The future of healthcare depends on engineering-driven solutions to complex challenges. CMU BME’s research and education programs are uniquely positioned to advance these innovations, guided by an actionable strategy that translates discovery into impact.

Vision

The Carnegie Mellon Biomedical Engineering department seeks to transform healthcare worldwide through interdisciplinary engineering innovation and to train future leaders and innovators in biomedical engineering.

Mission

The mission of the BME Department is to capitalize on Carnegie Mellon’s strength in collaborative technological innovation to address societal needs and advance human health.

This is accomplished by:

  • Delivering the highest quality education programs at all degree levels to train the future interdisciplinary leaders in biomedical engineering.
  • Conducting pioneering, high-impact basic and applied research addressing unmet biomedical needs through interdisciplinary engineering innovation.
  • Creating a collaborative, inclusive environment that leverages the strength of a diverse body of students, faculty, and staff, and fosters their growth and development.

Strategic objectives

Education

Goals:

  • Deliver the highest quality education programs at all degree levels to train the future interdisciplinary leaders in biomedical engineering
  • Inspire and educate undergraduate students in biomedical engineering with a core understanding of biology and physiology, and in-depth engineering knowledge and skills that leverage the strength of CMU Engineering
  • Educate and mentor Ph.D. students through highly individualized training plans including balanced coursework and cutting-edge research to produce the next generation leaders in academia, industry, and government
  • Educate and train master’s students with a deep knowledge base and cutting-edge skills, who can lead and innovate research and development in biomedical engineering, or be well prepared for further doctoral studies
  • Create an international reputation as a leader in biomedical engineering education
  • Collaborate with and engage the Greater Pittsburgh medical and clinical community to provide students with clinical experiences and exposure

Research

Goals:

  • Conduct pioneering, high-impact basic and applied research to improve human health and quality of life through interdisciplinary engineering innovation
  • Pursue fundamental, multi-disciplinary investigation to better quantitatively understand biological systems from molecule, cell, tissue, organ to system levels
  • Develop paradigm-shifting materials, devices, systems, and protocols that lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of human diseases and improve quality of life.
  • Make BME an intellectual hub for biomedical engineering research on campus, integrating multiple scientific and technological disciplines into a collaborative network to foster breakthroughs in medicine and healthcare
  • Promote partnerships across the campus and with local healthcare and engineering stakeholders to further biomedical engineering research and development throughout the region and beyond

Community

Goals:

  • Create a collaborative, inclusive environment that leverages the strength of a diverse body of students, faculty, and staff, and fosters their growth and development
  • Recruit, retain, and develop exceptional faculty who can pioneer and lead biomedical engineering research and education
  • Recruit and educate exceptional undergraduate and graduate students who can innovate and lead the future breakthroughs in biomedical engineering and healthcare
  • Recruit and train outstanding postdoctoral researchers who can develop into leaders and innovators in biomedical engineering and healthcare
  • Recruit, retain, and develop outstanding staff who can provide first-class administrative support to faculty and students
  • Recruit and retain an inclusive and diverse body of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff; commit to creating a community that is respectful of our differences; find strength in our diversity; and enable full-scale development of all community members at CMU BME
  • Promote partnerships across campus, including other engineering and science departments, and the local biomedical community at large
  • Foster faculty participation and leadership in national and international biomedical engineering communities to maximize the impact of biomedical engineering on human health
  • Engage and collaborate with clinicians at leading medical centers across the globe through individual research projects and high-impact, broad-based initiatives
  • Enhance communication and engagement of BME alumni