Johns Hopkins University Center for Bioengineering and Innovation Design

Academics

Academics

Graduate Program FAQ

 

For additional questions regarding the David E. Swirnow MSE in Bioengineering Innovation and Design, please contact Marybeth Camerer, Academic Program Manager.

 

 

 

 

What career opportunities will I have after graduating from this program?
Answer: When students graduate from this program, they will be well prepared to work in industry. During the year in this program, students will be working closely with medtech industry professionals, clinicians, investors, engineers, and faculty. The curriculum and structure of this program provide students with an excellent background in device design and make them very strong candidates for industry careers. After completing the MSE degree, some students may chose to go to medical school or enter a Ph.D. program and will be well prepared to do so.

I like the design aspect of this program but I don't have an engineering degree. Can I still apply to this program?
Answer: Most of our applicants and enrolled students have an undergraduate engineering degree but we have seen strong candidates from other fields such as physics or biology. We look at all applicants carefully. However, this graduate program does require advanced engineering skills as part of the curriculum which would be a challenge for students without a background in engineering or science.

Do you have graduate research or teaching assistant positions available that will pay part of the tuition or a stipend?
Answer: We do not pay stipends for research or teaching assistant positions, like some other graduate programs. CBID fellowships are paid toward tuition at this time. However, there is the possibility of a paid position as a teaching assistant in the Center for Leadership Education. Students can also explore campus positions through the Student Employment Office.

How closely will I be working with physicians at Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine?
Answer: Very closely. Students will spend most days during the summer at the hospital with doctors, nurses, residents, and fellows in the clinical needs and assessment portion of the program.

I have never taken a business course in college. What is "The Business of Bioengineering Innovation and Design" all about?
Answer: This year-long course is taken in conjunction with clinical rotations and design and engineering coursework. The class focuses on the commercialization process within the context of a broader business education. Students do not have to have a business background to be accepted to this program.

I see that the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Hopkins offers two masters degree programs. How is this program different from the MSE in Biomedical Engineering? Why are there two masters programs in the same department?
Answer: The MSE in Bioengineering Innovation and Design is a 12 month masters program focused on bioengineering design, not basic research. The deliverable in this program is a working medical device and a master's thesis is not required. The MSE is Biomedical Engineering is a two year program focused on research and does require a thesis. The two masters programs offered by the Department of Biomedical Engineering appeal to different students depending on their interests, career plans, experience, and background.

Why does this masters program start at the end of May instead of fall?
Answer: This program begins in late May so students can participate in clinical rotations at Johns Hopkins Hospital during the summer months, which is the ideal time for the clinicians to work with our students. In addition, this 12 month program runs continuously from the end of May through the following May so students can graduate with an MSE during Hopkins' annual commencement ceremony.

I work full-time but this program sounds interesting. Can I take enroll in classes part-time and take 2-3 years to complete the degree?
Answer: No, not at this time. Students must be enrolled as full-time graduate students in the Whiting School of Engineering and are required to take a full load of classes.

I am currently an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins. Can I enroll in this program concurrently with my senior year?
Answer: No, this is not a concurrent program. Students must have a bachelor's degree in order to enroll in this masters program. However, students can apply during their senior year.

Do all the students in this program take their courses together?
Answer: Yes, the students take the same courses in this graduate program but are may take additional electives with the approval of an advisor.

Can I take the advanced engineering electives from any other department on the Homewood campus or do those electives have to be in Biomedical Engineering?
Answer: You may choose electives from other departments at Hopkins if that is where your interest lies. The choice of electives will be made in discussion with your advisor.

Will CBID masters students work on projects individually or in team?
Answer: Students will work primarily in small teams.

Are students responsible for the costs of building their own medical device prototypes?
Answer: No. Each team will have a budget for all the costs involved of building and testing their devices. All project costs will be covered by the CBID program.

What sort of access will I have to machine shops and labs?
Answer: Several machine shops on the Homewood and the East Baltimore medical campus are available to students in this program as well as trained experienced machinists. CBID masters students have their own dedicated lab space in Clark Hall to design and build prototypes and will have access to the necessary materials and equipment. Wet labs and an instrumentation lab are also available in Clark Hall.

Who will own the Intellectual Property if our team invents a medical device?
Answer: If the Intellectual Property (IP) is created by the students, the students own the IP as long as they are not employed by Johns Hopkins University and/or use substantial resources as defined under the Johns Hopkins IP Policy. If the IP is created by the Johns Hopkins clinician, then Johns Hopkins owns the IP because the clinician is an employee and is subjected to the Johns Hopkins IP Policy. As a clinician inventor, you will share financial distribution upon IP commercialization in accordance with Johns Hopkins IP Distribution Policy.

How can our team showcase our medical device at the end of the program?
Answer: At the annual BME Design Day in May! BME hosts a big event every year to showcase the best design projects from the year and all MSE students participate. Highlights include student design presentations, a poster competition, a keynote talk by an industry leader, breakfast, and lunch.