CHEME 5440 - Advanced Principles of Biomolecular Engineering

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Permission of instructor required. Co-meets with CHEME 7770.

M. J. Paszek, J. D. Varner.

This course will cover the physical principles required for understanding the molecular basis of life and its use in biotechnologies. Emphasis will be placed on deconstructing biological phenomena from a quantitative perspective of core engineering principles. Specific topics will include: thermodynamics and kinetics of gene expression and genetic circuitry, biophysical principles of molecular interaction, molecular mechanisms in the definition of cell state and differentiation, molecular modes of cellular communication, and biophysical considerations for multicellular life.

Outcome 1: Learn how to apply core engineering concepts (kinetics, thermodynamics, transport phenomena) to understanding and engineering the function of living systems.

Outcome 2: Gain familiarity with primary literature in biomolecular engineering, and systems, synthetic and computation biology through quantitative deconstruction of fundamental problems in biotechnology.