What is the difference between biomedical engineering and biotechnology

It makes use of engineering methods and scientific concepts to find solutions. To see how this would work in real life, we can say that biotechnology creates the cells that will develop pharmaceutical drugs. Bioengineering, on the other hand, develops a process that will ensure those drugs can be produced faster. Biotechnology has four main types. These are:. Examples of other types of biotechnology include biotechnology in food production and biotechnology that focuses on marine resources.

Biotechnology has applications in a variety of sectors, such as food processing and preservation, agriculture, bio energy, health and medicine, and waste management. The important thing to remember is that biotechnology mainly focuses on the natural sciences. Interestingly, bioengineering and its popularity can be traced back to electrical engineers of the s.

It came about as a way to find solutions to various needs, such as the need for replacement organs, as Britannica reports. Some examples of bioengineering include the engineering of bacteria to produce pharmaceutical drugs and the development of artificial knees and other joints. There are exciting developments in bioengineering currently underway , such as robotics, genetic engineering, and neural engineering.

Bioengineers are usually employed by a variety of different institutions, such as pharmaceutical companies , medical research institutions, and regulatory agencies. Bioengineering engineering is a field that mainly concerns itself with principles of engineering, such as mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering, basic sciences such as physics, as well as biotechnology in the form of genetic engineering and tissue engineering.

After graduation, you can either go for a career track in services. This track includes diagnostic work and laboratory tests in clinics, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and even forensic laboratories.

You can also work in the industry to develop a new and innovative diagnostic process or device. Within this track you will closely work on histopathology, medical microbiology, immunology and medical devices. You could also have a career in medical writing, public health, technical sales, marketing, and management consulting.

If you are holding a Bachelor degree in Biomedical Science, you could also go for a Graduate degree in Medicine.

However, this route is not available in India. Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary and applied field of engineering and biology. Biomedical engineering broadly refers to the application of bio-engineering to human medicine, healthcare, surgery and rehabilitation.

The field of biomedical engineering primarily involves biomaterials, biosimilar, bio-instrumentation, medical imaging and medical devices. The field of biomedical engineering involves the application of principles of engineering mechanical, electrical, electronics, computer science and chemical engineering , basic sciences physics, mathematics, chemistry, and biology and biotechnology tissue engineering, genetic engineering. The aim of the biomedical engineering field is to develop systems, equipment, and devices in order to solve clinical problems — both diagnostics and therapeutics.

Some of the typical examples of biomedical engineering products are prosthetics, breast implants, pacemaker, MRI etc. Biomedical engineers use their expertise in engineering, life science, and medical fields. A degree in biomedical engineering will prepare you to design and build medical systems. You will get training to install and test products such as Functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI , Positron emission tomography PET , electron microscopes, pacemakers, cochlear implants.

You will also learn to calibrate, maintain, and repair medical instruments. All of the three fields are very overlapping and extremely inter-disciplinary. But, they do have differences in concepts and applications. Both the biotechnology and biomedical sectors are sunrise industries in India, and offers excellent career opportunities. We have achieved lot in medical research. But, lifestyle diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart attack and infectious diseases are still not completely solved.

Besides, there is always room for innovation. These engineers can be found in almost all fields of medicine. Bioengineers often focus on general theory that can be applied to various different areas of natural sciences to solve problems. Biomedical engineering, on the other hand, is more focused and practical, specifically in the context of health care.

In this case, your personal philosophy can and should also play a role in the decision between the two. If you are interested in big picture ideas and creating new theoretical frameworks through which to approach biology, bioengineering would be a great fit. On the other hand, if you want to put established doctrine to use improving the health care field by creating or operating advanced biotechnological products, then biomedical engineering might be the preferred choice.

Both prospective bioengineers and biomedical engineers need a certain set of similar skills in order to thrive in these fields. Since much of the work involves synthesizing solutions to complex problems, applicants should have strong problem-solving skills and the perseverance necessary to see tough projects through to the end. A desire to confront challenge is a great trait to have for anyone looking to enter engineering disciplines, and this goes double for the biological disciplines.

A grasp of the scientific method and the associated discipline it requires is a necessity, and those with analytical minds are best suited to these roles. If you are confident in your decision-making ability and possess the aforementioned skills, then biomedical and biological engineering would be great fits for you. Bioengineering and biomedical engineering are no exceptions.

In terms of what level of education is explicitly needed, most engineering disciplines follow similar patterns. Finally, those looking to reach the apex of their bioengineering or biomedical career can pursue a Ph.

This will open up the most prestigious research and development roles. In addition, Ph. D holders can be considered for teaching, advisory, and consulting roles at the most prestigious universities and in government organizations.

Whatever your choice, it is important to be informed beforehand of what each level of education affords you. The coursework for each degree is fairly similar. A basic engineering curriculum defines both bioengineering and biomedical engineering at most institutions, as the application of engineering principles is just as important in biological sciences as it is in other fields. Mathematics is another universal foundational skill: Calculus, differential equations, and advanced statistics are necessary skills in both degree programs.

Advanced knowledge of biology is another part of these curricula, and physics, chemistry and other sciences get a fair amount of focus as well.

At the conclusion of a degree program, many colleges have students conduct capstone projects, where their engineering skills will be applied to create prototype products or processes that solve specific issues in biological scientific fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics only keeps a record of salary trends for biomedical engineers. ZipRecruiter paints a slightly different story. General bioengineering and biomedical engineering jobs can be found in many different fields.

Bioengineers can find work in agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food and drink production, and many more industries. Biomedical engineers also have a breadth of job possibilities at their disposal despite their more narrow focus, as practically every field of medicine makes use of biomedical engineers.

Medical technology engineering roles are also available, along with specialized positions in areas such as bioinstrumentation, medical imaging and even genetic engineering. The medical field is growing quite fast, and the need for engineering specialists is only going to go up as this occurs. The annual growth rate of the industry has grown from a 2. While not exactly the force of nature that the consumer technology field is, medical fields are growing at a generous pace, and thus a career in biomedical engineering is an optimal choice for those looking to hitch their wagon to an industry with good long-term job security.

Deloitte elaborates:. Investments in technology such as virtual health and telehealth could expand services while also helping hospitals bend the cost curve.