biomedical engineering students in lab

Biomedical Engineering Ph.D.

Use specialized technical expertise to create devices for a healthier world, one life at a time.

Tomorrow’s most impactful healthcare and medical technologies will come from advanced engineering principles and the study of biology and medicine. Develop the high-level knowledge and skills to be a vital contributor in the rapidly growing field of medical devices.

Program type:
Doctoral Degree
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
3+ years
Credit hours:
90

Why earn a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering?

Graduate Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 1
Spring:
Dec. 1
Summer:
May 1

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

At the forefront of increased life expectancy, reductions in cancer deaths and overall healthcare progress are medical innovations. From advanced optical scanners that eliminate the need for biopsies, to needle-free diabetes care, to advanced prosthetics, biomedical engineers help save and improve lives on a mass scale.

Through this graduate program in the College of Engineering & Mines, you'll contribute to the research and development of the next generation of:

  • Diagnostic
  • Monitoring
  • Surgical
  • Therapy
  • Other medical devices yet to be envisioned

You'll gain the skill-set to be a part of team that create medical devices that increase safety and survival rates for patients all around the world.

Individualize your program and choose from several Biomedical Research Groups (BRG) including:

  • Biomechanics
  • Biomaterials
  • Bio-instrumentation
  • Multi-scale
  • Bio-simulation and modeling
  • Bio-signals
  • Other emerging areas

UND's Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering

  • Increase your career opportunities with a Ph.D. program designed to focus on areas where biomedical engineering expertise is most needed.

  • Enhance your professional skills at 60+ free workshops offered through the UND School of Graduate Studies. Our goal is to provide you with the workforce skills and job search strategies to succeed.

  • Leverage the expertise and resources of three departments: College of Engineering & Mines, School of Medicine & Sciences and NDSU's College of Engineering.

  • Study at a Carnegie R1 Institution ranked #144 by the NSF. In 2025, just 187 American universities held the R1 status.

Is a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering worth it?

7%

Projected job outlook for bioengineers and biomedical engineers through 2033

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

101k

Median annual salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers, 2023

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Our graduates can expect to be highly sought by companies in the rapidly growing field of medical devices. These companies may include top medical device companies like:

  • Johnson & Johnson
  • GE Healthcare
  • Siemens
  • Medtronic
  • Baxter International
  • Philips (Healthcare)

What can you do with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering?

With a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, career opportunities may include:

  • Biomedical Engineer
  • R&D Research Scientist
  • Product Development Engineer
  • Medical Device Mechanical Engineering Lead
  • Principal System Engineer
  • Clinical Engineering Director

Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering Courses

 

BME 631. Anatomy and Physiology for Biomedical Engineers I. 4 Credits.

This course is designed to develop the student in; 1) the practice of medical device and process innovation, 2) the engineering perspective of physiological concepts, 3) professionalism, and 4) ethical and regulatory issues. The course uses an established experiential learning model termed Innovation-Based learning. In innovation-based learning, students select an innovation project, form teams, and throughout the semester, learn to integrate physiological knowledge with ethical and regulatory constraints to produce an innovation in the biomedical engineering space while gaining professional skills. Student assessment of learning is accomplished through mastery of pillar concepts, generation of project tokens, and communicating the innovation to society. Prerequisite: Background knowledge in differential equations, physics of electric and magnetic fields, introductory chemistry, or by instructor approval. F.

BME 650. Medical IoT Innovation I: Biomedical Instrumentation. 3 Credits.

The course focuses on both theoretical and practical aspects of biomedical instruments. The course includes a special emphasis on laboratory activities. There is also a strong innovation component to the course expecting the students to produce an innovation at the end of their semester using principles learned in the course and present their results to the class. This is a graduate level class. Thus, graduate students are expected to work on a project of greater scope/complexity than undergraduates. Students in this course often demonstrate their learning through project outputs such as a conference or journal publication. Publications by graduate students will demonstrate higher-levels of critical thinking and data analysis. Prerequisite: Background knowledge of electrical circuit theory. Prerequisite or Corequisite: BME 631. F.

BME 643. BioPhotonics. 3 Credits.

This course introduces the fundamentals of Biophotonics, exploring how light interacts with biological tissues for imaging, and diagnostics. Designed for students in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, the course combines theory with hands-on experience using experimental kits for absorption, scattering, spectroscopy, and fluorescence with the focus on tissue optics. Kits include a Raspberry Pi, camera, and custom 3D-printed components for building optical setups, with data analysis performed using Matlab and ImageJ. Students work in teams, supported by a lab assistant and interactive office hours, applying photonic technologies to real-world clinical and research problems. Prerequisite: BME 450 or BME 650. S.

BME 671. Medical Device Regulatory and Commercialization. 3 Credits.

This course is to provide a roadmap for medical device commercialization and to address various requirements of regulatory considerations for inventors. There is an emphasis on verifying an Idea has the potential to be developed into a Product and can be viable in the Marketplace. A commercialization plan for a medical device typically includes the successful implementation of several key elements and strategies to achieve commercial success. On demand.

BME 625. Biomedical Applications of RF/Microwaves. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to develop the student in: 1) microwave radiation and its applications to biological systems for communications, power, sensing, and therapy, 2) the practice of medical device and process innovation, 3) professionalism, and 4) ethical and regulatory issues. Prerequisite: Knowledge of electromagnetics. On demand.

BME 622. Introduction to NeuroEngineering. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to develop the student in; 1) the understanding and application of fundamental neural engineering concepts, 2) understanding and analysis of the nervous system and neurological disorders 3) the design, analysis, and evaluation of current neural engineering challenges, 4) professionalism, and 5) ethical and regulatory issues. Prerequisite or Corequisite: BME 632 or BME 630 or by instructor approval. On demand.

Online Biomedical Engineering Ph.D.

+160

online graduate programs

#1

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

Research Locations

Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. students are expected to perform cutting edge research and must be selected by a research faculty member to join their research group or act as advisor. Most of these students will be required to complete research work in person, or possibly at research facilities at your own location, which will depend on the project, thesis topic and faculty advisor to determine how much of the program can be completed online.

Flexible Online Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Courses

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Top-Tier Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Online Student Resources

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)
Read the Research

Biomedical Engineering Research

Preventing falls in Parkinson’s disease

Ph.D. student Rabiee Fadil developed a new type of medical device to help people with Parkinson’s know when they might be at a higher risk for a falling incident.

Read the Research
Explore More Options

Check out the biomedical engineering faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional doctoral opportunities.

Department Contact
Dan Ewert, P.h.D.
Biomedical Engineering Director
P 701.777.5642

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