Bioengineering (BIOE)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Engineering
Abstract
The Fischell Department of Bioengineering provides advanced, research-intensive training at the intersection of engineering, biology, medicine, and health. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, structured milestones, and close faculty mentorship, the program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct independent, impactful research in the areas listed below. Students progress through foundational and elective coursework, laboratory rotations, qualifying and proposal examinations, and dissertation research, supported by a collaborative environment that includes opportunities for interdisciplinary work and combined degree options (e.g., M.D./Ph.D.) with the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Our program provides a basic understanding of bioengineering at the molecular and cellular level, focusing on:
- Biocomputation
- Biomolecular engineering
- Biomaterials
- Biomechanics & mechanobiology
- Drug delivery
- Medical devices
- Optical technologies & imaging
- Tissue engineering & regenerative medicine
With strong, funded research programs and innovative partnerships with the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Fischell Department of Bioengineering is an exciting place for graduate study. The department also has a clinical research home in the Edward & Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM) in Baltimore. CTEM fosters face-to-face collaboration among clinicians and engineers as they develop next-generation medical solutions.
Financial Assistance
All Ph.D. students are supported at a minimum stipend level. No separate financial support application is required. Students will automatically be considered for eligible forms of support.
Contact
Please see the program’s website for program description, admission requirements, and financial aid information.
Bioengineering Academic and Student Affairs
3102 A. James Clark Hall
8278 Paint Branch Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.8268
Fax: 301.405.9953
Email: bioe-grad@umd.edu
Website: http://www.bioe.umd.edu
Courses: BIOE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcript(s)
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (optional)
- CV/Resume
- Personal History Statement (optional): Personal History Statement to be uploaded via the Supplementary Application document upload area within the “Program Upload Requirements” section of the application.
Admission to the graduate program in Bioengineering requires a bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering discipline from an accredited undergraduate institution. Applicants must take the following prerequisite courses: Calculus I, II, III; and Differential Equations. These courses must be complete prior to enrolling in the graduate program.
Ph.D. applicants should apply by December 15 for priority consideration for financial support. For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline |
|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | January 15, 2026 |
| International Applicants | |
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants | January 15, 2026 |
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Other Deadlines: bioe.umd.edu
Program Website: bioe.umd.edu/graduate
Application Process: gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process/step-step-guide-applying
The Department is located in A. James Clark Hall, a 184,000 square foot building serving as a central hub for new partnerships and collaboration for organizations throughout the Maryland and Washington, D.C. region.
Approximately 7,332 sq. feet of classroom space and 11,402 sq. feet of class lab space is used to support instructional capabilities. To help create an organic flow of ideas between many disciplines, the building features flex classrooms and two stories of flexible laboratories to the campus – including wet and dry spaces as well as a vivarium.
Optical laser and imaging laboratories feature state-of-the-art technology in digital fabrication, rapid prototyping, 3D printing, optics, and bioinformatics. In the imaging suite, researchers have the ability to examine molecular resolution of pathogens – whether in the GI tract or bloodstream – that show how a nano-carrier delivers a drug to a specific tumor site. Additionally, laser devices and magnetic resonance imagers will allow a close examination of cross-sections of the body and brain.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aranda-Espinoza | Jose Helim | Full Member | B.S., University of Zacatecas, Mexico 1990; M.S., University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico 1993; Ph.D., University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico 1998. | Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor, Bioengineering Associate Professor, Biophysics Affiliate Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering |
| Bentley | William E. | Full Member | B.S., Cornell University, 1982; M.Eng., 1983; Ph.D.,University of Colorado-Boulder, 1989. | Distinguished University Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Distinguished University Professor, Bioengineering Affiliate Professor, Biological Sciences Affiliate Professor, Chemical Engineering |
| Clyne | Alisa M. | Full Member | B.S., Stanford University, 1996; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006. | Professor, Bioengineering |
| Culver | James | Full Member | B.S., Oklahoma State University, 1985; M.S., Oklahoma State University, 1987; Ph.D., University of California-Riverside, 1991 | Affiliate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Duncan | Gregg | Full Member | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Biophysics | |
| Eisenstein | Edward | Full Member | B.S., St. Joseph's University, 1979; Ph.D., Georgetown University, 1985. | Associate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Fisher | John P. | Full Member | B.S., The Johns Hopkins University, 1995; M.S., University of Cincinnati, 1998; Ph.D., Rice University, 2002 | Chair, Bioengineering Professor, Bioengineering Affiliate Professor, Chemical Engineering |
| Ghodssi | Reza | Full Member | B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1990; M.S., 1992; Ph.D., 1996. | Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, Systems Engineering Affiliate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Affiliate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Huang | Huang Chiao | Full Member | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Biophysics | |
| Jay | Steven M. | Full Member | B.S., University of Georgia, 2004; Ph.D., Yale University, 2009. | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Affiliate Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Johnson | Arthur T. | Full Member | B.S.A.E., Cornell University, 1964; M.S., 1967; Ph.D., 1969. | Professor Emeritus, Bioengineering |
| Kahn | Jason D. | Full Member | B.A., Harvard University, 1983; Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley, 1990. | Associate Professor, Biochemistry Associate Professor, Biological Sciences Associate Professor, Chemistry Affiliate Associate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Karlsson | Amy | Full Member | PhD, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 2009 BS, Iowa State University, 2003 | Associate Professor, Biophysics Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering Affiliate Associate Professor, Bioengineering Graduate Director, Chemical Engineering |
| Kjellerup | Birthe | Full Member | M. Sc. Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, 1997; Ph.D., Environmental Microbiology, Aalborg University, 2004 | Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Affiliate Associate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Kofinas | Peter | Full Member | B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989; M.S., 1989; Ph.D., 1994. | Chair, Chemical Engineering Professor, Chemical Engineering Professor, Chemical Physics Affiliate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Affiliate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Kuo | Catherine | Full Member | B.S., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; Ph.D., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Associate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Losert | Wolfgang | Full Member | M.S., University of Munich, 1995; Ph.D., City College of New York, 1998 | Professor, Physics Professor, Biophysics Associate Professor, Chemical Physics Affiliate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Lowe | Tao | Full Member | B.S., Nanjing University of Science & Technology; M.S., Tianjin University; Ph.D., University of Helsinki | Professor, Bioengineering |
| Maisel | Katharina | Full Member | Associate Professor, Biophysics Assistant Professor, Bioengineering | |
| Matysiak | Silvina | Full Member | Ph.D., Rice University, 2007 | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Biophysics |
| Molinari | Sara | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Bioengineering Affiliate Professor, Chemical Engineering | |
| Moore | Erika | Full Member | B.S. Duke University, M.S. Duke University, B.S. Johns Hopkins University | Assistant Professor, Bioengineering |
| Mueller | Jenna | Full Member | B.S., Rice University; M.S., Duke University; Ph.D., Duke University | Assistant Professor, Bioengineering |
| Payne | Gregory F. | Associate | B.S., Cornell University, 1979; M.S., 1981; Ph.D., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1984. | Research Professor, Bioengineering |
| Raghavan | Srinivasa | Full Member | Ph.D. North Carolina State University | Affiliate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Sochol | Ryan | Full Member | B.S., Northwestern University, 2006; M.S. University of California - Berkeley, 2009; Ph.D., University of California - Berkeley, 2011 | Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Affiliate Assistant Professor, Bioengineering |
| Stroka | Kimberly | Full Member | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Biophysics | |
| Tao | Yang | Full Member | B.S., Nanjing Institute of Technology, 1982; M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1988; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University-University Park, 1991. | Professor, Bioengineering |
| White | Ian | Full Member | Ph.D., Stanford University 2002 | Associate Chair, Bioengineering Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Chemical Physics |
| Zhang | Li-Qun | Full Member | B.S., Tsinghua University, 1982; M.S., Vanderbilt University, 1988; Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, 1990 | Professor, Bioengineering |
| Zierden | Hannah | Full Member | Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University; B.S. Ohio State University | Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering Affiliate Assistant Professor, Bioengineering |