Chemical and Biological Engr
- CBE 245: Introduction to Chemical and Biochemical Engineering PrinciplesIntroduction to the principles underlying chemical and biochemical engineering. This course begins with the basics of engineering calculations, and continues on to the core subjects of material and energy balances in single and multi-phase systems; both with and without reactions. The topics in this course lay the bedrock for the remaining CBE curriculum, and students will see the subjects that they learn here time and again in their future CBE courses.
- CBE 250: Separations in Chemical Engineering and BiotechnologyThis course covers the theory and practice of separation technologies used in the chemical and biochemical industries. Both equilibrium and rate-based separations will be discussed including distillation, chromatography, and membrane processes.
- CBE 262/EGR 263: Fundamentals of BioengineeringCloned cats. Genetically modified organisms. Pacemakers. Insulin pumps. Bioengineering is by nature an interdisciplinary field focused on understanding and improving the human condition. This course will provide a hands-on applications-based introduction to the field for both engineering and non-engineering students.
- CBE 341: Mass, Momentum, and Energy TransportHow do you design a drug delivery system that will kill a tumor but not the patient? What are the major constraints in building a new artificial heart? Why are some cooling systems more efficient than others? A strong understanding of transport phenomena is essential for solving these and other grand challenges facing society. This course combines applied mathematics with fundamental physics to promote an intuitive understanding of steady and unsteady heat and mass transfer and fluid dynamics. We will focus on key applications in processes related to biology, energy, materials, and chemical synthesis.
- CBE 351: Junior Independent WorkSubjects chosen by the student with the approval of the faculty for independent study. A written report, and an oral presentation will be required. Students generally spend 15-20 hours per week on the independent project.
- CBE 411/MOL 411: Antibiotics: From Cradle to GraveFrom treatment of infections to prophylactic use following surgery, antibiotics have transformed healthcare since their discovery and distribution. However, poor management of this medical resource has seen resistance whittle down their efficacies, and it is now recognized that antibiotics can disrupt the microbiota that keep us healthy. This course will use lectures, lab demonstrations, guest speakers, and primary literature to introduce how science, engineering, medicine, and policy have shaped the current age of antibiotics, which is characterized by a variety of treatment options, MDR bacteria, and a weak pipeline of new agents.
- CBE 415/CHM 415/MSE 425: PolymersBroad introduction to polymer science and technology, including polymer chemistry (major synthetic routes to polymers), polymer physics (solution and melt behavior, solid-state morphology and properties), and polymer engineering (overview of reaction engineering, melt processing, and recycling methods).
- CBE 430/MAE 430/MSE 430: Squishy Engineering: Using Soft Materials to Solve Hard ProblemsThe milk we drink in the morning (a colloidal dispersion), the gel we put into our hair (a polymer solution), and the plaque that we try to scrub off our teeth (a biofilm) are all familiar examples of soft or "squishy" materials. Such materials also hold great promise in helping to solve engineering challenges like drug delivery, water remediation, oil recovery, and the development of new coatings, displays, formulations, foods, and biomaterials. This class will cover fundamental aspects of the science of soft materials, presented within the context of these challenges. We will have guest speakers describe new applications of soft materials.
- CBE 438/MOL 438: Biomolecular EngineeringThis course will focus on the structure, function, design and engineering of biomacromolecules. After a brief review of protein and nucleic acid chemistry and structure, we will delve into rational, evolutionary, and computational methods for the design of these molecules. Specific topics to be covered include protein and RNA-based switches and sensors, unnatural amino acids and nucleotides, enzyme engineering, integration of these parts via synthetic biology, and applications in biotechnology industries.
- CBE 442: Design, Synthesis, and Optimization of Chemical ProcessesThe course covers (1) conceptual process synthesis: reactor and separation network synthesis, and heat integration; (2) tools for process design (flowsheeting, simulation, and equipment sizing and costing); (3) basic principles underpinning safety, health, and environmental issues; (4) optimization methods; and (5) economic evaluation. A major design project allows students to apply their skills to design a complex system.
- CBE 451: Senior Independent WorkA one semester study of an important problem or topic in chemical and biological engineering. Projects may be experimental, computational, or theoretical. Topics selected by the students from suggestions by the faculty. A mid-semester progress report and a final written report are required.
- CBE 503/MSE 521: Advanced ThermodynamicsThis course provides an graduate-level introduction to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics relevant to problems in biological, chemical, and materials science and engineering. Topics include: thermodynamic laws and transformations; microstates, macrostates, partition functions, and statistical ensembles; equilibrium, stability, and response of multicomponent systems; phase transitions; fluctuations; structure of classical fluids; viral expansion; computer simulation methods. Applications include polymer elasticity and phase separation, electrolytes, colloidal suspensions, protein folding, surface adsorption, crystal melting, magnets.
- CBE 504: Chemical Reactor EngineeringMolecular processes in chemical systems, reaction kinetics and catalysis. Interaction of mass and heat transfer in chemical processes. Performance of systems with chemical reactors.
- CBE 507: Research Topics in Chemical & Biological EngineeringA seminar course designed to acquaint first-year graduate students with the different research areas represented by the CBE department, as well as to train these students in the methodologies and practices used in chemical engineering research. Students learn how to read and evaluate the literature, and the techniques for formulating and developing an original research problem in the field. Each lecture is given by a different member of the CBE faculty (or associated faculty), who will review his or her field of research and discuss open questions for future investigation.
- CBE 512: Machine Learning in Chemical Science and EngineeringThis course provides a theoretical and practical introduction to machine learning (ML) methods and their applications in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science. After a survey of ML algorithms, we will delve into specific applications (e.g., QSPR modeling, materials design, molecular simulation, process control, synthesis) to ascertain how ML methods, which are commonplace in Big Tech, are used in engineering. Students will explore state-of-the-art approaches through topical literature reviews and case studies and develop proficiency with algorithms (as deployed in an engineering context) via programming assignments.
- CBE 543: Structure and Properties of Complex FluidsThe structure and properties of polymers are covered from dilute solution to bulk melts. Concepts covered include single chain statistics, gelation and network formation. The thermodynamics of polymer solubility and phase separation, including block copolymer microphase separation will be addressed. In addition topics on polymers at interfaces and under confinement will be covered. Experimental techniques to study polymer structure including rheological measurements,NMR, neutron scattering, and optical techniques will be presented. Special topics on polyelectrolyte effects, single chain DNA experiments may be covered based on student interest
- CHM 503/CBE 524/MSE 514: Introduction to Statistical MechanicsPrediction of the structure and properties of equilibrium and nonequilibrium states of matter. Topics include Gibbs ensembles; microscopic basis of thermodynamics; Boltzmann statistics; ideal gases; Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics; models of solids; blackbody radiation; Bose condensation; conduction in metals; virial expansion; distribution functions; liquids; structural glasses; sphere packings and jamming; computer simulation techniques; critical phenomena; percolation theory; Ising model; renormalization group methods; irreversible processes; Brownian motion; Fokker-Planck and Boltzmann equations.
- MAE 305/MAT 391/EGR 305/CBE 305: Mathematics in Engineering IA treatment of the theory and applications of ordinary differential equations with an introduction to partial differential equations. The objective is to provide the student with an ability to solve standard problems in this field.
- MAE 501/APC 501/CBE 509: Mathematical Methods of Engineering Analysis IMethods of mathematical analysis for the solution of problems in physics and engineering. Topics include an introduction to linear algebra, matrices and their application, eigenvalue problems,ordinary differential equations (initial and boundary value, eigenvalue problems), nonlinear ordinary differential equations, stability, bifurcations, Sturm-Liouville theory, Green's functions, elements of series solutions and special functions, Laplace and Fourier transform methods, and solutions via perturbation methods, partial differential equation including self-similar solution, separation of variables and method of characteristics.
- MAE 567/CBE 568: Crowd Control: Understanding and Manipulating Collective Behaviors and Swarm DynamicsCollective behaviors are all around us, from bird flocking, to mosh pit dynamics, to how the cells in our bodies work together. In this course, we explore not only how to understand and quantify these behaviors, but also how we can start to engineer them to reduce traffic, heal faster, develop new materials, and introduce new robotics approaches. The course spans three modules: hands-on training in analyzing real-world swarming systems; fundamental concepts underlying collective behaviors; and key case studies in manipulating these systems.
- MOL 214/EEB 214/CBE 214: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular BiologyImportant concepts and elements of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology are examined in an experimental context. This course fulfills the requirement for students majoring in the biological sciences and satisfies the biology requirement for entrance into medical school.