Program of Study – Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering

Laboratory Rotations

Students not directly admitted into a laboratory desiring to perform dissertation work through GSBSE are required to complete a minimum of three laboratory rotations.  For Biomedical Engineering (BME) GSBSE students all rotations may be performed at the UMO campus where the College of Engineering is located. At least one of these rotations should include a non-ENG mentor. Students can choose to rotate at multiple institutions.These rotations are chosen by the student with the goals of providing experiences in diverse research areas and environments, and identification of a dissertation mentor.

A mid-rotation feedback process is utilized to foster communication between mentors and students and to clarify expectations and monitor progress. At the end of each laboratory rotation, the student will provide a summary of her/his research achievements in the laboratory and the student evaluation of the experience. The Principal Investigator (PI) will evaluate the performance of the rotation student, and discuss this evaluation in detail with the student. Strengths and deficiencies will be noted and the PI may suggest coursework or study to correct any deficiencies that are identified. Both evaluations will be forwarded to the GSBSE office. The rotation evaluations will become a permanent part of the student’s file.

Course Requirements

To graduate, BME Ph.D. students must complete at minimum 30 credits of courses divided into three categories: (1) 11 credits of mandatory required courses, (2) 12 credits of project-specific courses, and (3) at minimum 7 credits of research.

There are 4 common course requirements that all GSBSE Ph.D. students are required to complete. The first is a modular course called Foundations of Biomedical Science and Engineering (BMS 625) and is comprised of four topics that provide a framework for an introduction to research in the field of Biomedical Science and Engineering:  Genetics, Biostatistics/Computational Biology, Biochemistry, and Quantitative Physiology.  BME Ph.D. students are required to complete at least 2 of these modules. The second course must pertain to biocomputing or biostatistics (BEN 580 BME Math Methods). The third course must pertain to bioethics and scientific conduct (e.g. BMS 605, or INT601: Responsible Conduct of Research). The fourth course is the Grant Writing course (BMS 650) usually taken during the fall of the second year.

Additionally, all GSBSE BME Ph.D. students are required to complete at minimum 12 credits of elective courses unique for each GSBSE student that will be tailored depending on their project. Coursework will be determined by their dissertation mentor and committee.

Finally, at minimum 7 credits of research (BMS or BEN 699) are required.

Choosing a Dissertation Mentor(s)

Following the completion of rotations, the student is expected to identify a mentor from the three or four completed rotations, exceptions may be made with the Director’s approval. The student will begin in the chosen laboratory in the Summer of the first year or Fall semester of the second year. During the first half year in the mentor’s laboratory a specific and focused dissertation topic should be identified and a thesis committee established.