The Biomedical Engineering faculty have special interest and expertise in four thrust areas: Biophotonics, Biomedical Nanoscale Systems, Biomedical Computational Technologies, and Tissue Engineering. Biophotonics faculty are interested in photomedicine, laser microscopy, optical coherence tomography, medical imaging, and phototherapy. Biomedical Nanoscale Systems faculty are interested in molecular engineering, polymer chemistry, molecular motors, design and fabrication of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), integrated microsystems to study intercellular signaling, and single molecule studies of protein dynamics. Biomedical Computation faculty are interested in computational biology, biomedical signal and image processing, bioinformatics, computational methods in protein engineering, and data mining.

The Department offers the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering.

Required Background

Because of its interdisciplinary nature, biomedical engineering attracts students with a variety of backgrounds. Thus, the requirements for admission are tailored to students who have a bachelor's degree in an engineering, physical science, or biological science discipline, with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in their upper-division course work. The minimum course work requirements for admission are six quarters of calculus through linear algebra and ordinary differential equations, three quarters of calculus-based physics, three quarters of chemistry, and two quarters of biology. Students without a physics, chemistry, or engineering undergraduate degree may be required to take additional relevant undergraduate engineering courses during their first year in the program; any such requirements will be specifically determined by the BME Graduate Committee on a case-by-case basis and will be made known to the applicant at the time of acceptance to the program.

The recommended minimum combined verbal and quantitative portion of the GRE is 1200, or a minimum combined MCAT score in Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, and Biological Sciences problems of 30. A minimum score of 600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is recommended of all international students whose native language is not English. In addition, all applicants must submit three letters of recommendation.

Exceptionally promising UCI undergraduates may apply for admission through The Henry Samueli School of Engineering's accelerated M.S. and M.S./Ph.D. program, however, these students must satisfy the course work and letters of recommendation requirements described above.

Core Requirement

All students are required to take a set of core courses which total 22 units: BME210, BME220, BME221, BME230A, BME230B, and BME240.

Elective Requirement

The remaining 14 units required to fulfill the course requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degree are comprised of elective courses offered within The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and the Schools of Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Medicine. A minimum of eight of the elective units must be taken from The Henry Samueli School of Engineering. The group of elective courses must be approved by the BME Graduate Committee, for M.S. students, or, for Ph.D. students, the student's graduate advisory committee, and are chosen to meet the specific needs of each student. The electives must provide breadth in biomedical engineering, but also provide specific skills necessary to the specific research the student may undertake as part of the degree requirements.

Areas of Emphasis

Although a student is not required to formally choose a specific research focus area, four research thrust areas have been identified for the program: Biophotonics, Biomedical Nanoscale Systems, Biomedical Computational Technologies, and Tissue Engineering. These areas capitalize on existing strengths within The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and UCI as a whole, interact in a synergistic fashion, and will train biomedical engineers who are in demand in both private industry and academia.

Biophotonics. This research area includes the use of light to probe individual cells and tissues and whole organs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The research areas include both fundamental investigation on the basic mechanisms of light interaction with biological systems and the clinical application of light to treat and diagnose disease. Current and future foci of the faculty are: (1) microscope-based optical techniques to manipulate and study cells and organelles; (2) development of optically based technologies for the non-invasive diagnosis of cells and tissues using techniques that include fiber-optic-based sensors, delivery systems, and imaging systems; and (3) development of optically based devices for minimally invasive surgery.

Nanoscale Systems. This class of research areas encompasses the understanding, use, or design of systems that are at the micron or submicron level. Current strengths within The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and the UCI faculty as a whole include biomaterials, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), and the design of new biomedical molecules. The focus of biomedical engineering research in this area is the integration of nanoscale systems with the needs of clinical medicine. Projected areas of growth include: (1) micro-electromechanical systems

(MEMS) for biomedical devices and biofluid assay; (2) programmable DNA/ molecular microchip for sequencing and diagnostics; and (3) biomaterials and self-assembled nanostructures for biosensors and drug delivery.

Biomedical Computational Technologies. Biomedical computational technologies include both advanced computational techniques, as well as advanced biomedical database systems and knowledge-base systems. Computational technologies that will be developed in this research area include: (1) methods for biomedical analysis and diagnosis such as physical modeling of light-tissue interactions, atomic-level interactions, image processing, pattern recognition, and machine-learning algorithms; (2) language instruction and platform standardization; and (3) machine-patient interfaces. Areas of research related to biomedical database systems include the development of new technologies which can capture the rich semantics of biomedical information for intelligent reasoning.

Tissue Engineering. The term tissue engineering was officially coined at a National Science Foundation workshop in 1988 to mean "the application of principles and methods of engineering and life sciences toward fundamental understanding of structure-function relationships in normal and pathological mammalian tissues and the development of biological substitutes to restore, maintain, or improve tissue function." Tissue engineering draws on experts from chemical engineering, materials science, surgery, genetics, and related disciplines from engineering and the life sciences. Much of the current research in the field involves growing cells in three-dimensional structures instead of in laboratory dishes. For the most part, cells grown in a flat dish tend to behave as individual cells. But grow a cell culture in a three-dimensional structure, and the cells begin to behave as they would in a tissue or organ. Tissue engineers are testing different methods of growing tissue and organ cells in three-dimensional scaffolds that dissolve once the cells reach a certain mass. The hope is that these cell cultures will mature into fully functional tissues and organs.

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE

Two options are available for the M.S. degree: a thesis option and a comprehensive examination option. Both options require the student to specify an area of specialty, and to complete a minimum of 36 units, at least 28 of which must be at the 200 level including the 22 units that comprise the core courses as described above. The degree will be granted upon the recommendation of the Director and The Henry Samueli School of Engineering Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.

Plan I: Thesis Option

A thesis option is available to students who prefer to conduct a focused research project. Students selecting this option must select a thesis advisor and complete an original research investigation including a written thesis, and obtain approval of the thesis by a thesis committee. A maximum of eight M.S. research units (i.e., EECS296) may be applied toward the 36-unit requirement.

Plan II: Comprehensive Examination Option

Alternatively, students may select a comprehensive examination option in which they must successfully complete 36 units of study and pass a comprehensive examination. The preliminary examination in the Ph.D. program, described below, will serve as the comprehensive examination. However, the passing grade to qualify at the Master's competency level will be lower than the grade required for a student to advance in the Ph.D. program.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE

The Ph.D. degree requires the achievement of an original and significant body of research that advances the discipline. Students with a B.S. degree may enter the Ph.D. program directly, provided they meet the background requirements described above. The Graduate Committee will handle applicants on a case-by-case basis, and any specific additional courses required by the student will be made explicit at the time of admission.

Each student is matched with a faculty advisor, and an individual program of study is designed by the student and a faculty advisory committee. There are no additional course requirements beyond that of the M.S. degree. Four milestones are required: (1) successful completion of 36 units of course work beyond the bachelor's degree, at least 28 of which must be at the 200 level including the 22 units of core course requirements; (2) successful completion of a preliminary examination at the Ph.D. competency level; (3) formal advancement to candidacy by successfully passing a qualifying examination; and (4) completion of a significant body of original research and the submission of an acceptable written dissertation and its successful oral defense.

The preliminary examination will normally be taken at the end of the first year (May). A student must take it within two years of matriculating in the program, and must either have passed all of the core courses or have an M.S. degree prior to taking the examination. The Graduate Committee prepares the examination and sets two minimum competency levels, one for awarding the Master's degree and the second for continuing on in the Ph.D. program. Students who fail to pass at the Ph.D. level may retake the examination once within six months of the initial attempt. Students who fail the second attempt will not be allowed to continue in the program. Students who pass either attempt at the Master's competency level will be awarded an M.S. degree. After passing the preliminary examination at the Ph.D. competency level, students are matched with a BME faculty advisor and design an individual program of study with their advisor.

Advancement to candidacy must be completed between the ninth and twelfth quarters of enrollment, usually during a student's third year (second year for students who entered with a master's degree). (Special exceptions can be made, but a formal request with justification must be supplied in writing to the Director.) The qualifying examination follows campus and The Henry Samueli School of Engineering guidelines and consists of an oral and written presentation of original work completed thus far, and a coherent plan for completing a body of original research. The qualifying examination is presented to the student's graduate advisory committee, which is selected by the student and faculty advisor and must have a minimum of five faculty (including the faculty advisor). Of these five faculty, a minimum of three must be affiliated BME faculty. In addition, a minimum of two faculty must have part of their primary appointment in The Henry Samueli School of Engineering.

The Ph.D. is awarded upon submission of an acceptable written dissertation and its successful oral defense. The degree is granted upon the recommendation of the graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies. The normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is five years (four years for students who entered with a master's degree). The maximum time permitted is seven years.

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATION BIOLOGY

The graduate program in Mathematical and Computational Biology (MCB) is a one-year "gateway" program designed to function in concert with selected department programs, including the Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. Detailed information is available online at http://mcsb.bio.uci.edu/ and in the School of Biological Sciences section of the Catalogue, page 153.

LOWER-DIVISION

BME1 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (3) F. Introduction to the central topics of biomedical engineering. Offers a perspective on bioengineering as a discipline in a seminar format. Principles of problem definition, team design, engineering inventiveness, information access, communication, ethics, and social responsibility are emphasized. (Design units: 1)

BMEH10 Honors Engineering within the Cell (4) S. An engineer's view of cellular processes. Introduction to the cell; structure and function of DNA, RNA, and protein; thermodynamics; energy and catalysis, conversion of chemical energy to mechanical motion; feedback and control of gene expression; networks and cell-to-cell signaling. Prerequisite: admission to the Campuswide Honors Program.

BMEH11 Honors Molecular Biotechnology (4) S. Overview of engineering applications of cellular analyses; engineering of cells for manufacturing or sensing purposes. Analysis of DNA and protein; DNA sequencing; PCR; cloning; transgenic cells and animals; stem cells, antibodies, engineering and production of fusion proteins. Prerequisite: admission to the Campuswide Honors Program.

BME50A-B Cell and Molecular Engineering (4-4) W, S. Physiological function from a cellular, molecular, and biophysical perspective. Applications to bioengineering design. (Design units: 2-2)

UPPER-DIVISION

BME110A-B Biomechanics I, II (4-4) F, W. Introduction to continuum mechanics of both living and non-living systems. Laws of motion and free-body diagrams. Stresses, deformation, compatibility conditions, and constitutive equations. Properties of common fluids and solids. Field equations and boundary conditions. Applications to bioengineering designs. Prerequisites: Physics 7D, 7LD, 7E. BME110A-B and BMEH110A-B may not both be taken for credit. (Design units: 1-1)

BMEH110A-B Honors Biomechanics I, II (4-4) F, W. Covers the same material as BME110A-B but in greater depth. Prerequisites: Physics 7D, 7LD, 7E and admission to the Campuswide Honors Program. BMEH110A-B and BME110A-B may not both be taken for credit. (Design units: 1-1)

BME111 Design of Biomaterials (4) S. Natural and synthetic polymeric materials. Metal and ceramics implant materials. Materials and surface characterization and design. Wound repair, blood clotting, foreign body response, biocompatibility of material. Artificial organs and medical devices. Government regulations. Prerequisite: BME 50B. (Design units: 3)

BME120 Quantitative Physiology: Sensory Motor Systems (4) F. A quantitative and systems approach to understanding physiological systems. Systems covered include the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Prerequisite: Mathematics 3D or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Concurrent with BME220. (Design units: 2)

BME121 Quantitative Physiology: Organ Transport Systems (4) W. A quantitative and systems approach to understanding physiological systems. Systems covered include the cardiopulmonary, circulatory, and renal systems. Prerequisite: Mathematics 3D or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Same as CBEMS104. Concurrent with BME221, CBEMS204. (Design units: 1).

BME130 Biomedical Signals and Systems (4) F. Analog and digitized biomedical signals analyses: characteristics; Fourier Series expansions; difference and differential equations; convolutions. System models: discrete-time and continuous-time linear time-invariant systems; Laplace and Fourier transforms. Use of computer programs for signal and system analyses. Prerequisites: Mathematics 2J; Mathematics 7 recommended. (Design units: 1)

BME135 Photomedicine (4). Studies the use of optical and engineering-based systems (laser-based) for diagnosis, treating diseases, manipulation of cells and cell function. Physical, optical, and electro-optical principles are explored regarding molecular, cellular, organ, and organism applications. Prerequisites: Physics 3A-B-C or 7A-B-D, or EECS12 or consent of instructor. Same as Biological Sciences D130. (Design units: 0)

BME136 Engineering Optics for Medical Applications (4). Fundamentals of optical systems design, integration, and analysis used in biomedical optics. Design components: light sources, lenses, mirrors, dispersion elements, optical fibers, detectors. Systems integration: microscopy, radiometry, interferometry. Optical system analysis: resolution, modulation transfer function, deconvolution, interference, tissue optics, noise. Prerequisite: BME130, BME135, EECS180, or consent of instructor. (Design units: 3)

BME137 Introduction to Biomedical Imaging (4). Introduction to imaging modalities widely used in medicine and biology, including x-ray, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine (PET and SPET), ultrasonic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical tomography, imaging contrast, imaging processing, and complementary nature of the imaging modalities. Prerequisite: BME130. (Design units: 1).

BME140 Design of Biomedical Electronics (4) W. Analog and digital circuits in bioinstrumentation. AC and DC circuit analysis, design and construction of filter and amplifiers using operational amplifier, digitization of signal and data acquisition, bioelectrical signal, design and construction of ECG instrument, bioelectrical signal measurement and analysis. Prerequisite: BME130. (Design units: 3)

BME145 MEMS and Nanotechnology for Biomedicine and Biotechnology (4). Basic concepts of MEMS and nanotechnology, its application to biotechnology/biomedicine. Introduction to scaling laws as applied toward living systems and artificial devices; micro- and nanofabrication; sensor and actuator principles; drug delivery, implantable systems, minimally invasive surgery, total analysis systems. (Design units: 1)

BME146 Miniaturization in Biotechnology and Biological Science (4). Introduction to BIOMEMS. Study of the fundamentals of sensing techniques. Introduction to various types of biosensors and biological principles; nanomachining and biomimetics. (Design units: 1)

BME150 Biological Mass Transfer (4) S. Mass transfer in gas, liquid and solid with application to biological systems. Free and facilitated diffusion, active transport, convective mass transfer, diffusion-reaction phenomena, biological mass transfer coefficients, steady and unsteady transport, and flux-force relationships. Applications to bioengineering design. Prerequisites: BME110A-B. (Design units: 1)

BME160 Tissue Engineering (4) S. Quantitative analysis of cell and tissue functions. Emerging developments in stem cell technology, biodegradable scaffolds, growth factors, and others important in developing clinical products. Applications to bioengineering design. Prerequisites: BME50A-B, BME121. (Design units: 2)

BME170 Biomedical Engineering Laboratory (4) S. Introduction to the measurement and analysis of biological systems using engineering tools and techniques. Laboratory experiments involve living systems with the emphasis on biophotonics, BIOMEMS, and physiological systems. Labs include Optical Spectroscopy, BIOMEMS Fabrication and Characterization, Cardiovascular Physiology, and Neuroengineering. Prerequisites: BME111, BME120, BME121, BME130, BME140. (Design units: 1)

BME180A-B Biomedical Engineering Design (4-4) F, W. Design strategies, techniques, tools, and protocols commonly encountered in biomedical engineering; clinical experience at the UCI Medical Center and Beckman Laser Institute; industrial design experience in group projects with local biomedical companies; ethics, economic analysis, marketing, and FDA product approval. Prerequisites: BME 111, BME 120, BME121, and BME140; BME180A is the prerequisite for BME180B. Open only to senior BME majors. In-progress grading. (Design units: 4-4)

BME195 Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering (1 to 4). Prerequisites vary. May be repeated for credit. (Design units: varies)

BME196 Biomedical Engineering Thesis (4). Preparation of final presentation and paper describing individual research in biomedical engineering in one or more quarters of individual study (i.e., BME199). Prerequisites: satisfactory completion of lower-division writing requirement, completion of at least four units of BME199, and consent of BME199 instructor. (Design units: varies).

BMEH196 Biomedical Engineering Honors Thesis (4). Preparation of final presentation and paper describing individual research in biomedical engineering. Prerequisites: BMEH199 and consent of instructor. Open only to members of the Campuswide Honors Program who are Biomedical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering: Premedical majors. (Design units: varies)

BME199 Individual Study (1 to 4). Independent research conducted in the laboratory of a Biomedical Engineering core faculty member. A formal written report of the research conducted is required at the conclusion of the quarter. Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 194S and consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. (Design units: varies)

BMEH199 Individual Study for Honors Students (1 to 4). Independent research conducted in the laboratory of a Biomedical Engineering faculty member for participants in the Campuswide Honors Program. A formal written report of the research conducted is required at the conclusion of quarter. Prerequisites: Biological Sciences 194S and consent of instructor. Open only to members of the Campuswide Honors Program who are Biomedical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering: Premedical majors. May be repeated for credit. (Design units: varies)

GRADUATE

BME200 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (3). Offers a perspective on bioengineering as a discipline in a seminar format. Principles of problem definition, team design, engineering inventiveness, information access, communication, ethics, and social responsibility are emphasized. Restricted to BME graduate students only.

BME210 Cell and Tissue Engineering (4) F. A biochemical, biophysical, and molecular view of cell biology. Topics include the biochemistry and biophysical properties of cells, the extracellular matrix, biological signal transduction, and principles of engineering new tissues. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

BME213 Systems Cell and Developmental Biology (4). Introduces concepts needed to understand cell and developmental biology at the systems level, i.e., how the parts (molecules) work together to create a complex output. Emphasis on using mathematical/computational modeling to expand/modify insights provided by intuition. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Same as Developmental and Cell Biology 232.

BME220 Quantitative Physiology: Sensory Motor Systems (4) F. A quantitative and systems approach to understanding physiological systems. Systems covered include the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Concurrent with BME120.

BME221 Quantitative Physiology: Organ Transport Systems (4) W. A quantitative and systems approach to understanding physiological systems. Systems covered include the cardiopulmonary, circulatory, and renal systems. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Same as CBEMS204. Concurrent with BME121, CBEMS104.

BME223 Advanced Cardiovascular Biomechanics (3). Considers the modern developments in cardiovascular biomechanics at an advanced mathematical level. Selected topics in the dynamics of the heart and blood vessels, pulstatile blood flow, microcirculation, and muscle mechanics. Also considers modeling of boundary value problems in cardiovascular engineering.

BME230A Applied Engineering Mathematics I (4) F. Analytical techniques applied to engineering problems in transport phenomena, process dynamics and control, and thermodynamics. Prerequisites: CBEMS110, CBEMS120A, and CBEMS120B; or consent of instructor. Same as CBEMS230.

BME230B Applied Engineering Mathematics II (4) W. Advanced engineering mathematics for biomedical engineering. Focuses on biomedical system identification. Includes fundamental techniques of model building and testing such as formulation, solution of governing equations (emphasis on basic numerical techniques), sensitivity theory, identifiability theory, and uncertainty analysis.

BME233 Dynamic Systems in Biology and Medicine (4). Introduces elements of system theory and application of these principles to analyze biomedical, chemical, social, and engineering systems. Students use analytical and computational tools to model and analyze various dynamic systems such as population dynamics, Lotka-Volterra equation, and others. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

BME240 Introduction to Clinical Medicine for Biomedical Engineering (3). An introduction to clinical medicine for graduate students in biomedical engineering. Divided between lectures focused on applications of advanced technology to clinical problems and a series of four rotations through the operating room, ICU, interventional radiology/imaging, and endoscopy. Formerly Engineering 240.

BME261 Biomedical Microdevices I (3) S. In-depth review of microfabricated devices designed for biological and medical applications. Studies of the design, implementation, manufacturing, and marketing of commercial and research bio-MEMS devices. Prerequisite: EECS217A or consent of instructor. Formerly BME261A.

BME262 Microfluidics (3). An advanced course on microfluidics research and its application in Biomedical Engineering. Offers in-depth perspective on different fabrication methods and different microfluidic devices that are used in Biomedical Engineering. The principles of microfabrication, surface treatment, device design, and application are covered. Prerequisites: advanced courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

BME263 Microsystem Technologies for Biomolecular Assays (3). Introduction to state-of-the-art micro Total Analysis Systems (mTAS) for biomolecular assays, device design principles for microscale sample preparation, flow transport, biomolecular manipulation/separation/detection, technologies for integrating these devices into microsystems. Applications include clinical medicine, health monitoring, biotechnology, biodetection.

BME295 Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering (1 to 4) F, W, S. Prerequisites vary. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

BME296 Master of Science Thesis Research (1 to 12). Individual research or investigation conducted in the pursuit of preparing and completing the thesis required for the M.S. in Engineering. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

BME297 Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Research (1 to 12). Individual research or investigation conducted in the pursuit of preparing and completing the dissertation required for the Ph.D. in Engineering. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

BME298 Seminars in Biomedical Engineering (1) F, W, S. Presentation of advanced topics and reports of current research efforts in biomedical engineering. Designed for graduate students in the biomedical engineering program. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit.

BME299 Individual Research (1 to 12). Individual research or investigation under the direction of an individual faculty member. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.