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. 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. 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.
Research areas
The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering focuses research in four signature areas.
Bioengineering Interdisciplinary Training in Diabetes Research Program
Interdisciplinary Training Program in Auditory Neuroscience
MS Options
MS Biomedical Engineering
Fifth-Year Combined BS/MS in Biomedical Engineering
Fifth-Year Combined BS/MS Professional Master's
MS BME Professional Master's
Concurrent MS BME and MBA
Combined MS BME and MD
MSE/MS with Concentration in Biomedical Engineering
Facilities
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.
