Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Keating-Crawford Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chair:
William F. Schneider
Richard and Ellen Stanley Professor of Energy Systems Engineering:
Joule Bergerson
Donald and Susan Rice Professor of Engineering:
Merlin L. Bruening
Bayer Corporation Professor of Engineering:
Hsueh-Chia Chang
John K. and Regina C. Collegiate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Yamil Colón (Director of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement)
Tony and Sarah Earley Collegiate Associate Professor of Energy and the Environment:
Alexander Dowling
Dunn Family Teaching Professor of Chemical Engineering
Victoria Goodrich
Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Engineering:
Edward J. Maginn
Bernard Keating-Crawford Professor in Chemical Engineering:
Nosang Myung
Coyle Mission Collegiate Professor of Engineering:
Brett Savoie
Sheehan Family Collegiate Associate Professor of Engineering:
Jennifer L. Schaefer
Keating-Crawford Collegiate Associate Professor of Biomolecular Engineering:
Yichun Wang
Keating-Crawford Collegiate Professor of Engineering:
Matthew J. Webber
Professors:
Basar Z. Bilgicer (Director of Graduate Admissions); Paul Bohn (emeritus), Joan Brennecke (emerita); Thomas Degnan (emeritus); Rulian Guo; Jason C. Hicks; Peter Kilpatrick (emeritus); David T. Leighton Jr.; Mark J. McCready; Paul J. McGinn; William A. Phillip; Mark Stadtherr (emeritus); William Strieder (emeritus); Eduardo Wolf (emeritus)
Associate Professors:
Davide Hill (emeritus); Jonathan K. Whitmer (Director of Graduate Studies); Jeremiah J. Zartman
Assistant Professors:
Gabriel Burks; Jin Huang; Rev. Bryan Paulsen, S.J.
Research Professor:
Alexander Mukasyan (emeritus)
Associate Research Professor:
Satyajyoti Senapati
Assistant Research Professor:
Yong Zhang
Teaching Professors:
Troy J. Vogel (Director of Undergraduate Studies); Salma Saddawi (emerita)
Associate Teaching Professors:
Jennifer Ehren; Tanyel Kiziltepe
Program of Studies
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers programs of study leading to the degrees of bachelor of science in chemical engineering, and doctor of philosophy.
The traditional role for chemical engineers of providing the principal technical guidance for the chemical and petroleum industries has been greatly augmented in recent years. Today, chemical engineers apply fundamental principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology with modern computational tools to challenges spanning human health, energy, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies. Their work ranges from developing biopharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, biomanufacturing processes, and food processing that improve human health to advancing sustainable energy systems, environmentally responsible manufacturing, semiconductor technologies, consumer products, and the efficient production of chemicals and materials. In all of these areas, complex processes involving the transformation of matter and energy occur and require a strong science foundation.
The undergraduate program at Notre Dame is notable for its combination of a strong fundamental focus in chemical engineering courses with a broad humanities and science education provided in courses other than chemical engineering. The science and humanities courses prepare students both for the study of chemical engineering and to understand complex problems of today which need consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. Our intention in emphasizing fundamentals is to develop students’ intellect and equip them with enduring knowledge in chemical engineering and related fields. Thus, our undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum provides students with preparation for careers in chemical engineering, biomolecular engineering, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, sustainability, and related fields, but also for a lifetime of learning and a lifelong career in areas that may include law, medicine, or business.
Program Goals
Students who have graduated in Chemical Engineering at Notre Dame have successfully pursued a wide range of career paths. The faculty believe that this has resulted from the interests of students who enter our program and is facilitated by our emphasis on fundamental aspects of chemical engineering. Consistent with the mission of the University, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering program seeks to develop students who:
- Pursue knowledge and commensurate understanding and critically evaluate the consequences of these.
- Communicate clearly and effectively.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the art and science of chemical engineering with a strong understanding of the fundamental principles of pure and engineering sciences on which chemical engineering practice is based.
- Appreciate their social and moral responsibilities both within their careers in engineering and through service in their communities.
- Understand how chemical engineering connects with other major disciplines to produce the goods and services needed by society.
Within the chemical engineering degree program, students can complete concentrations in materials, energy, and biomolecular engineering. A suggested course sequence for students interested in going to medical school is also available.
More than one-third of the chemical engineering undergraduates participate in research activities with faculty and graduate students at some time in their careers in areas such as advanced materials, ionic liquids, separations, biomaterials, microfluidic devices, catalysis, fuel cells, and drug delivery techniques.
Further details about the chemical engineering program may be found at cbe.nd.edu.
Graduate Level Courses
Certain graduate courses are open to advanced undergraduates with permission from the department chair or director of undergraduate studies, and the course instructor. Students interested in graduate studies are encouraged to explore this option.
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers their courses under the subject code of: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE). Courses associated with their academic programs may be found below. The scheduled classes for a given semester may be found at classearch.nd.edu.
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE)
CBE 20255 Introduction to Chemical Engineering Analysis (3 Credit Hours)
This is a foundation course in which the students learn to apply the concepts of material and energy balances to problems involving chemical processes, biological systems and environmental phenomena. Within this context, they learn problem-solving techniques and acquire a working knowledge of phase equilibria, physical properties, and computer applications.
Prerequisites: (MATH 10560 or MATH 10092 or MATH 10460 or MATH 10860) and (CHEM 10171 or CHEM 10172 or CHEM 10182) and (PHYS 10310 or PHYS 10093)
Corequisites: CBE 22255
CBE 20258 Numerical and Statistical Analysis (3 Credit Hours)
Algorithms for solving algebraic (e.g., Gaussian Elimination, PLU decomposition, etc.) and differential equations (e.g., Runge-Kutta, Shooting methods) are derived and implemented using Matlab. Statistics and error analysis constitute a significant part of the course.
Prerequisites: CBE 20255
Corequisites: CBE 22258
CBE 20260 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I (3 Credit Hours)
The course provides an introduction to modern applied thermodynamics, with a focus on aspects relevant to chemical engineers. It begins with the first law energy balance, followed by the development of the second law entropy balance. Thermodynamic constitutive equations for gases and liquids are developed from a molecular-level perspective, followed by applications involving thermodynamic cycles and energy conversion.
Prerequisites: CBE 20255
Corequisites: CBE 22260
CBE 20261 Science of Eng. Materials (3 Credit Hours)
This is an introductory course that examines the relationship between the structure, processing, and properties of engineering materials. Common engineering materials, including steel, concrete, ceramics, and polymers are discussed. Mechanical, chemical, electrical, and magnetic properties of various materials are examined. The process dependence of microstructural development and defects levels are described.
CBE 20280 Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Thermodynamics I (3 Credit Hours)
The course provides an introduction to modern applied thermodynamics, with topics selected for chemical engineers who have an interest in biological and physiological systems. It begins with the first law energy balance, followed by the development of the second law entropy balance. These are used to provide insight and solve problems that arise in e.g., power cycles, physiological processes and chemical production. Thermodynamic constitutive equations for gases and liquids are developed from a molecular-level perspective and applied to the prediction of physical and chemical properties of pure substances.
Corequisites: CBE 22280
CBE 20290 Career Choices for Engineers (1 Credit Hour)
A seminar series featuring selected speakers who are employed or consult with high tech business enterprises of both national and global involvement. The presentations and open symposium format will emphasize business ethics, competitive pressures, people skills, and most importantly, career opportunities for engineering graduates. This course is repeatable and the Notre Dame Alumni speakers will be different each semester.
Course may be repeated.
CBE 22255 Introduction to Chemical Engineering Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial for Introduction to Chemical Engineering.
Corequisites: CBE 20255
CBE 22258 Numerical and Statistical Analysis Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial Sessions for Computer Methods CBE20258
Corequisites: CBE 20258
CBE 22260 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial for Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I
Prerequisites: CBE 20255
Corequisites: CBE 20260
CBE 22280 Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Thermodynamics I Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial for CBE 20280
Corequisites: CBE 20280
CBE 24255 Bioprocess Engineering Principles (3 Credit Hours)
This module will provide students with an overview of the fundamental principles and concepts involved in Bioprocess Engineering. The introductory lectures will focus on the importance of bioprocess engineering in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, food processing and environmental sectors. The types of microorganisms involved in industrial bioprocesses and an overview of the upstream and downstream bioprocessing will be examined. The module will examine the production of industrially important products like antibiotics, alcohol and foodstuffs. It will introduce the key role of bioprocesses in sustainability and circular bio-economy. The module will provide students with an introduction to quantitative aspects of cell growth and stoichiometry as a foundation for bioreaction engineering.
CBE 24257 ChE Analysis (3 Credit Hours)
ChE Analysis
CBE 24261 Material Science and Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This is an introductory course to give students a foundation knowledge on the science and engineering of materials. The course will apply the basics of physics and chemistry to the properties of materials. Students will learn how atomic and microscopic properties affect the macroscopic levels, how materials structures can be engineered to achieve desired properties, and what unique tools are used to study materials properties.
Atomic bonding of materials; crystal structure and defects; mechanical properties of materials; phase diagrams and phase transformations; heat treatment of metals; processing and applications of metallic materials. On successful completion of the course, students will be able to: 1.Analyze key physical and mechanical behaviors of classical engineering materials. 2.Explain underlying mechanisms for material properties based on atomic structure, bonding, and crystallography. 3.Explain relationships between processing parameters and associated mechanical properties and phenomena (e.g., modulus, ductility, strengthening). 4.Identify appropriate materials with specific physical and mechanical properties for suitable engineering applications.
CBE 24262 Introduction to Biomaterials (3 Credit Hours)
To provide a comprehensive review on different classes of biomaterials used in medical devices (Language of instruction: English) Learning Outcomes Discuss what biomedical engineers do in their professional activities and state the practical applications of biomedical engineering in the medical device and healthcare industries. Specify biomaterials for use in a range of biomedical applications and propose a rational for the use of specific biomaterials in a range of clinical applications. Demonstrate awareness in methods of bulk, surface, ex vivo, in vitro and in vivo characterisation of biomaterials and design experimental work to evaluate the properties of a biomaterial for a specific application and interpret data. Discuss the complex interactions between biomaterials and biological systems and demonstrate awareness in the clinical modes of failure of biomaterials. Independently perform literature surveys using scientific search engines to source peer-review publications and acquire technical knowledge related to the course content and assignments. State the importance of professional integrity; ethical practice in research and industry; and responsibilities to society and regulatory bodies in the area of biomaterials. Communicate effectively using technical reports and oral presentations in conventional professional style. Function effectively independently and as part of a team.
CBE 24386 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This course is designed as an introductory course in biomedical engineering. The aim of this course is to present some of the basic science and human physiology knowledge used by biomedical engineers and illustrate the first steps in applying this knowledge to solve problems in human medicine. The second goal of this course is to link knowledge of basic science and engineering to fields of specialization and current research.
CBE 26497 Directed Readings (0-3 Credit Hours)
Course requires the student to explore various readings chosen by the professor.
CBE 27099 Special Studies (0-3 Credit Hours)
Small group or individual study in an undergraduate subject not offered by a University course or not offered in the semester needed. The student or group of students is directed by a faculty member.
CBE 28901 Undergraduate Research (1 Credit Hour)
This is the course that freshmen and sophomore students should sign up for as their first experience in research. This is a one credit course, and involves a minimum commitment of 4-5 hours/wk. This course is S/U, may be taken more than once, but does not satisfy the Engineering/technical elective degree requirement.
Course may be repeated.
CBE 28980 ChemE Car (1 Credit Hour)
As part of the AICHE Chem-E-Car Competition, students design and build a small car, the size of a shoebox, that is powered by a chemical reaction.
Course may be repeated.
CBE 30235 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
Electrical energy generation is a huge and growing market as the world attempts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Apart from direct conversion of energy sources (e.g., photovolatics and wind/water energy), the generation of electricity revolves around the production of heat (by any source) and then conversion of that to electricity through a steam turbine. Nuclear energy is a carbon-free way of producing this heat. In this course we shall examine the key facets of this way of generating heat: how a sustained fission chain reaction can be safely achieved, how the heat generated can be safely removed, and how the radioactive waste products can be safely disposed of. The course will introduce the students to the fundamentals of fission, including concepts such as neutron capture cross section, reactor poisoning, cladding and shielding, as well as reactor design. Much of the focus will be on conventional pressurized water reactors (PWRs), however the many alternative coolant approaches such as liquid metal and high temperature gas reactors will also be discussed. The course will finish with a discussion of the new small modular reactors (SMR) under development, as well as a discussion of the current status of waste disposal.
CBE 30315 Applying Chemical Engineering Topics in Food Design and Processing (3 Credit Hours)
This is a problem-based learning course for upper-level students in chemical engineering. Students will identify and apply chemical engineering concepts and processes learned in previous chemical engineering coursework as they pertain to food processing. Examples will range from home kitchen cooking to large-scale food processing systems. Students will learn about the basic composition of foods, methods of preservation, common reactions, and food morphology. The course will be structured with a traditional lecture as well as laboratory style classes that involve working directly with food materials. Students will gather and analyze data about a food product and produce process diagrams, consider safety implications, and create basic economic analysis along with creating a prototype of a student-defined food product.
CBE 30338 Data Analytics, Optimization, and Control (3 Credit Hours)
Dynamic modeling, data analytics, optimization, and control are essential to modern chemical technologies that enable precision medicine, sustainable energy, semiconductors, access to clean water, and beyond. In CBE 30338, students combine their knowledge of chemical engineering fundamentals (e.g., thermodynamics, transport, kinetics) and data analytics to develop dynamic models of diverse chemical technologies and processes. These models enable the design and optimization of control systems that use feedback to reject disturbances and drive systems to steady-state setpoints. CBE 30338 combines state-space modeling with modern computational and statistical methods to cover industrially relevant topics such as model predictive control, parameter estimation, and optimization. Students master techniques in hands-on experiments and a final semester project.
Prerequisites: CBE 20258
Corequisites: CBE 32338
CBE 30355 Transport Phenomena I (3 Credit Hours)
Basic conservation principles of energy, mass, and momentum are used to derive the integral and differential forms of the transport equations. These equations are used to solve fluid flow problems of both fundamental and practical interest.
Prerequisites: (MATH 30650 (may be taken concurrently) or MATH 326) and CBE 20255
CBE 30356 Transport Phenomena II (3 Credit Hours)
Integral and differential transport equations are applied to the solution of heat and mass transfer problems of interest to chemical engineers.
Corequisites: CBE 32356
CBE 30357 Biotransport (3 Credit Hours)
This course is an introduction to momentum transport with applications to biological and medical systems. It will serve as a replacement for CBE 30355 for interested students.
CBE 30361 Science of Engineering Materials (3 Credit Hours)
This is an introductory course that examines the relationship between the structure, processing, and properties of engineering materials. Common engineering materials, including steel, concrete, ceramics, and polymers are discussed. Mechanical, chemical, electrical, and magnetic properties of various materials are examined. The process dependence of microstructural development and defects levels are described.
Prerequisites: CHEM 10114 or CHEM 10116 or CHEM 10118 or CHEM 10121
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 30370 Phase Equilibria and Separations (3 Credit Hours)
The principles of phase and chemical equilibria are defined and used in the solution of chemical engineering problems. Example problems are drawn from the grand challenges that require input from chemical engineers to be addressed: developing sustainable chemical manufacturing and energy generation processes, engineering better medicines, lowering pharmaceutical manufacturing costs, and designing sustainable materials. This course demonstrates the application of the principles of phase equilibria to the design and characterization of stagewise separation processes. Both graphical and rigorous numerical techniques are used, and the general procedures applicable to many specific processes are emphasized. Example separation problems are drawn from the need to manage emissions into the environment, to meet society's demand for clean drinking water, and to produce low cost therapeutics, among several other relevant challenges.
Corequisites: CBE 32370
CBE 30386 Introduction to Bioengineering (3 Credit Hours)
This course provides basic science knowledge and engineering practices used by biomedical engineers toward solving problems in human medicine. Topics will include an overview of bioengineering and modern biology, introduction of cell/molecular/genetic engineering principles and the use of engineering analysis to describe living systems, starting with mass and energy balances to understand cell growth and signal transduction. Examples will include the use of general accounting equations (i.e., mass, energy, momentum and charge) toward problems from selected medical engineering fields.
Prerequisites: MATH 30650 (may be taken concurrently) or AME 30314 (may be taken concurrently) or MATH 34650 or AME 34314 or EGSC 34650
CBE 30399 Introduction to Unit Operations and Lab Procedures (Imperial) (0 Credit Hours)
Introduction to unit operations and lab procedures for the Imperial College, London summer study abroad program. Must be admitted to summer program for entry into course.
CBE 31358 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I (3 Credit Hours)
Chemical engineering laboratory courses are comprised of experiments that cover most of the major subject areas of chemical engineering. The rationale for combining all of the topics into two separate courses, as opposed to distributing them into the different lecture courses, is to provide a focused learning experience emphasizing experimental techniques to observe fundamental behavior, understanding of the phenomena in terms of the appropriate theory and experience at technical report writing. Formal and informal oral presentation skills are also an important part of the courses.
Satisfies the following University Core Requirements: WRIT - Writing Intensive
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 32338 Chemical Process Control Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial for Chemical Process Control.
Corequisites: CBE 30338
CBE 32356 Transport Phenomena II Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial for Transport Phenomena II.
Corequisites: CBE 30356
CBE 32361 Science of Engineering Materials - Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial for CBE 30361 Science of Engineering Materials
Corequisites: CBE 30361
CBE 32370 Phase Equilibria and Separations Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial for Phase Equilibria and Separations CBE 30370.
Corequisites: CBE 30370
CBE 34202 Biosystems & Bioprocessing Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This course offers a comprehensive overview of the Biosystems and Bioprocess Engineering (BBE), which is an emerging field of applied research focused on understanding biological systems at a system-level in order to design and improve them for specific purposes. The BBE class covers various topics including systems and synthetic metabolic engineering approaches, as well as their industrial applications in the production of biomedicines, biochemicals, proteins, and platform/commodity chemicals. The course provides detailed information on background and manufacturing processes, including the selection and pre-treatment of raw materials, temperature/climate requirements, and fermentation conditions. By the end of this course, students will develop improved critical thinking skills to solve problems related to BBE. They will gain in-depth knowledge of biocatalyst-aided processes, microbial fermentation, protein purification, and the role of microbiomes in human health and wellness. Additionally, students will gain a deeper understanding of fermentation in the context of food and health, exploring perspectives and preferences related to genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, systems biology, and the design of novel biological processes.
IR - Dublin, Ireland
The aim of this module is for students to gain an understanding of the different commercial unit operations involved in downstream processing (DSP) from cell harvest to final purification and will enable students with the skills required to develop an appropriate purification strategy for different types and characteristics of biologics.
CBE 34315 Food Process Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
In this module you will study the application of heat and mass transfer, and reaction kinetic principles to a range of unit operations employed in the processing and preservation of food products. Specific topics covered will include drying, pasteurisation, aseptic processing, microwave and dielectric heating, crystallisation, evaporation, emulsification, process analytical technology and process simulations for equipment design. New and emerging technologies for the non thermal processing of foods and bioproducts (such a cold plasma processing) will be reviewed. Physical, chemical and microbiological changes which occur in foods during processing will also be studied. Specific case studies will be used to illustrate the processing technology presented in this module.
CBE 34338 Process Dynamics and Control (3-4 Credit Hours)
SI - Singapore
This module presents the full complement of fundamental principles with clear application to heat exchangers, reactors, separation processes and storage systems. It incorporates introductory concepts, dynamic modeling, feedback control concepts and design methods, control hardware, and advanced control strategies including feed-forward, cascade and model-based control. SIMULINK will be introduced and used to simulate and examine the effectiveness of various control strategies. The module also incorporates case studies that prepare the students to design control systems for a realistic sized plant. This module is targeted at chemical engineering students who already have a basic knowledge of chemical engineering processes.
HT - Hong Kong
This course explores process modeling, including process variables such as input, output, manipulated variables, disturbances. Additionally, the course discusses mathematical modeling, degree of freedom and solutions. In the subject of process dynamics the course covers typical inputs and their Laplace transforms, first order, second order, higher order, model approximation, process delays and zeros and poles an their impact on dynamic responses.
SY- Sydney, Australia
Course that covers process dynamics and control of processes.
CBE 34356 Heat and Mass Transfer (3-4 Credit Hours)
This course considers three modes of heat transfer, namely, conduction, convection, and radiation. For heat conduction, both steady and unsteady states are examined. These are followed by analyses for convective heat transfer and heat transfer with phase change, and subsequently radiative heat transfer. Heat exchangers and their design are discussed. Steady and unsteady-state molecular diffusion is studied, while convective mass transfer is analyzed using exact and approximate integral analysis. Finally, analogies between mass, heat and momentum transfer are discussed leading to the concept of transport phenomena.
SY - Sydney, Australia - University of Sydney
This course considers mass transfer and heat transfer. This unit of study teaches principles of heat and mass transfer required for chemical and biomolecular engineering. It covers steady and transient conduction and diffusion, convective transport of heat and mass, and radiative heat transfer. It runs concurrently with CHNG2801 (Fluid Mechanics) to provide students with the tools and know-how to tackle engineering problems related to transport phenomena. This unit of study also includes project-based study components including a research project on heat transfer phenomena in biological systems and a lab session on mass transfer. Students will develop a physical understanding of the underlying phenomena and gain the ability to solve real heat and mass transfer problems of engineering significance.
HT - Hong Kong, China - HKUST
This is a core engineering course focused on developing a deep understanding of the rates and modes of heat and mass transfer within chemical and engineering processes. The curriculum thoroughly covers the fundamental theories, including Fourier's law for thermal conduction and Fick's law for diffusion, enabling students to analyze and solve problems related to steady and unsteady heat transfer (conduction, convection, and radiation) and diffusive/convective mass transport. The course applies these principles to real-world systems like energy-conversion devices (e.g., fuel cells and batteries), combustion, and heat exchangers. Upon completion, students will be able to size and design basic heat and mass transfer equipment, understand the coupling of transport and chemical reactions, and apply engineering judgment to complex systems, including those found in biological and environmental contexts.
CBE 34357 Biotransport (3 Credit Hours)
This module focuses on the theory and analysis of transport problems in biomedical engineering. The focus of this module is on the mathematical analysis and is not focused on the description of anatomy or of organ functions. Students will apply previous learning in mathematics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics to more specific problems in biomedical engineering. The module will also introduce new concepts in mass transport. The primary transport mechanism considered is mass transport followed by fluid and thermal transport problems. The learning outcomes include the understanding and application of each of the topics listed in the table below. Part of applying the new and existing knowledge to these problems includes simplifying the problem to a less complex system where the knowledge can be applied. Instruction consists of slides and worked examples and derivations. Students are expected to take notes of material introduced on the whiteboard.
CBE 34358 Biochemical Engineering Lab I (3 Credit Hours)
Students, working in pairs/groups, will undertake and report (via technical reports, posters and/or oral presentations) on selected experiments relating to the following topics: - Distillation: pilot-scale batch distillation with reflux, laboratory-scale solvent swap distillation - Fermentation: laboratory-scale batch yeast fermentation - Chromatography: chromatographic-based techniques for separation and/or analytical appications - Stirred Tank Reactors (STR): characterisation of mixing and mass transfer in standard configuration stirred tank reactors - Air-Lift Reactors (ALR): characterisation of hydroynamics and mixing in an air-lift reactor, operating in bubble colum and external-loop ALR mode. - Evaporation: performance of single-effect and triple-effect evaporation systems - Membrane filtration: water purification via osmosis.
CBE 34359 Chemical and Environmental Engineering Laboratory (3 Credit Hours)
Integrated laboratory course for students in Chemical Engineering and Chemical and Environmental Engineering. Experimental modules on various unit operations and processes in chemical engineering and environmental engineering. Laboratory safety and risk assessment. Proper handling and interpretation of experimental data.
CBE 34386 Intro to Bioengineering (3 Credit Hours)
The objective of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the underpinning disciples of Biochemical Engineering. i.e. biochemistry and genetics. The module will cover basic biochemistry: structure and function of major biomolecules (DNA, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates), their role in the cell and in particular in cell metabolism and homeostasis. The module will look at the structure and function of DNA and RNA and also provide an overview of genetic engineering methods in order to understand how cells can be manipulated to perform desirable functions.
CBE 34397 Chemical Engineering (design) topics (3 Credit Hours)
Good engineering practice produces quantitative results as we need them. But educationally, we want to understand how a device or process works even just to consider its possible use for a given application.
Both of these questions fall under the broad category of "Design".
In this class key fundamentals of heat transfer, fluid flow, mass transfer, and thermodynamics will be used to examine the various pieces of process equipment in the Imperial College pilot plant, to analyze "historic" technologies that can be seen in London museums and to determine if proposed "green energy" projects are likely to have a lower CO2 impact than existing technologies.
CBE 34487 Pharmaceutical and Bioprocessing Technology (3 Credit Hours)
UCD: This module deals with scientific, engineering and professional elements of commercial Pharmaceutical and Bioprocessing technology. Students will become familiar with the steps involved in both pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical production, with a focus on key downstream unit operations like UF/MF and chromatography provided. The commercial production of insulin and insulin analogues in yeast and recombinant and conjugate vaccines in bacteria will be examined in detail. An overview of the production of biologics in mammalian cells will also be provided. Students will obtain a good grounding in the principles of bioreactor selection, design, scale-up and optimisation and will develop their ability to apply principles of mass transfer, fluid flow and heat transfer to bioreactor design and operation. Through a series of company presentations, students will become familiar with the importance of the Bio/Pharmaceutical sector to the Irish economy. Students will also be assisted in preparing to apply for Internship and Graduate positions within this sector.
CBE 34488 Pharmaceutical Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This course aims to equip students with broad knowledge in pharmaceutical engineering. The topics span from early drug discovery to late commercial manufacturing. Theory and practice of the chemical synthesis and the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), solid- state characterization of APIs, and formulation of various pharmaceutical dosage forms are covered, including controlled-release formulations and its mathematical modelling. The course also introduces students to some of the main trends in current pharmaceutical research and development related to selected topics such as continuous manufacturing and process analytical technologies.
CBE 34903 Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics (3 Credit Hours)
This module will introduce students to the principles of heat transfer and fluid mechanics with particular emphasis on applications in chemical and process engineering systems. Students will learn how how to apply the principles of heat transfer and fluid mechanics as part of basic chemical process design focusing on flows through process equipment, heat exchangers, piping systems, pumping applications. *Students may elect for this course to satisfy CBE 30356 Transport 2.
CBE 34904 Heat Transfer (3 Credit Hours)
Course taken abroad: To gain knowledge about the principles of heat transfer and to master the application of these principles to analyse and solve heat transfer problems. This module develops students' abilities to: - Analyse heat transfer problems and understand the different modes of heat transfer - Solve heat transfer problems with conduction, convection and radiation - Apply heat transfer calculations to a practical investigation and design of heat transfer equipment
CBE 40020 Energy Transition to a Sustainable Future (3 Credit Hours)
A survey course on all aspects of the transition from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy resources. This will include an understanding of 1) current energy production and use, 2) the importance of light hydrocarbons as a bridge to a net-zero carbon economy, 3) the environmental implications of energy production and storage, 4) carbon capture, sequestration, and conversion, 5) the role that electrification plays in the transition, and 6) sources of low-CO2 footprint energy necessary to achieve a sustainable energy future.
CBE 40325 Immunoengineering (3 Credit Hours)
The immune system involves the most complex yet most powerful processes in the human body to protect us from both invading foreign pathogens and self-derived challenges. As the basic understanding of immunology is growing, engineers are rapidly designing intelligent and diverse strategies to manipulate the immune system to improve human health. In this course, we will extensively cover the basic concepts of immunology as well as explore the engineering strategies currently used to harness the power of the immune function to develop therapeutic and diagnostic approaches for improved human health.
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 40361 Advanced biomolecular and physiological thermodynamics (3 Credit Hours)
This course will use fundamental principles of thermodynamics, as contained in a first thermo course for chemical engineers and generalize“chemical thermodynamics” — phase equilibria, chemical equilibria, and chemical binding, to biochemical thermodynamics which would include charged systems, polymers, and biochemical ligands. This motivates membranes and membrane transport… which leads to molecular-level processes of cells as well as nerve signal transduction and other physiological applications. This will be about 2/3 of the course.
CBE 40425 Energy, Economics, and Environment (3 Credit Hours)
Energy, economics, and the environment are irrefutably linked. Many new energy technologies are under development to meet our future needs, as current sources of energy may increase in cost with increased global demand or have undesirable environmental consequences. This course will review current and emerging primary energy sources and energy technologies in three areas: electricity generation and use, transportation, and heating and cooling. A significant focus of the course will be on alternative energy technologies. Energy related practices and technologies will be quantitatively compared. This course requires active student participation.
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in Chemical Engineering.
CBE 40426 Advanced Cooling, Heating, and Energy Systems (3 Credit Hours)
Cooling, heating, and environmental control systems are critical to modern life. Human comfort, healthcare and medicine, and food preservation rely on refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Likewise, high performance computing and data centers have significant cooling needs. Yet, while these technologies have become ubiquitous, vapor-compression systems present challenges in energy efficiency and in the life cycle impacts of the refrigerant fluid itself. This course explores the science and engineering of current and emerging environmental management technologies. Topics include cycle thermodynamics, refrigerant chemistry, solid-state cooling, passive thermal management approaches, and life cycle analysis.
CBE 40430 Industrial Chemical Processes (3 Credit Hours)
The chemical industry is responsible for products and processes that account for nearly 25% of America's GDP. In fact, the industry touches nearly every sector of our economy including agriculture, construction, technology, manufacturing, and retail trade, and is responsible for nearly seven million American jobs. This course examines the characteristics and commercial manufacturing processes of many of the key chemicals that are critical to our quality of life. The course will examine the global market drivers and major innovations that motivated the large scale production of these chemicals. It will also trace the history of several of the major chemical companies that evolved along with the markets for these chemicals. Case studies will be used to describe how discoveries are translated into major commercial chemical process and product innovations.
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in Chemical Engineering.
CBE 40431 Analysis and modeling of the great ideas of chemical engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This course explores foundational ideas that define chemical engineering through quantitative analysis and modeling. Topics include phase and chemical equilibria, transport phenomena, reaction kinetics, catalysis, and the structure of materials, alongside core chemical engineering concepts such as control volumes, steady state, dimensional analysis, optimization, and multistage processes. Students use analytical and numerical methods to solve algebraic equations, ordinary differential equations, and partial differential equations, with an emphasis on physical interpretation rather than algorithm development. Real-world examples drawn from energy, separations, safety, and emerging biological and health-related systems illustrate how classic chemical engineering ideas continue to shape modern technologies.
CBE 40434 Batteries and Fuel Cells (3 Credit Hours)
In this class, students learn the fundamental theoretical concepts underlying electrochemical systems, but do not learn how these concepts govern the function of engineered electrochemical systems. This course combines the study of charge transfer at electrode/electrolyte interfaces with the development of practical materials and processes. The development of the technology involves the study of the electrochemical reactors, their voltage and current distribution, mass transport conditions, hydrodynamics, geometry as well as the quantification of overall performance in terms of reaction yield, conversion efficiency, and energy efficiency. This course examines the operational principles of electrochemical energy storage devices (batteries and capacitors), energy conversion devices (fuel cells, electrolyzers), electrodeposition, corrosion, and bioelectrochemical interfaces. The emphasis is on materials and device design based on fundamental chemistry and physics concepts that govern the properties and performance of the materials/devices involved. Specific systems of study will include electrode and electrolyte materials for primary (non-rechargeable) and secondary (rechargeable) batteries including lithium-ion batteries, electrochemical capacitors, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells, alloy electrocatalysts, mixed ionic-electric conductors, and biosensor development.
CBE 40435 Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This course addresses the fundamentals and applications of technologies that rely on heterogeneous electron transfer reactions. The first part of the course addresses fundamental aspects of electron transfer reactions at electrified interfaces, including band structure of metals and semiconductors, electrochemical potentials, electron transfer kinetics and Marcus theory, potential step and potential sweep experiments, hydrodynamic electrochemistry, potentiometry and ion-selective electrodes, impedance measurements, and electrochemical instrumentation. The second part of the course addresses applications to energy storage (batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors), energy conversion (photovoltaics), bioelectrochemistry, including neurochemistry, corrosion, and electrolysis and electroplating.
Prerequisites: CBE 20260 and CBE 30367 or CHEM 30321 and CHEM 30322
CBE 40443 Separation Processes (3 Credit Hours)
This course demonstrates the application of the principles of phase equilibria, transport processes, and chemical kinetics to the design and characterization of stagewise and continuous separation processes. Both graphical and rigorous numerical techniques are used, and the general procedures applicable to different specific processes are emphasized. Example problems are drawn from the petroleum, chemical, food, biochemical, and electronic materials processing industries. The AspenONE software package is used.
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 40445 Chemical Reaction Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
The basic concepts of chemical rate processes are applied to the theory of the design and operation of the various types of commercial reactors for both noncatalytic and catalytic reactions. Topics covered include mole balances, rate laws and stoichiometry, collection and analysis of rate data, multiple reactions, isothermal and nonisothermal reactor design, catalysis and catalytic reactors.
CBE 40448 Chemical Process Design (3 Credit Hours)
This course represents a capstone in the chemical engineering curriculum. In this course students will have the opportunity to apply the basic concepts learned in previous courses to the design and analysis of a chemical processing system. This will be done primarily through the design project. Supporting material to be covered in lectures includes the following: computer-aided design (process simulation), economic analysis, process safety, flowsheet synthesis (conceptual design), and decision-making analysis (optimization). The AspenONE software package is used.
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 40449 Creativity and Innovation in Product Design (3 Credit Hours)
Adapting ideas from Stanford’s d.school and the writings of creativity expert Tina Seelig, this course dives into the design steps learned in EG 10117 (Needs Assessment, Problem Formulation, Abstraction & Synthesis, Analysis, and Implementation) for designing products in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering field.
CBE 40455 Process Operations (3 Credit Hours)
This course introduces students to methods for the analysis of process operations and their application. Topics will include process modeling, continuous and discrete optimization, scheduling, supply chains, scenario analysis, and financial analysis for process operations. Special emphasis will be given to practical implementation of methods for real world applications.
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 40456 Polymer Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
A course for seniors and graduate students in science and engineering who are interested in applications of engineering to polymer science and technology. Topics include polymerization reactions and the structure, properties, processing, and production of polymers. (Every year)
Enrollment limited to students in the College of Engineering or College of Science colleges.
CBE 40457 Polymer Science and Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This course is an intermediate level introduction to the fundamental chemistry and physics of polymer materials. The course is designed to meet the needs of students in all science and engineering disciplines who are interested, or already engaging in polymer related research. The lectures will focus on the underlying concepts and principles in polymer materials, emphasizing the interrelationships between synthesis, structure, processing, properties and performance, and demonstrate them in the context of their everyday use as well as real-world advanced engineering applications. Major topics in polymer chemistry, physics and engineering will be covered including: general introduction of polymers, major classes of polymerization reactions and kinetics, microstructure and morphology, polymer properties (thermal, mechanical, etc.), polymer thermodynamics, polymer characterization techniques, and plastics engineering and processing methods. The successful students will emerge from the course with a current, sound knowledge of polymer concepts and an ability to apply them in career situations.
Prerequisites: CBE 30361 and CBE 30367 and CHEM 30324
CBE 40475 Molecular Modeling and Simulation (3 Credit Hours)
An introduction to the theory, methods, and applications of molecular modeling and simulation as applied to contemporary research in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, and biology. Topics include elementary statistical mechanics and ensemble theory, classical force fields, Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics, quantum mechanical simulations, free energy calculation, and simulation of thermodynamic and transport properties. Application areas include simple and complex fluids as well as solids.
CBE 40477 Nanoscience and Technology (3 Credit Hours)
This course focuses on the unique scientific phenomena that accrue to matter with characteristic nanometer-scale dimensions and on the technologies which can be constructed from them. Special optical, electronic, magnetic, fluidic, structural and dynamic properties characteristic of nanostructures will be addressed.
Prerequisites: CHEM 30321 or CHEM 30324
CBE 40479 Principles of Cell & Multicellular Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This class explores principles relevant to engineering biological function across scales—from programming genetic circuits within single cells to orchestrating multicellular self-organization. Lectures cover principles of quantitative cell and developmental biology and the tools of synthetic cell biology and tissue engineering. Through analysis of literature and interactive presentations, students will examine principles of morphogenesis, stem cell engineering, and synthetic biology to design regenerative therapies and complex tissue constructs.
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 40483 Topics in Biomolecular Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
The objective of this class, intended for both upper level undergraduate and graduate students, is to illustrate the emerging field of bioengineering which fuses molecular life sciences with engineering. The students will gain a fundamental understanding in the principles of how biological systems function, and learn about the innovative approaches that engineers take for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, design of novel materials, devices, and processes, and in enhancing environmental health. Topics will include: Biological systems, Cell functions, Molecular scale (what is nano?), Molecular interactions & Multivalency, Synthetic molecules, Molecular biology, -Fermentation, Cell culture, & Combinatorial methods-,Protein purification, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Biomedical engineering, Drug delivery, Biosensors
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 40487 Drug Development and Pharmacology (3 Credit Hours)
This class covers the biological and engineering aspects of drug discovery and development, and pharmacology, with an emphasis on drug-receptor interactions and mechanism of action for therapeutic outcomes. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, metabolism, and toxicity as a basis for drug development are also covered.
CBE 40499 Optimization for Decision Science (3 Credit Hours)
This course provides a practical introduction to models, algorithms, and modern software for large-scale numerical optimization, especially for decision-making in engineering and business contexts. Topics include (nonconvex) nonlinear programming, deterministic global optimization, integer programming, dynamic optimization, and stochastic programming. Multi-objective optimization, optimization with embedded machine learning models as constraints, optimal experiment design, optimization for statistical inference, and mathematical programs with complementarity constraints may be covered based on time and student interests. The class is designed for advanced undergraduate/graduate engineering, science, mathematics, business, and statistics students who wish to incorporate computation optimization methods into their research. The course begins with an introduction to modeling and the Python-based Pyomo computational environment. Optimization theory and algorithms are emphasized throughout the semester.
CBE 40501 Machine Learning for Chemical Engineers (3 Credit Hours)
Machine Learning (ML) is an important technological tool affecting society in myriad ways. Chemical engineering is not the exception. Students will be exposed to multiple examples within the chemical engineering discipline to appreciate the potential of ML as well as its limitations. The course is structured to provide a practical introduction to machine learning for chemical engineers. Topics to be covered include regression, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, feature extraction and other tools relevant to chemical and molecular engineering (SMILES, RDKit, etc.). The course will emphasize practical programming skills using Python implementations and will use case studies in chemical engineering. Students should have strong math and Python skills. Students who have already taken classes such as Numerical Methods and Statistical Analysis, Linear Algebra, Calculus, and Thermodynamics should have the necessary background to be successful in this course.
CBE 40525 Ambient Methods for Surface Characterization (3 Credit Hours)
Ambient Methods for Surface Characterization. This course develops fundamental principles for characterizing surfaces and interfaces, particularly thin films, using infrared spectroscopy, ellipsometry, electrochemistry, and contact angle measurements. The material will cover reflection of light from surfaces, which is relevant to surface infrared spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance and ellipsometry, surface energies, adsorption isotherms, and some fundamental aspects of electrical double layers, zeta potentials, and mass transport in electrochemistry.
CBE 40571 Biomaterials (3 Credit Hours)
This course focuses on the fundamental principle of biomaterials, the interaction of biomaterials with the biological system, and applications of biomaterials. Topics include molecular principles of biomaterials, cell-biomaterials interaction, host reaction to biomaterials, biomaterials for tissue engineering applications, and biomaterials for controlled drug delivery. Historic and nascent advances in biomaterials are critically and independently evaluated by the class using published reports in the literature. Clinical, business, and regulatory perspectives of biomaterials will be discussed using case studies and group projects.
CBE 40623 Surface Science (3 Credit Hours)
This course covers the structure and properties of solid surfaces and interfaces and the dynamics of chemical reactions at surfaces. Topics include geometrical structure, surface morphology, electronic structure, surface composition, kinetics and dynamics (adsorption, scattering, vibrations, diffusion, desorption), structure and reactivity of surface molecules, non-thermal excitations of surfaces, and modern ultrahigh vacuum experimental techniques.
CBE 40698 Dynamics of Structured Fluids (3 Credit Hours)
This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of colloidal suspensions and their rheological behavior. Phenomena explored include electrostatics, dispersion forces, flocculation, and non-Newtonian rheology.
CBE 40725 Principles of Molecular Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
The objective of this course, intended for both upper level undergraduate and graduate students, is to illustrate the emerging field of molecular engineering. By fusing concepts from chemistry and materials science, molecular engineering seeks rational design of chemical building blocks for organized systems and materials. Students will gain a fundamental perspective for how non-covalent interactions and designed molecular motifs can dictate the structure, function, and properties of resulting engineered systems. This will include an appreciation for the role on intermolecular forces in governing the behavior of these molecules as they interact with each other and with their environment (typically a solvent). Additionally, illustrative examples will point to the power of strategies rooted in principles of molecular engineering to create highly controlled and functional materials. topics will include: non-covalent interactions, molecular design, thermodynamic driving forces, solvent effects, molecular self-assembly, supramolecular chemistry, molecular & materials characterization techniques, and applications of molecular engineering for diverse uses in energy, medicine, computing, formulation science, industrial applications, and food sciences.
CBE 40730 Materials Characterization for Soft and Polymeric Materials (3 Credit Hours)
This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to advanced materials characterization techniques, with a focus on soft matter and polymeric systems. Topics covered include electron microscopy techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with complementary cryogenic (CryoEM) and in situ (liquid phase EM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), tomographic reconstructions/tilt series, and image processing methods, along with sample preparation strategies. Fundamentals of electron optics and electron-specimen interactions will be discussed, including elastic and inelastic scattering techniques such as energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).
The course will also explore advanced scattering methods, including X-ray and neutron scattering and diffraction, to investigate polymer amorphous, crystalline, and nanostructures. Various microscopy techniques, including polarized light microscopy (POM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), will be covered to analyze material morphology and properties.
Thermal analysis methods, such as traditional, modulated, and flash differential scanning calorimetry (DSC/MDSC/flash DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and polymer rheology will be presented to understand polymer metastability, thermal behavior, thermomechanical properties. Students will learn to integrate these techniques into the design of experiments for targeted applications, with an emphasis on in-situ characterization, error quantification, and the practical challenges of characterizing complex systems.
Finally, materials characterization and safety standards (ASTM/ISO), and respective regulating bodies will be introduced to bridge the technical, practicality, and reproducibility gaps that can exist between traditional academic research and industrial scale research & development on a national and international scale.
CBE 40731 Nanomedicine: Therapeutics and Diagnostics (3 Credit Hours)
This course focuses on understanding the central role of nanotechnology in the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic tools that can be used for the detection, imaging, and treatment of different life-threatening diseases. The course will review the basic knowledge and engineering principles of nanomedicine ranged from fundamental properties, synthesis, and characterization of nanomaterials to the laws revolved around molecular and particulate transport, sorting and binding. Based on this foundation, the course will discuss 1) specific examples of nanotechnology applications in therapeutics such as drug and vaccine delivery; 2) formulation of nanostructured devices and their application in diagnostic and imaging; 3) translation from concept to the clinic and commercialization.
CBE 40743 Materials Engineering and Manufacturing of Sports Equipment (3 Credit Hours)
Advanced materials and the associated manufacturing processes have led to significant performance advances in a range of sports. This course will examine the science behind the materials utilized in advanced sports equipment and how the equipment is manufactured.
Properties of wood, metals and composites will be reviewed and compared. Production of carbon and glass fibers will be discussed. Concepts in materials selection (Ashby diagrams) will be introduced. Advanced materials that have been utilized in sports equipment including shape memory alloys and piezoelectrics will be examined.
Specific examples of sports equipment development where materials have revolutionized performance will be studied in detail, including tennis rackets, golf clubs, downhill skis, vaulting poles and running shoes. The ethics of the use of ever improving equipment will also be discussed. At the end of the semester students will present review studies on other advanced sports equipment of their choosing (e.g. swim suits, baseball bats, golf balls, etc).
CBE 40888 Cellular and Physical Principals of Bioengineering (3 Credit Hours)
This course covers the breakdown of biological systems at molecular, cellular and tissue levels. It evolves to the design and synthesis of biomaterials at a molecular scale used in manipulating and targeting biological systems, including biotechnology and biomedical engineering. For these purposes, we will learn what is inside a cell, molecular machines, nerve impulses, binding thermodynamics and kinetics in biological systems, chemical forces and molecular self-assembly.
CBE 40910 Biomolecular Engineering Lab Lecture (0 Credit Hours)
In this course, students are exposed to modern laboratory methods in bioengineering and experimental design. Students gain the knowledge to; develop and execute laboratory protocols, write laboratory reports, and present orally their findings. Space in the lab is limited to 32 students. Students with bio and pre-med interests are given priority. If necessary, students are selected through an application process conducted prior to senior registration. All rising senior CBE students are notified via email of the required application and due date.
Corequisites: CBE 41910
CBE 41459 Chemical Engineering Laboratory II (3 Credit Hours)
Chemical engineering laboratory courses are composed of experiments that cover most of the major subject areas of chemical engineering. The rationale for combining all of the topics into two separate courses, as opposed to distributing them into the different lecture courses, is to provide a focused learning experience emphasizing experimental techniques to observe fundamental behavior, understanding of the phenomena in terms of the appropriate theory and experience at technical report writing. Formal and informal oral presentation skills are also an important part of the courses.
CBE 41622 Laboratory Measurement and Instrumentation for Chemical Engineers (3 Credit Hours)
A practical overview of the theory, methods, hardware, and software for routine laboratory measurements used in chemical and biomolecular engineering research. The course introduces students to embedded systems based on Arduino and Raspberry Pi hardware, basic sensors, network protocols for logging data and integrating with services, interfacing with experiments, signal conditioning, anomaly detection, and the theory of measurements. Students will work extensively with hardware. Completing a significant project is an integral element of the course. Experience with coding and scripting languages is required. Minimal knowledge or experience with electronics is assumed.
CBE 41910 Biomolecular Engineering Lab (3 Credit Hours)
In this course, students are exposed to modern laboratory methods in bioengineering and experimental design. Students gain the knowledge to; develop and execute laboratory protocols, write laboratory reports, and present orally their findings. Space in the lab is limited to 32 students. Students with bio and pre-med interests are given priority. If necessary, students are selected through an application process conducted prior to senior registration. All rising senior CBE students are notified via email of the required application and due date.
Corequisites: CBE 40910
Enrollment limited to students in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engr. department.
CBE 42448 Process Design Tutorial (0 Credit Hours)
Tutorial for CBE 40448 Process Design
Corequisites: CBE 40448
CBE 44360 Plant Operations - Imperial College (3 Credit Hours)
In this course, students will gain hands-on experience in the operation, design and control of a working chemical plant. The course is taught at Imperial College, London and features a fully instrumented 4-story anime-based CO2 capture plant. Students will operate the plant from a remote control room, use piping and instrumentation diagrams to identity equipment and trace flows, troubleshoot the plant to correct problems, and gain firsthand knowledge of process safety and operations
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in Chemical Engineering.
CBE 44426 Chemical and Thermal Renewable Energies (3 Credit Hours)
Course at Perth: This unit explores the use of both naturally-occurring and synthetic waste energy sources to contribute toward the future energy mix. The unit explores the theory and application of energy generation from biological sources, the utilization of waste to support local energy generation, geothermal energy, and concentrated solar power. Both centralized largescale power generation and small-scale distributed power/heat generation are considered. The course draws on case studies to demonstrate chemical generation for current and future energy needs.
CBE 44427 Life Cycle Assessment (3 Credit Hours)
This module introduces the principles and methods of life cycle thinking and life-cycle assessment (LCA) with specific reference to agriculture, food and energy systems using attributional LCA. The module will be based around the ISO 14040 methodology and ILCD handbook. The module will focus on the four common stages of LCA: (i) definition of the Goal and Scope; (ii) Life Cycle Inventory Analysis; (iii) Life Cycle Impact Assessment and (iv) Interpretation. Case studies will consider LCA studies of agriculture, food and energy systems. Learning will be facilitated through completion of an example project that will be completed throughout the module.
CBE 44443 Separation Processes (3 Credit Hours)
HT - Hong Kong, China HKUST
CENG 3210 covers the fundamental principles of separation process that are essential in traditional chemical engineering education and the recent emergence of industries such as biotechnology and nanotechnology. The objective of this course is to familiarize the chemical engineering students with how separation processes works, and more importantly to further develop their ability to apply those basic principles to the solution of important problems. We will focus on both equilibrium controlled separation processes as well as separation processes that involve both mass transport and equilibrium considerations. Specific processes considered will include evaporation, distillation, absorption, liquid-liquid extraction, membrane processes, drying. Besides the fundamental principles involved in the unit operations, we will also introduce the students to specific subtleties associated with different separation processes both old and new.
CBE 44445 Chemical Reaction Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
The module begins with a revision of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics emphasizing on the different definitions of reaction rates, rate expressions, and simple and complex reactions. The design equations for ideal reactors are then introduced followed by the general methods of analysis of rate data. Reactor sequencing, yield versus productivity considerations in multiple reactions, and nonisothermal operations round up the first half of the course. More advanced topics such as residence time distributions in reactors, kinetics of catalytic reactions and catalyst deactivation, coupling of chemical reactions with transport processes, form the bulk of the second half of the course.
CBE 44479 Cell Culture & Tissue Eng (3 Credit Hours)
This module will provide students with an understanding of the principles and techniques involved in cell culture and tissue engineering. This module will examine the basic biological characteristics and behaviour of both embryonic and adult stem cells. This module will examine the techniques involved in culturing stem cells for both research and clinical purposes. The techniques involved in expanding cells for cell therapy purposes and engineering of tissues, organs and in vitro systems will also be examined. The ethical and legal problems associated with tissue engineering and cell therapy as an emerging therapy will also be discussed.
CBE 44480 Tissue Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
This module provides students with a comprehensive overview into the scope and potential of this evolving field. This subject addresses the use of natural, synthetic and ceramic biomaterials as scaffolds in tissue engineering; scaffold function, mechanics and fabrication methods; cellular processes that contribute to tissue dynamics (e.g. morphogenesis, regeneration and repair); cell sources, mechanobiology and the use of bioreactors as biomimetic environments; in vitro and in vivo tissue engineering strategies for bone, cartilage and skin regeneration; and ethical and regulatory issues in tissue engineering. The subject integrates aspects of biomedical engineering, biomaterials science and biology and provides functional clinical examples in this evolving area of technology. Learning Outcomes Discuss the sources, selection and potential challenges of using stem cells for tissue engineering Describe the role of cellular fate processes in tissue morphogenesis, repair and regeneration Describe the protein structures and composition of native extracellular matrices Discuss the functional requirements, design, fabrication and biomaterials selection criteria for tissue engineering scaffolds Predict the mechanical behaviour of tissue engineering scaffolds using cellular solids theory Use fluid mechanics theory to characterise mechanical stimulation in tissue engineering scaffolds in flow perfusion bioreactors Describe experimental techniques in mechanobiology and outline the role of mechanical signals on stem cell differentiation Outline the steps involved in the development of in vitro and in vivo strategies for tissue engineering for bone, cartilage and skin regeneration Prepare a manuscript for peer-review according to the publication guidelines of a scientific journal
CBE 44488 Principles of Biopharmaceutical Engineering (3 Credit Hours)
On completion of this module students should be able to: 1. Describe in qualitative terms the operation of a variety of biopharmaceutical process operations. 2. Manipulate and perform calculations on process variables with particular emphasis on data analysis and evaluation. 3. Apply unsteady-state mass and energy balance concepts to batch, fed batch and continuous processes. 4. Perform simple performance evaluation and design calculations for a variety of rate-controlled process equipment. Indicative Module Content: Some of the topics are: Mass and Energy Balances Steady and Unsteady Systems Mixing Mass Transfer Aeration
CBE 44571 Principles of Biomaterials (3 Credit Hours)
The module introduces students to the principles of biomaterials. Initially, advanced topics in metal, ceramic, and polymeric biomaterials are described. Building on this, the module describes fundamentals of the immune response to biomaterials and sterilization methods. The final section of the course describes applications of biomaterials in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and medical device design. Together, the learning outcomes align with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's): SDG3, SDG4, and SDG9. (Language of instruction: English) Learning Outcomes Describe the structure and composition of advanced polymer, ceramic, and metal biomaterials. Evaluate and select an appropriate biomaterial for a given implant design. Assess optimal sterilization methods for a biomaterial implant to limit implant associated infections. Develop an understanding of biocompatibility, and how it can be optimized through biomaterial design. Design an optimal manufacturing method for a given biomaterial implant. Perform experiments to characterize the physical and biological properties of biomaterials. Leverage emerging technologies/materials to design medical implants.
CBE 44999 Undergrad Research Experience (0 Credit Hours)
This is a zero-credit course for students engaged in independent research or working with a faculty member of the University on a special project while remote. No course work is required.
CBE 46497 Directed Readings (1-3 Credit Hours)
Course requires the student to explore various readings chosen by the professor.
Course may be repeated.
CBE 47099 Special Studies (0-3 Credit Hours)
Small group or individual study in an undergraduate subject not offered by a University course or not offered in the semester needed. The student or group of students is directed by a faculty member.
CBE 48901 Undergraduate Research (1 Credit Hour)
This is the course that students should sign up for as their first experience in research. This is a one credit course, and involves a minimum commitment of 4-5 hours/wk. This course is S/U, may be taken more than once, but does not satisfy the Engineering/technical elective degree requirement.
Course may be repeated.
CBE 48902 Advanced UG Research (3 Credit Hours)
This is a three credit course on which students should expect to spend 12-15 hours per week. Successful completion of CBE 48901 or a summer (or academic year) research internship in the Department is a prerequisite for enrolling in CBE 48902. It can be counted as an Engineering/technical elective and students must produce a written report of their results at the end of the semester. This course is graded, and may be repeated.
Prerequisites: CBE 48901
Course may be repeated.
CBE 48903 Undergraduate Thesis (3 Credit Hours)
This is a three credit course which is normally taken in the final semester. Successful completion of CBE 48901, CBE 48902 or a summer (or academic year) research internship in the Department is a prerequisite for enrolling in CBE 48903. Students are required to produce a substantial written document that will be defended orally to a committee of CBE faculty. This course can be counted as a (3 credit) CBE elective, and may not be repeated.
Prerequisites: CBE 48902
CBE 48999 Undergraduate Research Experience (0 Credit Hours)
Registrar: This is a zero-credit course for students engaged in independent research or working with a faculty member of the University on a special project. No course work is required.