Questions for premeds with bioengineering degrees

[ForrestG]

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I'm looking for more info on the following:
- Industry career options – is MS or PhD required
- Geographic areas for industry – i.e. is there a silicon valley of bioE?
- Academic career options – outlook?
- Can a nontrad have a shot at an academic career? I'm happy with a state school in the boondocks of the Great Plains, but when I previously discussed MD/PhD options with the program director at my local med school, he left the impression that if you were over 24 you were wasting your time with medical research.
- Types of collaborative research with MDs – have you been exposed to any specific research?
- Good resources for more info. . .please tell me there is some obscure BioE forum somewhere.🙂

I know this is a probably a little off-topic question for pre-allo boards, but any insight into the BioE field is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[meepification12]

If you are interested in BioE I would not do an MD/PhD considering your background just because I would think you have much more to offer in terms of your mechanics experience..and that is a really long time you could spend doign other things...

I believe you can work in "biomechanics" without a degree in BME ...you may want to get your masters in BME however because once biomed companies look at your ME degree they will tend to push you towards more purely mechanical jobs.

mech + bme is a very solid combination of degrees because if there is one negative that i can point out in my education as a bme undergrad it is that we are pushed into a lot of bio/chem/biosciences (even as a biomechanics emphasis) and somewhat miss out on a solid mechanics base..a deficiency you clearly wont have..

I'm sure if you want to go into academia you can...its not as crazy as you think...A large number of BME faculty at top universities come from mechanical and electrical backgrounds...its all about what kind of research you want to do...

Personally, if somehow going to medical school wasnt an option I would get my PhD in BME and go into academia because it is such a new and booming field..there is a lot uncharted territory which makes things pretty exciting.

Good luck 🙂

 

[CalBear2009]

The silicon valley of Bio-Tech is the SF Bay Area. A lot of the companies around here are still hiring even in this economic environment. You will need a higher degree to make a career in Bio-Tech though. I know that a degree in BioE might not be necessary. I know when I was looking for jobs in this year, a lot of the biotech companies are looking for ALL types of engineers.