Career Paths in Academia

There are many highlights to careers in academia as a biomedical engineer. Most hold diverse hats and are involved in research, teaching, and management. They engage with a wide range of people in and outside of the university setting and develop research collaborations. They have the flexibility to direct their own line of research and pursue research projects that they find interesting. They also travel around the world to present their research in front of their peers at scientific conferences. Lastly, they help students develop their skills and find their own passions and careers paths.

Academic institutions look for candidates with Ph.D.-level degrees in the bionegineering subfield that most closely relates to the position available. Beyond a graduate degree, academic institutions will look for candidates with postdoctoral training under their belt. They will review the quality and quantity of published peer-reviewed journal articles from a candidate’s dissertation or other research – the best evidence that an individual will be able to successfully obtain external funding to support their research. Experience teaching in the classroom, whether guest lecturing or teaching assistantships, can be highly sought-after. Lastly, academic institutions are mindful of a candidate’s mentors and research collaborations.

Biomedical engineers working at colleges and universities across the U.S. earn an average annual salary of $79,625, according to the Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2013. 

Postdoctoral training is highly valued. It allows for focused time spent on deepening expertise, learning novel skills and methods, conducting research, analyzing the results, publishing the findings in peer-reviewed journal articles, and presenting research at conferences.  A postdoctoral appointment helps you hone in on critical skills needed to pursue an independent research career, including teambuilding, leadership, and communication skills. Postdoctoral researchers may work independently or under the supervision of a principal investigator (PI). Learn more about preparing and applying for postdoctoral training positions through the resources below.

Tenure is a permanent job contract. Tenured professors and faculty members have academic freedom, plus job security. They have more flexibility to pursue lines of research they are passionate about, without fear of reproach from their college or university. It is intended to protect professors and faculty members when they hold controversial viewpoints or pursue divisive research questions. Tenure decisions are made after 6-7 years of employment. They are based largely on a faculty member’s teaching, research, and service. These contributions may be measured by things like research funding, student learning outcomes, publication record, quality and impact of research, and contributions to administrative roles. Review and evaluation is conducted by faculty colleagues and university administrators. Non-tenure track positions generally require more teaching and typically have renewable job contracts versus tenure-track positions.

There are limited-term, non-tenure track positions that will allow you to either teach or conduct research. Teaching-only appointments, sometimes referred to as the teaching-track, are focused on the preparation of curriculum and the delivery of instruction. Research-only appointments, such as postdoctoral fellowships or research faculty positions, are funded by “soft money” and require grant writing and securing external funds to pay for one’s salary.

Hard money faculty positions are funded by student tuition, services, and philanthropy, while soft money positions are funded through grants. Individuals in soft money positions are expected to actively and continuously write grants proposals and secure funding to pay for their salaries.  Many faculty positions are split between hard and soft money and they are funded both by grants and the university budget.

Being able to pursue the research topics that you are passionate about is the highlight of an independent research career. You have the freedom to dream up new, interesting research questions and design research projects to answer them.

It also means securing external funding for your lines of research. Mentoring of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students is also par for the course.

Every college and university has a written policy statement regarding their guidelines for tenure and promotion, which will include a statement about publishing. They can vary widely from one institution to another. When seeking a career at a specific academic institution, it is important to review their policy about publishing to determine if it fits with your intended goals.

Many compare directing a research lab to running a small business, but in a university setting. Lab directors oversee research projects, manage undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, plan a budget, and secure funding to keep it all going. They also mentor and train students in their lab.