Biomedical Engineering Training Program - Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. The Biomedical Engineering (BME) Ph.D. Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine was established in 1961 and has trained more than 500 scientists. JHU BME is engineering the future of medicine, which involves a hybrid approach combining science and medicine, and the program has seen tremendous growth in recent years due to its leadership in applying quantitative methods to life science problems and its unique interdisciplinary nature. We are among the oldest multidisciplinary graduate programs in the country, encompassing nearly 20 departments. More than 100 faculty members are actively involved in research, teaching, and as mentors. In addition to BME, participating departments include Anesthesiology, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Imaging, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine, Neuroscience, Oncology, Radiology, Public Health, and Surgery. Our program has seen dramatic growth, and an average (over the last 5 years) of 54 students matriculate each year and obtain their Ph.D. in an average of 6.1 years. The proposed Training Program in BME will support recruitment into our program of students with high research aptitude but who, due to their scientific background, do not neatly fall within the narrow scope of individual BME labs. Our objectives are: (1) to provide a broad and deep curriculum in biology, medicine, and engineering; (2) to provide longitudinal training in rigorous, reproducible, and responsible experimental and/or theoretical research; (3) to provide the students the opportunity to explore multiple research directions before settling on a thesis lab; (4) to provide training in professional skills; (5) to provide activities for trainees to explore career options; and (6) to recruit and support a multidisciplinary student population. These objectives will be met through an extensive, rigorous, and multifaceted curriculum covering the first two years of study, including required courses on BME-specific ethical issues and quantitative methods, electives in both life and quantitative engineering sciences, and up to three research rotations. Students are explicitly guided in selecting personalized cross-disciplinary sets of courses to develop knowledge that crosses the borders of their initial training. Moreover, there are discussion courses on responsible conduct of research and department-based workshops as students advance in their thesis work. Oral and written presentation skills are developed throughout training, targeting different specific tasks. Professional development and career planning are integral to the program, occurring through courses, individual development planning meetings, or internships. Most students publish multiple research papers, and the training concludes with a presentation of a public seminar and submission of the doctoral thesis. BME graduates hold leadership positions at all levels of academia, government, and industry. The success of our students is fostered by an extraordinary level of collaboration and interaction among the faculty and trainees. Here, we request 20 training grant slots to appoint eligible students during their first two years in the program.
