Career Prospects In Biomedical Engineering

Rohit Manglik Jun 08, 2019

Most of us have fallen ill sometime in our lives. Those were the moments we familiarized ourselves, for the first time, with instruments like the stethoscope or sphygmomanometer. What’s more, nowadays you have compact wearable health monitoring devices to track different activities of the organs of your body. Taking a clue from these instances, let me tell you that the role of biomedical engineering closely revolves around these devices. Biomedical Engineers knowledge of biology and medicine to analyze and devise solutions for improving healthcare in terms of quality and efficacy.

What does a Biomedical Engineer do?

A Biomedical engineer is a professional who intelligently amalgamates medicine with engineering. The role of a biomedical engineer is to design systems and products which can substitute damaged body parts such as artificial organs, devise equipment for diagnostic purposes, install maintain and repair biomedical equipments, train personnel in biosafety and many more. They are also required to coordinate their work extensively with physicians and surgeons, and chemists to understand, interpret and further research biological systems which can be replicated or facilitated through engineering innovations.

Educational Qualifications and skills for Aspirants of Biomedical Engineering

Students planning to pursue biomedical engineering need to have passed the higher secondary school certificate (10+2) examination with science subjects such as biology, maths, and chemistry.

Higher Educational Institutions run both kinds of educational programs- degree as well as diploma levels- for the aspirants of Biomedical Engineering.

All the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs); universities like Anna University; Bundelkhand University; Government Engineering College Palanpur (Gujrat); Dronacharya College Of Engineering, Gurgaon, etc, are some of the eminent institutions that provide the study programs for the undergraduates. For providing the study in this discipline, all these institutions either organise their own screening tests (examinations) or go collectively for it. Take IITs, for example, for the latter case.

Those planning to pursue their master’s in biomedical engineering need to have pursued their bachelor of engineering or bachelor of technology or equivalent in Biomedical or Medical Electronics or Electrical and Electronics or Electronics and Communication or Electronics and Telecommunication or Instrumentation Engineering.

Similarly, the diploma level programs are run by the Institutes like Gujarat Technological University; Nagaji Institute of Technology and Management, Madhya Pradesh; Government Polytechnic for Girls, Gujarat; the AWH Polytechnic College, Kerala.

Strong analytical and problem- solving skills is one of the essential requirements to become a biomedical engineer. A good eye for design and keen attention to detail are some of the other skills needed for this profession. They also need to have excellent interpersonal skills as they are required to coordinate with various stakeholders.

Popular Specializations in Biomedical Engineering

Bioinstrumentation: Bioinstrumentation includes developing and designing equipment and tools that are used to identify and later, treat diseases. Moreover, most of the tools falling under Bioinstrumentation are the devices of advanced electronics that operate mutually with a computer.
Biomechanics: This domain is related to the movements of the body. Hence, engineers mastering Biomechanics pay attention to developing and designing products which help with motions in the body. Meanwhile, joint implants and artificial heart valves are examples of biomedical products.
Biomaterials: To begin with Biomaterials, the professionals here sketch and develop devices apt to use inside the human body. These implantable devices need to be totally free of any harm to patients. And this consequently and essentially requires the non-appearance of carcinogenic toxins and properties. Moreover, they also need to be chemically inert and stable.
Clinical Engineering: Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are the work spheres of clinical engineers. Moreover, clinical engineers work along with nurses, physicians, and other medical people.
Medical Imaging: Biomedical engineers working in medical imaging sketch and build devices that empower professionals working in the sphere of medicine. Thus, they empower these professionals to see within the human anatomy.
Genetic Engineering: Biomedical experts effectively work in this sphere to build or discover mechanisms for greater problems. Moreover, focussing on cellular activities makes it relatively simpler to know the progress of diseases. Thus, genetic engineers develop ways to either halt or treat them.
Rehabilitation Engineering: Primarily, the focus of Rehabilitation engineers is to map and build prosthetics. These devices enable people to secure the normal functioning of the injured body parts.
The Field of Systems Physiology: Here, biomedical engineers attempt to study the manner in which different living organisms perform their functions.
Orthopedic Bioengineers: Orthopedic bioengineers sketch and develop products that pertain to the muscles, bones, ligaments, and joints. Mainly, these products consist of implants helping humans in their movements. Moreover, they may also replace some muscles, bones, ligaments, and joints, completely.

Prospects

Biomedical engineers can find a job in manufacturing industries, healthcare and medical facilities, consultancies, government medical organizations and research organisations. The salary range of a fresher starts from around INR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000. Some of the top recruiting companies are Phillips, Siemens, GE Healthcare and the like. The technological revolution coupled with advancements in healthcare has given impetus to the demand for Biomedical Engineers. The combination of engineering principles with biological knowledge to address medical needs has contributed to the development of revolutionary and life-saving concepts such as artificial organs, surgical robots, advanced prosthetics and many more. The rapidly emerging rehabilitation and orthopedic engineering fields apart from computer-assisted surgery and heavy research in molecular, cellular and tissue engineering has also fueled the demand for biomedical engineers. Research and development (R& D) is also an attractive option for them, both in India and abroad.