The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) is uniquely positioned within the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Whiting School of Engineering, giving all students access to top clinicians, basic science researchers, and engineers. Biomedical engineers develop and apply modern approaches from the experimental life sciences in conjunction with theoretical and computational methods from the disciplines of engineering, mathematics, and computer science to solve biomedical problems of fundamental importance. Students are passionate about cutting-edge discovery and innovation across disciplinary boundaries. The Johns Hopkins University Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program trains engineers who become impactful leaders of the field.
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
Advances in research often arise at the interface between disciplines. In the BME Ph.D. program, students gain a deep and broad grounding in three foundational fields of study: Biology, Medicine, and Engineering (BME). Fluency in the languages of these three areas enables students to conduct interdisciplinary research and lead diverse teams with domain expertise spanning multiple areas of biology, medicine, and engineering. The core BME research areas are Biomedical Data Science, Computational Medicine, Genomics & Systems Biology, Imaging & Medical Devices, Immunoengineering, Neuroengineering, and Translational Cell & Tissue Engineering. The objective of the program is to provide students with the breadth of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and technical and analytical research training, while in parallel maintaining context-based considerations of ethical and social implications, to launch them on the path of successful, independent careers at the interface of engineering, medicine, and the biomedical sciences.
While in the program, students engage in clinically relevant biomedical research that underlies ongoing progress and growth of the field. Students work with research and thesis advisors that are creating, establishing, and leading advanced research initiatives which have substantive impact on patient health. Our graduate program includes programmatic core elements combined with personalized coursework alongside a framework of specific learning goals and objectives. Progress toward the degree is closely mentored and monitored as students work toward and achieve key benchmarks.
As a result of the cross-cutting interdisciplinary nature of Biomedical Engineering, students can perform dissertation research in nearly any laboratory at the university (subject to the approval of the program directors). Many students enter the program by accepting an offer that is extended from a particular faculty member and, therefore, have chosen a thesis research lab prior to matriculation. A number of students with broad research skills, experience, and interests are offered the opportunity to do research rotations among several labs during their first academic year. Research rotations are generously funded by multiple training grants supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Emphasis is placed on the performance and dissemination of original research leading to the doctoral dissertation. Research may be experimental, computational, or include a combination of these approaches. The breadth of research in Biomedical Engineering is vast, and students attend various seminars presented by world-leading scientists and award-winning faculty hosted across divisions of the university including the School of Medicine, Whiting School of Engineering, and Bloomberg School of Public Health, to gain exposure across disciplines. In fact, it is not uncommon for our students to interact and develop working relationships with top domain experts including Nobel laureates at the university. To explore the wide range of research performed in labs within the Biomedical Engineering department visit the BME website. Alternatively, many students perform their thesis research within labs in departments that are outside of Biomedical Engineering or establish collaborative projects advised by co-mentors across multiple labs. Approximately 1/3 of eligible students in the program successfully earn individual fellowships or grants. Going beyond traditional academic pursuits, many students opt to participate in external internships in industry or teaching workshops to explore, discover, and further refine their career goals.
The BME Ph.D. program prepares graduates for careers in a variety of fields including academia, industry, non-profit organizations, and governance. Our BME Ph.D. alumni have gone on to lead successful research programs at universities around the world; they have become leaders in industrial research and development operations for biomedical technologies and applications; many have pursued their entrepreneurial vision and started up their own companies geared toward translating BME discoveries and inventions into impactful technologies that have been integrated into the practice of medicine or to deliver global health solutions; a number of innovative students successfully obtain one or more patents during their training for inventions that become the basis of novel biomedical ventures; five or more graduates have been named to the Forbes '30 Under 30' in the last decade; a number of our graduates have made an impact on society by serving in high ranking roles in local government or federal agencies as biomedical and health-related policy experts; some have managed to do it all.
In all of these ways and more, Hopkins BME is Engineering the Future of Medicine.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Program, BME Ph.D. graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of core concepts in three key areas: Biology, Medicine, and Engineering (BME).
- Conduct independent and original research.
- Develop and adhere to high standards for ethical and responsible conduct, scientific rigor, and reproducibility.
- Develop advanced skills for communication and teamwork.
- Participate in career awareness and career exploration opportunities.
- Utilize high standards for leadership and citizenship to contribute to scientific discovery.
- Advance the field of Biomedical Engineering.
Program Directors
Program Director: Julia Massimelli Sewall, Ph.D.
Academic Program Director: Wojciech Zbijewski, Ph.D.
Financial Support
All BME Ph.D. students (regardless of citizenship or national origin) are fully supported financially (including tuition, stipend, and health/dental insurance) for the duration of their Ph.D. training while in fulltime, resident, active student status. U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible for support derived from training grants funded by the NIH. In addition, students are encouraged to apply for individual graduate fellowships from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellowships from the NIH, as well as fellowships offered by field-specific associations (e.g., American Heart Association) and private foundations (e.g., Siebel Scholars Foundation, NTT Research Foundation).
Emphasis is placed on original research leading to the doctoral dissertation. The research may be experimental or computational - the breadth of research in Biomedical Engineering is large, and students are encouraged to attend various seminars to learn about cutting edge approaches across disciplines. To explore the current range of research by labs within the Biomedical Engineering department visit the website (https://www.bme.jhu.edu/research/research-areas/). In addition, many students work in labs in departments outside of Biomedical Engineering.
Admission
Note: Up-to-date admissions requirements are maintained on the Biomedical Engineering website, and applications are submitted through the School of Medicine's application system.
The application deadline for the School of Medicine’s Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. program usually occurs during the first week of December each year. We typically recruit students in seven broad areas that match the research strengths within the BME department: Biomedical Data Science, Computational Medicine, Genomics & Systems Biology, Imaging & Medical Devices, Immunoengineering, Neuroengineering, and Translational Cell & Tissue Engineering. Applicants need not fit into only one area, as much of the best research comes from interdisciplinary work. However, this organization of focus areas helps students identify faculty who match their research interests and will form part of their community after they matriculate.
BME students come from a wide variety of academic and research backgrounds. Thesis projects typically share a common theme which is the application of engineering or quantitative approaches to address biological or health related questions. Therefore, students who apply to our program should have a strong background in engineering, physics, and/or mathematics as well as sufficient experience in chemistry and biology.
The admission process is led by committees organized by the focus areas noted above. Applicants specify one or more areas in which they are most interested and describe their future research goals. Applications are reviewed holistically by faculty members within the specified focus areas, with emphasis placed on research experience, academic transcript, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and how well the candidate's goals and interests fit with those of the program. Faculty in each area rank the applicants in the initial selection round, interview the top ranked applicants, and then vote and provide their selected candidates to the BME program directors. The program directors then make a final determination in coordination with the faculty based on capacity and other university policy requirements.
Applications must be submitted online and completed by the application deadline. To be considered for review, a complete application must include:
- A complete and submitted online application: https://www.bme.jhu.edu/johns-hopkins-biomedical-engineering/apply/
- Transcripts from each college or university attended — Applicants may upload unofficial transcripts to the online application for review. Applicants who receive an offer of admission and accept the offer are required to submit official transcripts to the School of Medicine's Office of Graduate Biomedical Education via mail or email to gradadmissions@jhmi.edu.
- Three letters of recommendation — Letters of recommendation should come from faculty members who are acquainted with the applicant's academic work and/or research. These letters should elaborate on the applicant's aptitude and promise for independent research.
- Faculty of Interest — Applicants identify up to three faculty whose research programs align with their interests and future goals.
- Research Statement — A research statement (one page maximum) indicating the basis of the applicant's interest in graduate study and their career objectives. Applicants should discuss previous research and identify faculty members they would be most interested in working with and why.
- Personal Statement (optional) — A personal statement describing how the applicant's life experiences or identity shaped their goals may be included.
- C.V. — A current C.V. summarizing the applicant's academic, professional, and research experience.
- TOEFL scores — Required for international students only. The TOEFL requirement is waived for applicants who completed their degree at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
- Application fee — Information regarding fee waiver requests can be found on the School of Medicine website.
- GRE scores (optional) — Read more about our application requirements and GRE policy on our application page.
- Key Words—Applicants provide up to five key words that reflect their area(s) of research.
- Academic Prerequisites:
- One year of college-level biology (may include quantitative biology or physiology)
- One semester of organic chemistry is required for students interested in the Immunoengineering or Translational Cell & Tissue Engineering research areas
- Sufficient mathematical training, typically including calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and statistics
Students interested in applying who do not have the prerequisite course experience may want to include in their application an explanatory note indicating any plans to fulfill the prerequisites before the start of the Ph.D. program should their application be accepted. Courses taken at any accredited college or university are acceptable.
Each applicant must have received a B.A. or B.S. degree (or equivalent) prior to matriculation. A Master's degree is not required for admission to this program.
Process: The Ph.D. program admissions committee will not consider any application until it is complete. Applicants may check the status of their application by logging into their online account.
Interviews: The admissions committee will review completed applications and invite selected applicants to interview with our faculty by phone, Zoom, or similar virtual platforms. Applicants must complete the interview process to be considered for admission. Final admissions decisions will be made only from the pool of interviewed applicants. Interview invitations are sent out to applicants via email in January and interviews are conducted shortly thereafter in late January or early February. Selected students will be invited to an in-person campus visit in late February or early March to meet current faculty and graduate students, as well as learn more about the program and the Hopkins BME environment.
Offers and Acceptance:
Applicants will be notified via email in March, or earlier if possible, with the outcome of their application. The BME Ph.D. program extends two types of offers: rotation offers and direct-match offers. The only difference between these offer types is how the student chooses their thesis lab; all other aspects of the program are the same for all BME students. Students who receive a direct-match offer typically join a specific research lab from day one, while students who receive a rotation offer are able to complete short rotation experiences in their choice of labs before selecting a thesis lab, which must occur by the end of the spring semester of the first year.
An offer of admission to the program will include a yearly stipend, full tuition, matriculation fee, medical and dental insurance, and paid health benefits for eligible dependent children and spouses. This applies to all admitted students regardless of citizenship or offer type. The deadline to accept an offer of admission is typically April 15.
Program Requirements
- Complete 30 credits of coursework in life sciences, medicine, engineering, mathematics, applied math, computer science, and/or other quantitative sciences satisfying the requirements described below in section Coursework Requirements. A detailed description of these requirements can be found on the BME Ph.D. program website.
- Complete at least eight hours of face-to-face research ethics training.
- Attend the BME Ph.D. Retreat during Year 1.
- Students who enter the program with a rotation offer may complete up to three lab rotations during Year 1. Summary reports must be submitted to the program for each rotation experience and a thesis lab decision must be finalized by mid-June of Year 1.
- Serve in the role of Teaching Assistant (TA) for a BME course for one semester (or equivalent).
- Successfully pass the Doctoral Board Oral (DBO) Examination within 2 years of matriculation (university-wide requirement).
- Spend at least one year as a resident student at JHU (university-wide requirement).
- Complete Individual Development Plan annually in conjunction with thesis mentor.
- Complete annual thesis committee meetings beginning with first meeting to occur at six months following successful passing of DBO.
- Dissertation must be approved by at least two readers who must certify the results to be a significant contribution to knowledge in the field and worthy of publication.
- Public dissertation presentation and defense.
- Certification by the Program Directors that all requirements have been fulfilled.
- Submission of the dissertation to the JHU library in adherence with the Doctor of Philosophy Board Dissertation Guidelines.
- The program may determine the allowable time to complete degree requirements but in no case may that time exceed nine years. An approved leave of absence is not included in this time limit.
Integrated M.D./Ph.D. Program
Candidates for the Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering who wish to apply jointly for the M.D. degree must apply directly to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) through the School of Medicine. Typically, MSTP students complete their Ph.D. between the second and third medical school years, and in addition can do research during the summer of the first year. Substantive preparation in biology and chemistry as well as mathematics, engineering, and the physical sciences is essential. BME life science credit requirements are met by the first-year program of the School of Medicine. This program is more arduous than the Ph.D. program alone, but it may have a marked advantage for students interested in clinical research and applications in the delivery of health care and hospital systems. The catalogue for the School of Medicine should be consulted regarding admissions requirements and procedures. Information about applying to the combined M.D.-Ph.D. program can be found on the MSTP program website (MSTP admissions), and applications are reviewed by a separate M.D.-Ph.D. Review Committee. A separate application to the Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Program is not necessary unless the student wishes to be considered separately for admission only to the Ph.D. program as well. If admitted to the MSTP program, students may choose to take part in the Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. program as long as they demonstrate a sufficient level of background needed to succeed in the quantitative courses required by the program. Matriculants and current MSTP students are required to schedule a meeting with the Program Directors to discuss joining the BME Ph.D. program.
Coursework Requirements
Research and Teaching Courses
Ethics, Teaching, and Research requirements are satisfied via the following courses which are listed in the Research and Teaching Courses section of the table below:
- Ethics requirement: Take a qualifying Responsible Conduct of Research course in Year 1, followed by a refresher course in Year 5.
- Teaching Assistant (TA) requirement: TA for one or more Biomedical Engineering courses totaling a minimum of 3 credit hours and concurrently take the Biomedical Engineering Practicum course. This is typically done in Year 2.
- Thesis (or Rotation) Research: Register for Special Studies in BME for every semester while in the program. This serves as the independent thesis research course.
Required and Elective Courses
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in total, including required courses and electives. Courses must be passed with a grade of B- or higher.
The following notation is used to indicate course categories:
LS = life sciences or medicine
QE = quantitative science or engineering
QE.ST = QE with substantial theory
FLEX = flexible category consisting of a limited number of approved courses that are not classified as LS or QE
The combination of required and elective courses must fulfill the following requirements:
- All courses listed in the Required Courses section of the table below are taken in Year 1 (5 credits total).
- The Elective Courses section of the table below provides a sample of possible electives. Only a limited selection of examples within each category (LS, QE, QE.ST, and FLEX) are included here. A comprehensive listing of all eligible courses is maintained by the program and is accessible to students upon matriculation. Note that many courses contain both LS and QE (or QE.ST) content and may be counted in either category.
- All courses must be at the 400 level or above. Lower level courses do not count under any circumstances.
- A minimum of 12 credits in LS courses must be completed.
- A minimum of 12 credits in QE courses must be completed.
- Included within chosen QE courses: Minimum of 3 credits of QE.ST courses must be completed.
- Included within chosen QE courses: Minimum of 6 credits of courses at 600/700 level must be completed.
- Up to 6 credits in FLEX courses may be applied to this requirement.
- Required Courses satisfy 4 FLEX credits and 1 QE credit.
- Additional FLEX credits are optional. Maximum of 2 additional FLEX credits are permitted.
- Note that credit hours completed toward the Research and Teaching Courses listed above do not count toward the 30 credits of required courses.
- A student may enroll in extra courses that do not satisfy program requirements with approval of the program and their thesis advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework Requirements | ||
| Research and Training Courses | ||
| Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research (Medical Campus) | ||
OR | ||
| Responsible Conduct of Research (Homewood Campus) | ||
| EN.580.810 | Biomedical Engineering Teaching Practicum (TA requirement) | 1 |
| ME.210.801 | Special Studies in Biomedical Engineering (Fall and Spring, all years) | 1 - 18 |
| ME.210.803 | Special Studies in Biomedical Engineering (Summer, all years) | 1 - 18 |
| Required Courses | ||
| EN.580.710 | Ethical Challenges in Biomedical Engineering (Fall Year 1, FLEX) | 2 |
| EN.580.711 | Quantitative Methods in BME (Spring Year 1, QE) | 1 |
| EN.580.781 | Biomedical Engineering Seminar (Fall Year 1 FLEX) | 1 |
| EN.580.782 | Biomedical Engineering Seminar (Spring Year 1, FLEX) | 1 |
| Elective Courses (Examples) | ||
| EN.553.620 | Probability (QE.ST) | 4 |
| EN.553.636 | Introduction to Data Science (QE.ST) | 3 |
| EN.580.633 | Introduction to Computational Medicine: The Physiome (LS or QE.ST) | 2 |
| EN.580.640 | Systems Pharmacology and Personalized Medicine (LS or QE.ST) | 4 |
| EN.580.647 | Computational Stem Cell Biology (LS or QE.ST) | 3 |
| EN.580.656 | Neural and Rehabilitation Engineering | 3 |
| EN.580.693 | Imaging Instrumentation (QE.ST) | 4 |
| EN.580.723 | Introduction to MRI in Medicine (QE.ST) | 3 |
| EN.580.754 | Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab (LS) | 4 |
| EN.601.682 | Machine Learning: Deep Learning (QE.ST) | 4 |
| EN.660.410 | Computer Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FLEX) | 3 |
| ME.200.708 | Pharmaceutical Enterprise (FLEX) | 1.5 |
| ME.250.631 | Scientific Foundations of Medicine - Immunology (LS) | 1.5 |
| ME.420.703 | Radiation Therapy Physics (LS or QE) | 3 |
| ME.440.811 | Neuroscience Cognition I (LS) | 4.5 |
| ME.800.782 | Scientific Foundations of Medicine: Cell Physiology (LS) | 1.5 |
| PH.140.686 | Advanced Methods for Statistical Genetics and Genomics (QE.ST) | 3 |