Graduate Courses

This course provides an engineering approach to human physiology for engineering students that have a limited background in Biology as a prerequisite for pursuing a graduate course of study in Biomedical Engineering.  Part 1 will cover homeostasis and the two master controllers of the body, the nervous system and the endocrine system and their complementary mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis from a systems engineering point of view. Functional anatomy and physiology will be covered as well as quantitative methods for the analysis of cell signaling.

A study of the physiological functions of major organ systems (Neural, Blood, Muscle, Heart, Vascular System Renal, Respiratory and Lymphatics) and how they interact to maintain homeostasis from a systems engineering point of view. Functional anatomy and physiology will be covered as well as quantitative methods for the analysis of organ function and their interactions. An analysis of changes in the major physiological variables with exercise will be used as an example of the integration of the major organs to compensate for stress.

 The heart and lungs are mechanically dynamic organs.  This course will survey the principal mechanisms of mechanical cardiopulmonary function.  In the lungs, topics will include pressure-volume curve analysis, surface tension effects, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and lung diseases such as neonatal respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, pulmonary hypertension and emphysema. In the cardiovascular system, topics will include the Frank-Starling mechanism, the myogenic response, the end-systolic pressure-volume response, cardiac oxygen consumption, ventricular-arterial coupling, shear stress effects on the vascular endothelium, and ventricular assist devices for Fontan and adult circulations.

This course will provide students with a practical approach to current computational and experimental methods used in the field of biomechanics.  The goal of the course will be to bridge the gap between the theoretical computations and the practical application of experimental techniques.  Topics covered will include cartilage and muscle mechanics as well as the response of bone tissue to loading.  The analysis of implants will also be covered.  The course will conclude with analysis of human motion.  Experiments will be associated with various topics to demonstrate practical applications of the theoretical concepts introduced.  Students will be required to use statistical analysis software.  Prerequisites: BME 506 Biomechanics, BME 505 Biomaterials, knowledge of, or courses in Differential Equations, Multivariable  Calculus and Statistics.

The Sensory Systems I course will focus on speech, audition, and vision systems.  Students will begin with a review of system principles including sampling, filtering, analog to digital conversion (ADC), spectral (Fourier) analysis and transfer functions.  The second topic will cover the audio spectrum and properties of sound as they relate to both speech and hearing. The course will then cover basic anatomy and physiology of the larynx, ear, and eye.  Students will participate in two types of Labs for each of the three topics.  Sensory Labs are designed to enhance the student’s knowledge of sound production, auditory response and image processing. Reverse Engineering (RE) Labs utilizing existing speech, hearing, and vision enhancement products will be conducted as well.

This course introduces biomedical engineering principles, techniques, design &
 application of medical instrumentation.  This course deals with the sensors,  
 electrodes and analog integrated circuits to process physiological signals in 
 a way that it can be used further for various diagnostic, therapeutic and     
 surgical applications.  It also introduces matrix laboratory and LabVIEW      
 software to measure, record and monitor physiological signals.  The course    
 includes a bioinstrumentation lab where students gain hands on experience with
 the use of sensors, electrodes, filters, microcontrollers and circuits to     
 acquire, modify and display various physiological signals.  Students are      
 graded based on the performance in homework assignments, lab assignments and midterm & final exams.

A successful approach to product development and design in the field of medical technologies requires a highly interdisciplinary approach.  This course reviews the regulations, protocols, and guidelines which must be met in each discipline, and describes how these issues are inter-related and how the affect design and product development.  Marketing, Regulatory, IP and Clinical aspects are all considered in the technical aspects of design.

One of the distinguishing features of biomedical engineers is the ability to  
make and interpret measurements on living systems.  One of the major objectives of advanced laboratory training is to provide experience in selecting appropriate measurement and analysis tools that will advance hypothesis driven and translational research and development.  This laboratory serves these dual purposes.  Students are introduced to techniques for measurements at the cellular, organ and systems levels.  Students will then use these techniques to: a) formulate hypotheses, design experiments using the tools provided, make appropriate measurements, analyze the data an determine if the data do or do not support their hypotheses; b) make measurements that facilitate the design and manufacture of devices in terms of materials properties, fatigue and failure modes.  Each student will keep a laboratory notebook.   

One of the distinguishing features of biomedical engineers is the ability to make and interpret measurements on living systems.  One of the major objectives of advanced laboratory training is to provide experience in selecting appropriate measurement and analysis tools that will advance hypothesis driven and translational research and development.  This laboratory serves these dual purposes.  Students are introduced to techniques for measurements at the cellular, organ and systems levels. Students will then use these techniques to: a) formulate hypotheses, design experiments using the tools provided, make appropriate measurements, analyze the data an determine if the data do or do not support their hypotheses; b) make measurements that facilitate the design and manufacture of devices in terms of materials properties, fatigue and failure modes.  Each student will keep a laboratory notebook.

This course is an introduction to the field of Tissue Engineering.  It is rapidly emerging as a therapeutic approach to treating damaged or diseased tissues in the biotechnology industry. In essence, new and functional living tissue can be fabricated using living cells combined with a scaffolding material to guide tissue development.  Such scaffolds can be synthetic, natural, or a combination of both.  This course will cover the advances in the field of cell biology, molecular biology, material science and their relationship towards developing novel 'tissue engineered' materials.

The engineering applications of biological transport phenomena are important considerations in basic research related to molecules, organelles, cell and organ function; the design and operation of devices such as filtration units for kidney dialysis, high density cell culture and biosensors; and applications including drug and gene delivery, biological signal transduction and tissue engineering.  This course develops the fundamental principles of transport processes, the mathematical expression of these principles and the solution of transport equations, along with characterization of composition, and function of living systems to which they are applied.

This is a first course dealing with the engineering aspects of bioinformatics. It will introduce numerical algorithms for biological data analysis, biological data analysis software and modeling tools, databases, hardware and applications.

This course will introduce students to various aspects of clinical research, i.e. research with human subjects, including clinical research methods, protocols, governance, study designs, as well as subject management and protection, bioethics, and biostatics.  It is anticipated that students are familiar with biomedical design, biomaterials and biomechanics.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the major classes of engineering materials, their principle properties and design requirements that serve as both the basis for materials selection as well as for the ongoing development of new materials.  This course is substantially differentiated from introductory materials courses by its very specific focus on material whose use puts them in direct contact with physiological systems.  Thus the course begins with brief sections on inflammatory response, thrombosis, infection and device failure.  It then concentrates on developing the fundamental material science and engineering concepts underlying the structure-property relationships in both synthetic and natural polymers, metals and alloys, and ceramics relevant to in vivo medial-device technology.

This course extends concepts present in tissue engineering, biotransport and biomaterial to develop design principles for generating tissue and organs in-vitro.  The processes which cells integrate proteins and extracellular matrix to form functioning organ systems are developed.  The principles of bioreactor design are sued to analyze and design in-vitro systems for growing functioning tissue and organs for use as prostheses. Principles of Scale-up to organs of different size are discussed.  Design issues and limitations for extension of these principles to multi-organ systems are illustrated.

Pathophysiology describes changes in physiology resulting in disease or injury.  A solid understanding of normal physiology is necessary before attempting the study of abnormal situations.  The course emphasizes the "mechanistic" approach to pathophysiology, i.e., A-B-C, rather that the symptom-diagnosis-treatment approach.  Multiple examples, case studies and procedural videos are presented with a discussion of what they do well and where improvements can be made.

This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the rapidly developing field of nanomedicine, and discuss the application of nanoscience and nanotechnology in medicine such as in diagnosis, imaging and therapy, surgery and drug delivery.

This course describes the application of nano- and micro-fabrication methods to build tools for exploring the mysteries of biological systems.  It is a graduate-level course that will cover the basics of biology and the principles and practice of nano- and micro-fabrication techniques with a focus on applications in biomedical and biological research.

This advanced course coves the mechanism and biological role of signal transduction in mammalian cells.  Topics included are exracellular regulatory signals, intercellular signal transduction pathways, role of tissue context in the function of cellular regulation, and example of biological processes controlled by specific cellular signal transduction pathways.  

Lectures by department faculty, guest speakers, and doctoral students on recent research.

Selected topics of current interest in the field of biomedical engineering will be treated from an advanced point of view.

 International graduate students may arrange an educationally relevant         
 internship or paying position off campus and receive Curricular Practical     
 Training (CPT) credit via this course.  Students must maintain their full time
 status while receiving CPT.  Prior approval of the program director is        
 required for enrollment.  To justify enrollment, the student must have a      
 concrete commitment from a specific employer for a specific project, and must 
 provide to the program director for his/her approval a description of the     
 project plus a statement from the employer that he/she intends to employ the  
 student.  This information must be provided to the program director with      
 sufficient advance notice so that the program director has time to review the 
 materials and determine if the project is appropriate.  The project must be   
 educationally relevant; i.e., it must help the student develop skills         
 consistent with the goals of the educational program.  During the semester,   
 the student must submit written progress reports.  At the end of the semester,
 the student must submit for grading a written report that describes his/her   
 activities during that semester, even if the activity remains ongoing.  The   
 student must also present his/her activities in an accompanying oral          
 presentation that is also graded.

One to three credits. Limit of three credits for the degree of Master of Engineering (Biomedical).

One to three credits. Limit of three credits for the doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering.

One to three credits.  Limit of three credits.  Must arrange with instructor.

For the degree of Master of Engineering (Biomedical). Nine credits with departmental approval

For the degree of Master of Engineering (Biomedical). Six credits with departmental approval.

For the degree of Master of Engineering (Biomedical). Six credits with departmental approval.

Original research leading to the doctoral dissertation. Hours and credits to be arranged.

Review of undergraduate physical chemistry by means of problem solving; atomic spectra; structure of atoms and molecules; thermodynamics; changes of state; solutions; chemical equilibrium; kinetic theory of gases; chemical kinetics, and electrochemistry.

A course for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in the sciences, especially chemistry and chemical biology, focusing on the ethical problems unique to the chemical profession.    Special emphasis will be given to situations in which there is not a simple correct answer but only a number of imperfect alternatives.  Class discussion of case studies.This course is recommended by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society as a component of ACS Certification.  It is not a course in general theories of ethics, nor a course treating the problems of Bioethics, such as human subjects and animal testing and DNA modification, but a course on problems encountered in the chemical profession.

The elements of quantum mechanics are developed and applied to chemical systems. Valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory of small molecules; introduction to group theory for molecular symmetry; fundamental aspects of chemical bonding, and molecular spectra.

See course description under MT524.

Lectures, demonstrations and laboratory experiments, selected from among the following topics, depending on student interest: vacuum technology; thin-film preparation; scanning electron microscopy; infrared spectroscopy, ellipsometry: electron spectroscopies-Auger, photoelectron, LEED; ion spectroscopies SIMS, IBS, field emission; surface properties-area, roughness,   and surface tension.   Alternate years.

Your needs and interests will be considered in the assignment of typical advanced preparations, small research problems and special operations.   Fall and Spring semesters, by request.

Your needs and interests will be considered in the assignment of typical advanced preparations, small research problems and special operations.   Fall and Spring semesters, by request.

An intensive course on the interpretation of spectroscopic data; emphasis is on the use of modern spectroscopic techniques, such as NMR (13C, D, 15N, and H), mass (including CI), laser-Raman, ESCA, ORD, CD, IR, and UV for structure elucidation. Special attention is given to the application of computer technology in spectral work. A course designed for practicing chemists in analytical, organic, physical, and biomedical areas. Extensive problem solving. No laboratory.

Most processes in petroleum and chemical industries utilize catalytic reactions. Moreover, many emerging technologies in the energy sector and in green chemistry for sustainability rely on catalysis. This course provides the fundamentals of synthesis, characterization and testing of catalytic materials with an emphasis on metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, the most widely used class of catalysts. Methodologies for development of molecular-level reaction mechanisms, material structure-activity relations and kinetic models are described. The course is essential for anyone planning a career in the chemical industry. It is recommended for all professionals working with nanoparticles and also with diverse applications where the solid-gas interface is important.

Primarily a laboratory course, with some lecture presenting the principles and applications of contemporary instrumental analytical methods, with a focus on spectroscopy and separations.  Laboratory practice explores ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, gas-liquid and high-performance liquid chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis. These instrumental  techniques are utilized for quantitative and qualitative analyses of organic, inorganic, biological and environmntal samples.  

Course covers the following topics: Structure and physical, chemical and biological attributes of biologics.  Product stability, pharmacokinetics, delivery.  Critical quality attributes of Pioneer Drugs and Biogenerics.  Fundamentals of nucleic acid and protein structure and function.  Genetic engineering tools.  Modern production vectors and hosts.  Cell line and media selection and optimization.  Cell-bank characterization and stability.  Upstream processes.  Culture, fermentation and scale-up.  Critical upstream process parameters, regulatory controls and validation.  Rapid vaccine manufacturing and monoclonal antibody case studies.  Prerequisites: Students must have taken at least one course in organic chemistry and one course in biochemistry, molecular biology, or genetics, or equivalent background as determined by instructor.

Discussions include metabolic pathways in biosynthesis and catabolism of biomolecules, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. The hormonal regulation of metabolism, as well as vitamin metabolism, is presented.

Discusses the physical and structural chemistry of proteins and nucleotides, as well as the functional role these molecules play in biochemistry. Extensive use of known X-ray structural information will be used to visualize the three-dimensional structure of these biomolecules. This structural information will be used to relate the molecules to known functional information.

The relationship of the chemical and physical structure of biological macromolecules to their biological functions as derived from osmotic pressure, viscosity, light and X-ray scatting, diffusion, ultracentrifugation, and electrophoresis. The course is subdivided into: 1) properties, functions, and interrelations of biological macromolecules, e.g., polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids; 2) correlation of physical properties of macromolecules in solution; 3) conformational properties of proteins and nucleic acids; and 4) aspects of metal ions in biological systems.

Fundamentals of control processes governing physiological systems analyzed at the cellular and molecular level. Biological signal transduction and negative feedback control of metabolic processes. Examples from sensory, nervous, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. Deviations that give rise to abnormal states; their detection, and the theory behind the imaging and diagnostic techniques such as MRI, PET, SPECT; and the design and development of therapeutic drugs. The principles, uses, and applications of biomaterials and tissue engineering techniques; and problems associated with biocompatibility. Students (or groups of students) are expected to write and present a term project.

A systematic treatment of the bonding and reactivity of inorganic substances; molecular shape and electron charge distribution of main-group and coordination compounds, including valence-bond theory and a group theoretical approach to molecular orbital theory; organometallic chemistry; the solid state; and the role of inorganic compounds in biological processes and the environment.

Applications of the laws of thermodynamics to solutions, electrolytes and polyelectrolytes, binding, and biological systems; statistical thermodynamics is developed and applied to spectroscopy and transition state theory; and chemical kinetics of simple and complex reactions, enzyme and heterogeneous catalysis, and theories of reaction rates.

Theorems and postulates of quantum mechanics; operator relationships; solutions of the Schrödinger equation for model systems; variation and perturbation methods; pure spin states; Hartree-Fock self-consistent field theory; and applications to many-electron atoms and molecules.

 Theoretical foundations of spectroscopic methods and their application to the study of atomic and molecular structure and properties; theory of absorption and emission of radiation; line spectra of complex atoms: group theory; rotational, vibrational, and electronic spectroscopy of diatomic and polyatomic molecules; infrared, Raman, uv-vis spectroscopy; laser spectroscopy  and applications; photoelectron spectroscopy; multi-photon processes.  Also offered as PEP 722.   By request.

A detailed discussion of the kinetics and mechanism of complex reactions in the gaseous and liquid phases; topics include: stationary and nonstationary conditions; chain reactions, photo and radiation-induced reactions, and reaction rate theories.   By request.

Classical and quantum mechanical preliminaries; derivation of the laws of thermodynamics; applications to monoatomic and polyatomic gases and to gaseous mixtures; systems of dependent particles with applications to the crystalline solid, the imperfect ga, s and the cooperative phenomena; electric and magnetic fields; and degenerate gases. By request.

An advanced course in the chemistry of carbon compounds, with special reference to polyfunctional compounds, heterocycles, techniques of literature survey, stereochemical concepts, and physical tools for organic chemists. Fall semester.

An advanced course in the chemistry of carbon compounds, with special reference to polyfunctional compounds, heterocycles, techniques of literature survey, stereochemical concepts, and physical tools for organic chemists.  Spring semester.

A survey of important synthetic methods with emphasis on stereochemistry and reaction mechanism.

Structure, synthesis, and biogenesis of antibiotics, alkaloids, hormones, and other natural products.

Discussion at the molecular level of drug receptor interaction, influence of stereochemistry and physiochemical properties on drug action, pharmacological effects of structural features, mechanism of drug action, metabolic rate of drugs in animals and man, and drug design. The application of newer physical tools and recent advances in methods for pharmacological studies will be emphasized.

Advanced treatment of the theory and practice of spectrometric methods (mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, etc.) and electroanalytical methods with emphasis on Fourier Transform techniques (FTIR, FTNMR, etc.) and hyphenated methods (gc-ms, etc.), the instrument-sample interaction, and signal sampling. A survey of computational methods, such as factor analysis and other chemometric methods is also included.

Your needs and interests are considered in the assignment of work on one or more of the following: NMR spectrometry, mass spectrometry, electrochemical methods, infrared, ultraviolet, and visible spectrophotometry.

An advanced course applying principles and theory to problems in chemical analysis. Theory of separations, including distillation, chromatography, and ultracentrifugation; heterogeneity and surface effects; and sampling and its problems.

A practical treatment of the mechanical, electronic, and optical devices used in the construction of instruments for research and chemical analysis and control; motors, light sources and detectors, servomechanisms, electronic components and test equipment, vacuum and pressure measuring devices, and overall design concepts are among the topics treated.

Discusses computational chemistry topics, including energy minimization, molecular dynamics, solvation mechanics, and electronic structure calculations. Applications in drug design and receptors will be discussed.

 Application of chemometric techniques to problems in analytical, physical and organic chemistry, with emphasis on spectroscopic measurements.  Includes optimization, analysis of variance, pattern recognition, factor analysis, experimental design, etc.

A comprehensive hands-on course covering both fundamentals and modern aspects of mass spectrometry, with emphasis on biological and biochemical applications. Topics include: contemporary methods of gas phase ion formation [electron ionization (EI), chemical ionization (CI), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), fast atom bombardment (FAB), plasma desorption (PD), electrospray (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), detection (electron and photomultipliers, and array detectors), and mass analysis [magnetic deflection, quadrupole, ion trap, time of flight (TOF), and Fourier-transform (FTMS)]. Detailed interpretation of organic mass spectra for structural information, with special emphasis on even-electron-ion fragmentation. Qualitative and quantitative applications in environmental, biological, pharmacological, forensic, and geochemical sciences.

Topics at the interface of biology and computer technology will be discussed, including molecular sequence analysis, phylogeny generation, biomolecular structure simulation, and modeling of site-directed mutagenesis.

Mechanisms and kinetics of organic and inorganic polymerization reactions; condensation, free radical and ionic addition, and stereoregular polymerizations; copolymerizations; and the nature of chemical bonds and the resulting physical properties of high polymers.

Physio-chemical aspects of polymers, molecular weight distributions, solution characterization and theories, polymer chain configuration, thermodynamics of polymer solutions, the amorphous state, and the crystalline state.

The course covers recent advances in macromolecular science, including  polyelectrolytes and water-soluble polymers, synthetic and biological macromolecules at surfaces, self-assembly of synthetic and biological macromolecules, and polymers for biomedical applications.

Recent developments in polymer science will be discussed, e.g., physical measurements, polymer characterization, polymerization kinetics, and morphology. Topics will vary from year to year and specialists will participate.

Topics at the interface of polymer chemistry and biomedical sciences, focusing on areas where polymers have made a particularly strong contribution, such as in biomedical sciences and pharmaceuticals . Synthesis and properties of biopolymers; biomaterials; nanotechnology smart polymers; functional applications in biotechnology, tissue and cell engineering; and biosensors and drug delivery.

Discussions in medical, industrial, and environmental microbiology will include bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, and infectious diseases. Includes experimental laboratory instruction.

Students will work actively in small collaborative groups to solve a unique research project that encompasses the purification, analysis of purity, kinetics, and structure-function analysis of a novel recombinant protein. Techniques in protein purification, gel electrophoresis, peptide digest separation, ligand binding, steady-state and stopped-flow kinetics, and molecular simulation will be explored.

This laboratory course introduces essential techniques in molecular biology and genetic engineering in a project format. The course includes aseptic technique and the handling of microbes; isolation and purification of nucleic acids; construction, selection and analysis of recombinant DNA molecules; restriction mapping; immobilization and hybridization of nucleic acids; and labeling methods of nucleic acid probes.

A few topics of timely interest will be treated in depth,; recent chemical developments will be surveyed in fields such as antibiotics, cancer chemotherapy, CNS agents, chemical control of fertility, steroids and prostaglandins in therapy, etc.

The cells and molecules of the immune system and their interaction and regulation; the cellular and genetic components of the immune response, the biochemistry of antigens and antibodies, the generation of antibody diversity, cytokines, hypersensitivities, and immunodeficiencies (i.e. AIDS); and transplants and tumors. Use of antibodies in currently emerging immunodiagnostic techniques such as ELISA, disposable kits, molecular targets, and development of vaccines utilizing molecular biological techniques, such as recombinant and subunit vaccines. Students (or groups of students) are expected to write and present a term project.

This course is a modern approach to the study of heredity through molecular biology. Primary emphasis is on nucleic acids, the molecular biology of gene expression, molecular recognition and signal transduction, and bacterial and viral molecular biology. The course will also discuss recombinant DNA technology and its impact on science and medicine.

A discussion of the theories underlying various techniques of molecular biology which are used in the biotechnology industry. Topics include all recombinant DNA techniques; DNA isolation and analysis; library construction and screening; cloning; DNA sequencing; hybridization and other detection methods; RNA isolation and analysis; protein isolation and analysis (immunoassay, ELISA, etc.); transgenic and ES cell methods; electrophoresis (agarose, acrylamide, two dimensional, and SDS-PAGE); column chromatography; and basic cell culture including transfection and expression systems.

Laboratory practice in modern biological research will be explored. Techniques involving gene and protein cellular probes, ELISA, mammalian cell culturing, cell cycle determination, differential centrifugation, electron microscopy, and fluorescent cellular markets will be addressed. Laboratory fee $60.

This advanced course covers the mechanism and biological role of signal transduction in mammalian cells. Topics included are extracellular regulatory signals, intracellular signal transduction pathways, role of tissue context in the function of cellular regulation, and examples of biological processes controlled by specific cellular signal transduction pathways.

Systems biology is a new approach to complex biological problems. It uses a combination of the most modern techniques for comprehensive measurements of cells and molecules, combined with complex computer and mathematical modeling, to build up inclusive depictions of how living systems function. This course is an integrative approach to help comprehend dynamic biological systems. True understanding of systems biology requires a cross-disciplinary approach. Topics will include both a biological and computer science perspective taught by experts in each individual discipline. The course will cover introduction to advance biological subjects in cell biology and genetics followed by introduction to computer science methods including modeling and “bio-machine” features of systems biology. In class, we will also explore critical reading of current research.

Epigenetics describes the inheritance of different functional states, which may have divergent phenotypic consequences, without any change in the sequence of DNA.  This course will examine the molecular mechanisms and biological processes in which epigenetic modifications play an elemental role in inheritance.  It will cover different biological mechanisms of the epigenetic machinery including: DNA methylation, histone tails, chromatin structure, nucleosome occupancy, heterochromatin assembly, gene silencing, siRNAs and miRNAs.  The epigenetic profile of embryonic stem cells, cell differentiation, gene imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation will be examined as well as the relationship of epigenetics to cancers and ageing. Prerequisites: Undergraduate Genetics and Undergraduate Cell Biology.  

This course is designed to deliver a knowledge base that is essential for understanding basic principles of gene therapy.  The course covers essential elements for understanding the field of gene therapy including the history and development of the field, the classifications and uses of gene transfer vectors, the design and utility of the gene expression cassette, gene expression kinetics, barriers to gene delivery, and examples of applications of gene therapy for major disease classes including cancer and metabolic diseases.

This course combines computational modeling with lab experience. The course is project based. Students will be able to choose from a pool of problems being actively researched at Stevens, understand how to obtain experimental data, design and implement a computational model, predict the behavior of the system being modeled, and use a second set of experimental results to validate the model.

This course is designed for beginning graduate students and advanced undergraduate students with a particular enthusiasm for advanced cell biology.  Overall, the course will present organelle biogenesis by first presenting past scientific strategies, theories, and findings in the field of cell biology and then relating these foundations to current investigations. Reviews of protein and lipid mediators important for organelle biogenesis are then presented followed by summaries focused on the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, mitochondria, and peroxisome. Each organelle will be extensively covered for sub-compartment biochemistry, isolation, and current research. Intensive classroom discussions focus on the experimental methods used, results obtained, interpretation of these results in the context of cell structure and function, and implications for further directions of studies in the field.

Lectures by department faculty, guest speakers, and doctoral students on recent research.

International graduate students may arrange an educationally relevant internship or paying position off campus and receive Curricular Practical Training (CPT) credit via this course.  Students must maintain their full time status while receiving CPT. Prior approval of the program director is required for enrollment.  To justify enrollment, the student must have a concrete commitment from a specific employer for a specific project, and must provide to the program director for his/her approval a description of the project plus a statement from the employer that he/she intends to employ the student.  This information must be provided to the program director with sufficient advance notice so that the program director has time to review the materials and determine if the project is appropriate. The project must be educationally relevant; i.e., it must help the student develop skills consistent with the goals of the educational program.  During the semester, the student must submit written progress reports.  At the end of the semester, the student must submit for grading a written report that describes his/her activities during that semester, even if the activity remains ongoing.  The student must also present his/her activities in an accompanying oral presentation that is also graded.  This is a one-credit course that may be repeated up to a total of three credits.

Topics of current interest selected by you are to be investigated from an advanced point of view.

Topics of current interest selected by you are to be investigated from an advanced point of view.

Topics selected to coincide with research interests current in the department.

Selected topics of current interest in the field of organic chemistry will be treated from an advanced point of view; recent developments will be surveyed in fields such as reaction mechanisms, physical methods in organic chemistry, natural products chemistry, biogenesis, etc.

This advanced course in computational chemistry builds on the methods developed in CH 664. Students will analyze and design combinatorial libraries, develop SAR models, and generate calculated molecular properties. The hands-on course will use both PC and Silicon Graphics computers. Software, such as that from Oxford Molecular, Tripos, and Oracle will be used, as will MSI software, such as INSIGHT/DISCOVER, Catalyst, and Cerius 2.

Topics of current interest in biochemical research are discussed, such as: enzyme chemistry, biochemical genetics and development, cellular control mechanism, biochemistry of cell membranes, bioenergetics, and microbiology.

Topics of current interest in biochemical research are discussed, such as: enzyme chemistry, biochemical genetics and development, cellular control mechanism, biochemistry of cell membranes, bioenergetics, and microbiology.

Topics of timely interest will be treated in an interdisciplinary fashion; recent developments will be surveyed in fields such as biosynthesis, radioactive and stable isotope techniques, genesis of life chemicals, nucleic acids and replication, genetic defects, and metabolic errors.

One to six credits. Limit of six credits for the degree of Master of Science.

One to six credits. Limit of six credits for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

For the degree of Master of Science, five to ten credits with departmental approval.

Original experimental or theoretical research that may serve as the basis for the dissertation required for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The work will be carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. Hours and credits to be arranged.

Description of simple physical models which account for electrical conductivity and thermal properties of solids. Basic crystal lattice structures, X-ray diffraction and dispersion curves for phonons and electrons in reciprocal space. Energy bands, Fermi surfaces, metals, insulators, semiconductors, superconductivity and ferromagnetism. Fall semester. Typical text: Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics.

Lectures, demonstrations and laboratory experiments, selected from among the following topics, depending on student interest: vacuum technology; thin-film preparation; scanning electron microscopy; infrared spectroscopy, ellipsometry: electron spectroscopies-Auger,
photoelectron, LEED; ion spectroscopies SIMS, IBS, field emission; surface
properties-area, roughness, and surface tension.

This course is an introduction to quantum mechanics for students in physics and engineering. Techniques discussed include solutions of the Schrodinger equation in one and three dimensions, and operator and matrix methods. Applications include infinite and finite quantum wells, barrier penetration and scattering in one dimension, the harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, central force problems, including the hydrogen atom, and spin. Fall semester. Typical text: Quantum Physics by Gasiorowicz

This course is meant as the first in a two-course sequence on non-relativistic quantum mechanics for physics graduate students, with an emphasis on applications to atomic, molecular, and solid state physics. Undergraduate students may take this course as a Technical Elective. Topics covered include: review of Schrödinger wave mechanics; operator algebra, theory of representation, and matrix mechanics; symmetries in quantum mechanics; spin and formal theory of angular momentum, including addition of angular momentum; and approximation methods for stationary problems, including time independent perturbation theory, WKB approximation, and variational methods. Typical text: Quantum Mechanics by E. Merzbacher.

Most processes in petroleum and chemical industries utilize catalytic reactions. Moreover, many emerging technologies in the energy sector and in green chemistry for sustainability rely on catalysis. This course provides the fundamentals of synthesis, characterization and testing of catalytic materials with an emphasis on metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, the most widely used class of catalysts. Methodologies for development of molecular-level reaction mechanisms, material structure-activity relations and kinetic models are described. The course is essential for anyone planning a career in the chemical industry. It is recommended for all professionals working with nanoparticles and also with diverse applications where the solid-gas interface is important.

Principles of environmental reactions with emphasis on aquatic chemistry; reaction and phase equilibria; acid-base and carbonate systems; oxidation-reduction; colloids; organic contaminants classes, sources, and fates; groundwater chemistry; and atmospheric chemistry.

A study of the chemical and physical operation involved in treatment of potable water, industrial process water, and wastewater effluent; topics include chemical precipitation, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, ion exchange, oxidation, adsorption, flotation, and membrane processes. A physical-chemical treatment plant design project is an integral part of the course. The approach of unit operations and unit processes is stressed.

Deals with aspects of the technology of processing procedures involved in the fabrication of microelectronic devices and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Students will become familiar with various fabrication techniques used for discrete devices as well as large-scale integrated thin-film circuits. Students will also learn that MEMS are sensors and actuators that are designed using different areas of engineering disciplines and they are constructed using a microlithographically-based manufacturing process in conjunction with both semiconductor and micromachining microfabrication technologies

This course deals with the fundamentals and applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Size-dependent phenomena, ways and means of designing and synthesizing nanostructures, and cutting-edging applications will be presented in an integrated and interdisciplinary manner.

The goal of this course is to learn the basic concepts commonly utilized in the processing of advanced materials with specific compositions and microstructures. Solid state diffusion mechanisms are described with emphasis on the role of point defects, the mobility of diffusing atoms, and their interactions. Macroscopic diffusion phenomena are analyzed by formulating partial differential equations and presenting their solutions. The relationships between processing and microstructure are developed on the basis of the rate of nucleation and growth processes that occur during condensation, solidification, and precipitation. Diffusionless phase transformations observed in certain metallic and ceramic materials are discussed.

This course covers the environmental and health aspects of nanotechnology. It presents an overview of nanotechnology along with characterization and properties of nanomaterials. The course material covers the biotoxicity and ecotoxicity of nanomaterials. A sizable part of the course is devoted to discussions about the application of nanotechnology for environmental remediation along with discussions about fate and transport of nanomaterials. Special emphasis is given to risk assessment and risk management of nanomaterials, ethical and legal aspects of nanotechnology, and nano-industry and nano-entrepreneurship.

This course provides an overview and industrial perspectives regarding downstream separation in drug substance development and manufacturing. Basic principles and practical applications of unit operations most commonly employed in the pharmaceutical industry will be discussed, including extraction, absorption, membrane, distillation, crystallization, filtration, and drying. Examples will be discussed to illustrate the intrinsic relationship between process development, equipment selection, and scale-up success.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the major classes of engineering materials, their principal properties, and design requirements that serve as both the basis for materials selection, as well as for the ongoing development of new materials. This course is substantially differentiated from introductory materials courses by its very specific focus on materials whose use puts them in direct contact with physiological systems. Thus, the course begins with brief sections on inflammatory response, thrombosis, infection, and device failure. It then concentrates on developing the fundamental materials science and engineering concepts underlying the structure-property relationships in both synthetic and natural polymers, metals and alloys, and ceramics relevant to in vivo medical device technology.

This course follows the introductory course and covers advanced topics in the design, modeling, and fabrication of micro and nano electromechanical systems. The materials will be broad and multidisciplinary including: review of micro and nano electromechanical systems, dimensional analysis and scaling, thermal, transport, fluids, microelectronics, feedback control, noise, and electromagnetism at the micro and nanoscales; the modeling of a variety of new MEMS/NEMS devices; and alternative approaches to the continuum mechanics theory. The goal will be achieved through a combination of lectures, case studies, individual homework assignments, and design projects carried out in teams.

The course covers recent advances in macromolecular science, including polyelectrolytes and water-soluble polymers, synthetic and biological macromolecules at surfaces, self-assembly of synthetic and biological macromolecules, and polymers for biomedical applications.

Topics at the interface of polymer chemistry and biomedical sciences, focusing on areas where polymers have made a particularly strong contribution, such as in biomedical sciences and pharmaceuticals. Synthesis and properties of biopolymers; biomaterials; nanotechnology smart polymers; functional applications in biotechnology, tissue and cell engineering; and biosensors and drug delivery.

This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the rapidly developing field of nanomedicine and discuss the application of nanoscience and nanotechnology in medicine such as, in diagnosis, imaging and therapy, surgery, and drug delivery.

 As an introduction to micro/nano fluidics, course topics include basic fluid mechanical theories, experimental techniques, fabrication techniques and applications of micro/nano fluidics. The theory part will cover continuum fluid mechanics at micro/nano scales, molecular approaches, capillary effects, electrokinetic flows, acoustofluidics and optofluidics. The experimental part will cover micro/nano rheology and particle image velocimetry. The fabrication part will cover materials and machining techniques for micro/nano fluidic devices. The application part will cover micro/nano fluidic devices for flow control, life sciences and chemistry. As a term project, individual students are required to perform a case study for their own selected topic in micro/nano fluidics, to conduct a literature survey/summary and to propose/analyze their own new design idea of a micro/nano fluidic devices by utilizing the knowledge obtained throughout the course. 

A survey course covering the chemical, biological and material science aspects of interfacial phenomena. Applications to adhesion, biomembranes, colloidal stability, detergency, lubrication, coatings, fibers and powders - where surface properties play an important role.

This course describes the application of nano- and micro-fabrication methods to build tools for exploring the mysteries of biological systems. It is a graduate-level course that will cover the basics of biology and the principles and practice of nano- and microfabrication techniques, with a focus on applications in biomedical and biological research.

This advanced course covers the mechanism and biological role of signal transduction in mammalian cells. Topics included are extracellular regulatory signals, intracellular signal transduction pathways, role of tissue context in the function of cellular regulation, and examples of biological processes controlled by specific cellular signal transduction pathways.

This course is intended to introduce the concept of electronic energy band engineering for device applications. Topics to be covered are electronic energy bands, optical properties, electrical transport properties of multiple quantum wells, superlattices, quantum wires, and quantum dots; mesoscopic systems, applications of such structures in various solid state devices, such as high electron mobility, resonant tunneling diodes, and other negative differential conductance devices, double-heterojunction injection lasers, superlattice-based infrared detectors, electron-wave devices (wave guides, couplers, switching devices), and other novel concepts and ideas made possible by nano-fabrication technology. Fall semester. Typical text: M. Jaros, Physics and Applications of Semiconductor Microstructures; G. Bastard, Wave Mechanics Applied to Semiconductor Heterostructures.

This course deals with the principles of light interactions with biological and biomedical-relevant systems. The enabling aspects of nanotechnology for advanced biosensing, medical diagnosis, and therapeutic treatment will be discussed.

 Lectures by department faculty, guest speakers and doctoral students on recent research.

This graduate course will introduce the applications of multiscale theory and computational techniques in the fields of materials and mechanics. Students will obtain fundamental knowledge on homogenization and heterogeneous materials, and be exposed to various sequential and concurrent multiscale techniques. The first half of the course will be focused on the homogenization theory and its applications in heterogeneous materials. In the second half multiscale computational techniques will be addressed through multiscale finite element methods and atomistic/continuum computing. Students are expected to develop their own course projects based on their research interests and the relevant topics learned from the course.

Progress in the technology of nanostructure growth; space and time scales; quantum confined systems; quantum wells, coupled wells, and superlattices; quantum wires and quantum dots; electronic states; magnetic field effects; electron-phonon interaction; and quantum transport in nanostructures: Kubo formalism and Butikker-Landau formalism; spectroscopy of quantum dots; Coulomb blockade, coupled dots, and artificial molecules; weal localization; universal conductance fluctuations; phase-breaking time; theory of open quantum systems: fluctuation-dissipation theorem; and applications to quantum transport in nanostructures.

A participating seminar on topics of current interest and importance in Nanotechnology.