Ellie , Salt Lake City, Utah asked Jenny Boothby, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab AddedTuesday, October 25, 2016 at 6:57 PM Majoring in biomedical engineering and transition into pharmacology I am a sophomore at the University of Utah and am majoring in biomedical engineering but hesitant to stay with it. So far I have liked my classes but have not taken too many of the major classes to be sure. I really enjoy math and science a lot and like the idea of applying this knowledge in the health care industry but would not consider myself a "problem solver" or "creative". I am concerned that once I get my degree I won't enjoy my job. I am not sure if I would like research because it seems like such a slow process with little results. I am also thinking about pharmacy school and was wondering what you think about majoring in biomedical engineering and transition into pharmacology? Related to Bioengineering/Biomedical, Math & Science, Merging Fields Reset Sort By Default Jenny Boothby , Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab Answered Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 6:57 PM Hi Ellie! From my experience, industry doesn't know what to do with biomedical engineers just yet, and they don't get funneled into a typical job like other majors. Biomedical engineers go into so many different areas because they have such a breadth of knowledge. Many of my friends went into consulting after graduation, and many went to medical school as well. Many go into medical device sales, not just research & development. There are lots of government positions for biomedical engineers in the regulatory environment as well, not just in research. I would not worry about feeling whether or not you fit the perception of what a biomedical engineer "should" be. If you can come up with solutions for mathematical problems and conduct a well-thought out scientific experiment, you are a problem solver and an engineer. Regarding research, it is definitely a slow process, and it is difficult to keep the end goal in mind. It's tedious and frustrating, and it's not for everyone. The reward in research comes when you reach the "Aha!" moment and get to share it with the scientific community. This being said, a lot of people choose not to do undergraduate research if it is not applicable to what they want to do after graduation. I would encourage you to try it before dismissing it completely, but by no means is it necessary. I think a transition between biomedical engineering and pharmacology would be relatively smooth, as long as you make sure to take all your Biochem and Drug delivery classes. I would caution that working with drug discovery or FDA approval of drugs for treatment is sometimes and even longer process than biomedical research that is fraught with political and financial motives. There's a book that I read in undergrad that I would suggest you read if you are interested in the ethical issues with the healthcare industry called "How We Do Harm". I normally hate non-fiction, but this book was very good and reads very easily. I guess to sum up, don't be afraid that you will be pigeon-holed into a job after graduation. If you like what you are doing, then stick with it. There are lots of options for biomedical engineers if you like the healthcare industry. If you have a career advisor at University of Utah, don't be afraid to make frequent visits. Our advisor at Georgia Tech still keeps in touch with the alumni, and would have a good idea of all the options available for you. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! Good luck! Jenny Boothby , Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab Answered Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 6:57 PM Hi Ellie! From my experience, industry doesn't know what to do with biomedical engineers just yet, and they don't get funneled into a typical job like other majors. Biomedical engineers go into so many different areas because they have such a breadth of knowledge. Many of my friends went into consulting after graduation, and many went to medical school as well. Many go into medical device sales, not just research & development. There are lots of government positions for biomedical engineers in the regulatory environment as well, not just in research. I would not worry about feeling whether or not you fit the perception of what a biomedical engineer "should" be. If you can come up with solutions for mathematical problems and conduct a well-thought out scientific experiment, you are a problem solver and an engineer. Regarding research, it is definitely a slow process, and it is difficult to keep the end goal in mind. It's tedious and frustrating, and it's not for everyone. The reward in research comes when you reach the "Aha!" moment and get to share it with the scientific community. This being said, a lot of people choose not to do undergraduate research if it is not applicable to what they want to do after graduation. I would encourage you to try it before dismissing it completely, but by no means is it necessary. I think a transition between biomedical engineering and pharmacology would be relatively smooth, as long as you make sure to take all your Biochem and Drug delivery classes. I would caution that working with drug discovery or FDA approval of drugs for treatment is sometimes and even longer process than biomedical research that is fraught with political and financial motives. There's a book that I read in undergrad that I would suggest you read if you are interested in the ethical issues with the healthcare industry called "How We Do Harm". I normally hate non-fiction, but this book was very good and reads very easily. I guess to sum up, don't be afraid that you will be pigeon-holed into a job after graduation. If you like what you are doing, then stick with it. There are lots of options for biomedical engineers if you like the healthcare industry. If you have a career advisor at University of Utah, don't be afraid to make frequent visits. Our advisor at Georgia Tech still keeps in touch with the alumni, and would have a good idea of all the options available for you. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! Good luck!