Rutgers and UMDNJ are located in central New Jersey, "the Medicine Chest of the World". In 2001 more than half of the new drugs approved by the FDA were produced by New Jersey companies. New Jersey also has a vast Medical Device and Biotechnology industry. This proximity to a truly remarkable industrial sector uniquely positions the Department of Biomedical Engineering as a major vehicle for training students for careers in the biomedical and science and engineering industry.

In order to facilitate the transition from the University to the workplace, the Department has several special programs dedicated to this purpose. The newly created administrative position of Associate Chair for Industrial Interactions coordinates these programs which translate into invaluable opportunities for BME students.

Industrial Internship Program
The Industrial Internship program allows both undergraduate and graduate students to apply for 10-week summer internships at a local or national companies. For graduate students the internship usually commences the summer following the second year. Students will go through a formal application process and 10 to 15 students are placed with interested companies. At the end of the summer, students are required to submit a brief description of their learning experience.