The academic, research, and training activities of the graduate program in biomedical engineering are carried out by the faculties of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in collaboration with the School of Engineering of Rutgers, located on the Busch campus in Piscataway, New Jersey.
The biomedical engineering faculty has established research programs in cardiovascular systems analysis; automated diagnostic devices; bioinstrumentation, including biotelemetry and implants; cardiac-assist devices; medical applications of pattern recognition; medical imaging; neural-network applications to biomedical engineering; neurological control; neuromuscular modeling; biomechanics; and biomaterials. Research areas in the medical school also include electroneurophysiology, neural information processing and modeling, hypertension, respiratory controls, computer-assisted diagnosis, nuclear magnetic resonance, positron-emission tomography, the study of binocular oculomotor balance, and the study of artificial-implant materials.
The minimum requirement for the M.S. degree is 27 credits of course work, 6 credits of research, and an M.S. thesis for a total of 33 credits. The minimum requirement for the Ph.D. is 35 credits of course work with satisfactory grades in the required courses and electives, and 37 credits of research for an acceptable research dissertation. There is no foreign language requirement and the residence requirement depends on the area of specialization.
Students who have been accepted to both the Graduate School-New Brunswick and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and who satisfy the requirements of both institutions are eligible to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. curriculum.
The qualifying examination normally consists of four written examinations. All students take examinations in both physiology and in the research area of their thesis. Depending on their concentration within the program, students take examinations in either (1) systems analysis and computer applications, and instrumentation or (2) biomaterials and biomechanics. An oral examination, in the appropriate area of specialization, is administered by the student's thesis committee. Candidates are required to present seminars, which are attended by all members of the thesis committee, in order to allow the committee to evaluate their research progress.
The program in biomedical engineering has been selected to participate in the Graduate Professional Opportunities Program, which provides fellowships for women and minority students.
