
The BME Grad Podcast
Hosted by the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC and NC State, this podcast provides Biomedical Engineering students and recent graduates early-career advice. Listen to guests discuss job roles, professional advice, and the value of a biomedical engineering education.
Latest episodes

Mar 6, 2025 • 28min
10 - FDA, Biodesign, and Startups with Craig Nichols
In this first video edition of The BME Grad Program, we have Craig Nichols, an alumnus of the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. Craig is a VP of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at with SonoVascular, which provides therapeutic ultrasound-Based solutions for vascular care.Devin and Craig cover his experience as an FDA lead reviewer, attending Stanford's Biodesign program, and what it was like to work in a local startup called InnAVasc. New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Feb 21, 2025 • 36min
9 - Spring Interview Preparation and the Job Application Process with Colleen McGowan
Industry Advisor Colleen McGowan is back to discuss important tips for biomedical engineers in the spring season of their job search and placement. Knowing what timeline you should follow for your first job out of college (especially as it gets closer to graduation) can be overwhelming and confusing, so we hope this episode helps bring some guidance and clarity to the process. Through this episode, Colleen and Devin cover what interview questions to prepare for in your interview, introduce ways to negotiate entry-level salaries, provide advice on how big of a net to cast when applying for jobs, and discuss how to network and build relationships with those that are already working in a role you're interested in.New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Feb 6, 2025 • 24min
8 - The Intersection of Law School and Biomedical Engeering with Audrey Cooke
Have you ever thought about going to law school after graduating from a biomedical engineering undergraduate program? Meet one of our alumna, Audrey Cooke, who has done just that!
In this episode, Audrey and Devin discuss how biomedical engineering and law intersect and how her undergraduate experience prepared her for her legal academic career. Other topics include how to transition from biomedical engineering to law school, how to prepare for the LSATs, and other valuable post grad advice from a recent graduate.
New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Jan 23, 2025 • 34min
7 - Clinical Trials Management with Ava Cook and Maya Cohn
Welcome back to The BME Grad Podcast! We hope you all had a restful winter break. We are excited to jump back into season 4 with an episode on clinical trial management with Ava Cook and Maya Cohn.
Ava has experience in clinical trials as an intern with Icon, a contract research organization, while Maya has experience in clinical trials with biotech company Regeneron. Devin Hubbard invited our guests to the podcast to discuss clinical research organizations, why biomedical engineers are uniquely suited to working in clinical trials, and how to find roles in this field.
New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Dec 5, 2024 • 29min
6 - Wellness for Biomedical Engineers with Jason Franz
Just in time for the start of final exams for enrolled biomedical engineers, we're releasing an episode all about well-being. Jason Franz, associate professor and Joint BME's well-being director, joins us in the booth to talk about community, wellness, resilience, self-care, and managing expectations while on our career journey.
New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. The podcast will be on break during the winter holidays but will resume in January 2025. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Nov 14, 2024 • 28min
5 - Salary Negotiation and Strategic Early Career Development with Barbara Senich
We are excited to interview Barbara Senich for today's episode! Barbara has more than 25 years of experience in the biotech industry, including working for pharmaceutical companies like Merck and Roche.
As an expert in strategic thinking and marketing, Barbara provides guidance in this episode for students on negotiating salary offers in their first job. Other topics discussed include how to approach marketing yourself through the interview process, how to determine what salary level is appropriate for your early-career needs, and the first steps to consider when onboarding as a new employee.
New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Oct 31, 2024 • 28min
4 - An Episode for Seniors in Biomedical Enginneering: What Should You Plan For?
Colleen McGowan is back in the podcast studio with advice specifically for seniors in a biomedical engineering program.
Topics covered include whether you should go out of state for your first job, how to tailor your resume for each position you apply for, a discussion on AI tools used in applicant screening, and whether recruiters can help connect you to your first job.
New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Oct 17, 2024 • 25min
3 - State of the Joint Department Address with Chair Paul Dayton
Our host, Devin Hubbard, sits down with the chair and head of our Joint Department, Paul Dayton. This episode covers the history of our department, where the department sits in rankings and where we're heading in our future growth. If you're just getting to know us as a department, this is a great episode to start.
Are you a biomedical engineering student (or prospective student) attending the 2024 BMES Conference? Please stop by and visit our booth!
New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Oct 3, 2024 • 24min
2 - Industry Advisor Colleen McGowan on Early Career Advice for Sophomores and Juniors
Colleen McGowan is one of Joint BME's Industry Advisors. She specializes in helping students transition from their academic experience into their industry careers. Colleen also facilitates networking connections between industry and our biomedical engineering program.
Devin and Colleen talk about how to polish your resume, how and where to apply for internships or jobs, and how to use social media and in-person networking to prioritize your career relationships.
New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.

Sep 19, 2024 • 23min
1 - All About Co-Ops with Reggie Smith, a Co-Op Ambassador
We are launching Season 4 with our most-requested topic: Co-ops! Reggie Smith has extensive experience working in co-ops while studying as a biomedical engineer. Host Devin delves into the co-op process with Reggie, including how to know if a co-op is right for you.
New episodes of The BME Grad Podcast are released every two weeks. Follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram @jointbme or @thebmegradpodcast, or find us at thebmegradpodcast.com to know when a new episode is live.