The Ph.D. is a 90-credit-hour program that includes core courses, focus area electives, the choice of a minor, the option of experiential learning, qualifying examinations, and a dissertation.
Biomedical Engineering core courses (12 cr.)
- BMEG-E 501 Biomedical Engineering (3 cr., ENGR-E 501)
- BMEG-E 503 Biomedical Ethics and Regulation (3 cr.)
- Applied Mathematics in Engineering: (select one, 3 cr.)
- INFO-B 518 Applied Statistical Methods for Biomedical Informatics (3 cr.)
- DSCI-D 510 Statistics for Data Science (3 cr., was INFO-H 510)
- MATH-I 514 Numerical Analysis (3 cr.)
- MATH-I 537 Applied Mathematics for Scientists and Engineers I (3 cr.)
- PBHL-B 571 Biostatistics Method I: Linear Models in Public Health (3 cr.)
- PBHL-P551 Biostatistics for Public Health I (3 cr.)
- PSY-I 600 Statistical Inference (3 cr.)
- STAT-I 524 Applied Multivariate Analysis (3 cr.)
- Research Design: (select one, 3 cr.)
- INFO-I 575 Informatics Research Design (3 cr.)
- LIS-S 506 Introduction to Research (3 cr.)
- PSY-I 601 Correlation and Experimental Design (3 cr.)
Biomedical Engineering focus area electives (12 cr.)
- Computational Biomedical Engineering
- BMEG-E 510 Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering (3 cr.)
- BMEG-E 511 Biomedical Image Processing (3 cr.)
- BMEG-E 512 Digital Health Technologies (3 cr.)
- ENGR-E 540 Computational Methods for 3-D Biomaterials (3 cr.)
- ENGR-E 542 Introduction to Computational Bioengineering (3 cr.)
- ENGR-E 543 Computational Modeling Methods for Virtual Tissues (3 cr.)
- MATH-I 555 Introduction to Biomathematics (3 cr.)
- Biomedical Devices and Nanosystems
- BMEG-E 502 Rapid Prototyping for Biomedical Engineering (3 cr., ENGR-E 537)
- BMEG-E 520 Bionanosystems Principles (3 cr.)
- BMEG-E 521 Bionanosystems Processes and Devices (3 cr., including lab)
- BMEG-E 572 Biomedical Devices and Sensors (3 cr., ENGR-E 572)
- CHEM-I 623 Sensors and Biosensors (3 cr.)
- ENGR-E 505 Introduction to Nano-Engineering (3 cr.)
- ENGR-E 571 Microfluidic Devices and Systems (3 cr.)
- PHYS-I 530 Electricity and Magnetism (3 cr.)
- Biomedical Cell Engineering
- BIOL-I 507 Principles of Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
- BIOL-I 512 Advanced Cell Biology (3 cr.)
- BIOL-I 516 Molecular Biology of Cancer (3 cr.)
- BIOL-I 564 Molecular Genetics of Development (3 cr.)
- BIOL-I 573 Stem Cell Biology (3 cr.)
- CHEM-I 635 Protein Structure and Function (3 cr.)
- PHYS-I 585 Introduction to Molecular Biophysics (3 cr.)
- Biomedical Tissue Engineering
- BMEG-E 540 Bioprocess and Tissue Engineering (3 cr.)
- BIOL-I 556 Physiology (3 cr.)
- BIOL-I 569 Regenerative Biology and Medicine (3 cr.)
- CHEM-I 673 Biomaterials (3 cr.)
- CHEM-I 674 Biomimetics (3 cr.)
- ENGR-E 570 Advanced Bioengineering (3 cr.)
- Drug and Device Fidelity, Assurance, and Clinical Translations
- CHEM-I 696 Special Topics in Chemistry. Solid-Phase Synthesis and Combinatorial Chemistry: Theory and Practice (1–3 cr.)
- COMM-C 533 Improvisation for Scientists (1 cr.)
- GRDM-G 661 Clinical Trials (3 cr.)
- GRMD-G 506 Responsible Conduct of Translational Research (1 cr.)
- PBHL-B 582 Introduction to Clinical Trials (3 cr.)
- Other courses
- BMEG-E 690 Topics in Biomedical Engineering (1–3 cr.).
- Advisor approved courses
Minor (12 cr.)
Students select a Ph.D. minor with the recommendation of their advisor to add breadth and value to their degree. The minor must be be taken from outside their program from the list of approved minors in the graduate bulletin. Appropriate minors include Applied Data Science, Applied Statistics, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computer Science, Health Informatics, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Population Health Analytics, Therapeutic Development and Translation, and Translational Cancer Biology, among others. Minor requirements are set by the minor department or program.
Students may request approval for an individualized minor comprising 12 credit hours from two or more programs. Students must obtain approval from the Dean of the Graduate School on the recommendation of their advisory committee before taking any of the courses.
The minor must be 12 credit hours. Courses counted toward a minor cannot also be counted toward the degree.
Qualifying examination
All students must pass a written and an oral qualifying examination, offered in August.
Written component
Students prepare a document in the format of an NIH F31 or NSF GRFP research proposal. This includes (1) a summary of the current state of the art in the chosen research area; (2) identification and critical analysis of gaps in the existing literature; and (3) a clearly defined research strategy presenting an original idea with specific aims and a testable hypothesis. This component demonstrates the candidate’s ability to synthesize existing knowledge and design a meaningful research plan. The written examination is evaluated by the examination committee. Students who do not successfully complete the examination may retake it once.
Oral presentation
An oral examination follows successful completion of the written examination. Students present their proposal to the examination committee, highlighting (1) the background and significance of the research topic; (2) critical analysis of selected literature; and (3) the proposed research approach and its potential impact. After the presentation, the examination committee conducts a question-and-answer session on the proposal and relevant foundational knowledge from coursework. This portion assesses the candidate’s depth of understanding, clarity of communication, and readiness for independent research. Only two attempts to pass the oral examination are allowed. Students must pass both the written and oral examinations to advance to candidacy.
Dissertation proposal
This is an oral review that covers in-depth knowledge of the students’ primary research area and dissertation proposal. The research proposal for the dissertation must be approved by the students’ research committee. That committee may have the same membership as the advisory committee, or the students may choose different members. The dissertation advisor must be a faculty member in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering in Indianapolis and an endorsed member of the graduate faculty. At least one of the committee’s three members must be from outside the school. Students will defend their dissertation proposal at a public colloquium in the school. The review should be completed within one year after passing the qualifying examinations.
Research (54 cr.)
Students complete 54 credit hours of research, which include at least 48 credit hours of dissertation. Students may also complete a research-focused internship, independent study, or rotation with the approval of their research advisor.
Dissertation (48–54 cr.)
- INFO-I 890 Thesis Readings and Research
Experiential Learning (0–6 cr.)
- BUKD-W 525 Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process, and Practice (3 cr.)
- BMEG-E 692 Project in Biomedical Engineering (1–6 cr.)
- INFO-B 638 Seminars in Biomedical Engineering and Informatics (3 cr.).
- INFO-I 595 Professional Internship (1–6 cr.)
- INFO-I 699 Independent Study in Informatics (1–6 cr.)
- INFO-I 790 Informatics Research Rotation (1–6 cr.)