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Biomedical Engineer Interview Questions

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Biomedical Engineer interview questions and answers.

  1. What educational or professional certifications make you qualified for this role? See answer
  2. What is your experience working in the field of biomedical engineering? See answer
  3. How do you conduct analysis during biomedical or other related projects? See answer
  4. What is your experience building or designing a biomedical device? See answer
  5. What do you consider as the moral and ethical limits of biomedical engineering? See answer
  6. Why does a position at our biomedical company seem attractive to you? See answer
  7. Can you tell us about myoelectric control and its relevance to designing prosthetics? See answer
  8. What is the relevance of bioinstrumentation to biomedical engineering? See answer
  9. What is a microarray, and what is its relevance to biomedical engineering? See answer
  10. Can you explain systems physiology? See answer
  11. Tell us about pathogens, some types, and their characteristics See answer
  12. What do you understand by DNA fingerprinting, and what is its relationship with therapeutic cloning? See answer
  13. Do you consider yourself an engineer first or a medical practitioner? See answer
  14. Can you identify three medical imaging technologies that you’re familiar with and their relevance?
  15. Explain the concept of flow control and its relevance to biomedical engineering 
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Biomedical Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

What educational or professional certifications make you qualified for this role?

This question aims to verify that a candidate has the required educational background to deliver in the workplace. This is important because biomedical engineering is a versatile field that accommodates people from various disciplines, such as software engineering, medicine, and electrical engineering. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Relevant college education, such as bachelor's or master's degree
  • Work-study or apprenticeship experience
  • A diverse background

Example:

"I have a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from a top-ranked university. I've also completed various work-study and apprenticeship programmes to gain knowledge about medical technology. I combine this with a thorough understanding of biology and chemistry."

What is your experience working in the field of biomedical engineering?

You can ask this question to determine what experience a candidate possesses in specific areas of biomedical engineering. Although experience shouldn't be a reason to disqualify a candidate, it's always a plus when a candidate has relevant experience. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Interest in a relevant field
  • Experience with other companies
  • Ability to work in a team

Example:

"Over the past three years, I've worked as part of the research and development team of a biomedical company. We undertook various projects on improving the quality of prosthetic devices and other medical devices. Before that, I took part in an apprenticeship programme that allowed me to develop my interest in bioprosthetic devices."

How do you conduct analysis during biomedical or other related projects?

This question serves to examine a candidate's ability to explore and evaluate information during biomedical projects. This ability is vital because biomedical engineering is a scientific field that requires empirical analysis to arrive at solutions. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Understanding of biomedical analysis
  • Ability to research 
  • Ability to organise tasks

Example:

"I begin with the planning stage, where I determine the phases or steps and tasks and activities needed to achieve my objective within budget and a set time frame. I then estimate the outcome of my actions. After that, I begin researching and investigating to increase knowledge of existing processes. I also examine facts to identify causes or support for my ideas."

What is your experience building or designing a biomedical device?

You can replace this question with specific tasks that you want such candidates to complete upon hire. This kind of question helps you determine whether a candidate has successfully performed a similar job in the past, which improves their ability to work seamlessly when hired. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • History working on similar tasks
  • Deep understanding of the field
  • Confidence about the means to deliver on a task

Example:

"In my previous employment, my team and I worked on creating a functional artificial heart. I had earlier researched and designed a prototype during my college education. So, it was an opportunity to improve on my earlier design and develop a biomedical tech for commercial application."

What do you consider as the moral and ethical limits of biomedical engineering?

Biomedical engineering has various ethical and moral implications, and this question helps determine a candidate's ethical standards. It's vital to find a balance between innovation and ethics, and you can evaluate a candidate's ability to do that with this question. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Knowledge of professional limitations 
  • Understanding of ethics
  • Recognition of the implication of unethical conducts on the business

Example:

"I'm excited by the thoughts of improving human capabilities and life through mechanical devices. However, I recognise that there are professional limitations that I must abide by to protect the integrity of the profession and, of course, the company."

Why does a position at our biomedical company seem attractive to you?

This question helps you determine a candidate's motivation for applying to the company, their knowledge about the company, and the value they can offer. In some cases, you can vary this question to reflect the likely contribution that motivates a candidate's application. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Knowledge of the company and its activities 
  • Ability to research
  • Passion for the company's goals

Example:

"I'm aware that your company specialises in the development of artificial limbs, which is my area of interest. Your organisation provides the perfect opportunity to contribute positively to improving the lives of people, as I believe I'll have the necessary resources to develop new products while also meeting company goals."

Can you tell us about myoelectric control and its relevance to designing prosthetics?

This is a specific technical question that allows you to test a candidate's expertise regarding artificial limbs. Their response shows you their understanding of prosthetic design and their experience using myoelectric control as a process during artificial limb design. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Knowledge of prosthetics development
  • Specific interest in artificial limbs 
  • Deep understanding of biomedical engineering

Example:

“Myoelectric control involves controlling prosthetic attachment to a limb using signals from a residual limb. For instance, a mechanical device receives signal from the skin around the limbs following detection by circuits and transmission by circuits. Typically, these technologies aid the movement and actuation of artificial limbs.”

Can you identify three medical imaging technologies that you're familiar with and their relevance?

This is a question that allows you to determine the technical knowledge of a candidate on a specific aspect of biomedical engineering. Usually, you should ask this question if medical imaging is a vital part of the job description. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Experience using medical imaging technology
  • In-depth knowledge of biomedical engineering
  • Professionalism

Example:

"Although various medical imaging technologies are relevant to healthcare, three popular technologies are computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. They enable doctors to monitor a treatment's effectiveness and adjust existing protocols when necessary. They are instrumental to improved medical care for patient across the world."

What is the relevance of bioinstrumentation to biomedical engineering?

Biomedical engineering involves the use of technology and tools to improve quality of life and health. This question allows you to identify if a candidate has conducted thorough research before coming for the interview. It also tests their technical proficiency in biomedical engineering. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Research capabilities 
  • Understanding of engineering and applied technologies
  • Experience in the subject 

Example:

"Bioinstrumentation involves the use of specific tools, instruments, and technology to develop biomechanical devices and treat diseases and injuries. It's at the foundation of biomedical engineering as it maximizes engineering methods and principles to improve quality of healthcare. Over the last three years, this has been the core process I used across my projects."

What is a microarray, and what is its relevance to biomedical engineering?

A thorough understanding of medical principles is a core requirement for candidates in biomedical engineering. This is a technical question that allows you to determine the qualifications and proficiency of a candidate in medical and related topics. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Understanding of medical concepts
  • Balance of skills and knowledge across both healthcare and engineering fields
  • Willingness to learn

Example:

"A microarray refers to an array that supports the spotting of DNA as a matrix. They are relevant for various purposes, such as identification of alternative splicing, single nucleotide polymorphism detection, gene expression profiling, and other genomic or DNA studies. It supports simultaneous genetic study, which aids data gathering during projects."

Can you explain systems physiology?

It's vital that biomedical engineers have a thorough understanding of key concepts within the profession and their relevance to the field. This question allows you to test a candidate's knowledge of a cogent biomedical principle and its relevance to the experimentation and modelling of biomedical devices. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • In-depth understanding of principles of biomedical engineering
  • Prosthetics and pharmaceutical development
  • Professionalism 

Example:

"It involves the study of the systems and their functions within living organisms. It examines human systems at a microscopic level to identify the functioning of metabolic systems, disease response, skin healing, and other factors that aid biomedical devices and pharmaceutical products' development. It can help us design safer devices and drugs because it provides insight into the potential effects of these products on users."

Explain the concept of flow control and its relevance to biomedical engineering

This question relates to the efficient production of biomedical devices. It allows you to gauge a candidate's knowledge of production processes. It's very relevant if you're hiring into a management or leadership role within a biomedical company. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Knowledge of industrial processes, production methods, and workflow 
  • Professionalism
  • Experience managing production processes

Example:

"Flow control refers to the optimisation of production technology through the efficient flow of materials throughout the production process. The goal is to improve productivity during the production of biomedical devices while achieving cost-savings advantages. For instance, in my previous employment, we ordered raw materials based on needs to reduce storage cost."

Tell us about pathogens, some types, and their characteristics

Biomedical engineers must balance their knowledge of key engineering principles and their understanding of medical concepts. This question allows you to gauge whether a candidate has struck the right balance. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Understanding of medical and engineering concepts
  • Interest in the medical aspect of biomedical engineering
  • Willingness to learn

Example:

"Pathogens refer to organisms that feed on other organisms for food, and they're associated with diseases. Usually, their mode of transportation includes indirect or direct contact, blood, sexual contact, fecal-oral route, breast milk and other bodily fluids, and airborne. The major types of pathogens include viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens."

What do you understand by DNA fingerprinting, and what is its relationship with therapeutic cloning?

Biomedical engineers must have the necessary technical skills and knowledge to maintain proper operations. This question allows you to test a candidate's understanding of key operations and processes in biomedical engineering. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Knowledge of operational processes 
  • Confidence in the processes needed to complete projects
  • Ability to research

Example:

"DNA fingerprinting involves using DNA sequences to identify an individual. It is most relevant to criminal forensics, although it's also relevant to genealogy. On the other hand, therapeutic cloning involves the duplication of a DNA strand through embryos containing stem cells. This process applies to regenerative medicine."

Do you consider yourself an engineer first or a medical practitioner?

This question allows you to determine the specific area that interests a candidate. Usually, while some candidates' interests lie in their medical contribution, for some, it lies in their contribution to the field of engineering. With this information, you can hire a balanced workforce that satisfies both areas. What to look for in a successful answer:

  • Balance in their knowledge and skills 
  • Recognition of the relevance of both fields
  • Clarity of thought

Example:

"I studied engineering in college, so I perhaps consider myself an engineer. However, I recognise the importance of medicine and the integral role it plays in biomedical engineering. This is why I've studied biology extensively. Today, I now apply the knowledge gained from this study to design functional medical devices."

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