ALS 331: Bioprocess Engineering Principles
Course Number: ALS 331
Course Name: Bioprocess Engineering Principles
Year: First-year
Semester: Spring
No. Units: .5
Faculty/Instructor(s): Matthew S. Croughan
Description
Graduates in molecular biology, bioengineering, and many other fields can potentially take advantage of many exciting and lucrative career opportunities in biotechnology development, manufacturing, commercial operations, business development, licensing, and investment fund management. To access such opportunities quickly and successfully, it is valuable to understand the basic principles of bioprocess engineering. Furthermore, a basic background in bioprocess engineering can be applied not only to a career in pharmaceutical biotechnology, but also to a career in many other areas of biotechnology, such as biofuels.
Bioprocess engineering is one the oldest and most successful professions. Success in large-scale recombinant protein manufacturing is a recent manifestation of a long and glorious history. Bioprocess engineering was and often still is a major skill set among those called brewer, winemaker, or in ancient times, wizard or sorcerer. The ability to successfully employ "the magic" of fermentation enriches one's life, no matter one's profession.
The primary goal of this course is to teach the principles of bioprocess engineering in a way that is accessible to biological scientists, bioengineers, and others who have little or no background in chemical engineering.
Prerequisites
Intended for first-year MBS students. Also, open to PPC and PPM students. Non-KGI students must obtain permission of the instructor.
Topics Covered
Introductory lectures
Case studies in bioprocessing, from beverages to recombinant proteins to biofuels
Historical progress and current opportunities in bioprocessing
Engineering calculations and analysis
Two phase model of performance trends
Bioprocess engineering principles, Part 1
Fluid flow and mixing
Hydrodynamic effects on cells
Scale-up and economies of scale
Midterm exam, currently scheduled for Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Management Strategies in Bioprocess Development and Manufacturing
Optimum learning strategies
Organizational structures
Resource requirements
Standardization (platforms)
Bioprocess Engineering Principles, Part 2
Material balances and dynamic analyses
Process flow diagrams
Mass transfer
Unit operations
Biochemical reaction kinetics
Cell growth and metabolism
Bioreactor analysis and design
Future of Bioprocessing
Final exam, currently scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Learning Objectives
In completing this course, students gain the following:
a. Understanding of the successful, interdisciplinary approach to bioprocessing.
b. Knowledge of classic bioprocessing case studies and historical developments
c. The ability to employ engineering calculations and an engineering approach to the analysis and presentation of data, including performance trends and predictions
d. The ability to employ steady-state material balances and process flow diagrams
e. The ability to use certain fundamental concepts of bioprocess engineering, in the areas of fluid mechanics, mass transfer, unit operations, biochemical reaction kinetics, cell growth and metabolism, bioreactor design, and scale up.
f. Knowledge of successful management strategies in bioprocess development and manufacturing, including those used to determine resource requirements, optimum learning strategies, and optimum organizational structures.
Grading
Problem sets and class participation: 33.33%
Mid-term exam: 33.33%
Final exam: 33.34%