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

Three cyclists ride loaded touring bikes across a rocky volcanic landscape in Iceland, following a dirt track with a large flat-topped mountain visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

UI hand-built bike course leads doctoral student on Icelandic expedition

Tuesday, November 10, 2026
The Daily Iowan
Chemical and biochemical engineering PhD student Jackson Begolka combined hands-on learning and engineering design while building a custom bicycle for an Iceland expedition.
Tom Barnhart receives award from Dean Ann McKenna

'Excellence Award' winners and others recognized at college annual awards ceremony

Monday, November 9, 2026
The College of Engineering held its annual community celebration on Wednesday, November 4, to announce its Faculty and Staff Excellence Award winners and to recognize longevity milestones as well as various other recognitions from throughout the year.
Engineering student wearing safety glasses operates a computer-controlled manufacturing machine while reviewing a printed worksheet in a laboratory.

How UI biomedical engineering students aim to solve real-world problems

Monday, November 9, 2026
The Daily Iowan
Students’ projects from last year’s Advanced Medical Device Design course showcase the innovation, creativity, and impact that the student-developed medical solutions can have.
Custom video game controller

Engineering students develop custom gaming controller for spinal cord injury patient

Tuesday, October 27, 2026
After a cervical spinal cord injury limited Dylan Huntbach's hand function, video games became difficult or impossible to play. A team of biomedical engineering students at the University of Iowa set out to change that.
Sarah Gerard sits at the computer overseeing a CT scanner

New study aims to reduce radiation-related lung damage for lung cancer patients

Wednesday, October 21, 2026
A new research study could help preserve lung function and improve the quality of life of lung cancer patients by making radiation treatments more precise and reducing damage to healthy lung tissue.
Meesha Dogan talks with an engineering student on either side of her

Alumna Meesha Dogan making waves with Cardio Diagnostics

Friday, October 2, 2026
Meesha Dogan, CEO, co-founder, and director of Cardio Diagnostics, recently led a group of Iowa engineering students on a tour of her company’s Iowa City lab, where patient samples are processed for diagnostic testing.
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

Imaging the Upper Airway During Sleep: information efficient MRI methods promotional image

Imaging the Upper Airway During Sleep: information efficient MRI methods

Thursday, November 12, 2026 3:30pm to 4:20pm
Seamans Center

Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminar

PRESENTATION: Imaging the Upper Airway During Sleep: Information Efficient MRI Methods. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) results from repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, yet current clinical tools struggle to characterize where and how the airway collapses. MRI can image the entire upper airway without ionizing radiation or sedation, but imaging during natural sleep requires high spatiotemporal resolution from undersampled data...

Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering Graudate Program Open House

Monday, January 25, 2027 9:00am to 3:00pm
Seamans Center
Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program Open House

College Events

Engineering Career Trek: Pella Corporation & Vermeer

Wednesday, November 11, 2026 7:30am to 5:00pm
Pella Windows and Doors
Visit to Pella Corporation and Vermeer
Success Workshop: Tackle Final Exams Like a Pro: Finals Preparation promotional image

Success Workshop: Tackle Final Exams Like a Pro: Finals Preparation

Thursday, November 12, 2026 12:00pm to 12:50pm
Seamans Center
Students will learn how to apply metacognition to help them prepare for final exams, apply effective time management practices for the end of the semester, develop a study schedule, and start mental preparation for before, during, and after final exams

Graduate & Professional Students: Let's Do Lunch!

Tuesday, November 17, 2026 11:30am to 1:30pm
Sciences Library
Bring your academic interests to the table and engage with fellow graduate and professional students in a casual, supportive environment.
Stanley Award for International Research - Information Session promotional image

Stanley Award for International Research - Information Session

Tuesday, December 1, 2026 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Virtual
The Stanley Award for International Research gives UI students up to $2,500 to design and carry out international research or fieldwork projects.
Success Workshop: Engineering Self-Care promotional image

Success Workshop: Engineering Self-Care

Tuesday, December 1, 2026 2:00pm to 2:50pm
Seamans Center
Learn strategies to care for your well-being during stressful times

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