Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville mechanical engineering department has undergone many recent changes from their new department chair to programs of study. Department chair, David Kunz, has been working with students to help them develop academic plans to prepare them for a career in biomedical engineering for the past eight years. With a background in biomedical engineering, Kunz serves as a resource for students interested in the biomedical engineering industry.

Biomedical engineering (BME) is the application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field. It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with the medical and biological science to help improve patient health care and the quality of life of all individuals. Biomedical engineering is widely considered an interdisciplinary field, resulting in a broad spectrum of disciplines that draw influence from various fields and sources. Due to the extreme diversity, it is not atypical for a biomedical engineer to focus on one particular aspect.

The next step is assembling a committee to investigate the feasibility of adding a biomedical engineering minor to the curriculum.

"UWP has a reputation of sending out graduates in engineering who are able to contribute to industry right away. We want to continue that reputation in the biomedical engineering field. Many biomedical engineering programs are designed for students to continue their education post graduate; which is why we opted not to offer the program as a major course of study but rather a minor which will supplement the engineering degree without compromising its integrity," said Kunz.

Wayne Weber, department chair in biology, will sit on the committee. "Biomedical engineering encompasses so many areas of specialty. This program would be huge; the job possibilities are practically endless. In talking with Dr. Kunz, a minor makes sense for UWP and we have all of the biology courses in place that engineers would need to take," said Weber.

For more information on the biomedical engineering minor program contact, Kunz at (608) 342-1431 or kunzd@uwplatt.edu

Contact: David Kunz, department chair, mechanical engineering, (608) 342-1431, kunzd@uwplatt.edu Written by: Lisa D. McLean, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, mcleanl@uwplatt.edu