BME Career Planning Guide

After-graduation planning
begins in your 2nd year...
You ... that’s when you start setting
in motion the events and oppor-
tunities that will make it possible
2nd Year for you to achieve your goals
Take Orgo,
Orgo, clinical Summer after after graduation.
exposures, visit UVa 2nd Year
See Bobbe Nixon premed advisor
This guide will help you make
informed decisions at the right
Identify labs
3rd Year See Kitter times, given the three common
Internship,
REU, research
Summer after career paths for BME majors.
Clinical exposures, REU,
research/design or public 3rd Year
Research, health experience
REU Special emphasis is placed on
Research/design for credit
resources within the department.
4th Year
Research/Design for Credit Take MCATs
Internship Finish AMCAS by June Contacts:
Academics: Dr. William Guilford
Send resumes and cover letters [email protected]
Research
Interview w/ companies Take Biochemistry
Interview w/ med schools Research for Credit: Kitter
Take GREs
Bishop, [email protected]
Apply to grad school
Interview w/ grad schools Design for Credit: Dr. Timothy
Jobs Route Allen [email protected]
Med School
Internships: (Mrs.) Bobbe Nixon
[email protected]
Grad School
Premed Advising: Maxine
Proctor, [email protected]
_2_

The Jobs Route: Timeline for Students Interested in Getting a Job!

Starting 2nd Year Summer after 2nd Year Summer after 3rd Year
BME’s Industrial Internship
Talk to your advisor about Do something hands-on: INTERN! Internships are key to
Program
your goals. Research, Internship, relevant job, getting a job straight out of school!
or NIH or NSF summer program Try to intern with a company (or
Develop a short resume.
Paid summer internships for BME REU (a.k.a. REU or Research type of company) you would
Talk to Bobbe Nixon, BME Experience for Undergraduates). potentially want to work for. Or
majors. Partner companies include
Internship Director and ad hoc intern in an area of the country
biomedical engineering, biotechnol- You can do a BME Industry
career advisor. Set up an appoint- that’s rich in BME jobs.
ogy, and medical device companies. ment: [email protected].
Internship after 2nd year, but you
usually need some practical skills
Students participate after the 2nd
Practice your professional or lab experience. REUs and sum- Fourth Year
skills. Career fairs, poster sessions, mer research are usually open to
and/or 3rd year. They work for 10 Update your resume. Talk to
mock interviews, meet and greets, you, even without a ton of prior
weeks during the summer, full-time people! Mock interview.
BME social events: all will help you expereince.
at the corporate site. Compensation develop confidence to be a great Choose a relevant Capstone
is about $4,000. interviewee. project, usually a team-based

Get experience-Shadow or vol-

Third Year project in product development or
practical applications of BME.
Some of BME’s internships are out- unteer in a research lab to get Take BIOM 453 “BME
side Charlottesville. Think ahead exposure and develop interests. Advanced Projects” or BIOM Start interviewing.
about the logistics of an out-of- Kitter, BME UG Coordinator, can 496 “BME Advanced Design.” Immediately. Talk to the compa-
help with shadowing. nies where you interned. Attend the
town internship (subletting your Choose relevant classes. Work
SEAS Career Fairs. Our students
apartment, talking to your parents, Talk to lots of people about with your advisor to choose classes
are regularly hired by companies
etc). your short term and long term that are relevant to your interests.
that are not “BME” companies.
goals. If you’re still developing your inter-
ests, take strong foundational Look for Bobbe’s emails about
For internship opportunities:
courses, such as CS 201, ECE 203, regional and national bioengineer-
Roberta Nixon (Bobbe) ing jobs fairs and job opportunities.
MAE 230, and MSE 209.
BME Director of Internships and
Corporate Outreach
[email protected] What are some entry level engineering/bioengineering job titles? Manufacturing
434 243-6285 Engineer, Quality Engineer, Clinical or Field Engineer, Project or Product Engineer, Staff Engineer, Researcher (in a hospital,
Stacey Hall, Main Street university, military or government lab), Software engineer, Sales Engineer, Management or Marketing Trainee.

What other fields recruit entry-level BMEs? FDA/Regulatory Affairs, US Patent Office, financial serv-
ices, business development firms, marketing and consulting firms working with healthcare and investment groups.
 _3_

Various Types of Jobs

Software/Hardware, Biopharmaceuticals, Consulting, Services, These companies have hired

Medical Devices, Biotechnology, Life Government, Sales, our entry level alums, 05-08
Instrumentation Sciences Industry Defense
Do a Minor. CS or CPE minor, if Take advanced courses in an Do a minor in engineering business, Accenture, Advertising.com,
you’re interested in software or hard- interest area. Take both semesters of economics, foreign affairs, foreign American Type Culture
ware engineering. ECE minor if Chemistry. language, or another area, as appro- Collection, Americorps College
you’re interested in instrumentation. priate. Guides, Bank of America, Barron
Get a good mix of research lab
Pursue a broadly technical and “real-world” industry expe- Get real-world exposure through Associates, Inc., Bioengineering
course of study, including, as rience: For example, do BIOM 453 internships or relevant work experi- Consultants, Ltd, Capital One,
appropriate, APMA 308, CS 201, “Research for Credit” during your ences. You’ll probably choose a team- Car Max,
202, ECE 203, MAE 230, 231. 3rd year... then a industry internship based Capstone project. Cerner Corporation, CGI Federal,
over the summer... and then resume CW Optics, Davenport and
Get hands-on experience and Practice your professional skills,
your BIOM 453 research as your
real world exposure. Intern, work so that you are comfortable and able Company, FDA Device Review,
Capstone project in the fourth year.
in a lab, do a relevant Capstone proj- to act appropriately while interview- Elder Research, Inc., GCI Federal,
This is just one way to have several
ect. That said, don’t hop around too ing. Greenhill & Co, Inc., GE
experiences, yet show sustained
much:
effort. Mock interview. Practice getting a Healthcare Healthcare Division,
Show that you are capable of job. It’s often the interview that IITRI, Imake Consulting,
sustained effort: Intern twice with Practice your professional skills. makes or breaks your chances. Infostrat, International Biometric,
the same company, continue your Talk about your goals.
Don’t miss the boat. Consulting, Japan Educational Testing, Kadix
undergrad research as your Capstone
financial services, and many other Systems, Kelley Scientific
project, or simply make sure that all
firms can start interviewing early fall. Resources, Maximus, Inc., Mikro
your various experiences (REUs,
internship, research, Capstone) are Systems, Inc., Millfield School,
rationally focused around a single NIH (various divisions), Office of
area/interest. What sets BMEs apart from other job Naval Intelligence, Parexel
Practice your professional skills. applicants? Consulting, Pfizer, Rules Based
Talk about your goals. BMEs speak three languages: engineering, medicine, and life sci- Medicine, SAIC, Sapient
ences. They are accustomed to working in diverse teams. They Corporation, SPAWAR, TEK
have an in-depth understanding of living systems and technology. Systems, TriMed, Inc., UVa (various
They have knowledge of regulatory affairs, and many have animal departments), US Patents &
and clinical research exposure. They show by their choice of Trademarks Office, Walter Reed
major that they want to contribute to society and medicine. Army Institute of Research
_4_

Graduate School

Where are BME Alumni? Classes of 05-08 Second Year Summer after 2nd Fourth Year
Shadow in labs. Talk to
Year Take the GRE early fall, if
BME Programs Kitter about shadowing. Research. Work in a U.Va. lab you haven’t already.
or do an REU.
JHU, Georgia Tech, UCSD, U. Wash, BU, UPenn, Find a lab “home.” The BME Talk to mentors and advisors
Research and Shadowing Guide before applying!!! Your
Rice, University of Michigan, Stanford, U.Va., Pitt,
has info on getting started. Also research mentor, academic advi-
WUSTL, Cornell, Rensselaer, Drexel, University of Third Year
talk to Dr. Bill, TAs, your advisor, sor, Capstone instructors, Dr. Bill,
Rochester, VCU, Virginia Tech, UIUC, Tulane your professors. Research-For-Credit. Make Dr. Lawrence (former BME Grad
sure you’ve found a lab you love. Director) and Dr. Holmes (BME
Develop a resume, particularly Grad Director) are all excellent
Other Engineering Programs if you’re planning to do an NSF
Propose a BIOM 453 Advanced
Project during the 3rd year. See people to talk strategy with:
Case Western Reserve (Engineering Management), or NIH summer program (a.k.a. Where should you apply? Who
Kitter for details.
Virginia Tech (EE), U.Va. (SYS), Delaware (MechE) “REU”). Bobbe Nixon can help should you contact? One or more
you with your resume and pro- Develop a plan of study. Talk of these advisors should vet your
vide advice on REUs. Make an to both your research mentor and personal statement.
Bioscience Programs appointment: [email protected] your academic advisor about
Georgetown (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology), choosing electives based on your Continuity is key, but don’t
Don’t miss deadlines. pigeonhole yourself. Remain
long term research interests.
BU (Molecular Medicine), Albert Einstein Application deadlines for REUs, focused and stick with an endeav-
(Molecular Physiology), VCU (Physiology), U.Va. Harrison Awards, Global Health or, but be able to think, write and
(Biophysics), UNC (BIMS), Thomas Jefferson Univ Scholarships and internships are
Summer after 3rd talk broadly about your interests.
here before you know it. Start Be open to changing directions in
looking into summer programs in Year
grad school. Be prepared to talk
Other early fall.
Work in your U.Va. lab. You about the types of labs that you
Law Schools: Wm&Mary, Univ. of Richmond need to demonstrate that you would consider, even those that
There aren’t deadlines per se for
Business School: San Diego have depth of focus. This is most are not in your precise current
summer work in BME labs.
readily shown by working for area.
Naval Flight School However, don’t wait until May to
start looking! Many lab directors multiple semesters & summers in
Public Health Programs: Harvard, VCU Apply and interview. Know
will want you to be a familiar a single lab.
Science Journalism: NYU what to expect. Mock interview
face, before they commit to men- with your lab group, mentors,
Commerce School: U.Va. If you do change labs, it needs to
toring you over the summer. and/or advisors.
be a clear and rational choice,
Most labs take on 1-2 new stu-
based on your developing focus
dents each year.
or based on your best interests, if
the former lab was not a good fit.
ha
Keywords: Getting an Early Start, Continuity, In-Depth Focus
 _5_
Medical School

Second Year Summer After 2nd Revisit your med school Be sure to contact:
plans if your GPA is not Maxine Proctor, U.Va.’s PreMed Advisor
See U.Va.’s PreMed Advisor.
Year strong.
Review the prehealth site & join Do research or get more Office of PreProfessional Services. Bryant Hall at Scott
the “uva-prehealth” email list. clinical experience. In-depth Stadium, 434 924-8900, [email protected]. Walk-in
clinical experience is great, but Summer after 3rd advising for premeds. Or make an appointment.
Don't wait until 3rd year to
fix your GPA. 3.5 or higher is
other experiences--such as an Year
REU, research, or a Global
recommended for med school
Health Scholars Project--are a Submit your AMCAS appli- www.career.virginia.edu/students/preprof/prehealth/
admissions. If your GPA is not
close second. The premed advis- cation in early June. This website is a comprehensive guide for U.Va. students
ideal, talk to the premed advisor
ing website has lots of ideas. See
about it. There are multiple Get more clinical or research interested in medical school. Thoroughly review this site!
Kitter for info on undergrad
paths to medical school, and she experience.
research in BME labs. See Bobbe
can discuss those with you.
for REU advice.
Take Organic Chemistry. Where are BME Alumni? Classes of 05-08
Third Year Fourth Year
Get clinical exposure. You
need to show that you are gen- Take Orgo, if you haven’t Take Biochemistry and/or M.D./Ph.D. Programs
uinely interested in patient care. already. Microbiology, if applicable.
Johns Hopkins, University of Washington, University
The premed advising office has
lots of ideas and advice: shadow Take the MCATs early. Take Interview. of Colorado, University of Virginia, Wake Forest
a physician, volunteer in the an MCAT class, if you need one.
medical center or hospice, EMT The April MCAT is STRONGLY
Medical Schools
classes. recommended.
UNC Chapel Hill, University of Colorado, University
Plan for the summer. Prepare to apply. Don’t make
the mistake of waiting too long. of Iowa, University of Michigan, Michigan State,
Application deadlines for Global
Health Scholarships and REUs Write your personal statement University of Virginia, Georgetown, Drexel, Eastern
are here before you know it. and have it vetted. Corral your Va Medical School, MCV/VCU, New Jersey Medical
recommendation letters.
Keywords: School, Temple University, University of Kentucky
Clinical Exposures,
Early Application, Other Programs
PreMed Requirements: Strong Numbers
Dental Schools: UPenn, VCU, Tufts
2 semesters Chemistry Lecture & Lab
2 semesters Physics Lecture & Lab Vet School: Ohio State
2 semesters Organic Chemistry Lecture & Lab Physical Therapy School: USC
2 semesters English
Pharmacy School: VCU
2 semesters Math
2 semesters Biology Lecture & Lab. Most medical schools will accept BIOM 201, 202, 204,
380, 390 as a substitute for BIOL 201-204.