Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering

Program Overview

Our Ph.D. program is driven by a core group of faculty dedicated to teaching, research, and mentorship in BME. PhD students may perform their research with this core group or a wide array of affiliated faculty from across the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS) and College of Medicine (COM). 

This cross-disciplinary group of BME faculty has a broad range of interests and approaches centered on several areas of expertise:

Digital Health

Digital Health aims to make medicine more personalized and precise by developing, evaluating, and deploying new technologies including algorithms (e.g., digital signal processing, machine learning), wearable sensors, and mobile health apps.

Biomechanics

Biomechanics applies mechanical principles to the study of the structure and function of the human body

Biomaterials

Biomaterials applies material science to biomedical problems to improve therapeutics and diagnostics using tissue engineering, drug delivery, medical devices, and biosensors.

Neuroengineering

Neuroengineering adapts new technologies to the study of the brain, including brain-computer interfaces, neuroimaging, and mental health research.

Computational Modeling

Computational modeling uses advanced mathematics and computing to create testable hypotheses about the mechanisms driving biological processes.

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Biomedical Engineering Graduate Programs Student Handbook

Curriculum

Minimum Degree Requirements

Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must complete 14 graduate credits of core courses including 6 credits of "domain-specific courses" (chosen from the following: BME 5330, BME 5440, BME 5150, BME 6710, CSYS 6701/MATH 6701, and CSYS 6020/CS 6020), 4 credits of human physiology and pharmacology (MPBP 6010), an advanced mathematics or statistics course (any MATH or STAT course at the 5000-level or above), and 1 credit of a research ethics course (CEMS 6010, NSCI 6270, or NFS 6362). Additionally, candidates must complete at least 16 credits of technical electives (any BHSC, BIOC, BIOL, BME, CEE, CEMS, CHEM, CLBI, CS, CSYS, DPT, EE, EMGT, ENGR, ENSC, EXSC, HLTH, MATH, ME, MLS, MMG, MPBP, NSCI, OT, PATH, PH, PHRM, PHYS, RAD, or STAT course at the 5000-level or above), a teaching requirement, a comprehensive examination, at least 20 credits of dissertation research, and a final oral examination. A minimum of 9 credits of coursework must be at the 6000-level or above.

Curriculum Information for the Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Degree Check Sheet

Deadlines

Completed applications for Fall admission will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but applications received before January 15 will be given priority. For Spring admission, applications received before October 1 will be given priority.

Admissions

Students applying for admission to the graduate program must meet the general requirements of admission of the University of Vermont Graduate College. Admission is competitive and students are selected on the basis of their scholastic preparation and intellectual capacity.

The following minimum preparation is recommended:

• Biology, Chemistry: 2 semesters each, or 4 introductory courses in the following subjects - anatomy, biology, biophysics, chemistry, physiology
• Engineering: 2 introductory courses in 1 or more of the following subjects - biomechanics, materials, mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical engineering, control theory, or fluid mechanics
• Mathematics: Calculus through differential equations, and 1 additional math/stats course
• Physics: 2 semesters of physics
• Undergraduate grade point average above 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale), strong BME course grades (B average or better), and positive letters of recommendation
• Satisfactory scores on the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) may be presented, but are not required 

Special arrangements may be made, on an individual basis, for students who are highly prepared in one area, but less well prepared in another.

Please view the UVM Catalogue for the most up-to-date Admission Requirements.

Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Catalogue Listing

Outcomes

The rigorous, engaging, and hands-on Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Vermont prepares graduates to excel in their field.

All M.S. and Ph.D. Programs

Outcome 1: Have in-depth understanding of the foundational concepts in the field of study.

Outcome 2: Be skilled at communicating technical results in both oral and written form.

M.S. Thesis / Project and Ph.D. Programs

Outcome 3: Have a comprehensive knowledge of the literature relevant to the research or project topic.

Outcome 4: Have a detailed knowledge of the research methodologies relevant to the research or project topic. 

Ph.D. Programs Only

Outcome 5: Have advanced-level breadth in areas complementary to major field of study. 

Outcome 6: Be able to independently design and conduct research projects.

Costs and Funding

Research assistantships are offered by individual faculty from their research grants and contracts. If you are interested in working with a particular faculty member, it is best to contact them directly. A limited number of teaching assistantships are also available.

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Comprehensive Examination Overview

The comprehensive exam for the Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. will normally be taken at the end of a candidate’s fourth semester of study (typically around May of Year 2) and will consist of a written part and an oral part.

The Written Part: The written part of the comprehensive examination will be a report written in the form of a research grant proposal based around a research idea in the area of the candidate’s dissertation work, and will comprise three Specific Aims. The first 2 aims will be focused in the area of the candidate’s Ph.D. research, and will be expected to include some preliminary data and a research plan that is grounded in techniques that are well understood by the candidate. The third aim will be a “stretch aim” that extends beyond the scope of the candidate’s research. In this third aim, the candidate will be expected to exhibit evidence of an ability to generate imaginative and thoughtful hypotheses, and to think laterally about how their Ph.D. research area could be developed in a new direction.

The Oral Part: The oral part of the comprehensive examination will be a formal seminar by the student in front of their graduate studies committee. The student will be asked to defend the proposal and to answer any additional questions the committee members feel appropriate after the seminar. It is expected that there will be specific questions directly associated with broad engineering and biological sciences.