INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana University continues to build on recent investments in biosciences by creating three new related degrees at IU Indianapolis, which were approved by the Board of Trustees at its Feb. 20 meeting, along with three other new degrees.
The new biosciences degrees are a part of IU's $250 million investment to advance Indiana as a global leader in this area. The new degrees will prepare students for careers in the industry, which has experienced a 12% increase since 2019.
"In creating these new biosciences degree programs, we are creating the future of IU Indianapolis - a future where academic programs work in tandem with our state-of-the-art research facilities and the state's key biosciences organizations to produce top-tier talent," IU President Pamela Whitten said. "By providing these new pathways, we're empowering students to engage in the unique opportunities Indianapolis has to offer."
The Kelley School of Business will introduce a Master of Science in the business of biotechnology on the Indianapolis campus, the first of its kind in Indiana. The degree will equip students with the necessary business principles, like entrepreneurship and capital formation, to foster research and development, enhance biotechnology manufacturing, and sustain operations in biotechnology industries.
Graduates of this program will be well-positioned for employment at biosciences startups and jobs in a range of biotechnology fields, such as pharmaceuticals and laboratory services.
To support the growing need for biomedical engineers in Indiana and across the nation, the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering at IU Indianapolis will offer a Master of Science in biomedical engineering as part of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics.
This new program is designed to present students with project- and problem-based experimental learning. Students will gain important skills, like critical thinking and problem solving, as they combine coursework in biomedical device engineering and bio-nanotechnology with hands-on lab and computational experience. This degree will strengthen interdisciplinary research through partnerships with the IU Indianapolis' Convergent Bioscience and Technology Institute, Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing, and Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute.
Students seeking advanced degrees in engineering, biology and computational sciences may be interested in this program.
At the undergraduate level, the School of Science at IU Indianapolis will introduce a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry, which will be housed in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. The department has a biochemistry concentration that accompanies the chemistry degree, but a shift to a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry will make the area of study much more visible to students.
The program will include coursework in analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, and mathematics and physics. It will also provide career-relevant experiences throughout the program, preparing students to fill biomedical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology roles or pursue advanced degrees in biomedical and chemical sciences.
"These new degree programs are the latest example of how IU Indianapolis connects the needs of our state to the interests of our students." said Latha Ramchand, executive vice president and chancellor of IU Indianapolis. "As an R1 institution our mission at IU Indianapolis is to graduate the human capital that our region needs and to convert our research into tangible innovation that our community benefits from."
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education must give the degrees final approval.
Over the past year, IU has made significant strides in cementing its position as a leader in biosciences research, and as a resource for biosciences organizations across Indiana. Through strategic initiatives and industry-academic partnerships, the university is expanding translational research that has human impact.
The university recently launched the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, known as IU LAB. Supported by a $138 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., IU LAB will accelerate discovery, innovation and commercialization in biosciences. It will also host degree programs, offer advanced courses for students, and facilitate industry engagement with researchers and students. Last year, the university announced its Joint Center of Excellence for Point of Care Precision Medicine, which aims to transform the health care system and grow Indiana's life science economy.
What they are saying
Ash Soni, dean of the Kelley School of Business: "This new degree will leverage Kelley's considerable strengths in the business of life sciences - whether in operations management, sustainable operations, supply chain management or entrepreneurship - and prepare students with the technical expertise and leadership needed for a wide range of roles in biomedical engineering and related fields. Our Indianapolis campus, which houses our Physician MBA as well as our dual degrees with the School of Medicine and the School of Dentistry, is moreover uniquely suited to complement and bolster this much-needed program."
Joanna Millunchick, dean of the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering: "This program will provide students at the IU Luddy School in Indianapolis with unprecedented opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders, research institutes and key campus partners such as the IU School of Medicine. Students will gain experience in cutting-edge topics such biomedical device engineering, imaging technology and bio-nanotechnology. It will integrate advanced coursework in AI, data science and informatics with hands-on laboratory and computational experiences. In concert with IU's ambitious goals of becoming a nationwide leader in biosciences, we look forward to preparing the scientific leaders of tomorrow for roles in developing the next generation of medical devices and biotechnology."
John DiTusa, dean of the School of Science: "The introduction of a BS program in biochemistry is another step in realizing the vision of IU Indianapolis as a nationwide leader in biosciences. This academic program represents a strategic investment in Indiana's future economic growth as a hub of life sciences and scientific innovation through much-needed workforce development in an important area of STEM. More importantly, it will provide students with the advanced skills, knowledge and experience needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving field that is critical to Indiana's industries such as pharmaceuticals, health care and biotechnology."
