Department of Biomedical Engineering

History

The history of the biomedical engineering program can be traced back to its beginnings as an engineering science degree concentration within the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics. UT’s first experimental research lab for biomedical engineering opened in fall 1972 with focuses on blood-flow studies and bio-electric signal processing.

In 1996, the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering was merged with the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics. In 2004, the BS, MS, and PhD biomedical engineering degree programs were established. The first BS was awarded in biomedical engineering in 2008, and the department’s name was changed to the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering.

In 2025, the Department of Biomedical Engineering was announced as an independent academic department. Establishing biomedical engineering as its own department will allow BME to grow, define its new identity in terms of research thrusts, strengthen specialization in its curriculum, improve external recognition, and increase its national identity. 

Rapid Growth

The biomedical engineering program as a part of the then Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering saw rapid growth over its last five years. The program saw considerable growth in enrollment (21 percent) and an increase in graduates (58 percent), indicating strong interest and demand from students. These numbers are expected to steadily increase over the coming years due to the growing need for biomedical engineers in the workforce.

A focused BME department accommodates and prepares the growing number of students looking to begin a career in biomedical engineering. The new independent department will offer cutting-edge curricula and research opportunities that fit the changing needs of the biomedical industry and beyond.

The new department is housed in Perkins Hall which will be renovated to meet the needs of the growing department. In addition to Perkins, research facilities and labs will be housed in Dougherty Hall, the Science and Engineering Research Facility, and the Zeanah Engineering Complex.

The below photos depict equipment in UT’s first ever biomedical engineering lab located in Ferris Hall. Photos include a students aligning a cellulose membrane inside an artificial kidney machine and a student using a blood gas analyser. The photos first appeared in The Volunteer in 1974.