About the department

The Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa prepares students to improve human health through interdisciplinary education and research at the intersection of engineering and medicine. With strong connections to healthcare and collaborative research, students gain the skills and experience needed for careers in industry, medicine, and graduate study.

 

Syed Mubeen and Suresh Raghavan in Mubeen’s lab in IATL.

$ 70,000

Median salary of our recent BME graduates

95 %

Undergraduate placement rate

52 %

of our BME students have participated in undergraduate research experiences

Ready to take the next step?

In the News

Group portrait of 12 professionally dressed individuals posed on a wide staircase inside a modern building with glass railings and a bright atrium. The group is arranged in three rows, with four people seated or standing in the front, four in the middle, and four in the back. The individuals wear business and business-casual attire in shades of blue, gray, black, and yellow. Large windows, warm wood accents, and several people in the distant background are visible.

Baldes, Marquez named 2026-27 Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows

Monday, August 31, 2026
Carson Baldes, a PhD student in chemical and biochemical engineering, and Tyce Marquez, a PhD student in biomedical engineering, have been selected for the Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows Program, a year-long educational experience designed to immerse emerging leaders in the dynamic world of healthcare innovation.
Humvee on a snowy landscape with man peeking out

Green Beret joins academia

Thursday, August 27, 2026
After serving as a Special Forces medic across Asia, Patrick Link brings global experience and a problem-solving mindset to biomedical engineering.
Four people standing together in a hospital corridor, holding a transparent spine model, with healthcare staff wearing ID badges and one person in a white lab coat.

Engineering a better way to explain scoliosis care

Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Working alongside experts at UI Health Care, biomedical engineering students turned a classroom project into a teaching tool that’s now helping young patients understand scoliosis treatment.
Xuan Mu holds a silk pellet

Silk helps Iowa engineering researchers repair damaged airways

Tuesday, August 11, 2026
University of Iowa researchers, led by Prof. Xuan Mu, are finding success in growing human airway cells on engineered tissues, a promising development that could improve treatment options for patients whose airways have been damaged by birth defects, injury, cancer, or chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
A group of children and adults walk across a large paved outdoor area on a sunny day, many carrying bright orange drawstring backpacks. Tents, trailers, and light poles are visible in the background under a clear blue sky, suggesting a community event or educational activity.

University of Iowa biomedical engineering students showcase health care tech at Community STEM Day, July 16

Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Explore how engineering innovations can improve lives and shape the future of health care through interactive demonstrations led by University of Iowa engineering students, during a 2026 Community STEM Day in Cedar Rapids on July 16.
Person with dark clothing and short reddish hair stands to the right of a research poster

BME graduate credits research experience in landing job

Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Conducting research in a pediatric cardiology clinic throughout college opened doors for Alex Sigman, who will be graduating from the University of Iowa next week with a degree in biomedical engineering (BME). 

Announcements

Call for photos

We're collecting photos from BME alumni and students to showcase their experiences at the University of Iowa on our website and social media channels. We would love to see and share photos from your time at Iowa. Whether you have pictures from graduation, Iowa events, or just hanging out on campus, we would be grateful if you could share them with us. You can upload your photos through the Alumni and Student Photo Submission page on the BME website. Thank you for your contribution to our community!

Need a medical device or research tool?

We can help! Submit your idea to the Biomedical Engineering Senior Design Course here.

GET INVOLVED

BME Events

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College Events

Engineering Welcome Fair promotional image

Engineering Welcome Fair

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Seamans Center

Engineering students are invited to join us for the annual Engineering Student Welcome Fair on Tuesday, September 1, from 4:00–6:00 PM on S. Capitol Street outside the Seamans Center (with a backup rain location of the Seamans Center Lobby).

This is your chance to:

Learn about student organizations within the College of Engineering

Connect with campus resources that support your success

Network with select employers

Meet fellow engineering students and get involved

Enjoy free snacks and giveaways!

Whet...

Toxic Taps: How Agriculture is Impacting Public Health promotional image

Toxic Taps: How Agriculture is Impacting Public Health

Thursday, September 3, 2026 6:30pm
Iowa City Public Library

On September 3, Toxic Taps and Cancer: Iowa’s Water Quality Crisis looks to provide some answers with a panel of experts examining the public health consequences of nitrate and other industrial agriculture pollutants in Iowa’s drinking water and air. The meeting, organized by the Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture (IARA), begins at 6:30 pm at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 South Linn Street. Little Village Magazine is cosponsoring this event.

University of Iowa researcher Dr. David...

So Much to Do, So Little Time: Time Management Strategies for Academic Success

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:00pm to 12:50pm
Seamans Center
Time Management Strategies
Student Success Workshop: So Much to Do, So Little Time: Time Management Strategies for Academic Success promotional image

Student Success Workshop: So Much to Do, So Little Time: Time Management Strategies for Academic Success

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:00pm to 12:50pm
Seamans Center
Students will learn how to effectively prioritize, create a time management plan, and other practical tips for managing time and commitments.
Transparency and Fairness in AI for Criminal Justice  promotional image

Transparency and Fairness in AI for Criminal Justice

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Biology Building East
What happens when AI intersects with the criminal justice system via facial recognition, mechanical evidence, risk assessment, sentencing, parole, and more? We welcome Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor, Dr. Cristopher Moore, of the Santa Fe Institute.

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