PhD in Biomedical Engineering in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

This program offers extensive, cross-disciplinary research and educational pathways culminating in a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. It combines engineering principles with life sciences to equip students for varied professional paths in academia, industry, and public service. The curriculum emphasizes both molecular and large-scale biomedical engineering, spanning five key research domains: biomedical instrumentation, drug delivery, metabolic design, biomaterials, computational and systems biology, and medical biomechanics. Students have access to cutting-edge facilities such as the Cornell Nanofabrication Facility, the NSF STC in Nanobiotechnology, the Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), the Cornell Theory Center, the Cornell Center for Advanced Technology in Biotechnology, and initiatives within the Department of Biomechanics and Biomaterials at the Hospital for Special Surgery, the orthopedic partner of Cornell Medical College.

Prospective Biomedical Engineering students should possess formal education in an established engineering specialization. The program ensures rigorous training in biomedical engineering research while requiring students to complete Ph.D.-level coursework for minors in both a conventional engineering field and a life sciences area. Core coursework features a year-long Foundations of Biomedical Engineering sequence, advanced BME analysis of biological systems, additional bioengineering electives, and mandatory seminars. Ph.D. candidates must also undertake a six-week intensive medical research and clinical practice rotation at Weill Medical College, along with a teaching requirement. Master's students fulfill the Foundations in Biomedical Engineering course, attend two semesters of seminars, and typically complete four to five supplementary courses in engineering and life sciences. These specifications may be updated periodically.