Choose Your PathAcademia Bioengineers employed in academia work at colleges, universities, and technical schools. They conduct their own independent research and often direct research labs that are supported by trainees and undergraduate and graduate students. Publishing new research and presenting at conferences is a mainstay in this career path. They teach the next generation of scientists and engineers and mentor students. Many academics tout flexibly, the freedom to work independently, and helping students find their passions as rewarding aspects of this career pathway. Industry Bioengineers employed in industry work in diverse settings, including medical device, biotech, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as medical equipment and supply manufacturers. In industry, biomedical engineers may function in a wide range of capacities: designing instruments, devices, and software; bringing together knowledge from many technical sources to develop new procedures; conducting research needed to solve clinical problems; and teaching health professionals how to use new medical technologies. Some companies that employ biomedical engineers may concentrate on a particular field or disease, while others might concentrate on diagnostic testing or delivery models for drugs.Clinical Medicine Bioengineers employed in clinical environments work in hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings. Some biomedical engineers with degrees in medicine work as medical doctors and surgeons and treat patients, while working alongside other physicians, nurses, therapists, and technicians. They work in areas such as minimally invasive surgery and rehabilitation, and utilize what they know about medicine and engineering to care for and treat patients. Government & Policy Bioengineers employed in government work in labs and agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Opportunities offered by government jobs are wide ranging (from technical advisor to program officer to agency director) and the needs are diverse. Contrary to popular belief, over 80 percent of government jobs are located outside of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, in locations across the United States (largest concentrations include Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego, and New York City) and worldwide. Bioengineers are also employed in science policy positions by scientific societies, think tanks, international organizations, charities, lobby groups, and other non-governmental organizations.
