Is outsourcing a problem in the biomedical engineering / neuroengineering field?
I am a student planning to major in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Neuroscience in hopes of being competitive in the field of neuroengineering. Specifically, I would like to work on the development of neuroprosthetics. I know that outsourcing is a bit of a problem in other engineering fields, so I was wondering if this also holds true for biomedical engineering? I would also like to know about job opportunities in this field. I am hoping that the industry is not too small to be dependable.
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4 answers
Joanna’s Answer
Employment of biomedical engineers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Biomedical engineers likely will see employment growth because of increasing possibilities brought by new technologies and increasing applications to medical equipment and devices.
I suggest going to (https://online-engineering.case.edu/blog/biomedical-engineering-careers) to learn more information about career paths you can take with a Biomedical Engineering degree.
Mark’s Answer
Personally, I would think there will be much less outsourcing. Primarily because of the stiff competition here in 2021 and it's a relatively new field. With agencies like DARPA heavily involved in the research it makes me think that companies will be more likely to keep it in house. I would expect some outsourcing because it's 2021 and everything is global.
Good luck!
Mark
Daniel’s Answer
Joanne is answer is right on the money. The question for me is why are you asking about Outsourcing? Is this is the field where you believe you have strong talents and can be successful based upon the skills you have developed and your natural inclinations? If so, then it makes sense for you to pursue this field along the path Joanna has outlined. If you're asking the question about Outsourcing because of wage suppression, and you want to pursue a lucrative as well as rewarding career, then there are additional considerations. Work for the federal government or its agencies, such as DARPA, is likely to be protected from Outsourcing and the more nefarious insourcing where companies bring foreign workers here on H-1B visas to suppress the wages of citizens. The US has the best schools in your field, so you should aim to go to the very best schools. That means you need the top grades, test scores, and if possible, experience, through activities like science competitions and internships. It also means if you expect to keep ahead of foreign competition for your dream job, you need to be looking at a PhD.
Daniel recommends the following next steps: