About the BioEngineering Program

The Georgia Tech Interdisciplinary Bioengineering Graduate Program was established in 1992. Over 170 students have graduated from the program in a broad spectrum of research by our 90 participating faculty from the Colleges of Engineering, Computing, Sciences, and Architecture as well as Emory University School of Medicine.

The BioE Program is interdisciplinary in that it is not a standalone academic unit like most departments or schools at Georgia Tech. Rather, 8 different academic units from the Colleges of Engineering and Computing make up the program.

However, the BioE Program provides the degree requirements for students accepted into the program. This approach allows a flexible, integrative and individualized degree program that enforces depth and breadth in coursework, a solid bioengineering research experience, and yet is reflective of the disciplinary background of the student's home school. Importantly, the BioE Program provides research opportunities for students with any participating program faculty, allowing tremendous diversity and flexibility for research topics and advisors.

Click here for information on how to apply to the program.


Home School/Department Choices

George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

School of Aerospace Engineering

School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

College of Computing 

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering 

School of Materials Science and Engineering 

School of Polymer, Textile, and Fiber Engineering 

Wallace H. Coulter Deptartment of Biomedical Engineering

Hear What the Students Are Saying about Joining the BioE Program
"I have always been interested in interdisciplinary research with an immediate impact on the well being of others. The BioE program provides me with an ideal platform to pursue my interest in problem solving while not limiting myself to a particular discipline."
- Timothy Kassis, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
"You have more choice in classes and could take more real engineering courses."
- Adrian Lam, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
"Flexible classes, more interesting classes. Ability to work with professor outside of BME."
- Apoorva Kalasuramath, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
"I needed the BioE Program's course flexibility to match my interdisciplinary research focus. My research does not fit into one specific discipline, and the BioE Program allowed me to create the graduate experience I wanted mixing ME, BME, APPH, and BIO courses and having a committee members from each of these disciplines."
- Julia Henkels, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
"I really liked the fact that we are able to choose an advisor from multiple departments. I also liked the fact that the coursework was not restricted to specific classes, but could be tailored to our research areas."
- Rachel Simmons, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
"The BioEngineering program enabled me to have a solid education in the classical engineering disciplines while allowing me to apply those concepts in my medical research."
- Jonathan Suever, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
I chose the BioE program for the excellent reputation and the cordiality of the program's faculty. Also when visiting Tech, it felt like the graduate students enjoyed their lives as compared to other institutions.
Nathan Rohner
The interdisciplinary aspect of the BioE program allows me to tailor my research interests with my coursework, which is great because I can really apply what I am learning in class to what I am doing in lab!
Jen Lei
What has been your favorite part of the BioEngineering Program?
"The interdisciplinary nature of the program where I am continuously challenged. My project involves various areas of the basic sciences in addition to various engineering disciplines. The people in the program are also very accepting and collaboration seems to be a central pivot of the program. There is no shortage of people working together across labs both officially and unofficially."
- Timothy Kassis, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
"Access to a large number of faculty and picking my own classes."
- Ivan Caceres, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
"I like the coursework requirements and the flexibility I had in selecting an advisor."
- Ashley Allen, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
"You get to work with the best in science and engineering, no matter which background you come from."
- Rich Hammett, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
"The faculty and my fellow BioEs have made this experience for me. My PhD committee has been an invaluable support to my research, and my fellow BioEs have been with me all the way to commiserate, celebrate, or lend a hand. It's a great community. The people here want to be here, and they want to help you succeed."
- Julia Henkels, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
"I think my favorite part has ended up being the very collaborative nature of the BioE program. I feel that I more readily have access to people that do not necessarily have the same background as I do."
- Rachel Simmons, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
I knew I wanted to be a professor after undergrad, but I didn't know with what subject I would be comfortable. The BioE Program gives me flexibility in exploring various realms of application for my engineering background and the classes are really engaging although this is only my first year.
Nathan Rohner
It is a small community of awesome students, staff and faculty.
Jen Lei
View BioE Video!

 

 
Mission

Educate students and advance research that integrates engineering principles with the life sciences to improve health, the environment and engineering applications.

 
Vision

Be a global leader in interdisciplinary graduate education & in the creation, development, and transfer of new knowledge & technologies that improve health & the environment.

BioE Program Goals

Instill the desire to pursue life-long learning

Educate students to integrate engineering and life sciences to generate novel perspectives, concepts, and technologies

Conduct fundamental, applied and translational research that integrates engineering and life sciences to create new knowledge and technologies with high societal and economic impact.

Produce graduates who rise to leadership positions in academia, industry, and government.

US News & World Report

Georgia Tech Ranked #2  Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering Graduate Programs