Preparation for Sophomore Year in BME Prof. Kristen Billiar February 14, 2006

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2 Intro - what’s an advisor ? Information/advice on major, courses and projects Educational mentoring and career counseling An advocate to help you succeed A contact person, who can direct you to services on campus A person who may write recommendation letters for you g.htmlhttp:// g.html

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 3 How Should I Prepare for a Career in Biomedical Engineering? First plan to become a good engineer Then acquire a working understanding of the life sciences and terminology Good communication skills are also important Biomedical engineer provides a vital link with professionals having medical, technical, and other backgrounds

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 4 Where do I find information about BME and about the concentrations? Info on major – Specializations/tracks –you should be locked in on one

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute 6 What do I need to do before meeting with my advisor to get the most out of our meeting? Fill out a proposed course schedule for upcoming year Fill out a BME tracking document and tentative 4 year plan Any questions you have – about IQP, summer jobs, career planning, etc. Degree evaluation – –Student services/student records/Degree evaluation

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 7 Which courses should I take? Course chart in undergraduate catalog – mlhttp:// ml –Information on course sequences, etc. Pick focus areas/skills needed courses that students “must” have and when courses “must” be completed; courses needed before MQP; etc. –3 of 4 of the intro/foundations courses –BME 3300 Design – A term Junior Year –Living systems experimental requirement – (BME3110 not offered) 1/6 credit BB courses – Recommended Background 1000/2000 BB course BB3511 Nerve and Muscle Physio A-D terms (Cat I) BB3514 Circulation and Respiratory Physio A-D terms (Cat I) BB2903 Anatomy and Physiology C-term (Cat I) Evaluations (how to get, how to read) –

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 8 How do I schedule in all those courses? Forms and sample filled out versions available at: – BME Tracking document – to figure out what you need to graduate - Fill it in EACH semester! – ocument%20v3.0.dochttp://users.wpi.edu/~kbilliar/documents/BE%20Tracking%20D ocument%20v3.0.doc 4 year plan – helpful for detailed scheduling – 204%20year%20course%20planning%20template.dochttp://users.wpi.edu/~kbilliar/documents/BME%20Undergrad% 204%20year%20course%20planning%20template.doc

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 9 How do I schedule in all those courses? Course schedules: – – st.pdfhttp://users.wpi.edu/~kbilliar/documents/AY2006courseli st.pdf Watch out for category II classes (check course schedules)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 10 How do I select an IQP? Complete or schedule Suff sophomore year if possible How to find an IQP? Off-campus IQP –global perspectives program – apply A-term Soph year On campus IQP –for students not participating in off-campus IQP program, be sure to schedule an IQP for junior year before leaving for the summer

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 11 How do I select an MQP? B or C-term Junior year Go to: rojects.html for ideas rojects.html posted projects on projects site, cross referenced with other departments – FEW profs post! Propose your own idea and group? Think of background courses and experiences that you’ll need for your MQP –Analysis/design skills - FEM/CAD, Circuits, materials –Lab skills - wet lab, cell culture, testing –Writing

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 12 What’s the difference between BME biomechanics track and ME biomechanics concentration? What do you want to do? Skills and experiences are most important, dept less –Both accredited by ABET. Both sufficiently flexible distribution requirements needed to graduate –BE department requires greater depth in science (e.g., experimental biology, human physiology, experimental physiology), –ME department requires a greater number of engineering and design courses BE possibly more suitable –mechanics of living cells and tissues, research –BME up and coming – hot field – “bilingual” – more broad ME possibly more suitable –design of prosthetics and rehabilitation devices –ME more established, employers know what it is

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13 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. The only courses not specifically covered –two organic chemistry lecture courses –one organic chemistry laboratory. –Two of these can be counted as your two electives - the final one will be an extra course. You'll probably also want to take biochemistry.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 14 How can I improve my job prospects and marketability? Do professional/community service get a career oriented summer job work in a lab on campus, at UMMS, or at another university See also the BMES Careers site –

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 15 How do I find a job or research internship over the summer? REU and summer internships are great, but competitive Talk to students – get slides from “WPI BMES seminar: What I did last summer” Check under student resources REUs: Career Development Center information sessions –Summer Internships and Cooperative Education –Given by CDC on academic advising day Check our MassMEDIC for Massachusetts companies

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 16 What can I do with a BS, MS, and PhD? Undergraduate (BS) Degree (Biomaterials example) –Device/Implant Design and Development Team –Biomaterials Selection/Feasibility Assessment –Clinical, User Interface –QA/QC/Regulatory/Sales –Laboratory Technician –Graduate School Masters (MS/ME) Degree –Team Leader/Program Manager –Research and Development Doctoral (PhD) Degree –Director of Research and Development –Academic Research

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 17 When do I sign up for the BS/MS program? o Too early to worry about, but if interested, go to site: html o Submit “Course Designation Form” spring of Junior year o Get signatures of instructors of 4000-level courses you’d like to double count – before you take the course o Completely SEPARATE from admission to the graduate program o Formal (full) application fall of senior year o Same as normal process except no GRE and fees waived o Advice - apply to other schools and take GRE anyway o 3.2 GPA overall and 3.5 GPA in major

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 18 What is ABET and why should I care? American Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) –Official accreditation body for biomedical engineering programs in the United States –also other applied science, computing, engineering, and technology –non-governmental, peer review process that ensures educational quality. Accreditation ensures the quality of the postsecondary education students receive.Accreditation –accreditation is not a ranking system. It is simply assurance that a program or institution meets established quality standards –desirable in any academic program geared toward training professionals –current licensure requirements require graduation from an accredited program as a prerequisite requirement for the Professional Engineer (PE) license –Really a FEEDBACK process – students and alums are the “clients” Educational institutions or programs volunteer –to periodically undergo this review in order to determine if certain criteria are being met –Generally every six years (if lucky) WPI BME accredited in 2003, next review –36 as of November 2005 of ~100 institutions –Current list of accredited undergraduate programs at the ABET web site

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 19 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 “undergraduate programs” o - follow link o National BMES is a resource for you – access to the profession o Skills builder, Resume builder

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 20 What’s a mentor? Information/advice on major, courses and projects Educational mentoring and career counseling An advocate to help your mentee succeed A contact person, who can direct you to services on campus graduate/advising.htmlhttp:// graduate/advising.html