Switching from Biotech to Bio-Med Eng

username26!

Hi,

I'm doing biotech at the moment in University, and am wondering, is it possible to switch from biotech to biomedical engineering (sectors as opposed to courses)?

I do have lots of relevant biomed eng work experience, and am interested in where biotech, and biomed eng meet (regenerative medicine I suppose), but if I were to do a masters in Biomed eng, would that be enough to be accepted as an engineer, or would you still really be a scientist?

Dream job would be a biochemistry lecturer, with a multi-disciplinary research group of biotech/biomed eng researchers focused on regenerative medicine. Does that even sound remotely possible?

Thanks

challengemaster

Sounds like you're interested in the bioengineering side of things (scaffolds, tissue engineering, 3D cell culture, etc). The majority of people involved in this would be scientists anyway.

As for if you would be an engineer or not - I have no idea but it would depend somewhat if you did a M.Eng, or a M.Sc. You might find that a pre-requisite for doing a M.Eng is having a B.Eng.

Lectureships are scarce and people are hired for their research. It's much more likely a biochemistry lecturer would be picked from a pool of biochemists conducting biochemistry research. Your research group however is realistic, it's essentially a version of the group that exists in RCSI.

You won't get a position as a lecturer without a PhD, however.

username26!

Thanks for the reply.

That's exactly what I'm interested in, I got a chance to visit the Bioengineering lab in Imperial College London over the summer, and it was fascinating!

What I don't want to happen is to get lost in the crack between science and engineering.. what i'm really wondering is how to build a career in bioeng after biotech? Or will I be better sticking with one, instead of trying to merge them?

A PhD is a must to be sure.

challengemaster

username26! wrote: »

What I don't want to happen is to get lost in the crack between science and engineering.. what i'm really wondering is how to build a career in bioeng after biotech? Or will I be better sticking with one, instead of trying to merge them?

A PhD is a must to be sure.

Perhaps don't see it as a "crack" or divide between science and engineering. Bioengineering and tissue engineering is where the two overlap to great amounts. I wouldn't get too caught up on whether you're perceived as a scientist or an engineer.

You have a great advantage over most undergrad science students - you have an idea of what you want to do, to some degree at least.

"building a career" in academia is very different from industry, and will largely start with your PhD. Do a PhD that focuses on a specific topic/an area you wish to work in. Between now and then, you need to figure out what that area is; be it musculoskeletal, neuro, cardiovascular, etc. Perhaps take a look at the research output from the RCSI bioengineering group, the NFB, or MEDeng in DCU.

username26!

Thanks a million for the advice!

I've been trying to build up relevant work experience and have done internships in biochem/medtech labs in academia and industry respectively, and I will hopefully be working in a cross disciplinary group between biotech and bioeng in my uni this summer. I'm still in first year and am bringing a medical device to commercialisation also, so hopefully some of that will help!

Thanks for the advice, it was very useful. I'm trying to form a plan early so I can get the most relevant work experience possible!

challengemaster

Based on that, by the time you come to applying for PhD's or scholarships, you'll have your choice! That's more experience than most post-grads have

username26!

*relief* thanks again