Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Contact Information:
http://web.mit.edu/admissions/graduate/
Graduate Admissions
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Ave., Room 3-103
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-253-2917
Fax:617-258-8304
mitgrad@mit.edu
Tuition:
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctoratebiological-biomedical
Tuition and fees: $42,050 (2012-13)
Enrollment: 4,384
Curriculum:
http://web.mit.edu/catalog/degre.engin.biolo.html
Department of Biological Engineering
The mission of the Department of Biological Engineering (BE) is to educate next-generation
leaders and to generate and translate new knowledge in a new bioscience-based engineering
discipline fusing engineering analysis and synthesis approaches with modern molecular-togenomic biology. Combining quantitative, physical, and integrative principles with advances in
mechanistic molecular and cellular bioscience, biological engineering increases understanding
of how biological systems function as both physical and chemical mechanisms; how they
respond when perturbed by factors such as medical therapeutics, environmental agents, and
genetic variation; and how to manipulate and construct them toward beneficial use. Through
this understanding, new technologies can be created to improve human health in a variety of
medical applications, and biology-based paradigms can be generated to address many of the
diverse challenges facing society across a broad spectrum, including energy, the environment,
nutrition, and manufacturing.
The department's premise is that the science of biology is as important to the development of
technology and society in the 21st century as physics and chemistry were in the 20th century,
and that an increasing ability to measure, model, and manipulate properties of biological
systems at the molecular, cellular, and multicellular levels will continue to shape this
development. A new generation of engineers and scientists is learning to address problems
through their ability to measure, model, and rationally manipulate the technological and
environmental factors affecting biological systems. They are applying not only engineering
principles to the analytical understanding of how biological systems operate, especially when
impacted by genetic, chemical, physical, infectious, or other interventions; but also a synthetic
design perspective to creating biology-based technologies for medical diagnostics, therapeutics,
and prosthetics, as well as for applications in diverse industries beyond human health care.
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Undergraduate Study
Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering
[see degree chart]
The Department of Biological Engineering offers an undergraduate curriculum emphasizing
quantitative, engineering-based analysis, design, and synthesis in the study of modern biology
from the molecular to the systems level. Completion of the curriculum leads to the Bachelor of
Science in Biological Engineering and prepares students for careers in diverse fields ranging
from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to materials, devices, ecology, and public
health. Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter positions in basic research or
project-oriented product development, as well as graduate school or further professional study.
The required core curriculum includes a strong foundation in biological and biochemical
sciences, which are integrated with quantitative analysis and engineering principles throughout
the entire core. Students who wish to pursue the Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering
are encouraged to complete the Biology General Institute Requirement during freshman year
and may delay completion of Physics II until the fall term of sophomore year if necessary. The
optional subject Introduction to Biological Engineering Design, offered during the spring term of
freshman year, provides a framework for understanding the Biological Engineering SB program.
Students are encouraged to take the sophomore fall-term subject 20.110 Thermodynamics of
Biomolecular Systems. This subject also fulfills an SB degree requirement in Biology.
Alternatively, sophomores, or freshmen with advanced standing may take the spring-term
20.111 Physical Chemistry of Biomolecular Systems. Students are also encouraged to take
Organic Chemistry I and Differential Equations during their sophomore year in order to prepare
for the introductory biological engineering laboratory subject 20.109 that provides context for
the lecture subjects and a strong foundation for subsequent undergraduate research in
biological engineering through Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program projects or
summer internships.
The advanced subjects required in the junior and senior years introduce additional engineering
skills through lecture and laboratory subjects and culminate in a senior design project. These
advanced subjects maintain the theme of molecular to systems–level analysis, design, and
synthesis based on a strong integration with biology fundamentals. They also include a variety
of restricted electives that allow students to develop expertise in one of six thematic areas:
systems biology, synthetic biology, biophysics, pharmacology/toxicology, cell and tissue
engineering, and microbial systems. Many of these advanced subjects are jointly taught with
other departments in the School of Engineering or School of Science and may fulfill degree
requirements in other programs.
Minor in Biomedical Engineering
An interdepartmental Minor in Biomedical Engineering is available to all undergraduate
students outside the BE (Course 20) major. See Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Programs and
Minors in Part 3 for detailed information.
Minor in Toxicology and Environmental Health
The Department of Biological Engineering offers an undergraduate Minor in Toxicology and
Environmental Health. The goal of this program is to meet the growing demand for
undergraduates to acquire the intellectual tools needed to understand and assess the impact of
new products and processes on human health, and to provide a perspective on the risks of
human exposure to synthetic and natural chemicals, physical agents, and microorganisms.
Given the importance of environmental education at MIT, the program is designed to be
accessible to any MIT undergraduate. The program consists of three required didactic core
subjects and one laboratory subject, as well as one restricted elective. The prerequisites for the
core subjects are 5.111/5.112 Principles of Chemical Science or 3.091 Introduction to Solid
State Chemistry plus 7.012/7.013/7.014 Introductory Biology.
Core Subjects
20.102
Macroepidemiology and Population Genetics
20.104J
20.106
Environmental Risks for Common Diseases
Systems Microbiology
Laboratory Core
One of the following:
20.109
Laboratory Fundamentals in Biological Engineering
5.310
Laboratory Chemistry
7.02
Introduction to Experimental Biology and Communication
10.702
Introductory Experimental Biology and Communication
Restricted Electives
One of the following:
20.URG
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
1.080
Environmental Chemistry and Biology
1.089
Environmental Microbiology
5.07
Biological Chemistry I
7.05
General Biochemistry
7.06
Cell Biology
7.28
Molecular Biology
22.01
Introduction to Ionizing Radiation
Inquiries
For further information on the undergraduate programs, please visit the Biological Engineering
website at http://web.mit.edu/be/ or contact the BE Academic Office, Room 56-651, 617-2531712.
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Graduate Study
Doctoral Program in Biological Engineering
The Department of Biological Engineering offers a PhD program—and, in certain cases, an SM
degree—with two tracks, one in bioengineering and another in applied biosciences. These
tracks complement one another as a reflection of the importance of approaching quantitative
biological and biomedical problems from the two perspectives. Students in either track may
pursue research projects in any area by agreement with their research supervisor.
Graduate students in the Department of Biological Engineering can carry out their research as
part of a number of multi-investigator, multidisciplinary research centers at MIT, including the
Center for Biomedical Engineering, the Biotechnology Process Engineering Center, the Center
for Environmental Health Sciences, the Division of Comparative Medicine, and the Synthetic
Biology Engineering Research Center. These opportunities include collaboration with faculty in
the Schools of Engineering and Science, the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, the
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and the Broad Institute, along with the Harvard
University School of Medicine, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of
Public Health, and Boston University School of Medicine.
For both tracks, the written part of the doctoral qualifying examinations—centered on the
respective core curriculum—is taken after the second term. The students select a research
advisor and begin research before the end of the first year. The oral part of the doctoral
qualifying examinations, which focuses on the student's area of research, is taken during the
second year. A total of approximately five years in residence is needed to complete the doctoral
thesis and other degree requirements.
Bioengineering Track
Students admitted to the bioengineering track typically have a bachelor's or master's degree in
engineering. During that first year, students pursue a unified core curriculum, in which
engineering approaches are used to analyze biological systems and technologies over a wide
range of length and time scales. The three core bioengineering subjects are:
20.420J
Biomolecular Kinetics and Cellular Dynamics
20.430J
20.440
Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems
Analysis of Biological Networks
These subjects bring central engineering principles to bear on the operation of biological
systems from molecular to cell to tissue/organ/device systems levels. Foundational coursework
in biochemistry and molecular cell biology is required, either before admission or during the
first year of graduate study.
To enhance depth and breadth, the core subjects are supplemented by electives in the
biological sciences and engineering. For doctoral candidates, two of these must be graduatelevel biology subjects. The student will be expected to have biochemistry and cell biology as
prerequisites and then select two graduate-level subjects in biological science. If biochemistry
has not been taken previously, 7.51 should be selected and will count as one of these graduatelevel subjects. If cell biology has not been taken previously, 7.06 should be selected but will not
count as one of these graduate-level subjects. In addition, one graduate-level subject from a
restricted set of Biological Engineering offerings beyond the core classes, and one additional
engineering or science graduate-level subject, are required as electives.
The student selects a research advisor and begins research before the end of the first year. The
oral part of the doctoral qualifying exams, which focuses on the student's area of research, is
taken during the second year. Approximately five years of total residence are needed to
complete the doctoral thesis and other degree requirements.
The bioengineering track educates students to use engineering principles in the analysis and
manipulation of biological systems, allowing them to solve problems across a spectrum of
important applications. The curriculum is inherently interdisciplinary in that it brings together
engineering and biology as fundamentally as possible and cuts across the boundaries of the
traditional engineering disciplines.
The faculty members associated with this track possess a wide range of research interests
within bioengineering. Areas in which students may specialize include systems and synthetic
biology, biological and physiological transport phenomena; biological imaging and functional
measurement; biomolecular engineering; cell and tissue engineering; computational modeling
of biological and physiological systems; bioinformatics; design, discovery and delivery of
molecular therapeutics; molecular, cell, and tissue biomechanics; and new tools for genomics,
proteomics, and glycomics.
Applied Biosciences Track
Students admitted to the applied biosciences track typically have a bachelor's or master's
degree in chemistry, biology, physics, or a related field. During the first year, students pursue a
unified core curriculum, in which basic science approaches are applied to problems in the
health and disease aspects of biomedical science. The three core subjects are:
20.420J
Biomolecular Kinetics and Cellular Dynamics
20.440
Analysis of Biological Networks
20.450
Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology
These subjects bring central scientific principles to bear on the operation of biological systems
from molecular to cell to tissue to organismal levels. Foundational coursework in physics,
calculus, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry/biophysics/engineering, and cell
biology/molecular biology/genetics is required, either before admission or during the first year
of graduate study.
To enhance depth and breadth, the core subjects are supplemented by elective subjects.
Doctoral candidates are expected to take elective subjects in biological science. If biochemistry
has not been taken previously, 7.51 should be selected and will count as one of these graduatelevel subjects. If cell biology has not been taken previously, 7.06 should be selected but will not
count as one of these graduate-level subjects. In addition, one graduate-level subject from a
restricted set of Biological Engineering offerings beyond the core classes, and one additional
engineering or science graduate-level subject, are required as electives.
The applied biosciences track complements the bioengineering track by focusing on
understanding the interactions of organisms with chemical, biological, and physical agents from
the molecular to the systems level. The goal here is to apply systems approaches to studying
the chemical and molecular pathways by which exogenous and endogenous agents induce
toxicity and cause disease in humans; to establishing the molecular mechanisms of drug
actions, with the longer-term aim of developing improved therapeutics; to establishing
mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis; and to understanding and manipulating immune
function.
Systems biology is an emerging field that involves quantitative study of biological processes as
integrated systems rather than as isolated parts. This goal of defining the behavior of the
myriad of individual molecules requires quantitative models to unify the individual disciplines of
physical chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell physiology, as well as new tools
for the simultaneous measurement of biological components, including small molecules,
proteins, nucleic acids and complex carbohydrates.
The applied biosciences track provides rigorous training in the basic sciences, with application
of chemistry, mathematics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, toxicology,
and pharmacology to problems in human health and disease. Students receive preparation for
careers in academic institutions, government agencies, and industry involving the application of
modern methods of chemical, molecular, biological, and genetic analysis to the characterization
of health risks.
Areas of research specialization within the program include systems and synthetic biology,
development of in vitro models of the immune system and lymphoid tissue; development of
molecular methods for direct measurement of mutations in humans; metabolism of foreign
compounds; genetic toxicology; the molecular aspects and dosimetry of interactions between
mutagens and carcinogens with nucleic acids and proteins; molecular mechanisms of DNA
damage and repair; design and mechanisms of action of chemotherapeutic agents;
environmental carcinogenesis and epidemiology; molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis; cell
physiology; extracellular regulation and signal transduction; and molecular and pathologic
interactions between infectious microbial agents and carcinogens. Interdisciplinary in nature,
the program and other programs and departments share an interest in human pathophysiology,
molecular pharmacology, and environmental health.
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Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering
The Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering (MEBE) program is a five-year program
leading to a bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline along with a Master of
Engineering in Biomedical Engineering. The program emphasizes the fusion of engineering with
modern molecular-to-genomic biology, as in our SB and PhD degree programs. Admission to the
MEBE program is open only to MIT undergraduate students, and requires candidates to
demonstrate adequate quantitative and engineering credentials through their undergraduate
coursework.
In addition to satisfying the requirements of their departmental program, candidates also are
expected to complete subjects in differential equations (18.03); one engineering transport or
systems subject (e.g., 2.005, 3.185, 6.002, 10.310); organic chemistry (5.12); biochemistry (7.05
or 5.07); and two of the core subjects from the Biomedical Engineering Minor.
Applications to the MEBE program are accepted from students in any of the departments in the
School of Engineering or School of Science. Students interested in applying to the MEBE
program should submit a standard MIT graduate application by the end of their junior year and
are informed of the decision by the end of that summer.
Additional information on application procedures, objectives, and program requirements can
be obtained by contacting the BE Academic Office, Room 56-651, be-acad@mit.edu.
Program Requirements
In addition to thesis credits, at least 66 units of coursework are required. At least 42 of these
subject units must be from H-level graduate subjects. The remaining units may be satisfied with
G-level subjects, or in some cases, with advanced undergraduate subjects. Of the 66 units, a
minimum distribution in each of three categories is specified below.
Bioengineering Core
24 units selected from:
20.410J
Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics
20.420J
Biomolecular Kinetics and Cellular Dynamics
20.430J
Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems
Biomedical Engineering Electives
24 units selected from:
A selection of G- or H-level subjects from various departments in the School of Engineering and
HST. A list of suggested subjects is available from the BE Academic Office, Room 56-651.
Bioscience Elective
One biological science subject in addition to organic chemistry and biochemistry. This must be a
laboratory subject if one was not taken as part of the student's undergraduate curriculum.
Thesis
The student is required to complete a thesis that must be approved by the program director.
The thesis is an original work of research, design, or development. If the supervisor is not a
member of the Department of Biological Engineering, a reader who belongs to the BE faculty
must also approve and sign the thesis. The student submits a thesis proposal by the end of the
fourth year.
Inquiries
For further information on the graduate programs, please visit the Biological Engineering
website at http://web.mit.edu/be/ or contact the BE Academic Office, Room 56-651, 617-2531712.
Leaders for Global Operations Program
The 24-month Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program combines graduate education in
engineering and management for those with two or more years of full-time work experience
who aspire to leadership positions in manufacturing or operations companies. A required sixmonth internship comprising a research project at one of LGO's partner companies leads to a
dual-degree thesis, culminating in two master's degrees—an MBA (or SM in management) and
an SM from Aeronautics and Astronautics. The program is offered jointly through the MIT Sloan
School of Management and the School of Engineering. For more information, visit
http://lgo.mit.edu/ or see the program description under Engineering Systems Division.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and Teaching Staff
Douglas A. Lauffenburger, PhD
Professor of Biological Engineering, Biology, and Chemical Engineering
Department Head
Bruce Tidor, PhD
Professor of Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Associate Department Head
Professors
Angela M. Belcher, PhD
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biological Engineering
Christopher B. Burge, PhD
Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering
Arup Chakraborty, PhD
Professor of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, and Biological Engineering
Peter C. Dedon, PhD, MD
Professor of Toxicology and Biological Engineering
Deputy Director, Center for Environmental Health Sciences
Edward F. DeLong, PhD
Professor of Environmental and Biological Engineering
C. Forbes Dewey, Jr., PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Biological Engineering
John Martin Essigmann, PhD
Professor of Chemistry, Toxicology, and Biological Engineering
Director, Center for Environmental Health Sciences
James G. Fox, DVM
Professor of Biological Engineering
Director, Division of Comparative Medicine
Linda Griffith, PhD
Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering
Director, Center for Gynepathology Research
Alan J. Grodzinsky, PhD
Professor of Electrical, Mechanical, and Biological Engineering
Director, Center for Biomedical Engineering
Darrell J. Irvine, PhD
Professor of Biological Engineering and Materials Science
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator
Roger D. Kamm, PhD
Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering
Director, Center for Emergent Behavior of Integrated Cellular Systems
Alexander M. Klibanov, PhD
Professor of Chemistry and Biological Engineering
Robert S. Langer, ScD
Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Institute Professor
Harvey F. Lodish, PhD
Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering
Member, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Scott R. Manalis, PhD
Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering, and Media Arts and Sciences
Leona D. Samson, PhD
Professor of Toxicology and Biological Engineering
Ram Sasisekharan, PhD
Professor of Biological Engineering and Health Sciences and Technology
Peter T. So, PhD
Professor of Mechanical and Biological Engineering
Steven R. Tannenbaum, PhD
Professor of Toxicology and Chemistry
William G. Thilly, ScD
Professor of Toxicology
K. Dane Wittrup, PhD
Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biological Engineering
Associate Director, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
Michael B. Yaffe, PHD
Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering
Ioannis V. Yannas, PhD
Professor of Mechanical and Biological Engineering
Associate Professors
Eric J. Alm, PhD
Associate Professor of Biological and Environmental Engineering
Edward S. Boyden, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and Biological Engineering
Bevin P. Engelward, DSc
Associate Professor of Biological Engineering
Ernest Fraenkel, PhD
Associate Professor of Biological Engineering
Jongyoon Han, PhD
Associate Professor of Electrical and Biological Engineering
Alan P. Jasanoff, PhD
Associate Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Biological Engineering, and Brain and
Cognitive Sciences
Krystyn Van Vliet, PhD
Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biological Engineering
Christopher A. Voigt, PhD
Associate Professor of Biological Engineering
Codirector, Center of Integrative Synthetic Biology
Ron Weiss, PhD
Associate Professor of Biological Engineering
Director, Center of Integrative Sythetic Biology
Forest White, PhD
Associate Professor of Biological Engineering
Mehmet Fatih Yanik, PhD
Associate Professor of Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Assistant Professors
Mark Bathe, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering
Paul Blainey, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering
Jacquin C. Niles, PhD, MD
Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering
Katharina Ribbeck, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering
Jonathan Runstadler, DVM
Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering
Feng Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering
Visiting Professors
Peter K. Sorger, PhD
Visiting Professor of Biological Engineering
Matthew Meselson, PhD
Visiting Professor of Biological Engineering
Lecturers and Instructors
Noubar Afeyan, PhD
Laura C. Green, PhD
Natalie Kuldell, PhD
Mark Murcko, PhD
Steven Nagle, PhD
Agi Stachowiak, PhD
Steve Wasserman, SM
Alexander Wood, PhD
Research Staff
Senior Research Scientist
John S. Wishnok, PhD
Research Scientists
Robert G. Croy, PhD
Michael DeMott, PhD
Elena Gostjeva, PhD
William Gover, PhD
Ramesh Indrakanti, PhD
Vera Koledova, PhD
Rosa Liberman, PhD
Dehua Zhao, PhD
Postdoctoral Associates
Jonathan Babb
Mariya Barch
Erika Bechtold
Michael Beste
Amanda Billings
Eran Bram
Sangwon Byun
Ming-Wei Chao
Ying-Ja Chen
Rajdeep Chowdhury
David Clarke
Amanda Del Rosario
Wenjun Deng
Mitul Desai
Bogdan Fedeles
Aaron Gajadhar
Boris Gavrilov
Guanyu Gong
Sara Gosline
Patrick Guye
Ta-Chun Hang
Irena Jevtov
Hannah Johnson
Douglas Jones
Do-Nyun Kim
Chung Kim
Charles Knutson
Ravindra Kodihalli
Taekwan Lee
Victor Lelyveld
Deyu Li
Chunbo Lou
Kun Lu
Jesse Lyons
Suresh Maddur Ganesan
Aprotim Mazumder
Tae Seok Moon
Jason Neil
Hung Nguyen
Selim Olcum
Keyao Pan
Yan Ling Joy Pang
Kavya Rakhra
Tharathorn Rimchala
Ujjal Sarkar
Daniel Sears
Uthpala Seneviratne
Nidhi Shrivastav
Michael Smanski
Mi Ryoung Song
Brynne Stanton
Dan Su
David Sukovich
Juliesta Sylvester
Nurcan Tuncbag
Theresa Ulrich
Leslie Woo
Liliana Wroblewska
Xiaofeng Xin
Daiying Xu
Wenjie Ye
Ferah Yildirim
Jameel Zayed
Hui Zhou
Postdoctoral Fellows
Shannon Alford
Kelly Benedict
Thomas Crouzier
Aviad Hai
Samuel Inman
Nicole Iverson
Chen Yong Kah
Pilsoo Kang
Sarah Kolitz
Elisenda Rodriguez Vargas
Tatiana Rosenstock
Christopher Rowlands
Velia Siciliano
Vipender Singh
Tina Toni
Adides Williams
Visiting Scientists
Liyuan Bai, PhD
Amelia Bailey, PhD
Yadunanda Budigi, PhD
Luis de Carvalho, PhD
Nicole Doyle, PhD
Ulfet Erkekoglu, PhD
Steven Jay, PhD
Megan McBee
Elba Serrano, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Gerald N. Wogan, PhD
Professor of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, Emeritus
Requirements:
http://web.mit.edu/be/programs/grad_meng.shtml
A MASTERS DEGREE IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING FOR MIT UNDERGRADUATES
The MEBE program is a fifth-year program leading to a bachelor’s degree in a science or
engineering discipline along with a Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering. The
program emphasizes the fusion of engineering with modern molecular-to-genomic biology as in
our SB and PhD degree programs.
What are the entrance requirements?
MIT Undergraduates majoring in any of the departments of the Schools of Engineering or
Science are eligible to apply. No applicants are accepted from other institutions. In addition to
the requirements of the major department, applicants must also complete the following by the
end of their Senior year:
Organic Chemistry (5.12)
Differential Equations (18.03)
Biochemistry (5.07 or 7.05)
Two of the following subjects:
Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems (20.110) or Physical Chemistry of Biomolecular
Systems (20.111)
Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics (20.310)
Analysis of Biomolecular and Cellular Systems (20.320)
Fields, Forces and Flows in Biological Systems (20.330)
One Engineering or Systems Transport subject (e.g. 2.005, 3.185, 6.002, 10.301)
For more information on these courses please go to: http://student.mit.edu/catalog
erima@mit.edu How do I apply?
Download an application from the MIT Admissions page: http://web.mit.edu/admissions.
Students should apply by the end of their Junior year (May 31st), submitting the application,
statement of purpose, 3 letters of recommendation and an official MIT transcript to the BE
Academic Office. Transcripts should be submitted after Spring Semester grades are available.
Applications will be reviewed during the summer and final decision will be announced by the
end of that summer (August 31st). Admission into the program is highly competitive. Please
note the GRE and application fee are not required.
Program Requirements
In addition to Thesis credits, at least 66 units of coursework are required; at least 42 of these
subject units must be from H-level graduate subjects. The remaining units may be satisfied with
G-level subjects, or in some cases, with advanced undergraduate subjects. Of the 66 units, a
minimum distribution in each of three categories is specified below.
Core Requirements
AT LEAST 24 UNITS:
20.410 Molecular, Cellular & Tissue Biomechanics
20.420 Biomolecular Kinetics and Cellular Dynamics
20.430 Fields, Forces & Flows in Biological Systems
Thesis Requirement
The student is required to complete a thesis that must be approved by the Program Director.
The thesis is an original work of research, design, or development. If the supervisor is not a
member of Biological Engineering, a reader who belongs to the BE faculty must also approve
and sign the thesis. The student submits a thesis proposal by the end of the fourth year, and
conducts the work and completes the thesis by the end of Spring Term of the fifth year.
Electives
Biomedical Engineering Electives
AT LEAST 24 UNITS OF G OR H LEVEL SUBJECTS SELECTED FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST. OTHER
SUBJECTS ARE ACCEPTABLE UPON APPROVAL BY ADVISOR AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS.
20.442 Molecular structure of Bio-Materials
20.462 Molecular Principles of Biomaterials
2.183 Biomechanics & Neural Control of Movement
2.763J Hyperthermia: Biology, Technology, and Cancer Therapy
2.782 Design of Medical Devices and Implants
2.785J Cell-Matrix Mechanics
2.79J Biomaterials – Tissue Interactions
6.541J Speech Communication
6.542J Laboratory on the Physiology, Acoustics, & Perception of Speech
6.551J Acoustics of Speech and Hearing
6.552J Signal Processing by the Auditory System Perception
6.555J Biomedical Signal & Image Processing
6.566J Biosensors, Signal Processing, and Biomedical Applications
6.872J Medical Computing
8.515J Biological Physics
8.591J Systems Biology
8.592 Statistical Physics in Biology
8.593J Biological Physics
10.449 Cell and Tissue Engineering
10.544 Metabolic and Cell Engineering
16.423 Aerospace Physiology & Life Support Systems
22.55J Radiation Biophysics
22.56J Noninvasive Imaging in Biology and Medicine Techniques
HST.525J Transport Phennomena and Tumor Pathophysiology
HST.545 Introduction to Systems Analysis with Physiological Applications
HST.548 Neural Signal Processing
HST.573 Complex Biological Control Systems
HST.582J Biomedical Signal and Image Processing
HST.750 Modeling Issues in Hearing and Speech
Bioscience Electives
Must equal at least 12 credits. One biological science subject in addition to organic chemistry
and biochemistry. This must be a laboratory subject if one was not taken as part of the
student’s under- graduate curriculum.
Financial Support Requirement
It is anticipated that a student will complete the Program in approximately one summer term
and two academic terms; one full calendar year beyond what would normally be required for
the SB degree. The additional 12 months of tuition required by the Program is paid by the
student. Although there is no promise of support, students are permitted to seek funding
through a traditional Research Assistant- ship or Teaching Assistantship. Note, however, that
full time RAs or TAs may enroll for a maximum of two subjects; half-time RAs or TAs may
register for no more than three subjects. Students who hold RA or TA appointments are
expected to complete the MEBE program within three or four regular terms. To ensure
compliance with these guidelines, no additional RA or TA support will be allowed beyond four
regular terms. The BE Academic Office will handle all requests for RA and TA support for MEBE
students.
I have more questions, whom do I ask?
Additional information on application procedures, objectives, and program requirements can
be obtained by contacting:
Professor Forest White
Co–chair of Graduate Program
fwhite@mit.edu
Professor K. Dane Wittrup
Co–chair of Graduate Program
wittrup@mit.edu
Dalia Fares
Biological Engineering Academic Administrator
dalia@mit.edu
Erik Mallinson
Biological Engineering Administrative Assistant
erima@mit.edu
Dress Code:
n/a
Extra Info:
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/whats_new