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Biomedical engineering to become PhD program |
| By
Cynthia Nowak |
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Feb 22, 2007 |
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It may not be a marriage made in heaven, but it certainly qualifies as a partnership with sky-high potential — that is, the Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Program, which, if approved, will be available as a joint degree between the colleges of Engineering and Medicine.
The program was being discussed by the two colleges prior to the announcement of the 2006 merger, said Christine Smallman, director of college relations and facilities management in the College of Engineering. “The colleges have always worked collaboratively, so when the merger became public, everyone thought that the program made even more sense,” she said.
The interdisciplinary program will promote collaborative research between the faculties of both colleges, according to Dr. Nagi Naganathan, dean of the College of Engineering. “One of the unique features of this program is an entrepreneurial option designed to encourage students to commercialize their research upon graduation. Innovations at the interface of engineering and medical sciences are well-poised to transform the landscape of health care, including drug-delivery systems, in the 21st century. It is important that our students’ doctoral experiences be expanded to include an exposure to entrepreneurship.”
The required 90 semester hours (following an earned bachelor’s degree) of the curriculum will be split evenly between course hours and dissertation research hours, with the course work made up of classes from two or more colleges. Students’ research tracks will determine the specific courses.
Naganathan noted that the Ph.D. program also is likely to attract College of Medicine students who are interested in biomedical engineering research. “It is expected that a number of them will enroll in the program while completing their M.D. degree,” he said.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, provost and executive vice president of health affairs and College of Medicine dean, said, “This program brings together the sophisticated resources of the College of Engineering with the clinical needs of day-to-day medical challenges. This unique intercollegiate program sets the stage for continued scientific discovery and is shaped by true interdisciplinary excellence.”
Equally excited about the program, UT President Lloyd Jacobs said, “Providing this doctoral degree is another leap forward, both as a collaboration between colleges and as an academic option in a highly attractive field that’s creating so many innovations in our lives.”
Administered jointly by the colleges of Engineering and Medicine, the program will have a director appointed by the two deans with faculty input.
The Board of Trustees began considering the program for approval during the Academic Affairs Committee meeting Feb. 19, with approval necessary from the Ohio Board of Regents after.
Questions about the program, which the deans hope to implement by September 2007, can be directed to Dr. Arun Nadarajah in the Department of Bioengineering at 419.530.8030 or Dr. Michael Dennis in the Department of Radiology at 419.383.4303.
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