ABET
participates in general areas of higher education, especially those that
impact on the engineering profession. ABET initiates and sponsors
studies, conferences, and seminars, and co-sponsors projects in
cooperation with organizations with common interests. "

(URL http://www.abet.ba.md.us/ABET.html)

Subject 8: Where can I apply for grants?

1. Grants to allow study towards B.S. degree Undergraduate financial

aid is generally awarded to college students on the basis of financial
need. Each university to which a prospective student applies will assess
the student's financial ability to pay the school's tuition, and will try to
offer loans, jobs, and scholarship funds to assist good students to pay
the tuition bill.
There are no special scholarships available for students studying
biomedical engineering. There are, however, many smaller scholarships
for students planning to study in any field of engineering. These are
usually administered by local chapters of the large national engineering
professional societies. Prospective engineering students who are
entering their Final year in High school can check with their
community's local chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
and the National
Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).

2. Grants to allow study towards an M.S. or Ph.D. degree unlike

undergraduate financial aid, graduate school financial aid is generally
awarded on the basis of academic merit without consideration of
financial need. Most large research universities offer three types of
financial aid to graduate students:

Appointment as a Graduate Fellow Typical graduate fellowships

include a stipend of around $16,000 per year plus a free tuition.
They're awarded to the very best graduate applicants, typically
students with very high undergraduate grades and standardized test
scores in the 99th percentile on the Graduate Record Exam
Employment as a Teaching Assistant (T.A.) Typical TA jobs include
a stipend of around $10,000 for nine months of service as a laboratory
instructor, and also include free or reduced cost tuition.
Employment as a Research Assistant (R.A.) Research assistants work
closely with faculty members, in a role similar to an apprentice, on
specific engineering research projects. The stipend is individually
determined, and usually includes free or reduced cost tuition.

There are three national sources of graduate fellowship support. These

awards can be used at any university, and the competition for them is
intense. Anyone considering graduate study in biomedical engineering,
particularly towards the doctorate, is urged to apply for National
Science Foundation (NSF), Whitaker Foundation, and Tau Beta Pi
graduate fellowships. Applications for the NSF fellowship may be
secured from.

NSF Fellowship Office

Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Box 3010
Oak Ridge TN 37831-3010

Applications for the Whitaker Foundation fellowship are available

from:

The Whitaker Foundation

1700 N. Moore St. #2200
Rosslyn VA 22209
Applications for Tau Beta Pi fellowships are available from:

Tau Beta Pi
Box 2697
Knoxville TN 37901-2697

A small amount of need-based financial aid is available, via on-campus

financial aid offices, through Federally subsidized loans. The American
Society for Engineering Education's ENG-LOANS program provides
funding above these amounts.

The American Society for Engineering Education

11 Dupont Circle
Washington DC 20036

3. Grants to do research Grants for research in biomedical engineering

are awarded to university faculty members and to industrial
researchers by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science
Foundation, and by the Whitaker Foundation. Some biomedical
engineering projects are also supported by the Department of Energy
and other federal agencies as well. On-line inter-agency searches for
funding opportunities are possible through the Fedix database (Fedix
database).

Resource available on the Internet

There are several resource available on the Internet to apply for grant
funding. Some of these organizations are specific to biomedical funding,
while others are geared towards the sciences in general.

The Whitaker Foundation

(URL http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu/bme/whitaker/fellanc.html)
"The Whitaker Foundation offers several areas of biomedical
engineering grant programs.

Biomedical Engineering Research Grants

Biomedical Engineering Development Awards
 Graduate Fellowship in Biomedical Engineering
Special Opportunity Awards in Biomedical Engineering
Cost-Reducing Health Care Technologies (in collaboration with the
National Science Foundation)"

[http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu/bme/whitaker/fellanc.html]

The NIH Grants Database

(URL http://cos.gdb.org/best/fedfund/nih-intro.html)
"The NIH's mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better
health for everyone. NIH works toward that mission by conducting
research in its own laboratories; supporting the research of non-Federal
scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research
institutions throughout the country and abroad; helping in the training
of research investigators; and fostering communication of biomedical
information.
Simply described, the goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge
to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from
the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold."

[http://cos.gdb.org/best/gfedfund/nih-intro.html]

The National Science Foundation

(URL http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/cpo/start.htm)
"The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of
the U.S. Government, established by the National Science Foundation
Act of 1950...The Act established the NSF's mission: To promote the
progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and
welfare; and to secure the national defense."

[http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/cpo/start.htm]

Other sources of grant funding available for biomedical projects are:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
Advanced Technology Program (ATP)
All of these resources are available through the Community of Science Web Server.

(URL http://cos.gdb.org)
Subject 9: Where can I find a listing of biomedical jobs?

The MEDMarket Virtual Industrial Park is a comprehensive index

of biomedical-healthcare manufacturing companies.
(URL http://web.frontier.net/MEDMarket/indexes/indexmfr.html)
There is also a listing of job opportunities in Biomedical Engineering
available through the BMEnet at Purdue University. Included in this
list are BMEnet Listings, Academic Position Network, Career Mosaic
J.O.B.S. Database,
NIH Vacancies, the Online Career Center, and two employment
sources available from Science Magazine.
(URL http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu/bme/jobpage.html)
Purdue Job Bank
(URL gopher://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu:70/11/jobs)
Yahoo Biomedical Jobs Listing
(URL
http://www.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Companies/Biomedical)
Jobs are also frequently posted on sci.engr.biomed and bionet.jobs
news group.

Subject 10: What professional organizations exist for biomedical

engineers?

1)The Biomedical Engineering Society For membership, contact

Rita Schaffer.
Snail-mail address: Biomedical Engineering Society
P.O. Box 2399
Culver City, CA 90231
(URL http://isdl.ee.washington.edu/AMBE/bmes.html)
2) The Biomedical Engineering Society of India: www.bmesi.org
The IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (IEEE-EMBS)
is a society dedicated to melding the of engineering and mathematics
with medicine and biology. The EMBS is the largest professional
organization dedicated to the advancement of biomedical engineering.
For more information on EMBS Chapters.

(URL http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/bae/courses/bae465/embs.html)
The American Institute For Medical and Biological Engineering
(AIMBE) is a society dedicated to the advancement of medical and
biological engineering through the increase of public knowledge.
AIMBE seeks to improve relations between the government, industry,
and professional organizations in order to promote engineering in
medicine and biology.

(URL http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu/bme/societies/AIMBE/aimbe.html)

Subject 11: Where can I find news groups pertaining to biomedical

engineering?

Several news groups exist on the Internet which deal with issues
pertaining to biomedical engineering. Some deal with topics pertaining
areas of specific interest, while others deal with topics such as
biomedical ethics.

Sci.engr.biomed
(URL news:sci.engr.biomed)
Listings of web sites discussing ethical issues related to biomedical
engineering can be attained from the Bioethics and Biomedical Ethics
home page. A few web sites included are American Association of
Bioethics, Law and Ethics, and DeathNET!
(URL http://kkobayas-2.student.harvard.edu/~blom/bioethics.html)
The sci.med.physics newsgroup periodically has articles dealing with
biomedical engineering. Recent topics of discussion include new
techniques in medical imaging, nuclear medicine, and the biological
effects of electric and magnetic fields.
(URL news: sci.med.physics)

Subject 12:What books, journals, and trade magazines can I read to

learn more about Biomedical Engineering?

Medical Electronics Products

2294 W. Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216
bcirc@mac-med.com

IEEE-Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine

 345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017

Medical Electronics & Equipment News

532 Busse Highways, Park Ridge, IL 60068-3194

Journal of Biotechnology

Journal of Electrical Technology

Chemical & Engineering News

1155-16th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

Journal of Engineering Mechanics

Design News

Cahners Publishing Co., Editorial Offices, 275 Washington Street,

Newton, MA 02158

Optical Engineering

Medical Engineering & Physics (formerly Journal of Biomedical

Engineering) Elsevier Science Inc., 660
White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591-5153
Chemtech

American Chemical Society, 1155-16th Street N.W., Washington, DC

20036

Subject 13: Resources Cited

BMEnet . "A Career In Biomedical Engineering"

Available: http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu
Directory: /~ieeeembs/
Filename: biocareer.html
Caceres, Cesar A. (1977). The Practice of Clinical Engineering. New
York: Academic Press
American Society For Engineering Education.(1994) Directory of
Engineering & Engineering Technology: Undergraduate Programs.
Washington D.C.: ASEE Publications Hale, Dr. Paul N. , Jr. (1994).
"Biomedical Engineering Academic Program Annual Report 1994”
Available: http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu/
 Directory: bme/academic/
Filename: grand.html
Peterson's Guides, Inc. (1995). "Peterson's Listing of Undergraduate
Biomedical Programs"
Available: http://www.petersons.com/
Directory: ugrad/select/
Filename: u4majors.html
Peterson's Guides, Inc. (1995)."Peterson's Listing of Graduate
Biomedical Engineering Programs"
Available: http://www.petersons.com/
Directory: graduate/select/
Filename: 504005se.html
BMEnet. "Other Biomedical Engineering Programs"
Available: http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu/
Directory: bme/academic/
Filename: acadold.html
BMEnet. "The Whitaker Foundation"
Available: http://fairway.ecn.purdue.edu
Directory: bme/whitaker/
Filename: fellanc.html
Community of Science Web Server. "The NIH Grants Database"
Available: http://cos.gdb.org/
Directory: /best/fedfund/
Filename:nih-intro.html
National Science Foundation. "The National Science Foundation"
Available: http://www.nsf.gov/
Directory: bfa/cpo/
Filename: start.html
Community of Science Web Server
Available: http://cos.gdb.org/
Directory: /
Filname:
MEDMarket. "MEDMarket Healthcare Manufacturing Industry
Index"
Available: http://web.frontier.net/
Directory: MEDMarket/indexes/
Filename:indexmfr.html BMES.
"The Biomedical Engineering Society"

Available: http://isdl.ee.washington.edu/
Directory: ?AMBE/
 Filename: bmes.html

IEEE-EMBS."IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society"

Available: http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/bae/
Directory: courses/bae465/
Filename: embs.html
Frey, G. Donald. (1995) Medical Physics Profession Faces Growth
Limits.Physics Today. 11.
Tolbert, Don. (1996) Medical Physics Is a Demanding Profession.
Physics Today. 13-15
Electric Differential Multimedia Lab

Available: http://indy.radiology.uiowa.edu/

Directory: Patients/PatientDept/RadiologyBrochures/MR/

Filename: MRISheet.html

Podgorsak, M.B. "Medical Physics Jobs: What's the Prognosis?"

Available: http://www.physics.georgetown.edu
Directory:/
Filename: Premedlet1.html
Robinson, A.L. "A Board-Certified Physicist in Radiation Therapy"
Available: http://magus.physics.georgetown.edu/

Directory: ~jkf/carhart/

Filename: Premedlet2.html

Smith, R.V. & Leslie, Hohn H. (1990) Rehabilitation Engineering.

Boca Raton: CRC Press
Kammermeyer, Karl & Clark, Virginia L. (1989) Genetic
Engineering Fundamentals: An Introduction to Principles and
Applications, New York: Marcel Dekker Inc.