| Purdue University Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering | |
| Established: | 2004 |
| Faculty: | 30 |
| Head Label: | Dane A. Miller Head |
| Head: | George R. Wodicka |
| Students: | 450 |
| City: | West Lafayette |
| Country: | USA |
| Coor: | 40.4222°N -86.921°W |
| Affiliations: | Purdue University |
| Website: | http://engineering.purdue.edu/BME |
| Address: | 206 S. Martin C. Jischke Dr West Lafayette, IN 47907-2032 |
The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering is Purdue University's school of biomedical engineering. The school offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. It is in a partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine and offers a Doctor of Medicine–Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering combined degree program with that school.[1]
In 1974, Hillenbrand Biomedical Engineering Center was created. The Center was headed by Dr. Leslie A. Geddes and located in Purdue's A.A. Potter Engineering Center.[2] In 1998, the Hillenbrand Biomedical Engineering Center was elevated in status to the Department of Biomedical Engineering within the College of Engineering at Purdue. George R. Wodicka was the department's founding head. After a generous $10 million donation by Norman Weldon, an alumnus of Purdue, and his family, the department was formally expanded into a school of biomedical engineering. The donation provided for hiring additional faculty, research initiatives and other start-up costs.[3] In honor of Weldon's donation, the school is named the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.
In 2006, the Weldon School moved from Potter Center to a new Biomedical Engineering Building on Purdue's campus. The building was renamed the Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering after the former president of Purdue University.
Dr. Geddes remained on staff as a Professor Emeritus until his death in 2009. George R. Wodicka is the head of the School.
The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering focuses research in four signature areas.[4]
In 2006, Purdue University opened a new facility for the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. The building cost $25 million and was financed in part by grants from the Whitaker Foundation and the State of Indiana. The building is located in Purdue's Discovery Park near Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Bindley Bioscience Center, and Lilly Hall of Life Sciences. The building houses the academic and head offices for the School, learning spaces, research labs, faculty offices, conference rooms, and a computer lab. The facility was expanded in 2019.[6]