Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has appointed Pingkun Yan, Ph.D., the P.K. Lashmet Career Development Chair Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at RPI, as head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. A leader in biomedical imaging, biomechanics, computational medicine, and regenerative medicine, the Department of Biomedical Engineering will be further empowered under Yan’s leadership to advance RPI’s focus on human health and artificial intelligence.

Yan, who joined RPI in 2017, is internationally recognized for his work in AI-driven medical image analysis, diagnostic decision-making, and image-guided intervention. His expertise bridges cutting-edge technology and clinical needs, placing Biomedical Engineering at RPI at the forefront of innovation in health care engineering.

“Over the past decade, Biomedical Engineering at RPI has built remarkable strength through cutting-edge research and innovative education closely linked to real-world medical applications,” said Shekhar Garde, Ph.D., the Thomas R. Farino Jr. ’67 and Patricia E. Farino Dean of the School of Engineering. “Pingkun’s vision aligns with our commitment to translational research and expanding partnerships that bring technology directly into healthcare practice. I am confident the department will reach new heights under his leadership.”  

“The Department of Biomedical Engineering is one of the earliest established BME programs in the United States. For over 50 years, it has made significant contributions to innovative education and technological advancement, producing outstanding academics, industry leaders, and research scientists,” Yan said. “I’m very excited to work with our faculty, staff, and students to build on our strengths and expand our impact in education and healthcare innovation.”  

Yan’s work has earned him numerous honors, including the NSF CAREER award and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Trailblazer award. He is also a 2025-2026 IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) Distinguished Lecturer, and Chair of the IEEE EMBS Technical Committee on Biomedical Imaging and Image Processing (BIIP).  

Under Yan’s leadership, the Department of Biomedical Engineering is well positioned to drive new discoveries at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and data-driven innovation, building on RPI’s legacy of interdisciplinary research and real-world impact.