Working in a research Hospital

[Guest0527211403]

Hi Everyone,

I have an offer on the table to work as a medical device designer in a large university research hospital affiliated with my alma mater. The job came to me through my network of personal contacts.

Background:
I'm a recent grad, and the job is well suited for my level of experience. They're looking for someone to help bring the product of other peoples' PhD research to market, so I would be doing mechanical design, analysis and testing of this and potentially other medical devices. Ultimately, this would lead to clinical trials. I would also be working under a senior engineer, who is also in the process of being hired but presumably has experience in the medical device field. It should also be noted that I did not study biomedical engineering at all in university. Instead, I pursued courses in mechatronics and solid mechanics.

So now I'm wondering if anyone has worked as an engineer in a research hospital environment.

I've been advised by others that engineering positions in hospitals, even research hospitals, are always of a "serviceman" nature to the medical community, and that there is little, if any, room to move up in such an environment. (The people who gave me this advice have an obvious bias in my eyes, as I'm also considering another potential offer)

The job definitely sounds promising to me. I do like the potential in bringing people's research to market in the medical community, and I feel like I could be carving a niche for myself by doing this. But the concerns of others are weighing on my mind, and I'd like to see if I can get some more opinions on the matter.

Can anyone offer any advice/suggestions/comments about the type of work that a research hospital can offer a graduating mechanical engineer?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Twoballcane]

You can think of this as a stepping stone job where you can gain experience. If you are just coming out of school, it is important to start building your resume. So this sounds like a great start. Also, you know the phrase, a bird in hand is better than two birds in the bush. As in you have an offer, in this economy, that is a good thing.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Take the job - you will learn a lot and remember you are an engineer and will not probably ever be the president of a company unless you start your own.

 

[automationbabe]

Sounds like a great place to start your career. You will learn a lot about ISO and FDA requirements and conformities in the medical field, which is good to note on a resume. It also has it's own challenges in terms of what types of materials you can use that are safe for people, the equipment it interfaces with, and design intent.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[HamishMcTavish]

Sounds like a good opportunity, I read your post and thought lucky b***ard! - i did a masters in bioengineering but jobs were thin on the ground when i graduated back in 91.

The constraints regarding product testing, safety and materials etc will be quite an education in itself, then you have the issues of trying to establish working relationships with people who may not have technical backgrounds (but then you will need to learn some medical stuff too) and then you have issues of intellectual property that you may need to establish...never mind the actual technical aspects of prototyping and manufacturing!

As a first position i wouldn't necessarily concern myself about moving up - get a good grounding and then if you feel that you are not being advanced enough look for another similar role in a different research hospital but go for a more senior role! Sometimes the best way to advance is to move - plus it stops things getting all SSDD

Good luck, HM

No more things should be presumed to exist than are absolutely necessary - William of Occam

 

[GregLocock]

Just do it. Sounds like a great opportunity in a field that will inevitably grow over the next few decades.



Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[KENAT]

I really wouldn't worry that you didn't study biomedical at school. The Aerospace department, especially the materials section, did a lot of work in the biomedical field at my universtiy.

It sounds very interesting, you don't give any detail of your other offer but this one sounds interesting enough to seriously consider.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484

 

[MikeHalloran]

It's a great opportunity to do interesting work that is also socially significant.

It's also a good time in your life to learn how to deal with colossal egos. PhDs and MDs, and especially people who have both, tend to think of engineers as tradesmen. Do not be offended; it's just their world view. You need only remember this, and you'll be fine:

God is second in their pecking order.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[KENAT]

Oh yeah, most medical students think they are better than you, Doctors know it;-).

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484

 

[ornerynorsk]

Funny you mention that Mike. My sister, who is a nurse, has always said that MD stands for "Medical Deity".

On the serious side, bio-mechanical engineering is a great field. I'm currently in DME (Durable medical equipment) design, and occasionally work with a BME in accessory design. It's a humbling field, in which you do get the opportunity to directly influence the quality of life for people. And, it pays well.

 

[HEC]

Support all said to date, especially what Hamish said lucky... Go for it. It will be interseting and rewarding. I studied Mech eng and have worked across Pulp & Paper, Dairy, Pharmaceutical, Road Tunnels (control systems), Mineral processing and production foundry. No direct training for any of it, mechanical and physical facts of the world are the constants, so do not be worried about not having studied biomed engineernig. The one lesson from moving industries is to get a note book and write down the TLA's and jargon used in the industry.
Good Luck


Mark Hutton