PhD in Biomedical Engineering - Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

The program offers extensive, cross-disciplinary research and educational pathways culminating in a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. By blending engineering with life sciences, it equips graduates 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. Key facilities include 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 are expected to hold a background in an established engineering specialization. The program ensures rigorous training in biomedical engineering research while requiring 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 medical research and clinical immersion at Weill Medical College, along with a teaching assignment. M.S. students complete the Foundations course, two seminar terms, and typically four to five supplementary engineering and life sciences classes. Note that these requirements may be updated.

Cornell's biomedical engineering faculty and students employ engineering methodologies to develop systems for precise medical delivery, study drug effects on tissues, and assess therapeutic outcomes. Research spans targeted drug delivery (e.g., for cancer treatment), sustained-release formulations (such as month-long injections), and cellular interaction platforms (including vaccine delivery, single-cell genomics, and environmental impact studies). This work unites researchers across engineering disciplines, chemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, veterinary medicine, and human medicine. Supporting infrastructure includes the Chemistry NMR facility, Cornell Center for Materials Science, Nanofabrication facility, and Center for Biotechnology, with frequent collaborations involving Cornell Veterinary Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine.