Broad, deep research and training environment
You’ll have the opportunity to work closely with graduate faculty members who span the full spectrum of biomedical engineering.
Our 80+ faculty hail from more than 20 departments as well as our own, which has special research expertise in cardiovascular, neural, and cancer bioengineering.
Early exposure to research
- Our efficient rotation program allows you to make a more informed decision in selecting a lab.
- Three student-driven lab rotations, three weeks each.
- Students join a PhD lab in November.
Coursework tailored to your interests
Our electives-based curriculum allows you to design an individualized program of study, providing optimal flexibility in balancing coursework and research.
A top public research university
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is a top 10 U.S. public research university with world-class facilities.
Proximity to engineering, science, and medicine
We’re adjacent to the Medical School and other University of Minnesota science and engineering domains — they’re just steps away and connected by tunnels.
This proximity creates an intellectual environment where there’s:
✓ Interdisciplinary research.
✓ Engineering being applied to fundamental biological questions.
✓ Clinical and translational research collaborations.
A great place to live
The Minneapolis-St. Paul area offers vibrant culture and arts and abundant opportunities to enjoy the outdoors — all at a lower cost of living than cities on the east or west coast.
Fulfilling career opportunities
- Biomedical engineer
- Research and development engineer
- Prosthesis designer
- Medical device designer
- Manufacturing engineer
- Quality control/assurance engineer
- Medical diagnostics
- Rehabilitation engineer
- Physiological systems engineer
An inclusive, close-knit community
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is integral to departmental decision-making, including graduate admissions. In fact, we were among the first Biomedical Engineering departments with a full-time DEI Coordinator.
Students also enjoy:
- A two-tiered peer mentoring program organized by the department.
- Highly engaged student groups.
Benefits and financial support
All full-time PhD applicants (both domestic and international) are automatically considered for financial support, which includes a stipend, health insurance, and full tuition coverage.
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How support is provided
How support is provided
Students admitted to our full-time PhD program are awarded graduate assistantships that come with:
- A stipend
- Health benefits
- Tuition coverage
Support is provided through a combination of:
- Research assistantships
- Teaching assistantships
- Traineeships with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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Competitive fellowships
Competitive fellowships
We have also helped many of our students get:
- Competitive graduate fellowships from NSF, NIH, and American Heart Association (AHA)
- Internal support from the University's Graduate School and College of Science and Engineering. These come in the form of first-year fellowships, dissertation completion fellowships, and interdisciplinary research fellowships.
Meet our students (current and former)
Application process
Our straightforward application process allows interested students to directly apply to the overarching PhD program. When admitted, students will undergo rotations in labs of graduate faculty members to identify a PhD advisor.
Contact us and more information
Dave Wood
Director of Graduate Admissions
dkwood@umn.edu
Erica Ratner
Graduate Program Coordinator
bmengp@umn.edu