Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is a type of engineering which is orientated around the goal of improving healthcare. Engineering principles and design concepts are applied to the fields of medicine and biology to try and reach this goal. Wearable technology, prosthetics and joint replacement implants are examples of applications of biomedical engineering. In a nutshell, biomedical engineers work to improve the current state of healthcare and the quality of life of those in need of care.
Biomedical Engineers apply their mathematical and scientific skills to solving problems in medicine and biology. They investigate genetic engineering, tumour biology, cellular processes, and they work closely with scientists, biologists, and with engineers of other disciplines in research, design, and in the development of medical products. They are also involved in the production and application of these products.
Very many significant advances in medicine over recent years can be attributed to biomedical engineers. They design body scanning machines such as PET (positron emission tomography), CT (Computer tomography), and MRI (magnetic resonance tomography) scanners. They also design such equipment as dialysis machines, heart machines, heart pacemakers, prosthetic devices, X-Ray and Ultrasonic equipment, artificial body replacements, hospital monitoring equipment, and other types of life-saving equipment, Bionic Arms, etc.
Career Types
Manufacturers in the medical and pharmaceutical continuously call upon biomedical engineers for their specialized skills. The future is looking prosperous for this field, as the employment of biomedical engineering is growing at an above average rate, according to the U.S. bureau of Labor Statistics. Biomedical engineering is a very focused field of engineering. However, within the industry there are different roles that a biomedical engineer can take such as, Bioinstrumentation, this role focuses on the development of devices and mechanics used to measure, evaluate, and treat biological systems.
Biomechanics, which deals with the human body, focusing on designing and developing products in order to aid motion within the body. Other roles such as biomaterials and clinical engineering are also exciting paths. Here are several career paths related to biomedical engineering:
Salary Levels
In 2021, the median pay in this field was $97,410 per year. This figure is higher than that of a Medical Scientist, which is a similar field, of which the median pay for 2021 came in at $95,310. It is important to note that although this profession pays well, it is considered a challenging and difficult field to study. This comes down to the obligation to study two of the most challenging fields; medicine and engineering.
