Graduate Studies & Enrollment
Prospective Students

Biomedical Engineering

The goal of the biomedical engineering (BME) graduate programs is to apply engineering principles and technology as solutions to significant biomedical problems. Students trained in these programs have found rewarding careers in major medical and biomedical research centers, academia, the medical care industry and entrepreneurial enterprises.

Master's Degree Programs

There are three master's degree options in biomedical engineering: the Master of Science (M.S.) in Biomedical Engineering, the Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Clinical Engineering and the Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Biomedical Engineering. While the expected levels of student academic performance are the same for all options, they are oriented toward different career goals. The master of science option in biomedical engineering is oriented toward the student who wants to focus on a particular facet of biomedical engineering practice or research. The master of science can serve as a terminal degree for students interested in an indepth specialization.

The master of engineering in clinical engineering program is for those individuals interested in employment in hospitals or other clinical environments. This subspecialty involves a close interaction with patients and the health care delivery system. An internship experience is required of all students in the clinical engineering program.

Internships

For students in the clinical engineering program, a rotating internship is offered during the year in association with University of Massachusetts Medical Center (UMMC) and University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS). It includes an orientation period to acquaint the student with general hospital organization and procedures, gives a brief exposure to most of the areas listed below, and is normally required prior to specialized internships.

The specialized internship involves the student full time for approximately one month in ongoing clinical, research or engineering activities, with supervision by WPI faculty and the internship center staff. To assure maximum student involvement and supervision, the number of positions at each of the following internship locations is limited.

  1. Biomedical Engineering UMMCMemorial Campus and UMMS
  2. Cardiovascular Medicine UMMS Surgery, UMMS

The master of engineering program is considered to be a terminal professional degree.

Combined B.S./Master's Degree Program

This program affords an opportunity for outstanding WPI undergraduate students to earn both a B.S. degree and a master's degree in biomedical engineering concurrently, and in less time than would typically be required to earn each degree separately. The principal advantage of this program is that it allows for certain courses to be counted towards both degree requirements, thereby reducing total class time. With careful planning and motivation, the Combined Program typically allows a student to complete requirements for both degrees with only one additional year of full-time study (five years total). However, because a student must still satisfy all graduate degree requirements, the actual time spent in the program may be longer than five years. There are two degree options for students in the Combined Program: a thesis- based master of science (B.S./M.S.) option and a non-thesis master of engineering (B.S./M.E.) option. The Combined B.S./Master's Degree Program in BME adheres to WPI's general requirements for the Master of Science and Master of Engineeering.

Doctoral Programs

There are two doctor of philosophy degree options in biomedical engineering: the Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at WPI and the Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics offered jointly by WPI and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In both programs, the degree of doctor of philosophy is conferred on candidates in recognition of high attainments and the ability to carry on original independent research. Graduates of the program will be prepared to affiliate with academic institutions and with the growing medical device and biotechnology industries which have become major economic clusters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The joint WPI/UMMS Ph.D. program employs the advanced technical knowledge and expertise of engineering and medical faculty to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to apply engineering and scientific principles to medically related problems. A unique aspect of this program is that it utilizes the expertise and resources available from engineering- and medical-school institutions of higher education in a synergistic manner to train students in the application of engineering to medical research. The Ph.D. degree in this program is awarded jointly by WPI and UMMS, with the appropriate designation on the diploma.

Degree Requirements

For the M.S.

A minimum of 30 credit hours is required for the master of science degree, of which at least 6 credit hours must be a thesis. Course requirements include 6 credits of life science, 6 credits of biomedical engineering, 6 credits of advanced engineering math, (including 3 credits of statistics), and 6 credits of electives (any WPI graduate- level engineering, physics, math, biomedical engineering, or equivalent course, subject to approval of the department head or the student's Academic Advisor). Students are required to pass BME 591 Graduate Seminar twice.

For the M.E.

A minimum of 33 credit hours is required for the master of engineering degree. Course requirements include 6 credits of life science, 12 credits of biomedical engineering, 6 credits of advanced engineering math, (including 3 credits of statistics), and 9 credits of electives (any WPI graduate-level engineering, physics, math, biomedical engineering, or equivalent course, subject to approval of the department head or the student's Academic Advisor). Students may substitute 3 to 6 credits of directed research for 3 credits of biomedical engineering and/or 3 credits of electives. An internship experience is required for students earning the M.E. in Clinical Engineering (3 credits). Students are required to pass BME 591 Graduate Seminar twice.

For the Ph.D.

The Ph.D. program has no formal course requirements. However, because research in the field of biomedical engineering requires a solid working knowledge of a broad range of subjects in the life sciences, engineering and mathematics, course credits must be distributed across the following categories with the noted minimums:

The student's Academic Advisory Committee may require additional coursework to address specific deficiencies in the student's background. Students are required to pass BME 591 Graduate Seminar four times.

No later than the start of the third year after formal admittance to the Ph.D. program, students are required to pass a Ph.D. qualifying examination. This examination is a defense of an original research proposal, made before a committee representative of the area of specialization. The examination is used to evaluate the ability of the student to pose meaningful engineering and scientific questions, to propose experimental methods for answering those questions, and to interpret the validity and significance of probable outcomes of these experiments. It is also used to test a student's comprehension and understanding of their formal coursework in life sciences, biomedical engineering and mathematics. Admission to candidacy is officially conferred upon students who have completed their course credit requirements, exclusive of dissertation research credit, and passed the Ph.D. qualifying examination.

Students in the Ph.D. program are required to participate in at least two different laboratory rotations during their first two years in the program. Laboratory rotations- short periods of research experience under the direction of program faculty members-are intended to familiarize students with concepts and techniques in several different engineering and scientific fields. They allow faculty members to observe and evaluate the research aptitudes of students and permit students to evaluate the types of projects that might be developed into dissertation projects. Upon completion of each rotation, the student presents a seminar and written report on the research accomplished. Each rotation is a 3- or 4-credit course and lasts a minimum of eight weeks if the student participates full time in the laboratory, or up to a full semester if the student takes courses at the same time.

All candidates for the Ph.D. degree must demonstrate teaching skills by preparing, presenting and evaluating a teaching exercise. This experience may involve a research seminar, lecture, demonstration or conference in the context of a medical school basic science course. Formal parts of the presentation may be videotaped as appropriate. The presentation and associated materials are critiqued and evaluated by program faculty members. The student's Academic Advisory Committee is responsible for evaluating the teaching exercise based on criteria previously defined. The teaching requirement can be fulfilled at any time, and there is no limit to the number of attempts a student may make to fulfill this requirement. It must, however, be completed successfully before the dissertation defense can be held.

The Ph.D. program requires a full-time effort for a minimum of three years and does not require a foreign language examination.

Research Interests Biomaterials/Tissue Engineering Prof. Pins

Research focuses on understanding the interactions between cells and precisely bioengineered scaffolds that modulate cellular functions such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation and extracellular matrix remodeling. Understanding cellmatrix interactions that regulate wound healing and tissue remodeling will be used to improve the design of tissue-engineered analogs for the repair of soft and hard tissue injuries. Research areas include: (1) studies investigating the roles of micro fabricated scaffolds on keratinocyte function for tissue engineering of skin, (2) development of tissue scaffolds that mimic the microstructural organization and mechanical responsiveness of native tissues, and (3) development of microfabricated cell culture systems to understand how extracellular matrix molecules regulate epithelial cell growth and differentiation.

Biomedical Sensors and Bioinstrumentation Prof. Mendelson

The development of integrated biomedical sensors and electronic instrumentation for invasive and noninvasive blood monitoring. Research areas include:

Noninvasive Biomedical Sensors Prof. Peura

The development and testing of various invasive and noninvasive biosensors and associated bioinstrumentation. Noninvasive optical sensors for measuring glucose in diabetic individuals, urea in hemodialysis dialysate, other biochemical analytes, as well as reagentless chemistry measurements are being developed.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Profs. Sotak, Helmer

Research projects in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and spectroscopy stress experimental aspects of NMR and their application in both medical and nonbiological areas. Major biological research projects include: (1) development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods for the evaluation of therapeutic interventions in acute stroke; (2) development of fl uorine-19 (19F) MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) methods for measuring tumor oxygenation and evaluating adjuvants for tumor therapy; and (3) characterization of structural information in fl uid-saturated porous media using diffusion imaging and spectroscopy.

Soft Tissue Biomechanics/Tissue Engineering Prof. Billiar

Research focused on understanding the growth and development of connective tissues and on the infl uence of mechanical stimulation on cells in native and engineered three-dimensional constructs. Research areas include: (1) micromechanical characterization of tissues, (2) constitu tive modeling, (3) creation of bioartificial tissues in vitro, and (4) the effects of mechanical stimulation on the functional properties of cells and tissues.

Bacterial Adhesion to Biomaterials Prof. Camesano

The mechanisms governing bacterial adhesion to teeth, contact lenses, and implanted or transdermal devices are poorly understood at this time. However, it is known that the presence of a biofilm on a biomaterial surface will lead to infection and cause an implanted device to fail. Often, removal of the device is the only option since microbes attached to a surface are highly resistant to antibiotics. Research in the laboratory is aimed at characterizing the fundamentals of microbial interaction forces, cell-to-cell interactions and microbial adhesion to biomaterials. Atomic force microscopy and related techniques are being used to probe microbe-surface or cell-to-cell interactions, in order to eventually design materials that are resistant to microbial colonization.

Biomechanics Profs. Hoffman, Savilonis

Research involving the relationship between the applied stress and the response of neurons located in soft tissues is being conducted at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Collaborative orthopedic research on large and small animals is being conducted at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Current on-campus studies include the measurement and analysis of kinetics and kinematics of human and animal motion, and improving the mechanical design of minimally invasive medical instruments. Also, fl ow patterns related to arterial stenosis and the infl uence of arteriosclerosis on vasculative and dynamic aortic compliance are being investigated. Additional studies include evaluation of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis models, and interfacial problems associated with engineered biomaterials.

Biomedical Materials Prof. Shivkumar

Calcium phosphate ceramics for bone substitution. Biocomposites for craniomaxillo- facial and orthopedic applications. Shape memory metals and polymers in biomedical devices. Fracture fixation devices. Degradation of implant materials. Interface mechanics issues between soft and hard connective tissues and engineered biomaterials. Structural and biological evaluation of new biomaterials via animal models.

Effect of Infl ammation on the Electrical Properties of the Heart Prof. Saltman

Research focused on the mechanism underlying irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation, that appear after heart surgery. Specific interests include the effects of in- fl ammation on electrical conduction in the heart. Analysis is performed at all levels, ranging from cell-to-cell communication to conduction in whole hearts. Specific tools and projects include patch clamping, immunohistochemistry, tissue electrophysiology, laser confocal microscopy/ fl uorescence recovery and cardiopulmonary bypass.

Ion Channels and Calcium Signals in "microdomains" of Single Cells Prof. Walsh

Patch clamp technology allows the recording of ion current through a single gated pore (aka, an ion channel) in the surface membrane of the cell. When the pore, which is a single protein, opens, a current fl ows, and in this way the conformational changes of a single protein can be studied in real time at a millisecond resolution. High speed imaging of calcium movements in small regions of a cell's interior can be monitored simultaneously at the same temporal resolution using imaging technology that employs calcium-sensitive dyes and a powerful optical system based on "star wars" technology. Combining these techniques allows the study of the function of small regions or microdomains in a single neuron or muscle cell. Since ion channels and calcium control a myriad of processes in all cells, new insights can be gained into cell function.

Mechanoreceptor Neurons and Soft Tissue Biomechanics Profs. Grigg, Hoffman

Research is focused on determining how the material properties of soft tissues infl uence the properties of mechanoreceptor neurons innervating them. In vitro preparations of skin and nerve, from genetar- geted mice, are subjected to dynamic biaxial loading in vitro. Tensile and shear stresses are controlled dynamically and biaxial strains are measured in real time. Measures of the skin's complex compliance are related to measures of the mechanical sensitivity of individual mechanoreceptor neurons.

Medical Imaging Profs. King, Glick, Pretorius, and Gifford

Modalities currently under investigation include single photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and computed tomography (CT). With in these modalities research is being performed on multi-dimensional tomographic image reconstruction, scatter and attenuation correction, restoration filtering, image segmentation, correction of respiratory and patient motion, observer comparison of image quality, and development of a CT mammography system. Currently research is mainly focused on clinical imaging, but a program in small animal imaging is anticipated to be initiated in the coming year.

MRI-Based Computational Modeling for Carotid Plaque Rupture and Stroke Profs. Tang, Sotak, Hoffman

The development of interdisciplinary bioengineering methods which combine com putational modeling, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology, ultrasound/ Doppler technology (US), mechanical testing and histopathological analysis to analyze carotid atherosclerotic plaques, and to quantify critical blood fl ow and plaque stress/strain conditions under which plaque rupture is likely to occur. The long term goal is to automate the whole chain of accurate non- invasive data acquisition (MRI, US), advanced computational mechanical analysis, and reliable assessment of plaque vulnerability so that computational modeling and bioengineering techniques can be applied in diagnostic and clinical applications related to plaque rupture and stroke.

Rehabilitation Engineering Profs. Ault, Hoffman

Research topics include the design and development of assistive devices and orthoses. Studies are also conducted on the effects of prostheses and orthoses on gait.

Sensory and Physiologic Signal Processing Prof. Clancy

Application of signal processing, mathematical modeling and other electrical and computer engineering skills to study the electrical activity of skeletal muscle (EMG). Applications include: improvements to the detection and interpretation of EMG amplitude for the control of powered prosthetic limbs, musculoskeletal modeling, clinical gait analysis and the assessment of muscular effort in industrial work tasks; and high-resolution surface EMG for non- invasive clinical and scientific decomposition of muscle fiber activation patterns.

Spectroscopic Measurement of Blood and Tissue Chemistry Prof. Soller

Applications of optical spectroscopy for the noninvasive measurement of blood and tissue chemistry, ultimately to be able to perform chemical analysis and diagnosis without removing a sample from the patient. Currently investigating the use of near infrared spectroscopy, in combination with in vivo chemometric techniques, to determine muscle pH, muscle oxygen tension and blood hematocrit. Applications of this technology are being investigated in the operating room, the emergency department and during exercise for astronauts in space.

Ultrasound Measurements Prof. Pedersen

Applications under current investigation include atherosclerotic plaque classification by means of ultrasound and ultrasoundbased osteoporosis detection. For plaque classification, the goal is the development of an improved method for identifying atherosclerotic plaque types, especially distinguishing between stable and vulnerable plaque, by overcoming the aberrating effect of the inhomogeneous soft tissue layers between the transducer and the vessel. The concept is based on utilizing the detected backscatter level from a blood volume adjacent to the atherosclerotic lesion as a reference, in order to determine the absolute backscatter level of the lesion. For osteoporosis detection, the goal is to evaluate the efficacy of new ultrasound parameters for estimating bone density, microstructure and growth axis, as a basis of assessing fracture risk. In addition to BUA, new parameters are being investigated.

Research Laboratories and Facilities

Research is primarily conducted in WPI's Salisbury Laboratories and on the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) campus. Core WPI biomedical engineering research laboratories include a biosensor and bioinstrumentation laboratory, a biomaterials/tissue engineering laboratory, and a soft tissue biomechanics/tissue engineering laboratory. Other research projects are conducted in the laboratories of associated biomedical engineering program faculty at WPI and UMMS. Major areas of research focus in these laboratories include biomechanics, biological signal processing, imaging, tissue engineering and ultrasound. Cooperation with the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine makes their staff and facilities available for project work and internships.

A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) imaging facility is located at the Central Massachusetts Magnetic Imaging Center (CMMIC) and is part of a joint research program between the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Radiology at the UMMC Center. This 1630-square-foot research facility houses a General Electric (GE) CSI-II 2.0 Tesla (T) / 45 cm imaging spectrometer as well as a chemistry/electronics laboratory for sample preparation and radio frequency coil research. In addition to the research facility, an 8500-square-foot clinical MR facility housing two GE 1.5 T clinical imaging instruments is available at the CMMIC for suitable research projects.

The Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Laboratory is located on the WPI campus. The laboratory houses standard cell culture equipment (CO2 incubators, laminar hood, microscopes, etc.), biochemistry equipment (96 well plate reader, electrophoresis systems, gel imaging system, etc.), and custom mechanical stimulation and characterization devices.

In addition to the above research laboratories, the department maintains a number of teaching laboratories and facilities that may support research activities, including a bioinstrumentation and biosignals laboratory, a computing and imaging facility, a dedicated undergraduate projects laboratory and a physiology teaching facility. The department of biology and biotechnology, also located in the Salisbury Laboratories, maintains a number of facilities that also may support biomedical engineering research activities. The WPI Gordon Library provides complete library services. Access to other libraries in the Worcester area, including the UMMS medical library, is also available.

Admission Requirements

Biomedical engineering embraces the application of engineering to the study of medicine and biology. While the scope of biomedical engineering is broad, applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree or a strong background in engineering and to achieve basic and advanced knowledge in engineering, life sciences, and biomedical engineering. For the joint Ph.D. program, students are also expected to have had one semester of organic chemistry, a full year of biology, and mathematics through differential equations. Special programs are available for outstanding graduates lacking the necessary prerequisites or with a background in the physical or life sciences. These special programs typically involve an individualized plan of coursework at the advanced undergraduate level, with formal admittance to the program following the successful completion (with grades of B or higher) of this coursework.

Faculty Core BME Program Faculty

Y. Mendelson
Associate Professor and Interim Department Head; Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
K. L. Billiar
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
G. R. Gaudette
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook
R. A. Peura
Professor; Ph.D., Iowa State University
G. D. Pins
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Rutgers University
M. A. Rolle
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Washington
C. H. Sotak
Professor; Ph.D., Syracuse University

Associated BME Program Faculty

Anderson, F. A., Ph.D.
Department of Surgery, UMMS
Ault, H. K., Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, WPI
Camesano, T. A., Ph.D.
Department of Chemical Engineering, WPI
Carrington, W. A., Ph.D.
Department of Physiology, UMMS
Clancy, E. A., Ph.D.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WPI
Fogarty, K. E., M.S.
Department of Physiology, UMMS
Glick, S. J., Ph.D.
Department of Radiology, UMMS
Gounis, M. J.
Department of Radiology, UMMS
Grigg, P., Ph.D.
Department of Physiology, UMMS
Hoffman, A. H., Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, WPI
King, M. A., Ph.D.
Department of Radiology, UMMS
Lifshitz, L. M., Ph.D.
Department of Physiology, UMMS
Looft, F. J., III, Ph.D.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WPI
Ludwig, R., Ph.D.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WPI
Paydarfar, D., M.D.
Department of Neurology, UMMS
Pedersen, P. C., Ph.D.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WPI
Saltman, A. E., M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Surgery and Physiology, UMMS
Savilonis, B. J., Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, WPI
Shivkumar, S. S., Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, WPI
Singer, J. J., Ph.D.
Departments of Physiology and Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, UMMS
Soller, B. R., Ph.D.
Department of Anesthesiology, UMMS
Sullivan, J. M., Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, WPI
Tang, D.
Department of Mathematical Sciences, WPI
Tuft, R. A., Ph.D.
Department of Physiology, UMMS
Walsh, J. V., M.D.
Department of Physiology, UMMS
Wang, Y-L., Ph.D.
Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, UMMS

Adjunct BME Faculty

Helmus, A. E., M.D., Ph.D.
Boston Scientific
Leal, M. J., M.S.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Rodger, R. M., D.V.M.
Veterinarian, Private Practice
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Last modified: September 13, 2007 09:31:39