PhD in Biomedical Engineering - Systems and Synthetic Biology in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

The 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 graduates for academic, industrial, and governmental careers. The curriculum addresses both molecular and large-scale biomedical engineering challenges, spanning five key research domains: biomedical instrumentation, drug delivery, metabolic design, biomaterials, computational and systems biology, and medical biomechanics. Students gain 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 the Department of Biomechanics and Biomaterials at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell Medical College's orthopedic partner.

Prospective Biomedical Engineering students should possess a background in an established engineering specialization. The program ensures rigorous research training while requiring minors in both a conventional engineering field and a life sciences area. Core coursework features a two-semester Foundations of Biomedical Engineering sequence, advanced biological systems analysis, additional bioengineering electives, and mandatory seminars. Ph.D. candidates must also complete a six-week clinical research immersion at Weill Medical College and a teaching assignment. M.S. students take the Foundations course, attend two seminar semesters, and typically enroll in four to five supplementary engineering and life sciences classes. These specifications may be updated periodically.

Systems biology combines experimental and computational methods to decode intricate cellular processes. At its core, it seeks to measure and interpret the complex interactions among genes, proteins, and metabolites governing cellular behavior. Cornell's Meinig School faculty employ innovative techniques to study how these biological networks function normally and how their dysregulation contributes to developmental disorders, cancer, and aging. Their work also involves computational modeling to design innovative biomolecules and combination therapies for treating such conditions. A growing focus involves single-cell analysis to understand cellular heterogeneity's role in disease development and treatment response. These initiatives benefit from collaborations with Cornell's Single Cell Working Group, NIH Physical Sciences Oncology Center, Stem Cell Program, and Weill Cornell Medicine's Englander Institute for Precision Medicine.