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Entering the professional world for the first time can feel like plunging into deep waters, and losing sight of the shore — and many college graduates don’t feel fully prepared for the challenges of working in STEM industries. Gabriella Kupsho didn’t feel ready to tackle the workforce after completing her undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering, as she felt there was more to learn.
With that, she’d discover where her next steps would be: a master’s degree at the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering.
“I applied to the best biomedical engineering schools,” she says. “What made me choose Duke was that the people were so welcoming, approachable, and kind. I would describe it as inclusive, and a really fun place to be. It felt different at Duke.”
Last year alone, 5,000 international students arrived at Duke’s campus in Durham, North Carolina. Since 1924, scores of students, local and foreign, have come here in pursuit of intellectual growth, a sense of leadership, and community engagement. Many have emerged as leaders and pioneers in their fields. In 1939, the Pratt School of Engineering was established, and it’s been spearheading the field of science and technology ever since.
Aiming to advance her knowledge in biomedical engineering, Kupsho chose the right place. The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) consistently ranks amongst the top in the US, and it’s quite literally the first of its kind. In 1972, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited the first undergraduate BME major in the US at Duke University.
The programme has stood the test of time as the best among the best for a BME degree today. The undergraduate programme is ranked #3 nationwide, while the graduate programme stands at #2. Last year, researchers amassed US$38 million in new research awards, leading in fields like biophotonics, drug and gene delivery, immune engineering, and more.
All programmes at all levels — undergraduate, master’s, and PhD — benefit from their breakthroughs and decades of experience. The latest research discoveries inform coursework and students learn applied techniques from the very people who have long been doing and living their dream jobs.
Pranam Chatterjee (right) leads a lab that’s using AI to examine some of the rarest and most difficult diseases, such as ARMS and Ewing Sarcoma, two rare paediatric cancers, Huntington’s Disease, and more. Source: Duke University
The Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering trained Kupsho for the role she wanted. “In undergrad they threw facts at us, but it wasn’t super applicational. In grad school, I took classes that I actually use,” she says. “The quality assurance classes at Duke were exactly what I do now at work.”
Duke’s BME professors include Ashutosh Chilkoti — Alan L. Kaganov Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering — who won the 2025 Technology Innovation and Development Award from the Society of Biomaterials. His lab has developed various products to better the lives of medical and surgical patients, like genetically engineered biomaterials. There’s Pranam Chatterjee as well, an assistant professor who secured a US$50,000 donation from EndAxD to find a cure for the Alexander Disease.
Kupsho cherished how professors viewed students as equals, making her feel valued and confident in her ideas. “They would ask us for our opinions, ask us to brainstorm solutions,” she says. “The professors are quite down-to-earth and appreciate us being there as much as we appreciate them. That helped us gain confidence in what we were saying, thinking, and doing.”
Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina — a hub for biomedical expertise and entrepreneurship. Source: Duke University
Beyond theoretical courses, it was applied courses and experiences that gave Kupsho the boost she needed to succeed in the industry. Students get involved in cutting-edge research projects, and industry internships embedded into the curriculum. As the university is across the street from the acclaimed Duke University Medical Centre, real-world opportunities are practically at their doorstep.
Duke offers a certificate programme that provides advanced training across six areas of excellence: Medical Device Design, Biotechnology, Biomedical Data Science, Nanoscience, Neural Engineering, and Photonics. It’s an excellent opportunity for students to apply the content they have to hands-on projects.
“It’s not that we teach you more differential equations — we teach you the process of developing biotech products, medical devices, data science apps, et cetera. You will run big projects and get a powerful set of stories to tell potential employers,” Paul Fearis, Associate Professor of the Practice in BME, says. After a 28-year career in the field, he leads the Medical Device Design certificate programme.
To say Duke provides a holistic education in biomedical engineering might be an understatement. It’s an education that delivers a lifetime of success for its students. Just look at Kupsho — today, she’s a Design Assurance Engineer at Boston Scientific, having graduated from Duke in 2023. If you’d like to follow a similar trajectory, then check out Duke Biomedical Engineering to get your career going.
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