Grad Student Falls to Death

A 23-year-old dual degree graduate student in biomedical engineering and medicine died early Saturday morning after falling from a third floor balcony of an off-campus Brighton apartment.

Babur Khalique, a third-year medical student who had recently started his training in biomedical engineering, was visiting friends at 5 Walbridge Road when he fell to the street at about 1 a.m. Khalique was taken to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators from the Boston Police Department have ruled the death accidental.

Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore said the Boston University was deeply saddened by the tragedy.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Babur Khalique,” says Elmore. “His death is a great loss.”

Karen Antman, Dean and Provost of the School of Medicine, said Khalique’s death was a tragic loss. She said Khalique was “a brilliant and engaged student, and a cherished member of our community.”

Khalique, whose hometown is Pittstown, New Jersey, attended undergraduate school at Drexel University. He was one of two student representatives on the School of Medicine’s pre-clerkship curriculum sub-committee of the medical education committee.

In a note to medical school associates, School of Medicine leaders described Khalique as “a warm, outgoing and active member of the community, as well as a scientist with a shining intellect.”

Counseling is available.

This BU Today story was written by Art Jahnke.