Review of Career Development in Bioengineering and Biotechnology by Guruprasad Madhavan, Barbara Oakley, and Luis Kun (editors), Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 2008

Authors

Mark R. Riley, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2008

Citation

Journal of Biological Engineering 2008, 2:16

Comments

© 2008 Riley; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Abstract

As an educator in biological engineering, I am often asked by students about career opportunities in this growing field. The field of biological engineering merges approaches and methodologies from a variety of traditional disciplines, and so practitioners of biological engineering can find professional opportunities in numerous areas.

The recently published book Career Development in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, (485 pages) edited by Madhavan, Oakley, and Kun, represents an ambitious undertaking with the goal of not only presenting career options and career development techniques but also addressing how the work of an individual can impact society. The book contains 71 chapters divided into 5 sections which cover the foundations that make biological engineers unique; traditional and alternative career paths; strategies for successful career development; and professional responsibilities. A sizeable percentage of the 85 authors, many of whom are leaders in the field, have academic training in fields quite different from biological engineering and so provide perspective from an enormous range of areas. Most importantly, contributions and perspectives are provided from Europe, Asia, and North America. A full and highly detailed index is provided. The information is practical, concrete, and would be of most use to those in the early stages of professional preparation or for more experienced personnel in search of more satisfying directions.