Starting in Fall 2025, Brown will have two BME master's programs — one for a master’s of science and the other for a master’s of engineering. The master’s of science program will be split into the two tracks currently available in Brown BME — the research track and the design track. If students are interested in going to a Ph.D. program, the master’s of science track would be a good fit. For those students, there will also be an academic sub-track focused on Ph.D. application support.

For industry-oriented students, the master's of engineering program will offer a coursework-only curriculum and will not require the completion of a thesis. All students can participate in co-ops, gaining real-world experience while completing their degrees. 

The two programs will allow Brown BME to be “a little bit more creative in our program offerings,” said Dr. Gray. 

At the Ph.D. level, Dr. Srivastava said customization is also a key aspect of Brown’s program. “We have a very diverse faculty,” he said. “And that also reflects in our students because they are being trained in different areas of biomedical engineering.”

A real strength: Connecting with clinicians 

Under the umbrella of I-BEAM — and due to Brown’s close relationship with hospitals in Rhode Island — Brown BME students can work closely with clinicians. “It’s a real strength that we have in our BME program — to be able to have access to clinicians, physicians and medical researchers along with engineers” Dr. Srivastava said, recalling when a very well-known neurosurgeon Dr. Albert Telfeian at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School approached him directly, asking for help. 

The surgeon had conducted countless complex surgeries placing the effective paddle-type design of spinal cord stimulation devices in the epidural space crucial for helping patients manage pain. But these surgeries are invasive, complicated and very expensive for patients. Patients often need to travel far to access a surgeon with sufficient expertise to execute the procedure. 

“It has been a big challenge,” said Dr. Srivastava. The surgeon knew Dr. Srivastava’s research work and publications on smart materials and shape memory materials — materials that can change shape following an actuation. The neurosurgeon asked if Dr. Srivastava’s lab could help conceptualize and develop a device that could be inserted with a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure — a device that would use smart materials to change its shape once inserted into a patient's spinal area. 

“It would allow a lot more people to have access to this really effective spinal cord stimulation device since an outpatient procedure can be accessed even in pain clinics” said Dr. Srivastava. Then, patients would potentially be less likely to rely on opioids to manage their pain.

Now, the device that neurosurgeon and Dr. Srivastava dreamed up is getting closer to being commercialized working with Brown Technology and Innovation Office and a leading minimally invasive endoscopic surgery company. Work conducted in Dr. Srivastava’s lab with the help of his students is on its way to potentially having a concrete impact on patients struggling to manage their pain. 

Through partnerships with clinicians, Brown BME graduate students can work with actual patients to improve their research and physicians are eager to work with Brown’s students.

Since I-BEAM was founded, Dr. Gray said clinical faculty have started “reaching out to me” and asking “my colleague has a master’s student, can I have one too?” Clinicians “want master’s students to work in their lab to help with their research,” she said. 

“One of our strengths has always been clinical research,” Dr. Gray said. “New programs being launched by I-BEAM this year will expose more students to those opportunities.”

“The Brown community is really accepting:” Finding community and collaboration

Brown’s BME graduate programs are competitive to get into for students and faculty alike, said Dr. Gray, and yet, “when you get here, everyone is very helpful.” The collaborative spirit at Brown is enhanced by the diversity of student interests.

“I’ve advised hundreds of students at this point,” said Dr. Gray.

"In and outside of the lab, there’s a freedom to be creative and put your own unique style on things, and no one judges you for that. The Brown community is really accepting.” 

Due to Brown’s smaller size, “it is much more close and integrated,” said Dr. Srivastava. “Faculty and student interaction is much closer here.” That means students have more opportunities to develop mentoring relationships with faculty. It also means they can work with collaborators from different subspecialties and research backgrounds.

“Biomedical engineering problems are very interdisciplinary,” said Dr. Srivastava. Having people from diverse backgrounds “brings a lot of intellectual capital,” he added.

Collaboration in the lab also leads to a strong sense of community outside of the lab. “When we come together as a community, it’s really fun,” said Dr. Gray. Dr. Srivastava also emphasized that he and his Co-DGS, Dr. Michelle Dawson’s belief in supporting students extends beyond academics: “it is not about just doing the scientific research,” he said. “They’re emphasizing doing the work in a fun way and reminding everyone to find time to maintain good mental and physical health.”

This story was originally posted on the Institute for Biology, Engineering and Medicine. View story.