Why Pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering
The Biomedical Engineering PhD is a joint program with the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The educational goals of this program are founded on the belief that the basic scientific approach is critical to the fundamental understanding of human health and the treatment of disease. This program unifies engineering and science with the medical field. This multidisciplinary program offers cutting-edge technology with translational research for the investigation of fundamental bioengineering questions associated with the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.
PhD students have the option to continue their training as a post-doc for a year or 2 after completion of the program before seeking a faculty position in an academic institution. Other students may apply for positions with the biomedical industries or the federal agencies (FDA, etc) after graduation. Graduates from our MS program have the option to apply to PhD programs in BME or to the medical school. Like the PhD students, the MS students may also apply for positions with the biomedical industries or the federal agencies (FDA, etc) after graduation.
Research Opportunities
Multidisciplinary research is mostly translational, with applications in medicine. Current students in the program perform research on biomaterials, biomechanics, or bioimaging, with applications in orthopedics, cardiovascular, or neurology. Examples of current research areas of focus are tissue engineering and drug deliveries for bone and cardiovascular applications, Brain MRI, bone mechanics, cardiovascular mechanics, dental materials, biosensors, cellular engineering, and tissue-implant interfaces.
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UT San Antonio Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UT San Antonio Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UT San Antonio by the appropriate application deadline.
| Biomedical Engineering (PhD) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Coursework | Completed adequate credit hours or foreign institution equivalent coursework as preparation for the program. | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from FCSA or any NACES-approved credential evaluation agency. | |
| English Language Proficiency | 79 TOEFL iBT / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.0. |
|
| Purpose Statement | Required | |
| Resume | Required | |
| Letters of Recommendation | 2 academic or professional reference(s) demonstrating your attributes for successful completion of this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time) | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| Biomedical Engineering (PhD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications are reviewed after the application deadline. Admission decisions are released following review committee meetings in early April and December. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Spring 2027 | Not Available | October 1 | October 1 |
| Summer 2027 | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
| Fall 2027 | January 1 | February 1 | February 1 |
| Spring 2028 | Not Available | October 1 | October 1 |
| Summer 2028 | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
Career Options
UT San Antonio prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below are based on data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
While in a doctoral program, a student may earn a master’s degree provided the following conditions are satisfied:
- A student must be admitted to candidacy.
- A student is eligible to receive a master’s degree upon completion of University-wide requirements and any additional degree requirements specific to the program.
- The Doctoral Studies Committee, Department Chair, and the Graduate Associate Dean of the College must recommend students for the degree.
- The student must apply for graduation by the published deadline the semester prior to awarding the doctoral degree.
- All required coursework in the doctoral program at the time of admission to candidacy must have been taken within the previous six years.
- If the master’s degree requires a thesis, the degree cannot be awarded on the basis of the doctoral qualifying examination.
- Students will not be approved for an additional master’s degree in the same field in which an individual has previously received a master’s degree.
This program is housed at Main Campus, with courses also being held at the Health Science Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students can explore research in areas such as neuroengineering, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, artificial intelligence, biomechanics, nanotechnology, drug development, cancer research and more.
On average, this program takes about 4.7 years to complete.
Alumni are employed as:
- Engineers, scientists and managing directors at biotech, start-ups and Fortune 500 companies, including Amgen, 3M, Takeda, BioBridge Global
- Faculty at Purdue University
- Postdocs at Georgia Tech, Washington University in St. Louis, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Edinburgh
- Senior researchers and engineers at the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and more
Yes, we encourage internships and collaborations with industry. Fellowships, course credit and networking events are among the opportunities provided to encourage industry collaborations and internships
In the News
Shrihari Sankarasubramanian, Phd, assistant professor in the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design’s Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, has been approved by NASA for a flight test to advance his research. The research aims to create fuel, oxygen and other chemicals and compounds on the moon and Mars from local resources. Sankarasubramanian and his fellow researchers in partnership with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have developed an electrolyzer intended to create these resources from Martian atmospheric carbon. The flight will simulate the gravity on Mars where Sankarasubramanian can properly test the electrolyzer, a major milestone for this research endeavor.
Read the full story “Klesse College professor and project approved for NASA-supported test flight” to learn more about this innovative research.
A team of UT San Antonio researchers from the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, led by Gabriela Romero Uribe, PhD, Endowed USAA Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, are working to create a new method of treating conditions linked to malfunctioning nerve cells such as neuropathic pain and epilepsy. The project aims to create a nanotechnological platform that provides non-invasive treatment instructions to the brain from outside the body using magnetic signals.
Read the full story “UT San Antonio research uses nanotechnology to ‘remote control’ brain cells and manage chronic pain” to learn more about this impactful research.
Researchers at the University of San Antonio are tackling two issues in the Gulf Coast ecosystem caused by sargassum, a golden-brown seaweed, with one solution. Shalinee Kavadiya, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, is working with her team of researchers to address the issues of sargassum overgrowth along the Gulf Coast, as well as the nutrient pollution that causes this excess growth of the seaweed. The project involves using sargassum to produce 3D-printed, reusable filtration models that catch runoff nutrients before they reach the ocean. This project promotes prioritizing sustainability when addressing these environmental challenges.
Read the full story “Into the weeds: UT San Antonio engineers turn excess seaweed into a circular solution” to learn more about this innovative research.
For more news stories, visit UT San Antonio today.
