Bioprocessing
Bioprocessing makes use of microorganisms, cells in culture or enzymes to manufacture products. Humans have been using such processes for baking bread, making cheese and fermenting alcoholic beverages since prehistoric times. Advances in recombinant DNA technology allow the production of an enormous variety of protein-based therapeutics that are having a profound impact on the quality of life for severely ill patients. Bioprocessing is also key to several emerging industries and technologies, including the production of renewable biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, therapeutic stem cells, gene therapy vectors, and new vaccines. The Food and Drug Administration imposes stringent regulations on bioprocessing in the biotech industry; this highly regulated environment has an enormous impact on plant operations and product manufacture.
Topics in the Curriculum
Bioprocess Engineering Fundamentals
Bioprocess Design and Economics
Unit Operations and Process Flow Diagrams
Bioprocess Operations Management
Bioreactor Design and Operations
Microbial Fermentation
Mammalian and Stem Cell Culture
Bioseparations
Bioprocess Development & Scale-up
Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Recombinant Protein Production
Protein Recovery, Purification and Analysis
Beer and Wine Fermentation
Viral Vaccines and Gene Therapy Vector Production
Renewable Biofuels Production
Course Offerings for the Bioprocessing Career Focus Track
Technical Courses
Four credits of technical courses over both semesters are required for the Bioprocessing track.
Required
ALS 421 Mammalian Cell Biotechnology Laboratory (1 credit)
ALS 422 Bioseparations Laboratory (1/2 credit)
ALS 423 Fundamentals of Commercial Biotech Operations (1/2 credit)
ALS 424 Business Operations (1 credit)
ALS 427 Mammalian Cell Biotechnology (1/2 credit)
ALS 429 Bioseparations Engineering and Science (1/2 credit)