UR has not established a department with new faculty positions within the college in 25 years. The department of brain and cognitive sciences was created in 1995 at UR by splitting up the psychology department. In 1961, UR was one of the first three institutions nationwide to establish a training program in biomedical engineering. One year later, the university developed a new undergraduate program. Its first three students graduated last year.
Biomedical engineering is the fastest-growing major on campus.
UR has created seven new faculty positions in biomedical engineering. About 40 faculty members from the engineering and medical schools will be associated with the department, said Richard Waugh, UR professor of pharmacology and physiology who has been director of the school's biomedical engineering program. The establishment of the department could lead to construction of new facilities on the River Campus and at the medical school, Waugh said. We believe if universities establish these departments, they will attract a large number of the most talented young people. In addition, the foundation has given research grants to individual faculty members.