One of BME's first graduates reflects on how the program strengthened his resume

John Myers (MBioEngr’21) was the first student to graduate from the Biomedical Engineering Program with a thesis-based master’s degree. Now, he has a more competitive edge as he plans his future education and career.

If it wasn’t for the COVID-19 pandemic, John Myers may have never ended up at the University of Colorado Boulder.

After receiving his master’s degree in biochemistry from Oxford University in 2020, Myers thought he would either continue his education or get a job. Opportunities continuously fell through because of the pandemic, until Myers connected with the director of the Biomedical Engineering Program at CU Boulder, Professor Mark Borden.

“I found out about the program and Professor Borden from my father,” Myers explained. “While I was writing up my thesis last year, my parents were trying to help me find opportunities for the following year. My father works at CU, which is part of why he suggested the program to me, to be closer to family during the pandemic.”

Myers’ father, Professor Chris Myers, knows the success of the College of Engineering and Applied Science well. He is currently the chair of the Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering Department at CU Boulder.

Myers said his father encouraged him to get in contact with Borden. Following a discussion with Borden and biomedical engineering Professor Corey Neu, Myers decided to apply. Upon his acceptance, Myers became one of the first people to enroll in the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.

“John was the first MS thesis student,” Borden said. “That requires a formal research component with a written thesis, in addition to the coursework.”

Myers focused his research on the effectiveness of ultrasound contrast agents. He said the Biomedical Engineering Program’s curriculum had a great impact on his understanding in that area of study.

“In the sense of what courses I could sign up for, it was quite a great experience,” Myers said. “Coming off an education in both the United States and England, I had some background missing in biomedical imaging. The good thing about being in the Biomedical Engineering Program at CU Boulder was that there were opportunities to try to fill in some of those gaps.”

Myers took classes in life sciences and electrical engineering to broaden his perspective. He said adding these subjects to his resume makes him more competitive when applying to PhD programs or jobs.

“I still don't have a physics degree for example, but I have a much broader background in some of the abilities that someone with a physics degree might have, especially in my area of interest,” Myers explained.

With his second master’s degree and an abundance of new knowledge in-hand, Myers said he is now looking for a doctorate position or a job in research.

“My dream kind of position would be to just to find a group I enjoy working for,” Myers said. “That’s the most important bit, to be able to have a good working relationship with whomever you have to work for.”