Hmmm. . . tastes like chicken.
Freshmen engineering
students competed in the 3rd annual Incredible Edible Vehicle Competition at the end of their first semester in December. Their
entries were designed using food items. Each vehicle had to survive
rolling down an incline twice, before being eaten by the team. |
Discover
a cutting edge approach to engineering—one that encompasses
the fields of medicine, the environment, or foods in rapidly growing
fields such as biomedical engineering, biotechnology, biofuels,
environmental engineering, water resources, food safety, biodegradable
plastics, and more. Biological Systems Engineering will provide
the interesting and challenging education you are looking for. Multidisciplinary
in nature, this field of study allows you to search for the answers
to engineering problems through research, team work, and inquiry.
If you don't find the answer to your question,
please contact Dr. Dennis Schulte for an answer.
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1.
What does a Biological Systems Engineer do?
This depends on the emphasis area you select as an undergraduate. If one
follows the biomedical engineering emphasis for example, you could be in
medical school or practicing medicine; working on a medical device for a
company such as Baxter (artificial heart manufacturer); designing a better
shoe for Nike; or in graduate school doing research on heart disease. Those
who chose environmental and water resources engineering likely would be
working for an engineering consulting firm restoring streams and lakes,
designing new drinking water treatment systems, or in graduate school studying
improved methods of removing arsenic from drinking water supplies. The food
and bioproducts emphasis has alumni involved in the production of pharmaceuticals,
foods, and alternate fuels such as ethanol in companies such as Pfizer,
Frito-Lay, and Cargill, respectively. |
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2. What
does the future of Biological Systems Engineering look like?
It looks very, very bright! The U. S. Department of Labor reports that "the
number of biomedical engineering jobs will increase by 31.4 percent through
2010—double the rate for all other jobs combined." Overall job
growth in biomedical engineering will average 15.2 percent through the end
of the decade. Fortune Magazine (March 21, 2005) lists environmental engineering
as one of the fastest growing jobs in the next 10 years. The number of environmental
engineering jobs is expected to grow by 54% during that time period. Worldwide, there
is a shortage of food and bioprocessing engineers. The U.S. Labor Department
expects this field to grow at a rate of 9 to 17 percent through 2014. Any
path of study in one of these specializations within our department can
lead to an interesting and rewarding career. |
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3. What
is the most enjoyable aspect about being a Biological Systems Engineer?
Alumni indicate that they most enjoy seeing the fruits of their labor
- for example, a successfully designed prosthetic device for a disabled
veteran, a cleaner stream or lake, an improved low calorie food product,
or an alternative energy supply for a community. Solving problems, developing
ideas, equipment and working with people make this career very, very satisfying. |
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4. Do
Biological Systems Engineers work directly with people?
Yes, Biological Systems Engineering is one of the most people-oriented
of all engineering disciplines. Whether working with patients in a clinic,
the public on an environmental restoration project, or with customers
in developing a new food product, Biological Systems Engineers work with
people. Good interpersonal communication skills, as well as good written
and oral communications skills, are valuable assets for engineers. BSEN
faculty work with you to improve your skills in these vital areas. |
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5. What
is the mix of students like in Biological Systems Engineering?
Approximately 40 percent of BSEN students are women and about 11 percent
of BSEN students have a minority background. The majority of students
are from urban areas, but rural areas are also well-represented. About
one-third of BSEN students are from outside of Nebraska. Thus, BSEN students
have a great diversity of classmates which greatly enhances their opportunities
to find study buddies, to make lifelong friendships, and to learn from
one another. |
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6. Is
there a typical work environment for a Biological Systems Engineer?
Not really; Biological Systems Engineers work in a variety of environments
ranging from clinical and office settings to outdoor projects around the
world. A desirable aspect of the career, according to our graduates, is
that the work environment varies and provides new challenges every day. |
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7. What
salary range might a Biological Systems Engineer expect when beginning
this career?
If working for a large corporation in an urban area, a beginning biological
systems engineer might expect an annual salary of about $50,000. That
salary will usually rise once licensure as a professional engineer has
been attained. Working for a small company has many advantages that a
large company can't offer, but the salaries are usually lower. The potential
earnings over a lifetime will be determined by many factors, such as region,
type of employment, and whether one chooses a managerial track or stays
on the engineering staff. M.S., Ph.D., J.D., or M.D. degrees obviously
increase one's lifetime earning potential significantly.
8. What
academic strengths does a student need to become a Biological Systems
Engineer?
Mathematics and science form the basic underlying principles in all of
engineering. So, first and foremost, one must be comfortable working with
math and science to be successful in any engineering program. Biological
Systems Engineering is unique, however, in its use of the biological sciences
in addition to physics and chemistry. Thus, an interest in basic biology
and subjects such as genetics, physiology, microbiology, or ecology is
very helpful. |
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9. Where
does the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at UNL rank nationally?
Nebraska's BSE Department is consistently regarded as one of the top six
departments in the U.S. because of the success of its alumni and the reputation
of its faculty for high quality teaching, advising, and research. In 2002
the Department was named the Outstanding Teaching Department in the University
of Nebraska System including UNK, UNL and UNO. |
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10.
How soon, on average, do your students find jobs?
Most students secure employment before they graduate and have multiple job
offers from which to choose. Others wait until graduation to decide between
employment or graduate education. Some choose to travel abroad before seeking
employment. Almost without exception within three to six months, graduates
are working or pursuing graduate or professional study in their field of
interest. |
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11.
Is BSEN a small or large program?
BSEN is a mid-sized program within the College of Engineering (CoE) at Nebraska.
It has about the same number of students as Chemical Engineering, is larger
than Industrial Engineering and Agricultural Engineering, but is quite a
lot smaller than Civil, Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering.
BSEN class sizes range from about 50 in the freshman year to between 20
and 30 in the elective courses of the junior and senior years. |
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12. How
many students graduate from Biological Systems Engineering?
Over the past six year years, an average of 16 students graduated per
year.
13. Do
students have the opportunity to be involved in research projects?
Yes, students have excellent opportunities to perform research in BSEN
and related areas. A number of students work with BSEN professors on UCARE research projects. Others work part-time in research laboratories in BSEN
and elsewhere on campus, for example in the Dental
College and the Beadle
Center for Biotechnology. |
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14. Is
an internship or coop program required for graduation?
Neither is required although one or both is strongly recommended. Opportunities
vary from those at local hospitals such as Bryan LGH and the Madonna Rehabilitation
Hospital in Lincoln, to experiences in laboratories at UNL, Georgia Tech,
Cornell, Cal-Berkeley and other major research universities. In addition,
pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer in Lincoln, environmental and
water resources consulting firms such as Olsson and Associates or HDR
in Omaha and Lincoln, have part-time work opportunities.
15. Can
I study abroad as part of my program in Biological Systems Engineering?
Absolutely! Study abroad is encouraged in BSEN and, in most cases, academic
credit for study abroad can be counted toward your graduation requirements.
BSEN students have the advantage of participating not only in the study
abroad program of the CoE but also of the College
of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. |
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16. Does
your department offer scholarships for Biological Systems Engineering?
Our department has a long and proud record of helping students at all
levels secure scholarships for their education. Because of donor restrictions,
the majority of these funds are used for upper-class scholarships. $35,484.00
was awarded to 50 department students for the academic year 2006-2007.
19 of those students are majoring in BSEN. Incoming freshmen generally
rely on UNL, College of Engineering and/or other local and national sources
of financial aid. In addition to the department and other sources, the
College of Engineering also awards scholarships, which in 2006-07 totaled
about $280,000. |
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17. Do
employers prefer a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. degree?
BSEN students successfully find jobs at all degree levels and this varies
by the career path one chooses. For example, a Ph.D. or M.D. is needed
for a teaching and research path at a major university or medical school.
Some large companies with research and development components require
selected employees to have an M.S. or Ph.D. Most manufacturing companies,
as well as local, state and federal government agencies, require only
a B.S. degree for their engineers. Consulting firms in the environmental
and water resources engineering employ a mix of B.S. and M.S. graduates. |
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