FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Students in Arkansas can now receive a master's degree in biomedical engineering from the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas. This degree is the first and only advanced degree in the emerging field of biomedical engineering offered in the state.

"This is an excellent opportunity for students in the College of Engineering," said Dean Ashok Saxena. "We expect the program to grow quickly in student numbers and become nationally competitive, further adding to the excellent reputation of our engineering program."

The biomedical profession, which applies engineering solutions to human health and medical problems, is booming, with the number of job openings expected to grow 31.4 percent through 2010, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics.

Biomedical engineers develop devices and techniques to improve the quality of human life, such as artificial organs, prosthetic devices, artificial skin, novel drug delivery systems or high-resolution imaging systems that detect disease. They have designed computer algorithms used to analyze blood, laser systems used for corrective eye surgery and drug delivery systems that automate insulin injections. The areas of computer-assisted surgery and molecular, cellular and tissue engineering are developing rapidly within the field.

Right now, the College of Engineering offers undergraduate students in the biological engineering program the option of a biomedical engineering emphasis. It is by far the most popular choice of study by current undergraduate biological engineering students, with 35 students enrolling in just the first two years it has been offered. Several of these graduates choose to attend medical school, but many will pursue a career in biomedical engineering. While those with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering can earn an average of $39,000, those with a master's degree can expect an average salary of $61,000.

"We expect that these students will be able to stay in Arkansas," said Lalit Verma, head of the biological and agricultural engineering department. "They will make a significant difference in the quality of life of people throughout the state in two major ways: they will improve peoples' health, and they will create more job opportunities."

Developing biomedical solutions is vital, given Arkansas' consistent ranking at or near the bottom of many national health indicators such as the incidence of diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure.

"The governor has made improving health care in Arkansas a major initiative," said Verma. "These students and professors will focus on integrating and implementing cutting-edge technological advances in fields such as nanotechnology, tissue engineering, and biotechnology, including biosensing, bioimaging and bioinformatics."

The program also will allow greater possibilities to transfer research into reality. "It will provide more opportunities for our faculty and graduate students to invent or develop biomaterials or nanotechnology- and biotechnology-based instruments and sensors for health-related industries in Arkansas," Verma added.

Current research in biological engineering at the University of Arkansas focuses on emerging health issues such as antibiotic resistance, homeland security, risk assessment and bio-based sensor technology. Topics also include the interaction between the environment, food and biotechnology.

The program reflects the trend toward multidisciplinary, integrated engineering and science programs. Through it, the college aims to produce graduates with a strong academic foundation, advanced training in biomedical engineering and full integration with research ranging from molecular to system levels.

"Really, the most important feature of the program is that it's interdisciplinary," said Verma. "We're integrating teaching and research across the disciplines of engineering, biology, chemistry, agriculture and life sciences."

Potential collaborators include all departments in the College of Engineering, including: chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science and computer engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and mechanical engineering. Other participants may include biological sciences, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, microelectronics and photonics, as well as cell and molecular biology. In addition, units in the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, the Fulbright College, the University of Arkansas Little Rock, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences will be involved.

Within five to six years, officials hope to offer a joint medical and doctoral degree program in biomedical engineering through the College of Engineering and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock.

Verma is in the midst of filling one new faculty position, with future plans for two additional endowed faculty positions - one an endowed chair and the other an endowed professorship, made possible by the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation's $300 million gift to the University of Arkansas in April 2002. These two endowed positions are expected to help the department attract nationally recognized scholars to join the program.