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School of Engineering

Graduate Program
Biomedical Engineering

The University of Vermont offers a Master of Science degree in the interdisciplinary Biomedical Engineering Program and both Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Mechanical Engineering (Biomechanics Track) and Electrical Engineering (Biomedical Engineering Track). An Accelerated Master's Program is available for qualified undergraduates. Undergraduate degrees in the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs exist with biomedical engineering options, and cooperative research opportunities exist at all levels. Vermont EPSCoR, Vermont Space Grant Consortium, the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, and other organizations have provided internship opportunities and are involved in the academic-private sector interface.

The program bridges faculty from the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and College of Medicine, and also includes affiliations with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. The Biomedical Engineering Program at UVM was created in 1973 with a strong record of graduate and post-doctoral training. There is a long history of collaboration among the Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation programs.

Research Areas

The focus of this program is the development and implementation of computational and experimental engineering approaches for describing, analyzing, and predicting the behavior of complex biological systems at multiple scales. We consider scales ranging from the molecular level to the cell, tissue, organ, organism, and population levels.  Emphasis is placed on understanding how biochemical, biomechanical and/or other biophysical processes interact and influence emergent properties at these different levels. Some examples include:

• Orthopaedic biomechanics and mechano-biology: Investigating degeneration and regeneration on scales ranging from cellular biosynthesis to tissue-level bioengineering and full-joint mechanics (Ortho/Rehab, Neurology, Mechanical Engineering, Civil & Environment Engineering, Physical Therapy).
  
  
• Biomechanics of the vascular system: Investigating how vascular structure influences function, both physiologically and pathologically (Mechanical Engineering, Pharmacology, Ob/Gyn, Neurology).
  
  
• Biomechanics of the lung: Investigating how the mechanical properties of the lung are linked to its structure and how they are altered in various pulmonary diseases (Vermont Lung Center).
  
  
• Biomechanics of human movement: Investigating how human movement is coordinated and controlled, and how changes in the neural, muscular and skeletal systems with aging affect the biomechanical characteristics of human movement (Rehabilitation and Movement Science).
  
  
• Bioengineering of muscle: Investigating muscle on scales ranging from molecular bioengineering (Molecular Physiology and Biophysics) to joint mechanics (Ortho/Rehab) and muscular control (Physical Therapy).

Many of the faculty in the Biomedical Engineering Program have individual laboratories to conduct their chosen research. Interdisciplinary and departmental research facilities and details of each faculty member's research interests can be found under Research Facilities and Faculty.