Professor and student in biomedical engineering lab

Engineering PhD: Biomedical Engineering
PhD

A Biomedical Engineering PhD at UWM is built for curious minds who want to explore, experiment, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in human health.

As a doctoral student, you won’t just learn—you’ll investigate, design, test and discover alongside faculty who are solving real-world medical challenges.

At UWM, you’ll work in advanced research labs, collaborate across disciplines, and immerse yourself in hands-on experiences that spark innovation. Whether you’re developing new medical technologies, studying human biomechanics, or exploring data-driven health solutions, you’ll have the freedom and support to follow your questions wherever they lead.

With access to funding opportunities, connections to Milwaukee’s healthcare and biotech community, and the resources of an R1 research university, you’ll gain both the expertise and experience to lead in academia, industry, or clinical research.

If you’re driven by curiosity and motivated by impact, UWM’s PhD in Biomedical Engineering offers a powerful place to explore big ideas—and turn them into real advancements in human health

Discover What’s Possible with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at UWM. Students have the option to pursue either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering with concentration in Biomedical Engineering (details below) or a PhD in Biomedical & Health Informatics.

Program Type

Doctoral

Program Format

On Campus

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Research focus

UW-Milwaukee College of Engineering & Applied Science researchers are collaborating with medical, government and academic partners to make technological advances that improve healthcare and people’s lives.

This video demonstrates how our doctoral students in biomedical engineering are working with faculty to develop a robotic arm that assists people with disabilities.

Demonstration of robotic arm in biomedical engineering lab

What to expect

Some students pursue their doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering after completing a master’s degree, and others choose to earn a PhD instead of a master’s degree. Please see the course catalog for specific requirements.

Many students earn Teaching Assistantships (TAs), Research Assistantships (RAs) or Fellowships during their graduate study which helps to fund their education while also building leadership skills. Assistantships decisions are made by the academic departments only after an applicant has been accepted to the program.

Earning a PhD in Engineering opens doors to a wide range of professional or academic opportunities that may include leadership roles in academia, federal and industrial research organizations, or other government service.

More Information

Contact the College of Engineering & Applied Science Graduate Programs Office.

We’re a top tier R1 research university and our doctoral students have the opportunity to work with biomedical engineering faculty engaged in cutting-edge research in areas such as assistive technology, biomechanics, bone healing, medical imaging, medical instrumentation or rehabilitation engineering using robotics.

Biomedical Engineering Research Labs

  • The Advanced Mobility Biomechanics Lab at UW-Milwaukee, led by Jacob Rammer, develops and applies connected health technology to study mobility of people with disabilities and outcomes of clinical rehabilitation, with particular attention to underserved communities globally.
  • The Big Data Analytics and Visualization Lab, led by Zeyun Yu, is focused on developments of new computational approaches and software tools for various types of massive data processing, data mining and visualization using both knowledge-based and data-driven techniques.
  • The Biorobotics Lab, led by Mohammad Habibur Rahman, focuses on the design, development, and control of wearable robots that can rehabilitate and assist physically disabled individuals whose upper and lower extremities are impaired. These wearable robots are designed for the individual to use to rehabilitate and, ultimately, be able to leave the wearable robot behind.
  • The focus of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (DSAIL), led by Susan McRoy, is to develop computational approaches that combine human expertise with data-analytic models to solve complex problems, such as improving health outcomes.
  • In the Mechanobiology and Vascular Biomechanics Lab, led by Mahsa Dabagh, graduate and undergraduate students use biology, mathematics, mechanics, biomaterials, and fluid dynamics to answer key questions about human diseases. We develop innovative prevention and treatment plans for cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which are tightly interconnected.
  • The mission of the Movement Analysis for Biomedical Innovation & Technology (Mobility) Laboratory, led by Brooke Slavens, is to advance quantitative rehabilitation research for improving health and function of persons with disabilities.
  • The Bone Lab, led by Priya Premnath, is comprised of engineers, chemists, and biologists aiming to create innovative solutions in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
two biomedical engineering faculty members looking at a microscope
Qingsu Cheng (left), assistant professor, biomedical engineering, examines magnified images of fibroblast cells with post-doctoral researcher Michael Weizheng Wang. Cheng has received funding to investigate the interactions of fibroblasts with breast cancer cells during radiation treatment.

Biomedical Engineering Faculty

Bao, Xuefeng
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Cheng, Qingsu
  • Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Dabagh, Mahsa
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Affiliate Associate Professor, Computer Science
Narasimhan, Ashwin
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Premnath, Priyatha
  • Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Director, Premnath Lab
Qu, Deyang
  • Johnson Controls Endowed Professor in Energy Storage Research
  • Department Chair, Biomedical Engineering
  • UWM Distinguished Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Rahman, Mohammad Habib
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Professor and Department Chair, Mechanical Engineering
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering
  • Switzer Research Distinguished Fellow
Rammer, Jacob
  • Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Director, Advanced Mobility Biomechanics Lab (AMBL)
Rohatgi, Pradeep
  • Distinguished Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Department
  • Distinguished Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Distinguished Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Director, Center for Advanced Manufacture of Materials
Slavens, Brooke
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professor of Mechanical Engineering, EMS Office 1080
  • Affiliate Faculty of Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science & Technology
Sung, Yongjin
  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Yu, Zeyun
  • Professor, Computer Science
  • Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Director, Big Data Analytics and Visualization Lab

Advising

Crary, Therese
  • Advisor, Graduate Programs
  • Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Health Informatics
Packard, Robert
  • Advisor, Graduate Programs
  • Civil/Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering

UWM is proud to be one of only two R1 research universities in Wisconsin. We’re also a top externally funded institution with robust opportunities for teaching and research assistantships for biomedical engineering doctoral students.

Partners that support our important biomedical engineering research include:

  • National Institute for Health
  • National Academy of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine
  • National Science Foundation
  • United States Department of Defense
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
Academic Catalog
Schedule of Classes
Take a Virtual Tour of Biomedical Engineering
Contact
Biomedical Engineering
Contact Info: ceas-bme@uwm.edu

Street Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211

Mailing Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
P.O. Box 784
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0784