Professor David L. Kaplan,
Biomedical Engineering / Chemical and Biological Engineering;
Biopolymer engineering, biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine
Professor Barry A. Trimmer, Biology; Central processing
of sensory information by receptors, second messengers and synaptic networks in
insect model system, neural control of soft-bodied locomotion
Professor David R. Walt, Robinson Professorship in Chemistry; Surface,
polymer and materials chemistry, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, immunosensors, corrosion sensing, neurotransmitter sensing, micro- and
non-sensors, cell-based biosensors, and sensors based on principles of the
olfactory system
Associate Professor Mark Cronin-Golomb, Biomedical Engineering; Optical
instrumentation, laser tweezers, atomic force microscopy, nonlinear optics
Associate Professor Sergio Fantini, Biomedical Engineering;
Biomedical instrumentation, medical optics, near-infrared brain imaging, optical mammography,
muscle hemodynamics, diffuse optical tomography
Associate Professor Van Toi Vo, Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical
instrumentation, vision and ophthalmology, telemedicine
Assistant Professor Caroline G. L. Cao, Mechanical
Engineering; Endoscopy and surgery, human factors, remote instrumentation,
human-machine interface
Assistant Professor Irene Georgakoudi, Biomedical Engineering;
biomedical imaging
Assistant Professor Krishna Kumar, Chemistry; Novel methods
for rational design and construction of artificial proteins, molecular enzymes,
and self-assembling biomaterials
Assistant Professor David H. Lee, Chemistry; Hierarchical
self-assembly of intermediate filaments, role in biomaterials to
protein hormone assemblies that regulate fatty acid metabolism,
relevance to obesity
Assistant Professor Kyongbum Lee, Chemical and Biological
Engineering; Biochemical and biomedical engineering, metabolic engineering,
tissue engineering, bioinformatics, and systems biology
Assistant Professor Blaine Pfeifer,
Chemical and Biological
Engineering; Metabolic engineering, drug delivery,
biomaterials
Research Assistant Professor Greg Altman, Biomedical Engineering;
Collogen-based matrices, ligament formation, impact of mechanical forces on
human adult stem cell differentiation, bioreactor system, in vitro tissue
formation and development
Research Assistant Professor Aurelie Edwards, Chemical and Biological Engineering;
Biological transport phenomena involving fluid and solute transport in living
tissues (kidney and eye) to address organ function, disease origin, and drug
delivery
Bioengineering is the integration of physical, chemical, or mathematical sciences and engineering principles for the study of biology, medicine, behavior, or health. The
bioengineering programs provide comprehensive education and research at the School of Engineering and the
School of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with Tufts' medical, dental,
veterinary, and nutrition schools.
A number of part- and full-time degree programs and certificates are offered in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and drug discovery and assessment. Biomedical engineering involves the application of state-of-the-art technology to device design and fabrication; biotechnology includes protein expression, folding and assembly, biomaterials and tissue engineering, and biofilms as examples; drug discovery and assessment includes disease markers, resistance mechanisms and new drug discovery. Some bioengineering programs are in development; refer to the bioengineering Web site for updated details on new opportunities www.ase.tufts.edu/bioengineering.
For information on programs in bioengineering, please contact the bioengineering
center office at 617-627-2580.
Undergraduate Programs
Biomedical Engineering
(See Biomedical Engineering for a description of the programs.)
Biotechnology
(See Biotechnology for a description of the programs.)
Graduate Programs
Graduate degree programs are tailored to the background and goals of the individual
student. Graduate students at both the
master’s and Ph.D. level carry out challenging research projects within the
Bioengineering Center or in other Tufts departments or professional schools. Internships and training opportunities in
which students can gain
firsthand practical and laboratory experience are also available at local
biotechnology and biomedical companies. Degree
programs may be pursued on a part-time or full-time basis.
Master’s
programs may be either course-based (such as the practice-oriented master of
engineering degree), or research-based (thesis or research project). Full-time degree candidates are eligible for sponsored
research projects. Doctoral programs may
be pursued part-time, with a one-year residency requirement.
Biomedical Engineering
(See Biomedical Engineering for a description of the programs.)
Biotechnology
(See Biotechnology for a description of the programs.)
Certificate Program
Four-course graduate-level certificate programs are designed for science, engineering, and
medical professionals seeking graduate-level programs to expand their knowledge
of
biomedical science, biotechnology, and engineering. Certificates
are offered through the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies, and in conjunction
with the departments of biology, chemistry, chemical and
biological engineering, and biomedical engineering. The certificate programs
can be completed on a part-time, nondegree basis by students who are seeking professional
training in the field or preparing for a degree program. In
most cases, courses taken as a certificate student can be transferred into a related
master’s degree program. The programs
are open to students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree.
The certificate program in bioengineering consists of an interdisciplinary
course of study that allows students to focus on areas such as biomedical
instrumentation, biomedical optics, biomaterials/biotechnology and tissue
engineering. Courses are taught by faculty in engineering as well as experienced
clinical professionals from Tufts' health science schools.
The certificate requires four courses.
One bioengineering introductory course:
Biomedical Engineering
50/150 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering I
(focus on biomedical engineering and instrumentation)
or Biomedical Engineering 162 Molecular Biotechnology (focus on
molecular biology and engineering aspects of biotechnology)
One physiology course (choose five modules):
Biomedical
Engineering 121/122 Engineering
Challenges in Physiology I and II (modules include general, neurology/nose,
skeletal/bone, respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine,
eye, dental)
One engineering elective in biomedical instrumentation, biomedical optics, biomaterials, biotechnology, or tissue engineering
One capstone course:
Biomedical Engineering
100 Design of Medical Instrumentation
or Biomedical Engineering
164 Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering