Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering - Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials

The field provides rich, interdisciplinary opportunities in research and education leading to the Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering. It integrates engineering and the life sciences to prepare students for diverse careers in academe, industry, and government. The field focuses on both the molecular and macroscopic aspects of biomedical engineering and comprises five research areas: biomedical instrumentation, drug delivery, design and metabolism, biomaterials, computational and systems biology, and medical biomechanics. Facilities commonly used include the Cornell Nanofabrication Facility, the NSF STC in Nanobiotechnology, the Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), the Cornell Theory Center, the Cornell Center for Advanced Technology in Biotechnology, and the programs in the Department of Biomechanics and Biomaterials at the Hospital for Special Surgery, the Orthopedic Affiliate of the Cornell Medical College.

It is anticipated that students entering into the field of Biomedical Engineering will have received formal training in a recognized sub-discipline of engineering. Students obtain thorough training in biomedical engineering research. They also master the Ph.D. course work for a minor in a traditional engineering discipline and another minor in an area of the life sciences. Formal course work in the major includes a two-semester course in the Foundations of Biomedical Engineering, advanced BME analysis of biological systems, at least one other advanced course in bioengineering, and required seminars. Further, PhD students are expected to complete a six week immersion experience in medical research and clinical practice at Weill Medical College, as well as completing a graduate student teaching experience. M.S. students complete the Foundations in Biomedical Engineering course, two semesters of seminars, and typically four to five additional courses in engineering and the life sciences. These requirements are subject to revision.

Cornell biomedical engineers design biomaterial platforms to recreate tissues for functional replacement therapies, as models of normal and diseased states for basic research, and for use in drug testing. Well-controlled and biocompatible biomaterials are also needed for selective delivery of therapeutic and imaging contrast agents as well as for gene therapy approaches. Critical to the success of Cornell's tissue engineering and biomaterials efforts is the integration of multidisciplinary expertise in materials science, cell biology, biochemistry, and biomechanics. Center facilities supporting this research include: the Cornell Center for Materials Research, Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility, the Nanobiotechnology Center, and the NIH-funded Physical Sciences Oncology Center (Center on the Physics of Cancer Metabolism). Many projects are joint with faculty at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Applicants are expected to have a bachelor's degree in a recognized subdiscipline of engineering. However, exceptional students with a BS in the Sciences and demonstrated knowledge of advanced mathematics, calculus-based physics, and introductory computer science will also be considered.
three recommendations
GRE scores are not required or accepted
TOEFL iBT - 77 (Writing 20, Listening 15, Reading 20, Speaking 22)
IELTS - 7.0 or higher