Why did you pursue the Professional Master’s program?

“I chose the Professional Master’s program because it offered the flexibility to complete my degree in one academic year while still allowing me the time and freedom to pursue additional professional experiences, such as graduate internships and assistantships. This would have been much harder in a thesis or capstone focused program, so the structure was a perfect fit for my goals.”

What aspect of the program has been most valuable to your career?

“Many of the courses were intentionally designed around team-based projects, which gave me excellent collaborative learning experiences. The wearable sensors course, in particular, was my favorite and provided hands-on knowledge I still appreciate today.”

Why did you pursue the Professional Master’s program?

"After completing my bachelor’s degree in biomedical health science with a passion for healthcare, I knew I wanted to go deeper into the technology and engineering principles that drive the innovation in the field. I chose Purdue’s BME Professional Master’s program because I was focused on building a career in the industry, and the program offered a unique blend of technical depth, flexibility, and real-world relevance. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the freedom to choose courses that aligned with my interests and career goals. The program genuinely becomes what you make of it. I was able to strengthen my industry-focused skills while learning from both academic experts and professionals actively working in biomedical engineering. I truly appreciated the sense of community and the variety of people I engaged with throughout my time in the program. My classmates, professors, and peers with diverse backgrounds helped me grow as an engineer and a collaborator, building skills that are essential for success in industry. I am grateful to have been a part of this program and for the foundation it provides as I begin my career."

What did you like most about the program?

“One of my favorite aspects of the Professional Master's program was how experience-driven the classes were. The best example of this is BME 595 - Wearable Sensors, where each student received a device at the beginning of the semester and we utilized our own health data to understand how the sensors function and how the data is processed.”

Why did you pursue the Professional Masters Program?

“I chose BME’s Professional Master’s program because I knew I wanted to continue my education beyond a bachelor’s, and this degree is meant for students who plan on pursuing a career in industry. There’s even an option to complete a co-op during the professional master’s, so we’re able to integrate industry experience into our degree. The transition into the master’s coursework was seamless, especially since I was able to begin my master’s coursework during my senior year. I appreciated that the structure of the program made it possible to expand my technical background while working around my schedule. ”

What aspect of the program has been most valuable to your career?

“Learning about the different regulations needed for medical device industry and how to relate engineering idea to target audiences such as medical professionals or sales representatives.”

Why did you pursue the Professional Master’s program?

“I knew I wanted to go directly into industry after university, and the professional master's program offered significant advantages to break into the workforce.  - Pragmatic application. Undergrad was great at teaching fundamentals and underlying principles, but the master's program excelled at real world application. Areas like quality control, governmental regulations, and ethical guidelines are vital to scale in the biomedical industry, and are often the main hurdles in translating research from the lab to patients. - Increased job opportunities with higher starting salaries without having to complete a research thesis. I was also able to complete the program in 1 year due to the 4+1 option. I've been surprised to find how many companies have a ceiling on career progression without a master's degree. I think the program did a great job of prioritizing learning over grades. Many of the graduate classes prioritized group discussion over mandated homework and exams, which allowed me to study for the purpose of my own learning rather than to get a good grade. ”

What did you like most about the program?

“Many things made the Professional Master's program a great fit for me, but my favorite aspect was the ability to gain extra knowledge for my career in such little added time to my educational plan. It was very challenging and rewarding. Other factors that made the program great were the extremely helpful advisors, the ability to continue my education at my alma mater so I was still surrounded by friends, the dedicated professors, the challenging and practical coursework, and the reasonable cost.”

Why did you pursue the Professional Master’s program?

“I chose the Professional Master’s program because I wanted a curriculum that blended textbook knowledge with industry-focused skills. Coming from a background in Chemical Engineering, I was looking for a program that would help me transition smoothly into the biotech and medical device industry. The structure of the program — especially the emphasis on real-world applications and professional development — aligned perfectly with my career goals.”

What advice would you give yourself if you were applying to grad school again?

“Network with as many people as you can, because there is so much to learn from everyone with different backgrounds and experiences.”

What accomplishment are you most proud of at your time at Purdue so far?

“For a person who has been a complete introvert his entire life, I feel that I have gathered a lot of confidence and networking after I joined Purdue University. I felt great after I attended the career fair and it came out to be very productive for me.”

What was your favorite memory or experience at Purdue?

“My favorite memory with Purdue was being able to take a year co-op at Kimberly Clark. I made so many life-long friends and learned so many new things up in Wisconsin!”

What advice would you give yourself if you were applying to grad school again?

“I would advise myself to stress less and go with the flow, and that everything would fall in place with time.”

What do you like the most about the program that you would like to share with others?

“How friendly and dedicated the advisors are. Furthermore, I also really like how diverse the curriculum for my program is; allowing me to focus on both the engineering and practical aspects of my field.”

What is your favorite memory at Purdue?

“Since my first day, I have never felt homesick. I have enjoyed each and every festival with my friends at Purdue. My favorite memory is our visit to Exploration Acres. Graduate advisor Tammy arranged this tour and I had a great time exploring a local tradition of Indiana.”

“After I completed my undergrad in biomedical engineering, I sometimes felt that every day going to work I still wasn’t prepared for the industry. I wanted to study what happens before medical devices are in the market. I liked that the Purdue Professional MS Degree Program is focused on biomedical device development and also the area of regulatory science. In the first semester I took the Regulatory Approval of Biomedical Devices course. That course helped me get an internship at Nevro Corporation in San Francisco. The flexibility of the program enabled me to extend that internship from a summer to six months. Between the internship and the MS program, now I know I am ready for industry.”

“I pursued the Professional Master’s program to explore non-traditional career opportunities with a biomedical engineering background. Because of the skills and knowledge I have gained through this program, I have been able to work in business operations, project management, and finance groups within the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.”

What did you like most about the program?

“What I appreciated most about the BME Professional Master’s program was the extensive range of courses available, from statistics and computational science to biomedical signal processing and entrepreneurship. The diverse variety allowed me to tailor my studies to my interests while gaining practical skills”

What aspect of the program has been most valuable to your career?

“One of the most valuable aspects of the program has been the quality and expertise of the faculty. Many of the professors are actively involved in cutting-edge research or industry collaborations, and they brought real-world insight directly into the classroom. Their guidance helped me understand not just what technologies do, but why they matter clinically and how they reach the market. The diversity of classes—from MRI physics, biomedical optics, and computational modeling to human factors engineering, regulatory strategy, and device design—gave me a strong interdisciplinary foundation. This has been incredibly useful in my career, especially when working with complex imaging systems like C-arms and X-ray devices. The program helped me develop both technical intuition and a user-centered mindset, which are essential when solving problems in clinical environments.”

What did you like most about the program?

“I loved the flexibility of the professional master’s. I could explore additional technical and professional courses while still graduating with my bachelor’s and master’s in a total of 4 years. I would highly recommend this program to students who want to explore more disciplines that span beyond traditional engineering roles.”

What aspect of the program has been most valuable to your career?

“Statistics and regulatory affairs classes have been some of the most useful to my career. Statistics classes gave me an advanced understanding that has allowed me to successfully apply statistics to real life situations, but they also helped me to know when it was time to consult a statistician. Classes on regulatory affairs prepared me well for working in a regulated industry and knowing some of the basic regulations that all companies follow.”

Why did you pursue the Professional Master’s program?

“The professional master's program provided me with the opportunity to advance my career in the medical device industry at a rapid pace. Along with the vast applied and theoretical concepts gained from rigorous coursework, this program focuses on maintaining a respectful, professional, and kind class environment that welcomes in-depth conversations with professors, industry guests, and classmates. I can be proud to have completed this distinguished program.”

What did you like most about the program?

“I liked the flexibility of the program the most! I was able to select classes across various departments that matched my specific interests. This allowed me to expand my engineering skills beyond biomedical engineering and explore the full spectrum of classes that Purdue has to offer! I was able to take classes that I couldn't fit into my undergraduate schedule and gain knowledge in manufacturing engineering and industry standards, which is what I am very interested in. This broader knowledge base also set me apart from other applicants during the job hunt and helps me every day in my career!”

Why did you pursue the Professional Master’s program?

“I always aspired to work on the product development side of the medical device industry, and the Professional Master’s program provided a clear pathway to achieve that goal. The program’s thoughtfully curated curriculum, with a strong focus on New Product Introduction (NPI), allowed me to gain a deep understanding of industry standards and development processes even before entering the workforce. This early exposure enabled me to transition seamlessly into the industry and directly apply what I learned in an industrial setting.”

What aspect of the program has been most valuable to your career?

“Teamwork throughout all of medicine is essential for successful patient outcomes. The Professional Master’s program puts a strong emphasis on group projects and discussion, so different ideas are shared constantly. The students in this program have a variety of backgrounds and career goals, enriching conversation. Each day is an opportunity to learn something new from your peers. Through this program, I feel that I learned valuable lessons in how to work effectively and efficiently in a team”