Preparing for a Career in Biomedical Engineering at WPI

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Preparation for your Junior Year (and Beyond) in BME Profs. Raymond Page Songbai Ji

How should I prepare for a career in biomedical engineering? Find out what you are passionate about! Plan to become a competent engineer! Core BME knowledge & depth/skills in specialization Acquire a working understanding of the life sciences and terminology Good communication skills are essential Biomedical engineers provide a vital link with professionals having medical, technical, and other backgrounds 3 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Where do I find information about BME and about the Specializations? Information on BME: At WPI: https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/biomedical- engineering Undergraduate catalog: https://wpi.cleancatalog.net/ BME specializations at WPI: Try to figure out your general interests to obtain depth Basically Biomechanics/transport/mechanobiology Biomaterials/tissue engineering Bioelectrical/instrumentation/sensors/imaging NOT Concentrations (as seen in WPI UG catalog) Mechanical Engineering has a Biomechanics concentration BME specialization do not show up on your transcripts 4 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

What do I need to do before meeting with my advisor to get the most out of our meeting? Any questions you have about IQP, summer jobs, career planning, etc. Fill out a BME tracking document and tentative 4-year plan CANVAS/BME Undergrad Advising/Tracking documents (Class of 2024+) Bring with you to advising meeting But how can I determine all of my courses when I don t even know what area I will specialize in? Read course chart in undergraduate catalog Information on courses and recommended background Pick focus areas/skills needed (CAD, experimental, etc.) 6 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The living systems laboratory is a check box which can be satisfied EITHER by 3111 or by one of three specific 1/6-unit BME labs BME 1004 C-term Intro to programming in Matlab ENGR course can be all courses designated BME (except BME 1001, BME 1004, BME 3110, BME 532, BME 560, BME 562, BME 564, and BME 593; BME 595 requires departmental approval) and AE, AREN, CE, CHE, ECE, RBE, and ME courses at the 2000-level or above (except RBE 3100 and CE3022). Worcester Polytechnic Institute

End of Junior Year Course Goals Complete PE requirements when feasible Shooting for 9/3 units of coursework remaining during senior year* *typically less due to AP credits and other Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Which courses should I take? 4 of the Sophomore-level core courses (BME 2210, BME 2502, BME 2001, BME 2211) Biomaterials track suggest ES2501 instead of BME2502 BME 3300 Design (A or C term) virtually all BMEs should take this junior year Living systems experimental requirement Virtually all students take BME3111, Physiology for Engineers, A or D term (counts as engineering) Alternatively, take one 1/6 credit BME course (BME3012, BME3503, BME2813) Strong suggestion for ES1310 a computer aided drafting course (elective bin) Other 2000 level and 3000 level BME and ENGR courses that are within your interest area See example tracking documents for ideas 9 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Junior-level BME Courses Junior-level lab courses to provide skills 1/6 unit each We recommend the following Junior-level labs for students in each of the Specializations (number of terms offered per year in parentheses): Biomaterials/TE* Biomechanics/ Biotransport* Biosintrumentation/ sensors* BME 3811 BME 3505 BME 3605 BME 3012 or 3813 BME 3503 BME 3505 BME 3014 BME 3506 or 3012 BME 3012 BME 3013 BME 3014 BME 3811, 3505, or 3605 *Alternatively, students can enroll in up to 1/3-unit ISU (ask a BME faculty with a research lab). BME3111 Physiology for Engineers BME3300 Biomedical Engineering Design Other ENGR courses Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Sample Biomaterials tracking document. Comparable Biomechanics, and Bioinstrumentation examples on Canvas BME course information can be found here: https://www.wpi.edu/aca demics/departments/biom edical-engineering/courses Worcester Polytechnic Institute

How do I select Humanities Inquiry Seminar? HUA requirement Complete or schedule Inquiry seminar (or culminating language course) sophomore year if possible Need to talk to HUA faculty about details make personal contacts They will advise on their preferences for well-rounded HUA course selection https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/humanities- arts/resources 12 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

How do I select an IQP? How to find an IQP? https://eprojects.wpi.edu/ Off-campus IQP www.wpi.edu/project-based-learning/global-project-program On campus IQP ID2050 can count towards the social science requirement Sophomore Year A-term Apply Week after B-term: Placement (supplementa l process to fill needs) 1 Term IQP Global Projects Program Junior Year (or end of soph year) Term before IQP: Take ID2050 and PQP On-Campus IQP Lots of option Three terms Could be summer On-Campus IQP Opportunities Fair (Early D-term) Faculty post projects in e-projects Find project Spring of Sophomore year 13 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Preparing for MQP Look at this year s MQP presentations Attend project presentation day on April 21st Get an idea of what advisors are doing or are interested in Learn the layout of the presentations and level of detail in design and results Start to think about what students you might want to work with BME students can also work on MQPs in other engineering departments (ME, ECE, RBE, ChE and BBT) You will need a BME Advisor or a project advised by a faculty member affiliated with BME You can also create your own project, but you must find a BME advisor. 14 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Preparing for MQP Junior year Project descriptions will be assembled by advisors and/or sponsors and will be made available for students to view in early to mid C-term Students submit their top 3 preferences by the end of C-term Submitting with a team (or 2 4 students) is the best, but not required Advisors and students work together to form project teams Submitting your preference form with a team in mind (or 2 4 students) is the best, but not required 15 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

MQPs for double majors Many projects in BME and elsewhere are multidisciplinary and easily can fulfill requirements for both majors If a double major, you must do a 4/3 units of MQP Typically register for 1/3 units in each of the 4 terms 16 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

BME Connect Mentorship and Slack Starting a new mentorship program Why? Make new friends Learn new skills Help your fellow students navigate the department and WPI Not a huge commitment check in a few times per term Meet in person once a term and get free food Work in pairs with small groups of mentees Perks: Resume Builder, Training, Shirt, Free Food, Preference for PLA Jobs We now have a Slack! Build community Use your fellow classmates as resources Not faculty moderated- safe space Worcester Polytechnic Institute 17

Preparing for a BS/MS in BME Students can advance their career potential by doing a BS/MS degree May take an extra 1-1.5 years depending on how you prepare prior to graduation with the BS You can double count 9 credits towards both degrees 6 credits (3 x 1/3 unit courses; credits for 1/3 unit = 2 grad credits) can count toward the MS You need to take 2 anyway, so adding a 3rd is not too difficult You can also take graduate courses as an undergrad if space is available. Look at the graduate catalog and become familiar with the requirements and try to fulfill as many as possible while still an undergrad Typically, you apply to the BS/MS program in the fall of your senior year, but you may want to apply earlier (talk to your FACULTY ADVISOR) If you are considering this option, the time to plan is now 18 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Can I major in Biomedical Engineering and have the prerequisites for medical school? Yes, BME is an excellent premed major! Graduating in four years while fulfilling the prerequisites requires careful planning and you should discuss your goal with your advisor as early as possible. See info on Canvas advising site under Advising Information Talk to the Pre-health advisor in BME: Prof. Ambady. 19 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

How can I improve my job prospects and marketability? Do professional/community service Get a career-oriented job (internship or co-op) Use WPI HandShake to find job opportunities Work in a lab on campus, at UMMS, or at another university NSF REU opportunities Get skills (CAD, MATLAB, SimuLink, Labview, etc.) 20 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

How do I find a job or research internship over the summer? REU and summer internships are great, but very competitive! http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm Career Development Center (CDC) Information Sessions Summer Internships and Cooperative Education Virtual Career Fairs Additional resources When: REUs (NOW!!!!! Many are already closed!!!) Internships/Co-ops (early D-terms) Asking faculty for recommendation letters: Ask faculty that know you well and/or you did well in their classes! Worcester Polytechnic Institute 21

How do I find a job or research internship over the summer? Jobs: Begin searching all year long CDC is an excellent resource seek their help! Resume/CV writing, internship/co-op and job search strategies, interviewing skills/mock interviews, career advising, job offer evaluation and negotiation skills Search the web: Handshake JobFinder Indeed ZipRecruiter Monster Information about Massachusetts companies: Social Media - LinkedIn / Twitter / Facebook massmedic.com massbio.org massbiomed.org masslifesciences.com Visit individual company websites search job openings Worcester Polytechnic Institute 22

Why should I join the BMES chapter? Should I join BMES national? o Yes, and GET INVOLVED! It s there for you! o Info on website under Student Resources o Techsync site (members only) o National BMES is a resource for you access to the profession join it (~$30/year) o Skills builder, Resume builder 23 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

BME Connect Mentee Program and Slack Mentorship Program Why? Make new friends Get guidance as you navigate BME Meet upperclassmen and fellow BME students Mentors work in pairs; each have a few underclassmen Not a huge commitment Mentors will check in a few times per term Get together with them once a term for free food! We now have a Slack! Build community Use your fellow classmates as resources Not faculty moderated- safe space Worcester Polytechnic Institute 24

Questions? 25 Worcester Polytechnic Institute