The Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering program has consistently ranked at the top of the nation’s programs in this emerging field that applies the techniques of engineering to the analysis and solution of problems in biology and medicine. Last fall, in an exciting new extension of this field, the Whiting School introduced the following three new concentrations, which already have become very popular with undergraduates.
Biomaterials Engineering
www.jhu.edu/~matsci
As a major within Materials Science and Engineering, this program is concerned with the science and engineering of materials for biomedical applications. “We prepare our students for successful careers in biomaterials engineering, biomedical research, and medicine,” says Kalina Hristova, program director and assistant professor. Examples include drug delivery devices, scaffolds for tissue engineering, and the development of biomedical and surgical devices.
“Biomaterials is a rapidly developing field at the interface of materials science, biology, and medicine,” Hristova notes. “Our unique program is designed to provide a broad educational base with emphasis on the physics, chemistry, and biology of materials.”
Biomechanics
www.me.jhu.edu
This program, offered within the Engineering Mechanics major, explores the interplay between forces and motion as they relate to biological processes. Biomechanics is important at the macroscopic, cellular, and sub-cellular levels.
“We’ve put together a great program,” says Professor Gregory S. Chirikjian. “It merges the strengths of our world-class Mechanical Engineering department with the traditional reputation of Johns Hopkins in biology.” Students develop an understanding of underlying principles and application areas ranging from the motion of molecules to the design of computer-integrated surgical systems or medical robotics.
Biomolecular Engineering
www.jhu.edu/chbe
One of two undergraduate tracks within Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, this new program is dedicated to solving problems and generating valuable products involving biological transformations at the molecular scale.
“This discipline teaches students to integrate modern molecular biology and biochemistry with engineering concepts in the design of novel biological products and processes for biotechnology, biomedicine, and bioengineering,” says Michael J. Betenbaugh, program director and department chair. “Biomolecular engineers may embark on a career to produce the next biopharmaceutical blockbuster drug for treating cancer or autoimmune disease, design a new gene therapy or drug delivery device, or create a biomaterial for organ therapy and tissue replacement.”
Students are enthusiastic about the new Biomolecular Engineering programs. As Michael Gillmeister ’04 observes, “The future of chemical engineering lies in less traditional fields, and the biomolecular path provides opportunities for students to be on the cutting edge of research and development.”