Career Search Profile: Biomedical Engineer

            After discussing what to do in my future with my fellow university researchers, I decided that I wanted to become a biomedical engineer more than a biomedical scientist although I am deeply interested in both areas. To get a full time job as a biomedical scientist, I would need a PhD, which would take approximately ten years. However, I would only need four years of undergraduate degree to become a biomedical engineer. Typically, biomedical engineers work full time in universities, hospitals, research facilities of companies, educational and medical institutions, and government regulatory agencies. They research, design and develop medical products, such as joint replacements or robotic surgical instruments, and design or modify equipment for clients with special needs in a rehabilitation setting, or manage the use of clinical equipment in hospitals and the community.

            To become a biomedical engineer, an individual would need analytical abilities because they need to be able to evaluate current needs, then design or redesign solutions. Analytical skills are also needed to identify problems before they occur, determine the root causes of the problems, create and test prototypes, and evaluate test results. In addition, biomedical engineers should have some interest in the sciences and technology. Communication is also essential for biomedical engineers since they must listen to clients and others who are working on the project in order to determine what is needed. Also, during the course of the project, they must be able to explain their ideas to others in a way that is clearly understood by those who don’t have a background in engineering.

            The general qualification required to become a biomedical engineer include at least four years of post-secondary education, specifically, a bachelor's degree in engineering with a major in biomedical engineering, or a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering with a specialty in biomedical engineering.

            The standard salary for a biomedical engineer is $103,915.00. Employment of biomedical engineers is expected to grow 27 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Job demand will also increase because the currently aging population is likely to need more medical care, and the public awareness of biomedical engineering advances and their benefits has increased recently. Some related occupations include biologist, chemical engineer, engineering physicist, physician and physiologist.

 

 

 

 

 

References

"Biomedical Engineer: Job Description." | Prospects.ac.uk. 1 Nov. 2014. Web. 26 Dec. 2014.

<http://www.prospects.ac.uk/biomedical_engineer_job_description.htm>.

"Occupational Profile." ALIS OCCinfo: Occupations and Educational Programs. Web. 27

Dec. 2014. <http://occinfo.alis.alberta.ca/occinfopreview/info/browse-occupations/occupation-profile.html?id=71035747>.

"Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Jan. 2014.

Web. 26 Dec. 2014. <http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/biomedical-engineers.htm>.

Williams, Terri. "What Skills & Aptitudes Should You Have to Be an Engineer?" Work. Web.

26 Dec. 2014. <http://work.chron.com/skills-aptitudes-should-engineer-21413.html>.