Biological Engineering (BIEN)

BIEN 2810 (3) Biology for Engineers

Develops a basic understanding of the science of biology, including an introduction to the disciplines of biochemistry, cell organization, metabolism, genetics, genomics, molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology and evolution. Provides a basic introduction to several key techniques used in biological engineering laboratories. Uses examples of complex and creative structures engineered by natural processes. Formerly CHEN 2820.

Requisites: Requires prereq or coreq course of CHEN 1201 or CHEN 1211 or CHEM 1113 or CHEM 1400 or MCEN 1024 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering (ENGRU) undergraduates and IUT On Track applicants only.

BIEN 2840 (1-4) Independent Study

Available to sophomores with approval of Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Subject arranged to fit needs of student.

Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours.

BIEN 3800 (3) Fundamentals of Biotechnology

Surveys the five areas of modern biotechnology (human, industrial, agricultural, animal, environmental), highlighting engineering principles in biology in all five areas. Delves into how biology is used to create useful materials and medicines. Imparts a working knowledge of synthetic DNA technology, including recombinant DNA, genome editing, DNA synthesis, and DNA sequencing.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of BIEN 2810 or MCDB 1150 or EBIO 1220 and APPM 1350 or MATH 1300 and CHEN 1201 or CHEN 1211 or CHEM 1113 or CHEM 1400 or MCEN 1024 (all minimum grade C-).

BIEN 3840 (1-4) Independent Study

Available to juniors with approval of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Subject arranged to fit needs of the student.

Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours.

BIEN 4010 (2) Biological Engineering Senior Thesis 1

Provides an opportunity for advanced students to conduct exploratory research in biological engineering.

Requisites: Restricted to College of Engineering (ENGRU) undergraduates only.

BIEN 4020 (2) Biological Engineering Senior Thesis 2

Continuation of BIEN 4010.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of BIEN 4010 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering students only.

BIEN 4520 (3) Biological Process and Product Design

Provides a team-based capstone design experience for biological engineering students. The design synthesis activities, the considerations of numerous options, and the practical application of the fundamentals all need to be integrated from first year courses through to this senior design course. The sequence provides a culmination for all previous chemical and biological engineering courses (transport processes, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, unit operations, etc.). Students are expected to know the basics of fluids, heat transfer, bioseparations, and reactor engineering (kinetics). In BIEN 4520, students will be exposed to design of equipment used for separations and reactions. Students will be taught how to select process units and interconnect them in an overall process flowsheet with the primary goal being to find the optimal design conditions for the best possible design scenario among various conceptualized alternatives. With the exception of cost estimation, process economics, heat integration, se

Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of CHEN 3010 and BIEN 4820 and BIEN 4830 and BIEN 3800 or MCDB 2150 (all minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering majors only.

BIEN 4530 (2) Biological Engineering Design Project

This is the 2nd course in the team-based capstone biodesign sequence of classes. Projects are sponsored by industry and student design teams collaborate with industrial consultants. Projects consider biological process and product design with emphasis on economic analysis. Deliverables include an oral mid-project design review, a final oral presentation and a final written design report.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of BIEN 4520 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering majors only.

BIEN 4801 (3) Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Focuses on the engineering needed to bring therapeutic products derived from living organisms (e.g., proteins, peptides, DNA, RNA) from the production plant to the patient. Covers the challenges of keeping these products "active" as they are stored, shipped, and administered to patients. Formerly CHEN 4801.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of CHEN 3330 and prerequisite or corequisite courses of BIEN 4830 or CHEN 4330 (all minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering majors only.

BIEN 4802 (3) Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication

Tissue engineering demonstrates enormous potential for improving human health and the field of biofabrication has advanced our ability to position cells and materials into 3D configurations for the engineering of new tissues. This course explores principles of tissue engineering and biofabrication, drawing upon diverse fields such as cell biology, material science, and chemical and biological engineering. Current and developing methods of tissue engineering, as well as specific applications will be discussed in the context of these principles. The course will involve review of current literature within this developing field, as well as focus on translational concepts of tissue engineering. Formerly known as CHEN 4802.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: BIEN 5802
Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of BIEN 2810 or MCDB 1150 or EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220 and prerequisite or corequisite of BIEN 4520 or CHEN 4520 or BMEN 4010 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering students only.

BIEN 4803 (3) Metabolic Engineering

Introduces basic concepts in metabolic engineering and explores modern approaches in metabolic and strain engineering. Application areas that will be discussed will include the use of metabolic engineering approaches in biofuels and biorefining as well as biopharmaceutical production. Formerly CHEN 4803.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: BIEN 5803
Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of BCHM 4611 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering majors only.

BIEN 4804 (3) Protein and Enzyme Engineering

This course reviews various applications of protein and enzyme engineering and covers key concepts in protein and enzyme design, including protein structure-function relationships; rational and evolutionary engineering approaches; genetic code expansion; cell-free protein synthesis; computational design; and biophysical methods for protein characterization. Additionally, students gain valuable experience reading, analyzing, and interpreting research results from scientific literature, as well as drafting an original research proposal.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: BIEN 5804
Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of CHEN 3330 and BIEN 2810 and BCHM 4611 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering undergraduates only.

BIEN 4805 (3) Biomaterials

Provides an overview of biomaterials. Covers major classes of materials used in medical applications, properties, degradation mechanisms, and characterization methods, foreign body response, methods to control physiological response to biomaterial surfaces, biocompatibility, biomaterials used in soft and hard tissue replacements, drug delivery devices and tissue engineering, and design criteria for developing a material for a given biological application. Formerly CHEN 4805.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of CHEN 3320 and (BIEN 2810 or MCDB 1150 or EBIO 1220) and CHEM 3311 (all minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering students only.
Recommended: Prerequisite CHEM 3331.

BIEN 4806 (3) Immunoengineering

Examines the fundamentals of immunology and covers engineering approaches to study and control immune reactions and their applications in therapy and diagnostics for infectious disease, cancer, allergy, and autoimmune disease.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: BIEN 5806
Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of BIEN 2810 and prerequisite or corequisite of CHEN 4330 or BIEN 4830 or BMEN 3010 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering students only.

BIEN 4807 (3) Drug Delivery

This course explores drug delivery systems, covering principles, design, development, and optimization to improve efficacy and reduce side effects. Topics include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, targeting strategies, physiological barriers, and approaches to overcome them. Students will study liposomes, micelles, implants, organic/inorganic nanoparticles, and emerging trends like gene-editing delivery, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine. Through case studies, primary literature critique, ethical/regulatory discussions, and group projects, students will propose innovative solutions and gain skills to design next-generation drug delivery systems.

Requisites: Prerequisite of CHEN 2810 and (CHEN 4805 or CHEN 4440 or BMEN 3010) (minimum grade C-).

BIEN 4810 (3) Biological Engineering Laboratory

Involves planning and execution of chemical engineering experiments on mass transfer operations, bioseparations, and biological reactors. Interprets experimental data with theoretical principles and statistical analysis. Emphasizes communication with written memos, full reports and oral presentations.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of BIEN 2810 or MCDB 1150 or (EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220) and CHEN 3010 and BIEN 4830 (all minimum grade C-). Requires a corequisite course of BIEN 4820. Restricted to College of Engineering majors only.

BIEN 4820 (3) Biochemical Separations

Lect. and lab. Presents purification methods, mass transfer coefficients, problems specific to biologicals, and scale-up of processes. Also covers chromatography, phase extraction, supercritical fluids, sedimentation, precipitation, electrophoresis, dialysis, affinity techniques, cell separation, application of separations to bioreactors, and comparison of batch and continuous processes. Formerly CHEN 4820.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of CHEN 3210 and prereq or coreq of CHEN 4330 or BIEN 4830 (all minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering majors only.

BIEN 4830 (3) Biokinetics and Reactor Design

Introduces chemical kinetics, chemical reactor design, and biological kinetics. Involves mass and energy balances for steady-state and transient reactor systems. Also covers residence time distribution, mass transfer, catalytic reactions, multiple steady states in reactors, enzyme kinetics, metabolic networks, and cell growth kinetics.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of CHEN 3330 and CHEN 3210 (all minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering majors only.

BIEN 4831 (1) Biokinetics and Bioreactors Module

Study of biokinetics of enzyme reactions, cell growth and bioproduct formation. Design of batch, semi-batch and continuous bioreactors. Overview of biotechnology industry. Introduction to pharmacokinetics and drug delivery. Requires department approval and a department-approved kinetics and reactor design course. Formerly CHEN 4831.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite course CHEN 3210 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to College of Engineering (ENGRU) undergraduates only.

BIEN 4838 (1-3) Special Topics in Biological Engineering

Examines a special topic in Biological Engineering.

Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours. Allows multiple enrollment in term.
Requisites: Restricted to College of Engineering (ENGRU) undergraduates only.

BIEN 4840 (1-4) Independent Study

Available to seniors with approval of Chemical and Biological Engineering department. Subject arranged to fit needs of student.

Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours. Allows multiple enrollment in term.

BIEN 5150 (3) Biomolecular Kinetics, Transport, and Thermodynamics

Required for the Biological Engineering PhD. This course covers aspects of kinetics, transport, and thermodynamics as they relate to interactions between biomolecules and cells. These core subjects will be introduced within concepts common to cell biology, protein/genetic engineering, and signaling, among others. Undergraduate enrollment with instructor consent only. Formerly CHEN 5150.

Recommended: Prerequisites Introductory biology and/or biochemistry, linear algebra, differential equations, thermodynamics, organic chemistry.

BIEN 5160 (3) Systems Analysis of Cells and Tissues

Required for the Biological Engineering PhD. This course explores how to describe signaling and regulation networks present at the cell and tissue level. Topics include gene expression, stem cell differentiation, homeostasis, and others. Formerly CHEN 5160.

Requisites: Restricted to Chemical Engineering (CHEN) or Biological Engineering (BIEN) graduate students only.
Recommended: Prerequisite prior experience in introductory biology and/or biochemistry, linear algebra, differential equations, thermodynamics, and organic chemistry.

BIEN 5800 (3) Bioprocess Engineering

Reviews the recent developments in the fields of microbiology, molecular genetics, and genetic engineering that are of commercial value and benefit to mankind. Covers engineering implementation of such biological processes. Formerly CHEN 5800.

BIEN 5802 (3) Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication

Tissue engineering demonstrates enormous potential for improving human health and the field of biofabrication has advanced our ability to position cells and materials into 3D configurations for the engineering of new tissues. This course explores principles of tissue engineering and biofabrication, drawing upon diverse fields such as cell biology, material science, and chemical and biological engineering. Current and developing methods of tissue engineering, as well as specific applications will be discussed in the context of these principles. The course will involve review of current literature within this developing field, as well as focus on translational concepts of tissue engineering. Formerly known as CHEN 5802.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: BIEN 4802
Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

BIEN 5803 (3) Metabolic Engineering

Introduces basic concepts in metabolic engineering and explores modern approaches in metabolic and strain engineering. Application areas that will be discussed will include the use of metabolic engineering approaches in biofuels and biorefining as well as biopharmaceutical production.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: BIEN 4803
Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of APPM 2360 and BCHM 4611 (all minimum grade C-). Restricted to graduate students only.

BIEN 5804 (3) Protein and Enzyme Engineering

This course reviews various applications of protein and enzyme engineering and covers key concepts in protein and enzyme design, including protein structure-function relationships; rational and evolutionary engineering approaches; genetic code expansion; cell-free protein synthesis; computational design; and biophysical methods for protein characterization. Additionally, students gain valuable experience reading, analyzing, and interpreting research results from scientific literature, as well as drafting an original research proposal.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: BIEN 4804
Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of CHEN 3320 and BIEN 2810 and BCHM 4611 (minimum grade C-). Restricted to graduate students only.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade

BIEN 5805 (3) Biological Interactions to Biomaterials

Covers major classes of materials used in medical applications. Provide an in-depth view of advanced biomaterial concepts with a focus on biological interactions with materials that relate to protein and cell interactions, the innate and acquired immune response, blood interactions and infection. Formerly CHEN 5805.

Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

BIEN 5806 (3) Immunoengineering

Examines the fundamentals of immunology and covers engineering approaches to study and control immune reactions and their applications in therapy and diagnostics for infectious disease, cancer, allergy, and autoimmune disease.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: BIEN 4806
Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

BIEN 5830 (1) Introduction to Modern Biotechnology

Introduces students to the biotechnology enterprise. Topics include the biotechnology industry and profession, the various academic disciplines of biotechnology, intellectual property, financing, and ethics. Formerly CHEN 5830.

BIEN 5831 (2) Biotechnology Case Studies

Capstone course required of all graduate students in the interdisciplinary graduate biotechnology certificate program. Reviews molecular genetics, product synthesis and purification, economics, intellectual property, and business planning. Working in teams, students present a biotechnology product plan. Formerly CHEN 5831.

Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of CHEN 5830 (minimum grade D-).

BIEN 5838 (1-3) Special Topics in Biological Engineering

Graduate-selected topics courses offered upon demand.

Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours. Allows multiple enrollment in term.
Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

BIEN 5900 (3) Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Incorporates biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, and engineering for application in the pharmaceutical industry. Emphasizes microscale mechanisms affecting drug delivery, bioavailability, and stability. Specific topics include thermodynamics of macromolecular conformational stability, crystallization kinetics, interfacial phenomena, and industrial protein folding. Formerly CHEN 5900.

Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

BIEN 6820 (3) Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals

Covers design and operation of fermentation processes, microbial and enzyme kinetics, multiple substrate and multiple species of fermentation, regulation of enzyme activity, energetics of cellular growth, immobilized enzyme and cell reactors, and transport phenomenain microbial systems and downstream processing. Formerly CHEN 6820.

Requisites: Restricted to Chemistry (CHEM), Chemical Engineering (CHEN), Biological Engineering (BIEN), or Biological Sciences (MCDB) graduate students only.