Science and Engineering

Biomedical Engineer

Some New Mexico colleges and universities offer programs to satisfy the admission requirements of engineering schools. Students should contact the schools of their choice for requirements and consult their pre-professional advisors to ensure that prerequisites will be met.

Many Biomedical Engineers complete undergraduate programs in electrical, chemical, mechanical, or general engineering before entering master or doctoral biomedical engineering programs.

Work Activities

• Studying engineering aspects of human bio-behavioral systems using a knowledge of human anatomy and physiology
• Planning and conducting research concerning behavioral, biological, psychological, or other life systems
• Developing mathematical models and computer simulations of human bio-behavioral systems in order to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes
• Designing and developing instruments and devicessuch as artificial organs, limbs, pacemakers, or ultrasound imaging equipmentto assist health care personnel in observing, diagnosing, repairing, or treating physical ailments or deformities
• Evaluating the effectiveness of drugs and other medications
• Developing new applications for energy sources, such as using nuclear power for biomedical implants
• Teaching, writing, consulting, and managing laboratories Biomedical Engineers may work in sales or as field engineers and install, adjust, maintain, or repair equipment for biomedical equipment manufacturers.

Career Specialties
Biomedical Engineers may specialize according to their place of employment and the scope of their work.

Clinical Engineers work to improve and maintain health care delivery systems in hospitals, clinics, governmental units, universities, and industry. They supervise the maintenance of biomedical equipment, advise hospital personnel on the purchase and installation of new equipment, investigate accidents of equipment failure, and train and supervise biomedical equipment technicians and others. They may work as part of hospital operating teams ensuring that critical life-support and analysis equipment is working properly.

Medical Engineers develop instruments, materials, diagnostic and therapeutic devices, artificial organs, and other equipment.

Bio-Environmental Engineers use engineering concepts and technology to maintain and protect the quality of the environment in order to protect human, animal, marine, and plant life from toxins and pollutants.

Work Settings
Biomedical Engineers work alone or with medical and administrative personnel; life, social, and physical scientists; and other specialists. They may direct, train, or supervise technicians and medical personnel.

Most Biomedical Engineers work in medical, academic, industrial, and governmental research laboratories and hospitals. Those who work in undersea and space programs are exposed to a variety of environmental conditions. However, hazards are minimized by following safety procedures and wearing protective clothing.

Special Requirements
Hospitals often require certification for employment. Clinical Engineers may obtain optional certification from either the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation or the American Board of Clinical Engineers.

To become licensed as a professional engineer in New Mexico, applicants must submit references, pass two written examinations, and meet educational and work experience requirements. Generally, applicants for the examinations have college degrees in engineering (four or more years) plus four or more years of related work experience.

Educational Institutions
University of New Mexico(B)

Biomedical Equipment Technician

Work Activities

• Installing, inspecting, and testing equipment and instruments using blueprints, written specifications, and standard specialized test equipment
• Disassembling equipment to locate the cause of malfunctioning
• Repairing or replacing defective parts
• Reassembling equipment and adjusting precision components according to blueprints and written and verbal instructions
• Performing safety checks on electrical and radiation equipment
• Adding to or changing original components to meet specific therapeutic or diagnostic requirements
• Training equipment users to operate equipment safely
• Maintaining inventories of supplies and parts and reordering items as needed

Career Specialties
Biomedical Equipment Technicians may specialize in the repair and maintenance of specific types of biomedical equipment used in radiology, nuclear medicine, and patient-monitoring operations. Or they may specialize in airborne biomedical instrumentation. Biomedical Equipment Technicians may be designated according to their place of employment or their work activities.

Biomedical Engineering Technicians support biomedical or clinical engineers in hospitals, large clinics, and many other work settings. Their work may involve design, construction, development, installation, and service of biomedical and related technical equipment. Engineering Technicians, depending on their background in engineering, electronics, physiology, or medicine, may be expected to substitute for engineers in less technical activities.

Electromedical Equipment Repairers work primarily in hospitals. They test, repair, and provide preventive maintenance for electromedical equipment, such as electrocardiographs, electroencephalographs, operating room lamps and tables, and diathermy machines.

Dental Equipment Installers and Servicers install and maintain electric or pneumatic drill units, dental X-ray machines, plumbing equipment, and related dental office equipment.

Work Settings
Most Biomedical Equipment Technicians work in hospitals and large clinics. They work with other technicians and hospital or clinic personnel under the direction of a more experienced supervisor. Other Biomedical Technicians work for employers on teams with biomedical or clinical engineers, medical personnel, and scientists. Technicians who work for manufacturers may work with engineering, sales, and service personnel.

Working conditions usually are pleasant, but there are physical hazards in this occupation. Injuries may be caused by lifting or transporting heavy equipment. Also, Biomedical Equipment Technicians may be exposed to electric shock, radiation, noxious fumes, and communicable diseases. Hazards are minimized by following safety procedures and wearing protective gear, such as goggles, safety shoes, and rubber aprons.

Special Requirements
Biomedical Equipment Technicians are not required to be certified. Employers may hire individuals who have a background in electronics and train them on the job. However, some prefer graduates of formal biomedical equipment technology programs.

Educational Institutions
Lovelace Health Systems(O)

Environmental Health Specialist

They work to improve the water and sanitation facilities at recreational areas, nursing homes, schools, restaurants, and other locations.

They are involved actively in the overall environmental quality of a community.

Work Activities

• Evaluating the handling, processing, and serving of food and milk in order to identify hazards and to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations
• Evaluating the standards of procedures, personnel, and equipment in dairies and food-processing plants
• Collecting and analyzing environmental samples of a chemical, physical, and biological nature in order to determine if a hazard to the public health exists
• Preparing and calibrating equipment used in collecting and analyzing samples
• Overseeing the safe and adequate treatment and disposal of sewage and solid, hazardous, and infectious waste
• Designing wastewater disposal systems and well installations and monitoring their construction to ensure that regulations are met
• Determining the nature and cause of a myriad of pollution problems and initiating stop-action orders
• Developing and managing programs to prevent toxic waste contamination, control insects and rodents, dispose of wastes, and ensure clean water supplies
• Consulting with and advising physicians and other medical personnel about community environmental health hazards
• Recommending measures to ensure maximum community health protection
• Serving as a community health educator on environmental health issues
• Conducting and analyzing epidemiologic data regarding disease outbreaks within a community

Career Specialties
In rural areas and small cities, Environmental Health Specialists are responsible for a wide range of activities and environmental programs. In large cities or in agencies, they may specialize in one area of environmental health. These areas of specialization include milk and dairy production, food protection, sewage disposal, pesticide management, air pollution, institutional sanitation, and occupational health.

Work Settings
Environmental Health Specialists work very closely with the public as educators, interpreters, consultants, and enforcement agents in a variety of environments. They may draft laws and regulations and testify in court. More experienced Environmental Health Specialists may manage and supervise large staffs.

Some areas of work require considerable travel and may include encountering unsanitary conditions and health hazards. However, precautions are implemented to prevent exposure of the Environmental Health Specialists and the community to any hazards.

Special Requirements
Most Environmental Health Specialists earn the required bachelor degree in environmental health from an institution accredited by the National Environmental Health Association Accreditation Board. In some instances, education in a related field, such as environmental engineering, is acceptable. Master and doctoral degrees may be earned in environmental health or a related science. National certification is available through the National Environmental Health Association.

Educational Institutions
No program information is available.

Industrial Hygienist

Work Activities

• Collecting samples of potentially toxic chemical, physical, and biological agents for analysis
• Preparing and calibrating equipment used in collecting and analyzing samples
• Performing laboratory analyses of samples
• Investigating the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust, lighting, and other conditions that may affect employee health, comfort, or efficiency
• Conducting evaluations of exposure to ionizing and nonionizing radiation and to noise and vibration
• Reviewing physicians and accident reports and conducting studies to determine if diseases or illnesses are work-related
• Recommending measures to ensure maximum employee protection
• Collaborating with other health professionals to remove or control hazardous and potentially hazardous materials
• Preparing reports of observations and analyses, and making recommendations about industrial health problems
• Using cost-benefit analysis to justify the money required to make engineering changes or to purchase protective equipment
• Conducting or participating in epidemio- logical research
• Participating in educational training meetings to instruct employees about occupational health and the prevention of accidents

Career Specialties
Industrial Hygienists may specialize in a particular area, such as the collection and analysis of samples or the control of acoustical, chemical, radiational, or toxicological hazards. Some Hygienists work in administration, teaching, research, or consultation.

Persons with specialized training in engineering may work as Industrial Health Engineers.

Work Settings
Industrial Hygienists may work alone or with industrial engineers, physicians, or other members of an industrial team. Some may work with governmental officials, environmental groups, organized labor groups, or industrial managers when designing and developing systems for a healthy work environment. They may work in industrial plants or in governmental agencies.

Physical surroundings and working conditions of Industrial Hygienists vary. Some duties, such as collecting samples of pollutants for environmental impact evaluation, require working outdoors. Such duties as collecting samples from a workplace or testing the samples are conducted indoors. The hazards encountered may include those that the Hygienist is working to control, including excessive noise levels, chemicals, air pollution, or radioactivity.

Special Requirements
Certification for Industrial Hygienists is optional. However, most employers require it of their top-level Hygienists. Industrial Hygienists may be certified by passing a two-part exam offered by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene. At least five years of work experience, which can include credit for education (one year of credit for a master degree or two years for a doctorate), is required.

An individual who wants to become an Industrial Hygienist should have a minimum of a bachelor degree in occupational safety and health, environmental health engineering, physical science, or natural science.

Educational Institutions
No program information is available.

Research Scientist

Work Activities

• Performing research to determine the action of foods, drugs, sera, hormones, nutrients, and other substances on the tissues and processes of living things
• Studying disease processes in order to find the causes of illnesses, such as cancer, arthritis, genetic diseases, and heart disease
• Isolating and identifying bacteria, viruses, and parasites
• Studying how the immune system works to prevent illness
• Discovering the ways in which humans lived, worked, and died in ancient times
• Developing better ways to process, store, and use foods, drugs, and chemical compounds
• Conducting research to find methods of transferring characteristics of one type of organism to another, such as in the development of disease-resistant strains of field crops
• Performing diagnostic tests and developing new tests used in the detection of diseases, genetic disorders, or other abnormalities
• Developing and testing new ways to treat illness
• Designing and building special laboratory instruments, space vehicles, and underwater equipment
• Writing reports and scientific papers based on research
• Analyzing mathematical and scientific theories in order to apply them in ways that will make life better

Career Specialties
Research Scientists may specialize in many different areas of laboratory work and research.

Biochemists study the chemical processes of living organisms and the changes that take place during the development of the organisms. They explain biological functions in chemical terms and contribute to the understanding of the structure and function of all organisms, tissues, and cells.

Geneticists study the biology of heredity. They especially are interested in how traits are transmitted and why they vary from one individual to another.

Immunologists study the ways in which humans and other organisms resist illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, and communicable diseases.

Marine Biologists study life in the seas and oceans in order to better understand, protect, and safely use it.

Microbiologists study bacteria and other organisms in order to prevent and cure the diseases they cause. They also learn to use these organisms in positive ways, such as in cleaning up oil spills or producing lifesaving medicines.

Molecular Biologists study the structure and function of living organisms at the most basic level. They study the chemistry and physics of the smallest units that make up life.

Paleontologists study fossils and ancient life forms. They may specialize in the study of ancient man and his social groups, agriculture, or diseases.

Pathologists study the causes and characteristics of diseases in order to prevent illness, ease suffering, and increase the productive life span.

Physicists study the interactions of matter and energy in theory and in application to our daily lives.

Some Research Scientists combine research with teaching in colleges and universities.

Work Settings
Research Scientists may work alone or as a member of a team. Research Scientists with advanced degrees usually are assisted by laboratory workers who perform routine work. Research Scientists may work under a research director or may supervise a research team.

Most Research Scientists work in laboratories. Those who teach also spend time in classrooms. Although Research Scientists work with plants, animals, chemicals, radiation, and microorganisms that may cause illness or disease, usually the work is not dangerous if proper safety procedures are followed.

Special Requirements
The minimum educational requirement is a master degree. However, advanced degrees are required for many beginning jobs. A doctoral degree is required to conduct advanced research and to advance to many management and administrative jobs. Civil service examinations may be required for those who wish to work for governmental agencies.

Educational Institutions
New Mexico State University(B/M/D)
University of New Mexico(M/D)