Biological Engineering Major Bringing Engineering to Life and Life to Engineering

Biological Engineers are problem solvers at every level: from biosensors to bionergy, they address Biological Engineering challenges at all scales. An ever exciting and increasingly applicable field, Biological Engineering integrates life sciences with engineering, couples the logic of how something works with the creativity of discovering how it can be used. advancing and applying the fundamental concepts Combining the power of engineering principles and techniques with the constantly evolving science of biological systems of biology, the field of Biological Engineering tackles local, national and global challenges such as from the molecular to the ecological. It ensuring safe and sustainable food and energy supplies, protecting natural resources, developing incorporates tremendous devices to monitor or intervene in the mechanisms of living organisms, and using biological materials developments in in new and innovative ways. quantitative, mechanistic, and molecular-level Housed in the highly ranked Department of Biological & Environmental Engineering in the College of understanding to further the capabilities Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Biological Engineering Major follows the academic requirements of of biological systems. the College of Engineering. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and students may seek engineering Biological Engineering professional licensing after graduation. impacts the well-being of humans, plants, and animals through: Built upon a base of seven core Biological Engineering courses and a wide range of electives, • Medical devices students graduate from the program not only with a thorough grounding in engineering and diagnostics fundamentals and a comprehensive understanding of modern biology, but also with experience in • Effective and safer teamwork and technical communication; crucial skills in today’s innovation landscape. pharmaceuticals • Bio-based industrial Our graduates find employment in the pharmaceutical, food, biotechnology, financial, and consumer products products industries, as well as in environmental consulting. Many of our students pursue advanced • Improved food safety degrees in the field, or go on to study medicine, law, and business. Others will work in research and • Preservation and industry, often leading teams of scientists and engineers, or with consulting firms, manufacturers, enhancement of and government agencies. Products of their efforts help ensure a safe and adequate supply of food natural resources and and water, create new medicines, diagnose and treat human and animal diseases, and foster more the environment efficient and sustainable utilization of plant, animal and microbial systems. Contact The biological revolution races forward, creating opportunities for multidisciplinary critical thinkers, Office of Student Services engineers fluent in both the physical and life sciences, who can communicate effectively, are sensitive Biological & Environmental Engineering to the needs of people and the environment, and who are motivated to solve the challenges facing society. The Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering is committed to educating 207 Riley-Robb Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 Biological Engineers to meet these challenges. Tel: 607.255.2173 The Curriculum Innovative Instruction Because biological engineers work at the interface of biology and engineering, the major Whey to Go! requires core courses in both disciplines. Throughout the curriculum, emphasis is also placed on Students in Professor Lars communication, ethics, and teamwork skills. All students participate in a major design experience Angenent’s BEE4870 near the end of the curriculum. Sustainable Bioenergy Systems senior design For those planning to go to on to medical school, the Biological Engineering Concentration class won 2nd place in the complements required pre-med courses and, with proper planning, can result in a Biomedical “Greenovate NYS” student competition in 2014. Engineering Minor at the same time. Engineering management, mechanical engineering, and The team designed a operations research and management minors are also a possibility. system of digesters that could treat the 270,000 Core Courses: Principles in Biological Engineering, Molecular and Cellular Principles, Biokinetics gallons of waste acid and Thermodynamics, Biotransport, Bioinstrumentation, Biofluid Mechanics, Biomaterials, Bioheat whey produced daily and Mass Transfer at the Chobani Greek Yogurt Plant in New Berlin, NY. The system Required Science Courses: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Introductory and produces biogas which Advanced Biology can be burned to generate electricity, Elective Course Focus Areas: Biomaterials, Nanobiotechnology, Ecological and Microbial Systems, thereby mitigating 40 million pounds of carbon Modeling and Simulation, Synthetic Biology, Molecular and Cellular Systems, Sustainability dioxide greenhouse gases each year, and Opportunities Outside of the Classroom would pay for itself in less than three years. • Industry internships and cooperative education • Research assistantships on campus A Menu for Mars • Community service projects Professor Jean Hunter • Design competitions and her lab have been studying how to supply • Off-campus study, including study abroad and Cornell in Washington real-life space travelers with meals that are tasty, Real World Applications practical, and nurturing. In 2013, she oversaw a Career opportunities for Biological Engineering graduates cover the spectrum of private industry, four-month experiment in public agencies, educational institutions, and graduate and professional programs in engineering, which six volunteers were science, medicine, and law. In recent years graduates have pursued careers in consulting, sequestered in a simulated Martian base in Hawai’i. biotechnology, pharmaceutical industries, biomedical engineering, management and business, The experiment allowed public health, research and manufacturing, medical technology, veterinary studies, and international members of the lab to development. explore such factors as resource use, menu fatigue, Biotechnology and Public Health: Drug development and delivery, developing diagnostic and and the benefits of home research tools, biosecurity cooking—even millions of miles from home. Environment: Monitoring and controlling water pollution, turning waste streams into renewable Closer to home at a products, remediation of environmental disasters NASA facility in Texas, two postdocs in her lab Energy: Developing sustainable biofuel systems, optimizing capture and storage devices recently conducted the Food and Agriculture: Quality control, sensors for food safety, improved nutrient delivery first partial gravity cooking on record to test the Consumer Products: Quality control, safety, development of cosmetics effectiveness of a specially constructed kitchen Public Health: Development of new drugs; Improvements in drug delivery galley for space travel.