<p>At my school we have something called BioChemical Engineering. Seems very similar to Chemical Engineering. It is in the department of Chemical Engineering and Material Sciences.</p>
<p>Biochemical engineering is a branch of chemical engineering that mainly deals with the design and construction of unit processes that involve biological organisms or molecules. Biochemical engineering is often taught as a supplementary option to chemical engineering due to the similarities in both the background subject curriculum and problem-solving techniques used by both professions. Its applications are used in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and water treatment industries.</p>
<p>this biochem eng. (a branch in chem eng.) is kinda related to the biomedical eng w/ chem eng. option of my school.</p>
<p>I agree with the statement that BME and BioE don't have a whole lot of value as terminal degrees, at least not at this point in time. I go to JHU and have talked to a number of BMEs who have a hard time finding jobs that actually deal with their major. I know a couple this past year who got jobs that were unrelated because of the lack of BME positions.</p>
<p>MEs on the other hand don't have much trouble. I know a bunch of kids who were bottom half of their class that got really good jobs at APL, ARL, and other similar places.</p>
<p>so r u suggesting its better to major in a traditional eng. major and minor in biomed eng. to get into the biomed field?</p>
<p>take thes majors AND MINOR IN BME to go into BME field</p>
<p>Electrical Engineering - for students wishing to study the design and development of medical devices, signal processing, and medical imaging. </p>
<p>Chemical Engineering - for studies of transport within physiological systems, drug delivery, and development of engineered tissues. </p>
<p>Mechanical Engineering - for studies of the mechanics of the human body in health and disease and applications to medical devices and orthopedics.</p>
<p>"I guess the best route is ME or EE (and maybe ChemE) at the undergraduate level, and BME at the graduate level."</p>
<p>i woudnot say "maybe" Chem E,</p>
<p>i think majoring in chem e and a minor in BME is excellent to go into bme field</p>
<p>
[quote]
so r u suggesting its better to major in a traditional eng. major and minor in biomed eng. to get into the biomed field?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Basically, yes. I agree with Dirt McGirt that the problem just seems to be one of branding and longevity. BME/BE simply haven't had the time to establish themselves as majors with strong industry prospects. Maybe in a few decades, they will be established, but that obviously doesn't help anybody who needs to choose a major at this time. In a similar vein, it took the field of Computer Science several decades before it became a well-established major - before that time, the bulk of computer programmers majored in math, EE, or physics. </p>
<p>The other aspect is a simple matter of competition. If you get a traditional engineering degree, then you can at least use the fact that you get a traditional engineering job as a bargaining point. For example, a biomed company who is looking to hire ChemE's know that they have to offer a salary that is at least somewhat competitive with ChemE salaries, otherwise, they will not get anybody. BME's/BE's don't have this bargaining leverage.</p>
<p>Personally, I think the best thing to do is get a traditional engineering degree, but do coops/internships at biomed companies. The truth is, if you have strong experience in the biomed industry, nobody is really going to care what your major is in.</p>
<p>I am a BioE, and I would avoid the whole industry together, quite honestly.</p>
<p>what do u mean?</p>
<p>My school (UCSD, a ****hole otherwise) has the best BioE program in the universe, and I've talked to the profs about this, and they told me BioE was only meant to be an interface science between engineering, medicine, and biology, meaning both the demand and the supply should be relatively small, but because of the hype of the Genome project, people are betting on some kind boom similar to the computer industry, but that's NOT going to happen with biotech, and anyone in the industry knows this due to the very NATURE of this industry, only retards are still throwing money and time into it.</p>
<p>"My school (UCSD, a ****hole otherwise) has the best BioE program in the universe, and I've talked to the profs about this, and they told me BioE was only meant to be an interface science between engineering, medicine, and biology, meaning both the demand and the supply should be relatively small, but because of the hype of the Genome project, people are betting on some kind boom similar to the computer industry, but that's NOT going to happen with biotech, and anyone in the industry knows this due to the very NATURE of this industry, only retards are still throwing money and time into it."</p>
<hr>
<p>Biomedical engineers are expected to have employment growth that is much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. The aging of the population and the focus on health issues will drive demand for better medical devices and equipment designed by biomedical engineers. Along with the demand for more sophisticated medical equipment and procedures, an increased concern for cost- effectiveness will boost demand for biomedical engineers, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing and related industries. However, because of the growing interest in this field, the number of degrees granted in biomedical engineering has increased greatly. Biomedical engineers, particularly those with only a bachelor’s degree, may face competition for jobs. Unlike the case for many other engineering specialties, a graduate degree is recommended or required for many entry-level jobs.</p>
<p>so what do u think about this statement from B of Labour</p>
<p>It will not grow exponentially. the number of students will also fall back to previous levels once people start realizing this, but that could be years from now.</p>
<p>so what are you planning to do?</p>
<p>what would be a major in engineering with a good major?</p>
<p>ME or Chem E or E E or....</p>
<p>I think they are all pretty garbage, people will always jump into fad majors. </p>
<p>I am trying to find a major that is so hard, most people will just flat out flunk out. I heard ChemE might fit the bill, so who knows. Or maybe math, or philosophy.</p>
<p>Chem E is pretty good</p>
<p>About Chemical Engineering
Even though normally called "Chemical Engineering," the field is better described by the phrase "engineering chemistry." It is the chemical engineer who acts as the bridge between the discoveries of the chemist's laboratory and the safe economical application of those discoveries. For example, a chemist might discover a new organic compound which can be stretched into a strong filament or thread. It is the chemical engineer who uses this knowledge to design, and often run, the plant to make the thread in quantity which will be used by other manufacturers to make cloth, rope, tire cord, and many other things which might use the special properties of that particular material. In like manner, it is the chemical engineer who designs the methods to produce in quantity a multitude of other chemical-related products, sulfur-free fuels, medicines, paper, paint, and plastics, to name a few. </p>
<p>While the chemical reaction is the "heart" of a chemical plant, many other operations are also important. Starting materials must be stored properly and moved from one part of the plant to another when needed, and these may be gases, liquids, or even solids. Often solids must be melted, liquids must either be crystallized or evaporated, and gases either condensed or compressed. At many points in the process, materials must be heated or cooled. Vacuums or pressures must be maintained in properly designed vessels or pipes. Many chemicals are corrosive, and this must be considered in the design of the equipment and the operation of the plant. Final products might have to be purified before they are stored to await sale. To keep the process economical, impurities and by-products are often separated and purified themselves, either for reuse in the process or sold for other purposes. And of course, the operation must not pollute; plant waste discharges (gases, liquids, or solids) must be harmless before they are released. </p>
<p>It can be seen then that the chemical engineer is concerned with both the chemical and the physical aspects involved in a process. To this end, many of the concepts common to all engineering are utilized, but the backbone of the field consists of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Chemical Engineering curriculums can differ somewhat from school to school, depending upon which aspect of the field is emphasized. For example, some schools produce a very theoretically oriented graduate with the emphasis of mathematical and computer techniques. Others may emphasize the physical and engineering aspect of the field. Penn State is well known for its chemically oriented chemical engineering graduates. We have been told numerous times that this is the type of graduate industry appreciates most, and we have tried to maintain this characteristic in the curriculum at Penn State. </p>
<p>The fields open to chemical engineering students are almost unlimited. They work in the areas of chemical plant design and engineering, product quality and product manufacturing, applied chemistry, market development, and research and development in all phases of the chemical industry. These include pharmaceuticals, plastics, nuclear processing and products, cryogenics, petroleum refining and technology, petrochemicals, rubber and wood technology, etc. </p>
<p>The Department of Chemical Engineering is located in the Fenske Laboratory, named after Merrell Fenske, who served as the department head from 1959 to 1969. Fenske's contributions to petroleum processing are numerous as well as important, the Fenske equation is still taught in the design of distillation columns. The Fenske Laboratory at University Park holds almost 60,000 square feet of floor space and is divided into two wings. The western wing (Unit I) was occupied in 1960, was extensively renovated in 1992, and is devoted to office space and research laboratories including a 1,000 square-foot pilot plant area with over 50 feet of headroom which was designed to accommodate tall research equipment. It currently houses the undergraduate Unit Operations Laboratory, CH E 407. The east wing (Unit II) was occupied in 1968 and, in addition to increasing the office and research laboratory space of the Department, houses several classrooms. </p>
<p>Research
The Department is active in a number of broad areas of research. The list is too long to enumerate here but includes such fields as biomedical engineering, reactor design and catalysis, transport phenomena, applied thermodynamics, physical properties, separation processes, applied chemistry, kinetics, petroleum research, interfacial phenomena, and biotechnology. Computer applications in many areas are facilitated by the Department</p>
<p>Chem E is looking like the next fad major, no offense.</p>
<p>Chemical Engineering: Bioprocess & Biomolecular Engineering Option (BBE)
View the Bioprocess and Biomolecular Engineering Option course schedule.pdf</p>
<p>Recent advances in the life sciences - the sequencing of the human genome, the development of transgenic animals and plants, the use of recombinant DNA technology, and the unraveling of the molecular basis of disease - have opened up exciting new opportunities for Chemical Engineers. By combining these advances in molecular biology with the unique capabilities of chemical engineering, Chemical Engineers are making novel contributions to the production of new medicines, the development of artificial organs, the detection of biological and chemical toxins, and to our quantitative understanding of complex biological processes and systems. </p>
<p>In order to effectively contribute to this diverse field, students in the Bioprocessing and Biomolecular Engineering Option need to develop a strong foundation in molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, biomolecular engineering, and the biophysical processes required to purify biological molecules. This is accomplished through a combination of core science and engineering courses, along with a set of electives that give students an opportunity to pursue specialized areas of particular interest. The impact of biological advances on human health, agriculture, industry, and the environment will increasingly depend upon the skills of chemical engineers who have a strong understanding of the life sciences. Employment opportunities for students in the Bioprocessing and Biomolecular Engineering Option are thus expected to be very good. There are currently over 1200 smaller biotechnology companies in the U.S., in addition to a number of very large pharmaceutical companies. And many traditional chemical companies are now developing significant "life sciences" programs. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) estimates that 15-20% of all chemical engineering graduates are currently employed in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical related industries.</p>
<p>FROM PENN STATE CHEM ENG. WEBSITE.
i find this option interesting.</p>
<p>what do u think about this article?</p>
<p>Prognosis Positive for Biomedical Engineering Grads</p>
<p>by Shayna Sobol</p>
<p>The employment outlook for biomedical engineering graduates is, in a word, good. So say three professors who are tops in the field, from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., to Clemson University in South Carolina.</p>
<p>"The outlook is good and getting better as employers recognize the value of the specialty of biomedical engineering," notes Dr. Scott Delp, associate professor of biomedical engineering and rehabilitation at Northwestern University, as well as a research scientist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "The more biomedical engineers who go out into industry, the more I see that trend continuing."</p>
<p>Currently, Delp estimates that about half of Northwestern's biomedical engineering undergrads go on to medical school, while 25 percent head to grad school and the remaining 25 percent, roughly 20 students, go on to jobs in industry right out of college.</p>
<p>"Biomedical engineers have unique skills," Delp says. "Often they are needed to bridge traditional engineering skills with medical applications. For someone to have a formal education in both disciplines is very helpful."</p>
<p>Delp asserts that the U.S. dominates the world in the healthcare marketplace, which translates into an optimistic view of the future for his field.</p>
<p>"We have a strong export/import balance," he says. "The growth of the healthcare industry and the domination of the U.S. healthcare industry worldwide are strong indicators that biomedical engineers will be doing well in the coming years."</p>
<p>As vast as the field is, all areas of biomedical engineering represent good employment prospects for today's graduates, according to Dr. Larry Dooley, professor of bioengineering and director of the School of Chemical University. Dooley notes that both the medical device marketplace and the diagnostics marketplace are expanding in the U.S. in terms of new production capability. That translates into a wealth of opportunities for grads possessing bioengineering skills.</p>
<p>WORKERS NEEDED, STAT!
"Industry went through a downsizing period," Dooley relates, "but now the economy is booming, healthcare is an important issue and industry is looking to expand. It's a good, dynamic time."</p>
<p>Dr. David Kelso, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern University, is an expert in the emerging area of biosensor technology. He says the employment outlook is upbeat, ranging from the hiring patterns of large diagnostic companies such as Abbott Laboratories and Hoffman-La Roche to a number of small start-ups pursuing technological development in the biosensor area. Among the exciting avenues available to graduates is exploring new ways of doing blood tests, from infectious diseases to genetic screening to hormones, says Kelso.</p>
<p>"There are opportunities at all levels," he adds. "With the population in this country aging and with people's growing concern for healthcare, there's very little on the down side these days. Issues of cost-containment and cost-control associated with the healthcare industry simply represent more engineering problems that need to be solved."</p>
<p>While the interest in and need for new, cost-effective technologies is high, Kelso says the demand is equally strong for biomedical engineers to work in large systems areas, such as designing and testing in large, centralized manufacturing environments.</p>
<p>"What makes a biomedical engineer so valuable," Kelso says, "is that they understand the medical problem, the chemistry, the biochemistry involved in doing the sensing, yet they also understand the engineering that goes into developing the devices. They have a great ability to interface with all of the specialties that come together in the field."</p>
<p>Dooley of Clemson University points out another area related to health biomedical engineering grads.</p>
<p>"Information technology application in healthcare is changing the way medical centers and hospitals are approaching the management of clinical information," Dooley explains. "That includes billing, radiographic information and clinical information. Merging all of this into a clinical database is changing the way information is used. Doctors are wanting the most up-to-date clinical information at the [hospital] bedside and in the operating room."</p>
<p>Device capability is another strong area, according to Dooley. "We know more now about the way materials behave inside the body and so we're changing the way we think about implantable devices," he says. "This represents new opportunities in design."</p>
<p>DIVERSE DISCIPLINES DESIRED
Delp highlights some burgeoning areas of opportunity in his field of expertise. "Biomaterials, rehab engineering, computer-assisted surgery and medical imaging are all areas that draw on engineering, science and medical applications," Delp says.</p>
<p>Other than the good news they have to offer, the common thread expressed by these professors is the list of traits employers appear to be demanding from today's graduates. Delp notes that for undergraduates, "employers are looking for people with native intelligence, drive and the capacity to learn. Quantitative skills and the ability to analyze a problem in detail are also valued."</p>
<p>Dooley adds that a solid foundation in engineering is essential, even for students looking to enter medically dominated areas. "Of course they should also have math skills and teamwork skills," he notes.</p>
<p>And though biomedical engineering programs are growing by leaps and bounds in this country, there doesn't seem to be any fear of oversaturating the industrial marketplace any time soon. The bottom line? A biomedical engineering graduate can look forward to a dynamic career ahead</p>
<p>"Chem E is looking like the next fad major, no offense."</p>
<hr>
<p>may i ask you WHY?</p>
<hr>
<p>Chemical Engineering: Bioprocess & Biomolecular Engineering Option (BBE)
View the Bioprocess and Biomolecular Engineering Option course schedule.pdf</p>
<p>Recent advances in the life sciences - the sequencing of the human genome, the development of transgenic animals and plants, the use of recombinant DNA technology, and the unraveling of the molecular basis of disease - have opened up exciting new opportunities for Chemical Engineers. By combining these advances in molecular biology with the unique capabilities of chemical engineering, Chemical Engineers are making novel contributions to the production of new medicines, the development of artificial organs, the detection of biological and chemical toxins, and to our quantitative understanding of complex biological processes and systems. </p>
<p>In order to effectively contribute to this diverse field, students in the Bioprocessing and Biomolecular Engineering Option need to develop a strong foundation in molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, biomolecular engineering, and the biophysical processes required to purify biological molecules. This is accomplished through a combination of core science and engineering courses, along with a set of electives that give students an opportunity to pursue specialized areas of particular interest. The impact of biological advances on human health, agriculture, industry, and the environment will increasingly depend upon the skills of chemical engineers who have a strong understanding of the life sciences. Employment opportunities for students in the Bioprocessing and Biomolecular Engineering Option are thus expected to be very good. There are currently over 1200 smaller biotechnology companies in the U.S., in addition to a number of very large pharmaceutical companies. And many traditional chemical companies are now developing significant "life sciences" programs. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) estimates that 15-20% of all chemical engineering graduates are currently employed in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical related industries.</p>
<p>FROM PENN STATE CHEM ENG. WEBSITE.
i find this option interesting.</p>
<hr>
<p>i lot of people are planning to be a pharmacist, the demand is just huge, why not try that?
do you agree w/ the fact that the demand for pharmacists is great?</p>