Computational Bioengineering Graduate Track
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Computation plays an ever larger role in Bioengineering (as it does in most scientific disciplines) and this track seeks to provide students with specialized training in scientific computing. Specific areas of computation relevant to the Bioengineering program include geometric modeling, simulation, computational biomechanics, statistical signal processing, control and optimization, medical imaging, and scientific visualization. Research topics that make use of these approaches within the Department include simulation of cardiac and neural physiology, analysis of signals in electrophysiology, musculoskeletal biomechanics, medical imaging, and mathematical biology.

Masters Students

M.S. students in the Computational Bioengineering Track must successfully complete the course requirements outlined below, as well as the total course credit hour requirement of the M.S. degree program.

  1. Any one from the following courses that cover a broad spectrum of numerical and computational methods:
    • CS 5210/6210: Advanced Scientific Computing I (3)
    • CS 6220: Advanced Scientific Computing II (3)
    • MATH 5610: Introduction to Numerical Analysis I (4)
    • Math 5620: Introduction to Numerical Analysis II (4)
    • Math 5600: Survey of Numerical Analysis (4)
  2. A second, advanced course in numerical and computational techniques from the electives list below. The student will select this course in consultation with the advisory committee so that it provides specialized material in topics relevant to the anticipated thesis research project.
  3. One course in biomedical computing taught by the Bioengineering Department, for example, BE 6900 (Quantitative Neuroscience), BE 7420 (Modeling of Physiological Systems), a special topics class, or a directed reading course.

Ph.D. Students

Ph.D. students in the Computational Bioengineering Track are expected to have general knowledge in computational and numerical methods as well as in one field of bioengineering application. A student who, for example, applied computational methods to problems in cardiac electrophysiology, should have knowledge in both areas. The material for the exam will be based on topics covered in a variety of courses, however, there will be a strong emphasis on the integration of computational approaches and the target area of application, material not likely to be covered explicitly in any course or text book.

As with other tracks, approximately 25% of the material in the qualifying exam will come from material in the Bioengineering core curriculum covered in the comprehensive exam. The remainder will come from topics in both computational methods and the topic area selected by the student for his or her PhD research. Some relevant examples of the latter topic areas include cardiac electrophysiology, neurophysiology, biomechanics, and medical imaging.

Courses that will be of special importance in the computational component of the qualifying exam are those listed for the M.S. program above

Computational Bioengineering Course Program of Study

The course selection that will be appropriate for each student in the 8computational Bioengineering track may vary quite a bit more than for other tracks. The goal of the course selection should be to provide the required and appropriate computation and mathematical background but also the special knowledge of the system under study. The Program of Study is a list created by the student and the supervisory committee of all courses to be completed by the student as part of the requirements for the Ph.D. The Program of Study requires formal approval by the student's advisor, Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and Director of Graduate Studies.

Additional Computational Bioengineering Courses

Bioengineering

Computer Science (scientific computing and software)

Electrical Engineering (signal processing, electromagnetics)

Mathematics (numerical methods)

Mechanical Engineering

Medical Imaging

Psychology

Questions?

Questions regarding the Computational Bioengineering track should be directed to Dr. Rick Rabbitt (801 581-6968), Dr. Rob Macleod, or Jeff Weiss