Biomedical Engineering Jobs on the Rise; Mentoring to Boost Diversity in Biomedical Research

A positive outlook lies ahead for biomedical engineering jobs which are projected to grow in the years to come. At the same time, a research mentoring program led by the Boston College is designed to boost diversity in the field of biomedical research.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of biomedical engineers is projected to grow 27 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand will be strong because an aging population is likely to need more medical care and because of increased public awareness of biomedical engineering advances and their benefits. These biomedical engineering jobs command a median pay of $41.81 per hour/$86,960 per year; hence, it is a good career to get into.

Based on a report by the National Science Foundation, employment patterns in the biomedical sciences have changed in the past two decades. The growth in the number of doctorates trained in the field has far surpassed the growth in academic positions, contributing to lengthy postdoc appointments, stiff competition for academic jobs, and an increasing proportion of doctorates going into positions that are not research-intensive (National Institutes of Health [NIH] 2012).

The report also says women and minorities are still underrepresented in the field of science & engineering (S & E) in general. This gender gap in S&E employment is found in all racial and ethnic groups. For example, among S&E highest degree holders working full time, S&E jobs are held by 43% of Asian women compared to 58% of Asian men, 22% of black women compared to 32% of black men, 19% of Hispanic women compared to 37% of Hispanic men, and 24% of white women compared to 41% of white men. The participation gap exists despite the trend that increasing proportions of women in all racial and ethnic groups are graduating from college. Read more of the report here:

Thus, the research mentoring program led by Boston College will be of great benefit. Research teams from Boston College and four other universities will develop the National Research Mentoring Network through a five-year, $19-million grant from the National Institutes of Health as part of a sweeping initiative to diversify the ranks of biomedical researchers across the United States, the NIH announced. The National Research Mentoring Network is one of three areas within the NIH's Enhancing Diversity of the NIH-Funded Workforce Program, a five-year initiative unveiled by NIH Director Dr. Francis S. Collins. Read more here: