Welcome to Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer
Welcome to BME at Rensselaer — home to one of the oldest and most reputable biomedical engineering departments in the United States. We combine a strong engineering tradition of problem solving with a high level of scholarship and research. For over 40 years, we have produced outstanding academics, industry leaders and research scientists. As part of the Bio-revolution at Rensselaer we are undergoing large expansion and creating a new face of BME.
Deepak Vashishth, Ph.D.
Professor and Department Head
Under the auspices of a newly established 218,000-sq- feet Center of Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, our faculty and students work closely with other Rensselaer faculty to pursue interdisciplinary research. Additional collaborations are in place with the Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovation, Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging, Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, and several Boston, Connecticut, New York, and Rochester area hospitals and medical centers.
At the undergraduate level, we use Rensselaer’s studio model to deliver biomedical engineering content with hands-on experiences. Our “Surgery in the Classroom” initiative allows live video and audio feed between operating surgeons at Albany Medical College and biomedical engineering students in classroom at Rensselaer. Plans are underway to globalize the capstone design experience and provide projects and live contact between students at Rensselaer and their counterparts in developing countries. Study abroad experiences are also becoming a popular choice as we prepare students for a global marketplace.
We are taking ambitious steps to move our Department forward, and we would like to invite you to learn more about us.
Current News Items
BME Capstone Receives Technology Innovation Award
Saturday, 14 April 2012
We are happy to announce that the collaboration between RPI’s BME Capstone Design and the Center for Disability Services has been awarded this year’s annual Technology Innovation Award by the Center for Economic Growth. The award is based on the strong collaboration between our Capstone Design course and the work our students have done over the last 6 years with the Center for Disability Services. Within RPI, we share the recognition with the MDL who has worked with the Center for the last two years. Additional information regarding the Tech Award may be found here: http://www.ceg.org/news/ceg-announces-2012-technology-innovation-award-winners/. The award will be presented during a ceremony on June 7th.
At left, a candid picture of a current BME Design team working with their faculty advisor, Dr. Reisman.
NSF Career Award
Tuesday, 03 April 2012
It is a great pleasure to share the news that Xavier has received an NSF Career Award for the project entitled: "CAREER: Whole-Body FRET Tomography." Using this prestigious 5-year award Dr. Intes will develop new instrumentation and mathematical reconstruction tools to enable 3D whole-body quantitative FRET imaging in live animals. This is a significant new endeavor in the field because FRET or Forster Resonance Energy Transfer is currently used at the microscopic level for the quantification of gene expression and to study protein interactions and protease activity. Xavier's work will translate the technique to image live animals and allow the in vivo investigation of cellular and molecular processes, disease progression and drug efficacy.
For more information regarding Dr. Intes' work and the grants he has received, please see the article in RPI News.
Undergraduate Seminar Series in Global Health
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Department of Biomedical Engineering
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Undergraduate Seminar Series in Global Health
Presents
Dr. Eric H. Ledet
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
4:00 p.m.
Academy Hall Auditorium
A Tale of Two Systems: Immersion in South African Health Care
Recent Grants
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Dr. Intes has been awarded a two-year, $378K R21 grant from the National Cancer Institute at the NIH. The grant will be used to develop a Multispectral Fluorescence Molecular Tomography (MFMT) tool capable of simultaneous tracking of multiple fluorophores in vivo in small animals. The new technique represents a significant development in the field of biomedical engineering. In particular MFMT will allow to track biological processes in vivo and provide plethora of information on diseases states, and help development of new targeted drugs.
Implantable, Wireless Sensors Share Secrets of Healing Tissues
Tuesday, 06 March 2012
Work done by graduate student Becky Wachs and Dr. Eric Ledet has been featured on WNYT News, in the RPI News, as well as Gizmodo. Additional information can also be found in this ORS press release.
Search Site
Research Areas
Degrees Offered
Biomedical Engineering:
B.S., M.S., D.Eng., Ph.D.
Minor in Management
Concentrations:
Biomechanics
Biomaterials
Imaging/Instrumentation
Undergraduate Research and Job Opportunities
Information regarding opportunities for undergraduate research and job opportunities may be found here.
Contact Information
Program Recognition and Student Awards
Our program, as well as our undergraduate and graduate students, continue to excel and shine in national and international competitions. For more information regarding their accomplishments, please go here.
Weinbaum Lecture
The Third Annual Weinbaum Lecture was held on December 9, 2011. Dr. Susan Margulies, Professor of Bioengineering at Penn, spoke about "Biomechanics - A Force for Good."
The Vollmer W. Fries Distinguished Lecture in Engineering
The Inaugural Vollmer W. Fries Distinguished Lecture in Engineering was held April 15, 2010. Dr. Shu Chien of the University of California at San Diego presented “Effects of Shear Flow on Interactions Between Endothelial Cells and Smooth Muscle Cells in a Co-Culture System.”
Partnership University Fund (PUF) Awards Grant for International Graduate Student Exchange Program
We are pleased to be among the distinguished group of 2010 PUF Laureates (Vashishth Co-PI). For more information please go here.
Undergraduate Seminar Series in Global Health
The second Undergraduate Seminar Series in Global Health was held April 3, 2012. Dr. Eric Ledet of RPI presented a talk titled, "A Tale of Two Systems: Immersion in South African Health Care." For more information on the series and to see the Global Health lectures, please click here.
Support the Department
Click here for information about supporting the Biomedical Engineering Department.
