PHD Bioengineering/Biomedical engineering applications Fall 2014 profiles

[AxyC]

Finished my UVa phone interview and was told I should have a formal email with an interview invite coming soon. Interview weekends are March 7th-9th and 14th-16th, and was told they usually fly people out so they arrive thursday night in time to get dinner. I will probably be going on the 7th-9th unless I have another interview offer for that weekend!

Congrats!!! FYI - MIT bioengineering interviews are March 7th-8th which overlaps with your first set of UVa dates.

Edited January 18, 2014 by AxyC

[Opto]

Wowww! Congrats!! Almost 5pm for west coast zone... will not get any information I guess

 

Just got a phone call from the PI I named as my top interest -- Stanford interview offer! 

 

 

Welcome! And great profile!!

I think they probably go out in waves, that seems pretty typical of all programs I think? 

 

Best of luck to you!

[AxyC]

Wowww! Congrats!! Almost 5pm for west coast zone... will not get any information I guess

Thanks! I wouldn't worry too much, I think the top person of interest for each application calls the interview-ee, so that probably will spread out the phone calls based on their availability. Also she referenced a future email that will be sent with more details, and I have not received it yet. These are just my random thoughts, but I venture that the PI's were given lists of people to call and they have to do it before the email is sent out.

 

Good luck! Hope you get an interview.

[gmedlo]

That's great, congrats on a good phone interview, and best wishes for the interview weekend!

Thanks!

 

Congrats!!! FYI - MIT bioengineering interviews are March 7th-8th which overlaps with your first set of UVa dates.

Thank you! Unfortunately I have a rather important presentation to give on the 13th that would make it tough to get to UVa on time. I'll worry about it if I somehow get into MIT, haha.

[stat2013]

Hi everyone! 

New to this site, figured I'd check out my competition/future classmates.

Is this primarily the only thread I should be looking at for BME PhD updates?

 

Obligatory profile:

UG GPA: Overall 3.97/4.00; BME GPA 4.00/4.00

 

Honors:

Goldwater Scholarship

TBP Scholarship 

 

Research experience:

4 years undergrad research (during semesters)

1 summer NSF REU

1 summer DAAD-RISE

1 summer research @ home institution

 

Research publications, patents, conferences:

publication - 1 in preparation as first author

2 posters, 2 platform talks at national and international conferences

 

PHD intended specialization: 

biomaterials for tissue engineering and drug delivery

 

University list:

Harvard-MIT HST MEMP

University of Cambridge ChE & Biotech (admitted)

JHU BME

GTech BME (admitted, visit March 14-16)

MIT BE (interview, March 7-8)

UW BE

Stanford BE

UPenn BE (was contacted by a professor who  was interested in discussing her research with me)

CU Boulder Chem/Bioengineering (admitted, visit April 3-6)

Wow! Amazing profile! Don't remember c-ing one as strong in here. Curious about your gre stats. Best luck!

[Opto]

Thanks! I wouldn't worry too much, I think the top person of interest for each application calls the interview-ee, so that probably will spread out the phone calls based on their availability. Also she referenced a future email that will be sent with more details, and I have not received it yet. These are just my random thoughts, but I venture that the PI's were given lists of people to call and they have to do it before the email is sent out.

 

Good luck! Hope you get an interview.

Thanks a lot, AxyC! keep fingers crossed.

[ajaranda]

Just got a phone call from the PI I named as my top interest -- Stanford interview offer! 

 

Hey AxyC, 

 

Congratulations! I got the call as well but I couldn't pick up the phone! Did they tell you when the interviews are? I saw a post in the results site saying feb 19th-22nd but I was wondering if this will be the only date.

[AxyC]

Hey AxyC, 

 

Congratulations! I got the call as well but I couldn't pick up the phone! Did they tell you when the interviews are? I saw a post in the results site saying feb 19th-22nd but I was wondering if this will be the only date.

Thanks!! Congrats to you as well! She only told me Feb 19-22 on the phone and didn't allude to the existence of an alternate date. 

I had actually just gotten out of the gym at that point so I think I almost missed the call haha - lucky chance.

Edited January 18, 2014 by AxyC

[youkabed]

Hi all:

I have been following this thread for a while and found this place the best one to ask my question. Please help me out. I am an international student with background in materials science and I am applying to Bioengineering,Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering and of course my focus is on Bio- materials. For the past four month, I am in contact with a Prof. at one of my top choices. We had two skype conversation, many email correspondence and the like. I have applied to the department sooner than the deadline. Apparently, they have reviewed my application. One day, by almost 30 minutes apart, I revived two emails. One from my PI asking for the second skype and the other one from another Prof. in the same track. Here is his response:

Dear Youkabed:
I am Assistant Professor in the Department of XXXX at the University of XXXX and also serve as Academic Advisor in XXXX Track.

I am contacting you directly because I have reviewed your application for PhD studies at our department and was very impressed by your quality work and interests in XXX. I have noticed on your application that you expressed interests in working with Prof.XXX, but I would like also to introduce you to my laboratory and my research focus.

I joined the Department of XXX last August and I am directing theXXXX Laboratory. I have currently opening for two PhD students with genuine interests inXXXX (XXXX, etc.), targeted probe development and application of XXXX to monitor XXXX and efficacy of therapeutic interventions in both cardiology and oncology. More about my group you can read on our group page at XXXX

My group’s research focuses on the XXXX  (Mentioning his area of research in detail)
If you will be interested in joining my laboratory or knowing more about the work we do, please feel free to reply to my email with an evening that you might be available for me to call or Skype.

 

The question is what I should do now. I believe that if I speak to this second Prof. the first one would not want to continue anymore. On the other hand, I did not receive a definite response from the first.

What should I do now??!!! Please help and share.   

[Opto]

Got the interview from stanford as well

[Opto]

Hi all:

I have been following this thread for a while and found this place the best one to ask my question. Please help me out. I am an international student with background in materials science and I am applying to Bioengineering,Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering and of course my focus is on Bio- materials. For the past four month, I am in contact with a Prof. at one of my top choices. We had two skype conversation, many email correspondence and the like. I have applied to the department sooner than the deadline. Apparently, they have reviewed my application. One day, by almost 30 minutes apart, I revived two emails. One from my PI asking for the second skype and the other one from another Prof. in the same track. Here is his response:

Dear Youkabed:

I am Assistant Professor in the Department of XXXX at the University of XXXX and also serve as Academic Advisor in XXXX Track.

I am contacting you directly because I have reviewed your application for PhD studies at our department and was very impressed by your quality work and interests in XXX. I have noticed on your application that you expressed interests in working with Prof.XXX, but I would like also to introduce you to my laboratory and my research focus.

I joined the Department of XXX last August and I am directing theXXXX Laboratory. I have currently opening for two PhD students with genuine interests inXXXX (XXXX, etc.), targeted probe development and application of XXXX to monitor XXXX and efficacy of therapeutic interventions in both cardiology and oncology. More about my group you can read on our group page at XXXX

My group’s research focuses on the XXXX  (Mentioning his area of research in detail)

If you will be interested in joining my laboratory or knowing more about the work we do, please feel free to reply to my email with an evening that you might be available for me to call or Skype.

 

The question is what I should do now. I believe that if I speak to this second Prof. the first one would not want to continue anymore. On the other hand, I did not receive a definite response from the first.

What should I do now??!!! Please help and share.   

You are a popular guy:) If it was me, I would be open to talk with the second Prof. After all, he is interested in you and the first prof probably would not know. Also follow your heart. Choose the one whose research you are more interested in.

[T.J]

Hi all:

I have been following this thread for a while and found this place the best one to ask my question. Please help me out. I am an international student with background in materials science and I am applying to Bioengineering,Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering and of course my focus is on Bio- materials. For the past four month, I am in contact with a Prof. at one of my top choices. We had two skype conversation, many email correspondence and the like. I have applied to the department sooner than the deadline. Apparently, they have reviewed my application. One day, by almost 30 minutes apart, I revived two emails. One from my PI asking for the second skype and the other one from another Prof. in the same track. Here is his response:

Dear Youkabed:

I am Assistant Professor in the Department of XXXX at the University of XXXX and also serve as Academic Advisor in XXXX Track.

I am contacting you directly because I have reviewed your application for PhD studies at our department and was very impressed by your quality work and interests in XXX. I have noticed on your application that you expressed interests in working with Prof.XXX, but I would like also to introduce you to my laboratory and my research focus.

I joined the Department of XXX last August and I am directing theXXXX Laboratory. I have currently opening for two PhD students with genuine interests inXXXX (XXXX, etc.), targeted probe development and application of XXXX to monitor XXXX and efficacy of therapeutic interventions in both cardiology and oncology. More about my group you can read on our group page at XXXX

My group’s research focuses on the XXXX  (Mentioning his area of research in detail)

If you will be interested in joining my laboratory or knowing more about the work we do, please feel free to reply to my email with an evening that you might be available for me to call or Skype.

 

The question is what I should do now. I believe that if I speak to this second Prof. the first one would not want to continue anymore. On the other hand, I did not receive a definite response from the first.

What should I do now??!!! Please help and share.   

I agree with Opto. Dont reject the second prof i would feel bad for him. do a skype with him too. Usually the prof would do multiple skypes/interviews with other students as well, even if he/she may find you more appealing. Later down the lane, you can always say no professionally or you may change your mind. Usually you are expected to interview several professors before you make a decision. Some programs even encourage 3 lab rotations before choosing a PI for PhD thesis. 

 

Congrats again for your interviews @ University XXX .

 

Congrats everyone for stanford, MIT interviews. I saw that someone got GaTech and UMich interviews too... guess its starting.

[GroundTurth]

Hi all:

I have been following this thread for a while and found this place the best one to ask my question. Please help me out. I am an international student with background in materials science and I am applying to Bioengineering,Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering and of course my focus is on Bio- materials. For the past four month, I am in contact with a Prof. at one of my top choices. We had two skype conversation, many email correspondence and the like. I have applied to the department sooner than the deadline. Apparently, they have reviewed my application. One day, by almost 30 minutes apart, I revived two emails. One from my PI asking for the second skype and the other one from another Prof. in the same track. Here is his response:

Dear Youkabed:

I am Assistant Professor in the Department of XXXX at the University of XXXX and also serve as Academic Advisor in XXXX Track.

I am contacting you directly because I have reviewed your application for PhD studies at our department and was very impressed by your quality work and interests in XXX. I have noticed on your application that you expressed interests in working with Prof.XXX, but I would like also to introduce you to my laboratory and my research focus.

I joined the Department of XXX last August and I am directing theXXXX Laboratory. I have currently opening for two PhD students with genuine interests inXXXX (XXXX, etc.), targeted probe development and application of XXXX to monitor XXXX and efficacy of therapeutic interventions in both cardiology and oncology. More about my group you can read on our group page at XXXX

My group’s research focuses on the XXXX  (Mentioning his area of research in detail)

If you will be interested in joining my laboratory or knowing more about the work we do, please feel free to reply to my email with an evening that you might be available for me to call or Skype.

 

The question is what I should do now. I believe that if I speak to this second Prof. the first one would not want to continue anymore. On the other hand, I did not receive a definite response from the first.

What should I do now??!!! Please help and share.   

if his research is interesting for you  , you should contact him ,he is an assistant professor and new IMO these are the best type of professors to work with .

[youkabed]

Thanks every one for sharing your comments. Thus, I should definitely contact him via Skype.

Regarding their research interests, they are both similar. That was the way i tailored my SoP concentrating on Bioimaging but actually I am more interested in Tissue Engineering.

Thanks again for sharing.  

[abhijit1729]

international applicant

 

GRE: V+Q - 315/AW - 3.0 -- pathetic, i know; should have been better, did not bother to repeat this year.

TOEFL: 112/120 

 

UG GPA: 8.54/10 - in instrumentation and electronics engineering

Masters GPA: 6.4/8 - in microelectronic systems - best institute in country

 

Research experience: initially worked on classification algorithms; then, on a defense project; others are on implementations of industrial appliances.

 

Research publications, patents, conferences: one national conference; kind-of useless

 

PHD intended specialization: neural-machine interfaces, prosthetics

 

University list: UCB-bioengineering, UMichigan-biomedical engineering, UChicago-integrative biology, Boston University-biomedical engineering

in talks with coordinator at University of Melbourne.

 

given the background, appalling scores and lack of publications, i know i am over-reaching. this year is meant to be a trial run.

does anyone know when international applicants are notified??

Edited January 20, 2014 by abhijit1729

[AxyC]

Thanks every one for sharing your comments. Thus, I should definitely contact him via Skype.

Regarding their research interests, they are both similar. That was the way i tailored my SoP concentrating on Bioimaging but actually I am more interested in Tissue Engineering.

Thanks again for sharing.  

Good luck! Have fun with your Skype interview, that sounds exciting.

 

Is anyone anxious about being gone too often this semester for visits, I put together my calendar and am starting to think I'm going to be MIA a lot in March... 

[GroundTurth]

 

international applicant

 

GRE: V+Q - 315/AW - 3.0 -- pathetic, i know; should have been better, did not bother to repeat this year.

TOEFL: 112/120 

 

UG GPA: 8.54/10 - in instrumentation and electronics engineering

Masters GPA: 6.4/8 - in microelectronic systems - best institute in country

 

Research experience: initially worked on classification algorithms; then, on a defense project; others are on implementations of industrial appliances.

 

Research publications, patents, conferences: one national conference; kind-of useless

 

PHD intended specialization: neural-machine interfaces, prosthetics

 

University list: UCB-bioengineering, UMichigan-biomedical engineering, UChicago-integrative biology, Boston University-biomedical engineering

in talks with coordinator at University of Melbourne.

 

given the background, appalling scores and lack of publications, i know i am over-reaching. this year is meant to be a trial run.

does anyone know when international applicants are notified??

 

Consider May as the latest Deadline. 

Your profile is not bad as you are showing it as long you have good SOP and LOR ,also try to contact PIs

[jonesr18]

gmedlo's friend checking in, I thought I'd get in on the action. 

 

I also got some calls from two PIs at UVA, though no invite yet. Hopefully I'll get one soon.

 

Does anyone know if Cal Tech sends out their invitations in a burst like Berkeley? I'm hoping that that maybe I'll get something from them this week since I didn't with the wave last week. Also, any word on Pitt yet?

 

 

Here's my profile for those interested:

 

GRE:

164Q, 165V, 4.0W (89%, 95%, 54%)

 

UG GPA:

3.76 (3.79 Bioengineering)

 

Research experience:

- 2.5 years in a DNA damage/apoptosis/cancer laboratory, various projects both experimental and computational.

- 1 REU with the Amgen Scholars Program @ UW, stayed in lab to finish project during fall.

 

Research publications, presentations, conferences:

- 1 major conference

- 2 papers currently under review

 

Grad Research focus:

Systems & Synthetic Bio most likely

 

University list:

Caltech, Berkely-SF, Stanford, USC, Michigan, Pitt, UVA, BU, MIT (all Bioe / BME)

Edited January 20, 2014 by jonesr18

[GroundTurth]

gmedlo's friend checking in, I thought I'd get in on the action. 

 

I also got some calls from two PIs at UVA, though no invite yet. Hopefully I'll get one soon.

 

Does anyone know if Cal Tech sends out their invitations in a burst like Berkeley? I'm hoping that that maybe I'll get something from them this week since I didn't with the wave last week. Also, any word on Pitt yet?

 

 

Here's my profile for those interested:

 

GRE:

164Q, 165V, 4.0W (89%, 95%, 54%)

 

UG GPA:

3.76 (3.79 Bioengineering)

 

Research experience:

- 2.5 years in a DNA damage/apoptosis/cancer laboratory, various projects both experimental and computational.

- 1 REU with the Amgen Scholars Program @ UW, stayed in lab to finish project during fall.

 

Research publications, presentations, conferences:

- 1 major conference

- 2 papers currently under review

 

Grad Research focus:

Systems & Synthetic Bio most likely

 

University list:

Caltech, Berkely-SF, Stanford, USC, Michigan, Pitt, UVA, BU, MIT (all Bioe / BME)

No news from PITT , I asked them when to expect the results two weeks ago still no answer.

[ghanada]

No news from PITT , I asked them when to expect the results two weeks ago still no answer.

 

haha I had a terrible experience with Pitt 2 years ago. They pretty much never responded to e-mails. They also NEVER sent me a final rejection notice or anything. I was shocked they wouldn't at least give me a rejection e-mail. 

[abhijit1729]

Consider May as the latest Deadline. 

Your profile is not bad as you are showing it as long you have good SOP and LOR ,also try to contact PIs

 

i believe i have good LORs from an awesome panel. have had no professional feedback on the SOP. did have it proof-read by a colleague, and he said he liked it.

how persistent should i be with the PIs?

[GroundTurth]

i believe i have good LORs from an awesome panel. have had no professional feedback on the SOP. did have it proof-read by a colleague, and he said he liked it.

how persistent should i be with the PIs?

use this as guideline http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~evans/advice/prospective.html. a word of caution don't contact a PI unless you are really interested in his work .

[GroundTurth]

Guys Am I the only one intrested in computational biology/image analysis ? Why most of you are picking tissue engineering/biomaterials is the pay in the industry that good ?

[T.J]

Guys Am I the only one intrested in computational biology/image analysis ? Why most of you are picking tissue engineering/biomaterials is the pay in the industry that good ?

Its got nothing to do with industry. Just research interests. As a matter if fact, I know two post docs who did tissue engineering n were it hard to find jobs (both american citizen). I myself found it hard to find jobs (international, post-masters) in biomaterials n tissue eng. Now, I can't say about 5 yrs from now, but from what I gather from post docs the majority of jobs are in instrumentation and lithography based (micropatterning, microfluidics)... This is just based on people I have interacted with. I DoNt have any idea about computational. Take it with a grain of salt.

[GroundTurth]

Its got nothing to do with industry. Just research interests. As a matter if fact, I know two post docs who did tissue engineering n were it hard to find jobs (both american citizen). I myself found it hard to find jobs (international, post-masters) in biomaterials n tissue eng. Now, I can't say about 5 yrs from now, but from what I gather from post docs the majority of jobs are in instrumentation and lithography based (micropatterning, microfluidics)... This is just based on people I have interacted with. I DoNt have any idea about computational. Take it with a grain of salt.

Oh ok Thank you for the clarification , I thought there was some kind of trend.