Purdue Biomedical Engineering Alumnus Breaks Barriers by Joining Doctor of Engineering’s First Online Cohort
Thomas McNamara grew up in New York, hundreds of miles away from Purdue University’s flagship campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. But thanks to his high school math teacher, a Purdue alum who recognized McNamara’s talent for engineering, he ended up applying to the university and getting accepted. After his acceptance, he visited campus for the first time and felt an immediate connection. Looking out on the Purdue Engineering Mall, he could picture a future of opportunity.
“When I stepped on campus for the first time it clicked,” McNamara said. “I knew it was a great fit.”
Now, McNamara has two degrees from Purdue and is working on a third. He has a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering that he earned on campus, as well as a master’s in interdisciplinary engineering with a concentration in biomedical engineering that he earned online. Most recently, he’s started pursuing his Doctor of Engineering degree online while also working full-time as a biomedical engineer at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Earning three engineering degrees is no easy feat, but Purdue has helped him pursue his educational goals while also spearheading a successful career in biotechnology and regulatory science.
“I love challenging myself,” McNamara said. “I want to be competitive in my field, and I never want to be in a position where I regret not getting a degree.”
Forging a Pathway from Biomedical Engineering to Regulatory Science
As an undergraduate student in biomedical engineering at Purdue, McNamara hoped to find a strong career pathway. His interest was piqued by a regulatory science course he took his senior year, where he fell in love with the regulatory side of biomedical device manufacturing. He even got to do a senior project where he designed a medical device himself. These experiences gave him the confidence he needed to start a career in regulatory science, and they also inspired him to start thinking about pursuing a master’s.
“When I graduated, I was new in the industry and wanted to have the best possible resume,” McNamara said. “Getting a master’s was an opportunity to increase my technical skills in this particular area.”
As an early-career professional, McNamara didn’t want his education to get in the way of building valuable work experience, so he started looking into online master’s programs. When he found Purdue University’s online Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering, he knew it would be a perfect fit with his career goals. It was from an institution that he trusted, and it included a concentration in biotechnology.
While earning his master’s, McNamara took courses that taught skills he could immediately apply to his career. One of his courses – a graduate seminar in biomechanics – was particularly useful in his job working for an orthopedic device company. In the course, he got to build an understanding of how mechanical principles could be applied to the body in a medical context. Through this course, he developed the technical skills he needed to design successful testing protocol for orthopedic medical devices.
“That was the coolest thing about working and doing a master’s at the same time,” McNamara said. “You get to apply what you learned in class to your role, and it helps you remember the concepts.”
Going Back to School for a Doctor of Engineering Degree
After McNamara got his master’s, he still felt driven to continue learning. He had a job at the FDA, but he wanted to improve his research skills and get a terminal degree in his field so he could be competitive for high-level roles. While he was considering doctoral programs, he got an email from Purdue’s College of Engineering announcing a new Doctor of Engineering program that would be offered online. He knew immediately he’d found the program he wanted.
“The timing was spot on,” McNamara said. “I had time to commit to a new program and I was, at this point, comfortable enough being a Purdue student that I knew what to expect.”
So, McNamara applied and was accepted to the program’s first cohort in spring of 2025. Since then, he’s been busy balancing his day job with the demands of being a doctoral student, but his experience has been exceptional. Even though he’s studying online, he feels very connected to his other cohort members, his professors, and the Purdue community, especially since he takes courses with on-campus graduate students.
“It doesn’t feel like anything less than an on-campus doctoral program,” McNamara said. “The quality is the same, the courses are the same, and it’s well worth the money and the time.”
According to McNamara, one of the highlights of the program so far is getting to network with other engineers. The Doctor of Engineering is interdisciplinary, so he works with people who come from many different professional and academic backgrounds. He’s interested in research at the intersection of biomedical engineering and regulatory science, but he takes classes with doctoral students whose research interests span an array of engineering disciplines.
“Every professor and student in the program does something different,” McNamara said. “It’s fun connecting with people and getting different perspectives on what I’m interested in and learning from people who have different experiences.”
McNamara also appreciates the program’s organization, which has helped him navigate the challenges of starting a doctoral program while working full-time. All of his online learning platforms work well, and his professors are always available to help troubleshoot or provide feedback. Being able to lean on faculty has helped him accommodate a demanding academic schedule.
“Learning online definitely takes some adjusting,” McNamara said. “I’m working during the day and then doing classwork on my lunch break or in the evenings. But getting to interact with professors and students who are on-campus makes it feel more immersive. There’s no disconnect.”
Though it’s not easy working towards a doctorate while building a career, McNamara believes that the hardest part is starting the process. He encourages other professionals who want to get a doctorate to take things one step at a time, feel confident in their research interests and keep their end goal in mind.
“Once you’re accepted, there’s a lot of built-in flexibility, and it’s easier to strike a balance than you think,” McNamara said. “Getting over that initial fear of starting is huge.”
Having started, McNamara feels confident that he can make it to the finish line. Knowing he’s working toward the highest degree in his field helps keep him motivated – it’s a reminder that, after this, the sky is the limit.
“I’m never going to look back and regret not going for it,” McNamara said. “Not having a certain degree is never going to be a barrier for me moving forward.”
To learn more about Purdue University’s Doctor of Engineering, visit the program’s webpage.