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Bioengineering PhD

Bioengineering PhD

Temple University’s PhD in Bioengineering prepares students to advance biomedical research and develop innovative solutions to challenges in human health. Through rigorous doctoral training and interdisciplinary research, students build expertise at the intersection of engineering, biology and medicine.
 
With an emphasis on translational and collaborative research, students work across disciplines to connect engineering innovation and fundamental discovery with applications in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury.
 
Doctoral students benefit from opportunities to collaborate across Temple’s research and clinical community, including Fox Chase Cancer Center, the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Kornberg School of Dentistry and College of Science and Technology. Students conduct research in advanced laboratory facilities while benefiting from the close mentorship and strong collaborative environment of Temple’s engineering community.

Completion Requirements

Completion requirements depend on whether you enter the doctoral program with a master’s degree.

  • If you have a master’s degree, you must complete 15 credits of PhD-level didactic coursework and 15 credits of PhD exams and dissertation research, for a total of 30 credits.
  • If you only have a bachelor’s degree, you must complete 45 credits of master’s- and PhD-level coursework and 15 credits of PhD exams and dissertation research, for a total of 60 credits. See the Admissions section below for more information.

Between didactic coursework, dissertation research and examinations, the PhD can take four or five years, depending on your trajectory and project interests. You have up to seven years to complete your degree.

There are three major pieces of culminating work for the PhD.

  • Preliminary examination: This exam evaluates your communication, information-synthesis and research skills.
  • Dissertation proposal: Research and write your proposal, and present it at an open college seminar.
  • Dissertation writing and defense: Present and defend your dissertation in front of a dissertation committee.
Bioengineering students in a lab

Classes & Curriculum

The coursework you complete will be selected in consultation with your research advisor and doctoral advisory committee and follow the outline of your plan of study.

See a full list of courses for the PhD in Bioengineering.

PhDs Awarded

For the academic year 2015–2016, the Department of Bioengineering awarded five PhDs.

Related Graduate Degrees

Labs & Research

Bioengineering PhD students conduct research alongside faculty in well-equipped laboratories and in collaboration with researchers and clinicians across Temple University. Faculty research is supported by organizations including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, NASA, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and other federal and private sponsors.
 
Research areas include:
 
  • Adipose and endocrine tissue engineering 
  • Biomaterials and targeted drug delivery
  • Biomechanics and injury biomechanics
  • Biomedical imaging and optical spectroscopy
  • Neuroengineering and neuromechanics
  • Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering
  • Stem cell and cancer cell engineering
  • Emerging translational research areas at the intersection of engineering, biology and medicine.
 

Learn more about the Department of Bioengineering’s labs and equipment.

Research Funding

The College of Engineering has more than $17.74 million in active research as of September 2026. With external support from prestigious organizations including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Departments of the Defense, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the American Heart Association, and numerous industry partners, faculty members of Temple University’s College of Engineering are engaging in advanced research. Graduate students will find multiple opportunities to partner with faculty on innovative projects and perform experiments. Please look at the full range of labs in the College of Engineering.
 
In 2024, the National Science Foundation placed Temple among the top 10 percent of universities in terms of research expenditures, which amounted to $315 million. Learn more about the university’s expanded research support efforts.

Tuition & Fees

View tuition rates and fees on the Office of the Bursar site. You can use the tuition calculator and reference the Temple University tuition rate schedule.

Additional Program Information