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.

 

James Ankrum in lab with students
Lucinda Williamson in the lab with a prosthetic foot
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?

Apply today

In the News

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
University of Iowa
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). 
A group of approximately 20 people stand in a foyer with three purple "GE HealthCare" posters in the background.

Visit to GE HealthCare exposes Iowa students to emerging MRI field, career pathways

Monday, May 4, 2026
University of Iowa students and post-doctoral researchers in engineering, math, health care got a behind the scenes look at the commercial side of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as early career pathways in the field, through a visit to GE HealthCare (GEHC) headquarters in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Woman wearing white lab coat and blue protective gloves sits in chair by chamber with glass window

BME student improving lung defense systems

Friday, April 24, 2026
Graduate College
Winter Philibert, a University of Iowa PhD candidate in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, where her doctoral research aims to improve the interaction between mucus and cilia in the lung’s self-cleaning system known as mucociliary transport.
More BME news

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

ORGANIZATIONS

BME Events

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College Events

AI and Literature Discovery

Thursday, October 15, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Seamans Center
Build your scholarly toolkit with workshop on AI-powered literature discovery.

Graduate & Professional Students: Let's Do Lunch!

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Sciences Library
Bring your academic interests to the table and engage with fellow graduate and professional students in a casual, supportive environment.

Graduate & Professional Students: Let's Do Lunch!

Tuesday, November 17, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Sciences Library
Bring your academic interests to the table and engage with fellow graduate and professional students in a casual, supportive environment.

Maker Break: Coasters and Cookies

Tuesday, December 8, 2026 11:30am to 1:00pm
Seamans Center
Drop in anytime for a fun, themed craft that takes just 10–20 minutes and explore your creativity.

College of Engineering Undergraduate Commencement

Sunday, December 20, 2026 12:00pm
Hancher Auditorium

Doors open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.

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