Biomedical Engineering
Only on Campus. Only at GW.
Pursue Your Graduate Degree or Certificate in GW's Department of Biomedical Engineering
From utilizing robots to help children with autism spectrum disorder to developing ultra-soft, wireless, implantable, cardiac tools, your pursuit of an in-person graduate education at GW places you directly at the forefront biomedical engineering.
GW Engineering has the infrastructure and expertise to empower the field’s future leaders: Here, you can take advantage of all our invaluable opportunities in DC and beyond, from unparalleled hands-on learning experiences within nationally recognized research centers and labs to working side-by-side with internationally renowned faculty mentors within a proudly diverse campus community (In fact, women enrolled at GW Engineering nearly double the national average).
Whether you’re engaged in developing next-generation biocompatible recording and simulation devices or building novel therapeutic platforms for cancer treatment, at GW Engineering you will be prepared to conduct interdisciplinary research and introduce yourself to new careers and subjects while developing job-ready skills.
As you prepare to assume your role as a problem-solving leader in a rapidly evolving global society — whether in engineering, research and medicine or law, policy, regulatory expertise and more — you will soon discover: For those ready to get a head start on their career, there is no place quite like GW Engineering.
Rev Up Your STEM Skills
Take advantage of abundant opportunities at GW Engineering to engage in skill-building STEM work that will set you apart. Our NIST-affiliated Professional Research Experience Program (GW-PREP) as well as our Consortium on Naval Enterprise Pathways (CoNEP) are just two examples of GW’s student training and innovation programs specifically designed to help you develop job-ready expertise and serve as a direct pipeline to rewarding careers.
Work on Leading Research
From developing biophotonic tools to advance personalized medicine to pushing the AI revolution forward at GW’s Co-Design of Trustworthy AI Systems (DTAIS) program gain unparalleled opportunities to conduct cutting-edge, interdisciplinary STEM research side-by-side with internationally renowned faculty. Plus, you will gain direct access to many of the world’s most influential science and technology organizations in D.C. and beyond.
Join a Global Network
Upon arrival, you’ll immediately tap into a professional network of leading alumni in many of the world’s most influential companies, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to Children’s National Health System — just to name a few. This, along with numerous opportunities to gain internships and apprenticeships throughout both the federal government and private sector alike gives you a head start in advancing your career.
35% Tuition Discount for Displaced Federal Workers and Contractors
GW Engineering is committed to supporting federal employees and contractors affected by workforce reductions. To help those affected, GW Engineering will offer a 35% tuition discount to those eligible who enroll in an on-campus master's degree or graduate certificate during the upcoming academic year. Qualified applicants must complete an application by December 1st for the Spring 2026 term or by August 1st for the Fall 2026 term.
Pursuing your GW Engineering graduate degree or certificate on campus opens a wide range of career options across a variety of sectors. Find the graduate program that is right for your career interests:
- M.S. in Biomedical Engineering
The Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering is designed to prepare students to apply engineering principles to problems in medicine and biology; to understand and model attributes of living systems; and to synthesize biomedical systems and devices in order to improve human health.
The program is strongly interdisciplinary, as students choose from a large array of areas of study across the university, such as biology, public health and regulatory affairs. Course topics may also include: cancer therapy, cardiac electrophysiology, biosensors, microfluidics, medical imaging and image analysis, optogenetics, robotics and ultrasound applications in medicine.
With the university's central location in Washington, DC, students are able to take full advantage of opportunities available at nearby research and government institutions, including the GW Hospital, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Children's National Medical Center.
- Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
The Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering is designed to prepare rising scholars and researchers to apply engineering principles to problems in medicine and biology; to understand and model attributes of living systems; and to synthesize biomedical systems and devices in order to produce original research.
Students can expect to work closely with a faculty advisor in their chosen research area to create a curriculum plan and guidance for the doctoral dissertation. Students be also be expected to teach introductory-level courses to undergraduates, present conference papers and work with faculty on research grant applications.
The Ph.D. program is primarily based on GW's main campus in Washington, D.C. (Foggy Bottom), which lies in close proximity to the School of Medicine, the Milken Institute School of Public Health, and the GW Hospital. These interactions are supplemented by collaborations with nearby clinical and research facilities, including Children’s National Health System, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: PROFESSOR ANNE PAPA
PROFESSOR ANNE PAPA’S QUEST TO ELIMINATE CANCER IS IN HER BLOOD
Professor Anne Papa and her lab conduct research on applying bioengineering principles to develop cell-based therapeutic and diagnostic tools for biomedical applications, particularly in cancer and vascular diseases. Developing detailed knowledge of cancer cells in the circulation has been instrumental in engineering novel designs for targeting and eliminating cancer cells in the blood, as well as capturing those cells for further analysis.
Other areas of work in the lab include studies of how nanoparticles influence essential blood clotting and cellular functions, as well as developing novel targeted therapies for acute emergency vascular disorders due to blood clots, such as in ischemic strokes, heart attacks and pulmonary embolism.
WHERE GW ENGINEERING’S CAMPUS MOST OFTEN LEADS TO? SUCCESS.
From our campus, GW Engineering produces leaders in STEM fields in practically every country around the world. By applying your array of foundational knowledge, hands-on experience and a rapidly expanding professional network, you will soon find yourself in high demand.
In fact, 86% of GW Engineering alumni reported significant career advancement within five years post-graduation — often at top private corporations, government agencies, and national labs including Amazon, Boeing, Raytheon, Dell, Microsoft, Deloitte, the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, NIST and more.
Learn More Today
If anything, you’ll soon discover that there’s nothing quite like pursuing your master's degree or graduate certificate right here on campus at GW Engineering. Fill out your contact information to attend an info session and get your questions answered by our faculty and admissions team.