I’m currently researching biomedical engineering PhD programs. I’m currently an industrial engineering undergraduate and I’m wondering if anyone has any recommendations for PhD programs or any experience in these types of programs. I will be participating in an engineering REU program this summer and will have completed an undergraduate thesis by the time I graduate.
Do REUs help one’s application to graduate school?
What exactly do the PhD admissions look for in undergraduate applicants?
Are most biomedical engineering PhD programs fully funded?
If there is anyone that is currently working towards their biomedical PhD or has already earned a PhD, would you please give me some advice on the admissions process, school recommendations, and what an appropriate undergraduate background looks like (biology, chemistry, math classes)?
bump
Yes, REUs do help in an application to graduate school.
PhD admissions (for any program) look for the same things. The most important are research interest/fit with the program (demonstrated in part by your statement of purpose), a good strong academic record (measured by grades and the rigor of your classes taken), and strong recommendations from professors who have worked with you before (preferably in research or who have taught you in multiple classes). Also important are your GRE scores.
So
-Make sure you keep your grades up. If you have the opportunity to take a graduate class or two, try that (but if you don’t, don’t worry about it).
-Select your list of graduate programs carefully. You want your own research interests to fit with the department. Theoretically, there should be at least 2-3 professors who could mentor you as your principal investigator (PI)/advisor, people whose current research gets you excited.
-Cultivate good letters of recommendation from your professors. The person who mentors you in your REU and the person who mentors your research at your home university are a good two. The third should be from a professor whose class you got an A in - and preferably a professor you have taken several classes with and got good grades.*
And yes, PhD programs in BME are usually fully funded. You should not attend any PhD program that isn’t fully funded.
*Is the only research you’ll have by admission your REU and the thesis? Have you assisted a professor with his research outside of that?
Thanks juillet! I’m a sophomore, but I’m planning on applying to another research internship the summer of 2017. My engineering department is extremely small, and there aren’t undergraduate research opportunities being offered (most of them are for the visiting scholars). I hope to have two research internships and an undergraduate thesis completed by the time I apply for PhD programs.
Does it matter that my undergraduate degree is in industrial engineering and I am applying to a BME program? I’m not sure if that would hurt me in graduate admissions or not.
It will matter a bit unless you have taken some biologically-oriented courses as electives. However, there is a tradition of students moving from other engineering disciplines into BME so I am pretty sure you will not be a totally unique case. The rapid growth in BME undergraduate programs makes it just a bit harder than in the past.
Thanks, xraymancs 
I have taken one general chemistry course and a year of biology. Are you a PhD student in the BME field? Which schools would you recommend for PhD BME?
No, I am a professor of physics at Illinois Tech and in the past I was in charge of the university’s graduate admissions office. I have been advising students about graduate school for many years and my advice is always the same. You know what appeals to you about the BME field so take that and look at the scientific literature to find out where they are doing that kind of research. That is the best place to start with choosing graduate programs. Next, go a little deeper into what the different schools offer and you will start to develop a good list.
Thank you xraymancs for your advice! Will do