Biomedical Engineering Department

Chairperson: Erin B. Harmon, Ph.D.
USD GEAR Center
4800 N. Career Ave., Suite 221
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
Phone: 605-275-7474
bme@usd.edu
https://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/biomedical-engineering

FACULTY

Professor:

Daniel Engebretson, Biological Sensing and In Vitro Diagnostics.

Associate Professors:

Ying Deng, Bioactive Materials and Bionanotechnology in Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery; Engineering Biomaterials and Alternative Cell Sources for Biomedical Applications.

Associate Professor of Practice:

Erin B. Harmon, Biomedical Imaging and Medical Devices

Research Assistant Professor:

Etienne Z. Gnimpieba, Bioinformatics and Data Integration in Life Sciences.

Professor of Practice:

Lisa N. MacFadden, Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic Biomechanics 

Emeritus Faculty:

Carol Lushbough, Bioinformatics.

MAJOR:

Biomedical Engineering, B.S.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE:

Integrated Science, A.S.

Biomedical engineering (BME) focuses on applying engineering and science methodologies to the analysis of biological and physiological problems and the development and delivery of health-care technologies. The biomedical engineer serves as an interface between traditional engineering disciplines and living systems and may work in either direction, applying the patterns of living organisms to engineering design or engineering new approaches to human health.

Faculty in the University of South Dakota’s Biomedical Engineering program focus on developing materials that are used as vehicles for drug delivery, to control biofilm formation, as scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and biological sensors. Faculty also use bioinformatics to elucidate biochemical signaling pathways and biomechanics to investigate disease progression. The program is positioned at the interface between academic research and commercialization. Faculty members routinely interact with small and large businesses to identify market opportunities for products that emerge from their research. This presents unique opportunities for students in the program to explore the full gamut of research, development, and ultimately commercialization.

The Biomedical Engineering Program is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the GEAR (Graduate Education & Applied Research) Center, 4800 N. Career Ave., Suite 221.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Please contact the department for additional information about available scholarships and awards. Also see College of Arts & Sciences  for college/school level scholarships.

Student Learning Outcomes for Integrated Science (A.S.)

1. Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them. 
2. Students will interact with other students and evaluate the effort put into team tasks, interactions with others, and the quantity and quality made to team discussions. 
3. Students will design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal. 
4. Students will engage in purposeful, ongoing learning activities that improve their knowledge, skills and competence in their personal and professional lives. 
5. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking. 
6. Students will understand fundamental principles of chemistry and chemical change. 
7. Students will learn to formulate a testable hypothesis. 
8. Students will understand and be able to execute current Good Laboratory Practices.

Student Learning Outcomes for Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics 
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factor 
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences 
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts 
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives 
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions 
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Annual Student Enrollment and Graduation Data for Biomedical Engineering, B.S. For additional questions, contact the Department of Biomedical Engineering at: 605-275-7474.

Program Educational Objectives

The Program Educational Objectives of the University of South Dakota’s Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program is to graduate students who are prepared:

1. To enter the engineering workforce in small and large companies and work in areas of: medical device design, manufacturing, and quality control.

2. USD Biomedical Engineering graduates will have hands-on laboratory experience, experimental design and data analysis tools, and effective teamwork strategies necessary to join one of the regional biotechnology, biomaterial development, or biomedical research companies. 

3. Graduates will recognize their need for additional education to meet their career goals and will enroll in biomedical graduate school programs or medical schools.

4. Our graduates will use their effective communication skills and impact their local communities in the fields of teaching, STEM educational outreach and advocacy, and health care professions.

5. Take positions in established or emerging companies in areas that include medical product design, manufacturing, quality control, and bioinformatics.

Programs

• Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)