Duke or UCSD for PhD in Biomedical Engineering

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>Hello All,</p>

<p>This is my first post here. I would like a little help in gathering what you think regarding these schools. I have been accepted to UCSD and Duke for a PhD in Biomedical/Bio Engineering. Both schools are offering great stipends (Duke 32k/year and UCSD 30k/year), and are ranked in the top by US News and World Science Report. I am wondering which school will inevitably look better and provide me the best opportunities. Duke might have a better name, not sure? As of now I am leaning towards UCSD. </p>

<p>As additional information, UCSD is offering a 2 year fellowship which would allow me to pick a mentor while Duke would (in a round about way) force me to work specifically with someone. My long term goal would be to work in industry for awhile and then maybe become a prof down the road. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!</p>

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<p>One consideration might be where you want to work when you’re done with your PHD. If you want to end up working in either of the two locations there might be some advantage to going to school there due to contacts. </p>

<p>UCSD has quite a few biotech companies located close to campus. I don’t know about Duke but I’m not in that business.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your reply! I have thought a lot about potential jobs after my PhD, and SD is certainly ahead of NC in terms of biotech start-ups. Plus UCSD has a much tighter collaboration with industry compared to Duke. I guess that goes to show who is actually starting these companies :)</p>