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What is the best way to become a prosthetics and bionics engineer?

I am already majoring in mechanical engineering, but should I pick another field for grad school, like robotics? #engineering

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Glenn’s Answer

taking classes (undergrad or when you get to grad school) in Bioengineering. The focus is on how to apply engineering principles and designs to biological problems including bionics, transducers, artificial limbs, medical imaging, etc. There will be a combination of electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, math, and even anatomy and/or medicine. Bioengineering programs -- as either majors or minors -- exist at most major universities now and you should be able to take an intro class or two to get familiar with the paths.
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Sergei’s Answer

There are a few routes you can take. I highly suggest making a mind map or a flow chart to see your options visually and how much experience and what it will take to get there. That said, there are at least three solid options : #1 go straight into grad. school, #2 go into industry right out of school to gain experience, or #3 go into industry and work on your skills in your spare time. Option #1 : If you go to graduate school, look for ones with a rehabilitation related robotics program such as USFs' in Tampa, FL. Option #2 : Another option is to use your time as the entry level to gain relevant experience. Option #3 : Or, do the entry level job not related to what you like, learn in your spare time, and file for patents which relate to that field and then reach out to robotics companies (which is good if you know how to invent robots). My opinion is to combine options #2 and #3 as best as possible. In other words, go into industry, try to find a job somewhat or closely related so you can apply those to your personal projects and then file patents and find a way into a job you will enjoy while getting paid for hopefully relative experience ( although it's tough right out of school to get a job matching your expectations with experience) . Every job, good or bad, gives you relevant experience so just pull the trigger and don't be afraid to decide and just move forward. My main advice is that if you cannot see yourself waking up and doing the very thing you want to go to graduate school for then I would really think about graduate school. That said, my best advice is to get a robotics kit, like this one : https://amzn.to/2FcyI1O and do youtube tutorials. And see how you like that type of inventing. There are many different ways to invent and every profession as a hint of inventing. Good luck -

Sergei recommends the following next steps:

Make a flow chart / mind map about different avenues you can take. With number of years, Universities, types of companies you would like working for, what you would like to work on and so on. Then make an excel file comparing parameters important to you(like those mentioned previously) regarding the avenues you can take.
Ask yourself, if you would be just as happy doing it in your spare time, and if so , then just find any old job and grind through.
If you want to learn on your own than watch this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XVy-NW0qWU&t=53s & Get the Robotics Kit : https://amzn.to/2JofkBN
Never underestimate time reflecting on what you really want to accomplish professionally and WHY (i.e. your core values, the values of the company, the values of your ideas/inventions).
Stay hopeful
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