Yale Bulletin and Calendar

November 15-22, 1999

Volume 28, Number 13

Yale moves forward with
biomedical engineering program

President Richard C. Levin has announced that the University will hire four new faculty for its biomedical engineering program.

In addition, he said Yale will construct new space for the program, which encompasses a rapidly growing field in which the knowledge and techniques of engineering intersect with the physical, biological and medical
sciences.

"The interdisciplinary work of biomedical engineering promises revolutionary opportunities to harness technology in the service of human health," the President said. "As an emerging field with roots in several disciplines, biomedical engineering is an area where a core effort, supported by coordinated activities in neighboring departments and schools, can create a powerful program in a short span of time."

The Faculty of Engineering initiated an undergraduate program in biomedical engineering some years ago. As the next step, the President announced a commitment of four incremental positions, two senior and two junior, to the new field. The University also will take steps to stimulate a collaborative research effort in biomedical engineering involving faculty across the University, particularly in the School of Medicine.

"A high priority in the coming months will be to secure the funds necessary to construct a new building to house the new faculty and other engineering programs," Levin added.

Provost Alison Richard said biomedical engineering is very much suited to Yale. "One of our distinctive strengths is the excellence of our interdisciplinary programs, which provide intimate learning environments and rich research opportunities for students and faculty," she said.

Yale's recruitment of faculty to the core areas of engineering has been enhanced by the identification and strategic development of interdisciplinary programs in environmental engineering and in biomedical engineering.

"Both of these programs are attractive to students and draw on faculty from many parts of the University," Richard said. "The field of biomedical engineering is new and exciting and leverages Yale's strengths. There is a lot of student interest in this area and a lot of interest in the outside world."

A step toward positioning Yale at the forefront of the field was the appointment of D. Allan Bromley as Yale's first dean of engineering in more than 30 years. Then came the recruitment of outstanding faculty, as well as enhanced teaching and research programs in chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering.

Bromley said the University's timing in establishing itself in the biomedical engineering field is "just right."

"What this can do is to provide a central focus for a very large array of activities that currently are in place within the University," he said. "It's one of the most exciting frontiers in modern research. I believe that we have the personnel and, with the University's support, the backing to become a world class center in this area."

-- By Jacqueline Weaver

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