Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the Student Link for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• ENG BE 569: No longer offered
  No longer offered
• ENG BE 570: Introduction to Computational Vision
  Introductory course in biological visual neuroscience and computational vision. Provides a survey of the psychophysical, neuroanatomical and neurophysiological substrates of visual mechanisms underlying perception of visual motion, depth, objects, and space and of decision making mechanisms. Discussion of theoretical, explanatory, paradigms for these visual mechanisms. Topics addressed include psychophysics, methods from single cell recording physiology and low field potentials (LFP),multimodal imaging and computational modeling of various visual tasks and their modulation by attention. We will briefly address learning mechanisms and their relationship to brain plasticity. A term project is required for graduate credit.
• ENG BE 571: Introduction to Neuroengineering
  This course covers current and future neurotechnologies for analyzing the brain and for treating neurological and psychiatric diseases. It focuses on the biophysical, biochemical, anatomical principles governing the design of the current neurotechnologies, with a goal of encouraging innovations of new generation of therapies. Topics include basic microscopic and macroscopic architecture of the brain, the fundamental properties of individual neurons and ensemble neural networks, electrophysiology, DBS, TMS, various imaging methods, optical neural control technologies, optogenetics, neuropharmacology, and gene/stem-cell therapies. Discussions of related literatures and design projects will be involved. Enrollment is limited to 30 students. The course is open to MS, MEng, and PhD students, as well as qualified undergraduate seniors. Same as ENG BE 771. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 572: Neurotechnology Devices
  From electro-physiology to optical and MRI, non-invasive to invasive, neuro-sensing to neuro-modulation, and spanning applications in humans and animals; this course will cover the latest developments in devices used to study the brain. The course will center around several recent journal papers that introduces or utilizes novel devices for the advancement of neuroscience. For each paper, there will be one or two lectures on the background behind the specific neurotechnology advanced or utilized in the paper. In the following class, students will be required to critically discuss the given paper, with the discussion led by a group of assigned students who will first present an overview of the paper. Homeworks and the final project will further enhance critial review of the literature and investigation of neurotechnology devices. Same as ENG BE 772. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 575: No longer offered
  No longer offered
• ENG BE 592: Biomed Elective
  
• ENG BE 593: ENG Elective
  
• ENG BE 594: Prof Elective
  
• ENG BE 595: Internatnl Crse
  
• ENG BE 600: Internatnl Crse
  
• ENG BE 601: Linear Algebra
  The first of four math modules designed to reinforce basic mathematical and computer programming concepts pertinent to graduate research in biomedical engineering. This course will emphasize the five cornerstones of applied linear algebra: Linear combinations, decompositions, orthogonality, metric, and linear transformations. Topics include LU and QR factorizations, finite difference methods for solving partial differential equations (PDEs), least squares, Fourier series and wavelets, solid mechanics, Markov chains, principal component analysis, and signal processing techniques. This course will provide the necessary linear algebra background needed to solve problems in BE 602, 603 and 604.
• ENG BE 602: Ordinary Differential Equations
  This math module will focus on four key ODE concepts: Linear dynamical systems, nonlinear conservative and excitable systems, discrete- time state machines, and generalized Fourier series solutions to Sturm- Liouville problems. Topics include: Filters, enzymatic networks, mechanical models for biomaterials, oscillators and limit cycles, phase- locked loops, nonlinear Leslie matrices, Legendre polynomials, Bessel functions, and a prelude to solving PDE problems associated with heat transfer, diffusion, and electrostatics. Prior exposure to linear algebra (BE 601 equivalent), and working knowledge of a programming language (Matlab, Python, etc.) is helpful.
• ENG BE 603: Partial Differential Equations
  This math module will focus on elliptical and parabolic PDEs associated with transport phenomenon problems in biomedical engineering. We will visit four PDE concepts: Separation of variables, integral transform solutions, superposition principles, and numerical approximations using finite-difference schemes. Topics include: 2D and 3D anisotropic Laplace's, Poisson's, and the heat equations in different coordinate systems, Fourier and Laplace transform solutions, 2D ADI methods, Green's functions, and the method of images. Prior exposure to linear algebra (BE 601 equivalent), ODEs (BE 602 or MA 226 equivalent), Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms (BE 401 equivalent), and working knowledge of a programming language (Matlab, Python, etc.) is highly recommended.
• ENG BE 604: Statistics & Numerical Methods
  In the final math module, we will focus on how linear algebra, ODEs, statistics, and signals & systems techniques can be used to interrogate data from biological and engineering experiments. The lecture topics include: Jacobi, Gauss-Seidel, and SOR iterative solvers for large linear systems; Gauss-Newton iterations (nonlinear least-squares); the ANOVA table, multi- factor regression, and intro to the general linear model (GLM); data deconvolution; Monte Carlo, bootstrap, and kernel density estimation. Prior exposure to linear algebra (BE 601 equivalent), basic probability and statistics (BE 200 equivalent), and working knowledge of a programming language (Matlab, Python, etc.) is highly recommended.
• ENG BE 605: Molecular Bioengineering
  Provides engineering perspectives on the building blocks of living cells and materials for biotechnology. Focuses on origins and synthesis in life and the laboratory, including biological pathways for synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins; transduction, transmission, storage and retrieval of biological information by macromolecules; polymerase chain reaction, restriction enzymes, DNA sequencing; energetics of protein folding and trafficking; mechanisms of enzymatic catalysts and receptor-ligand binding; cooperative proteins, multi- protein complexes and control of metabolic pathways; generation, storage, transmission and release of biomolecular energy; and methods for study and manipulation of molecules which will include isolation, purification, detection, chemical characterization, imaging and visualization of structure. Same as ENG BE 505. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 606: Quantitative Physiology for Engineers
  Course in human physiology for biomedical engineering students. Fundamentals of cellular and systems physiology, including the nervous , muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine and immune systems. Quantitative and engineering approaches will be applied to understanding physiological concepts.
• ENG BE 694: Biomedical and Clinical Needs Finding
  This course requires students to directly observe clinical procedures in selected medical specialties in appropriate hospital settings. Students will document biomedical technologies associated with the current standard of care, evaluate clinical needs and identify opportunities for developing new biomedical technologies. This course compliments and requires co-registration in BE695: Advanced Biomedical Design and Development. Fall only.
• ENG BE 695: Advanced Biomedical Design and Development
  This two-semester 8-credit course is a required sequence for students enrolled in the BME Master of Engineering program. Students will work with leading clinicians to observe and identify unmet clinical challenges, design and develop innovative engineering solutions to those challenges, and explore the regulatory, intellectual property, and reimbursement pathways that will ultimately advance the standard of patient care through the deployment of their innovations. During the first semester, students will qualify for Medical Observer Status and the Boston Medical Center and project teams will conduct formal Needs Finding protocols, select projects, and design alternative solutions. During the second semester, project teams will develop their designs, and make multiple prototypes. Formal Design Control, Life Cycle, Risk Analysis, Project Management, and Intellectual Property Strategies will be introduced. Using formal Product Develop Protocols, students will prepare a detailed regulatory and implementation pathway analysis for completing the commercialization process needed to eventually bring their innovations into clinical practice. 8 credits over 2 semesters - must enroll for both semesters
• ENG BE 696: Advanced Deployment of Biomedical Innovations
  This three-credit course is complementary to BE 695 Advanced Biomedical Design and Development and provides an opportunity for QST Health Sector Management graduate students to work directly with graduate engineering students to develop technical, economic, and commercial implementation plans for medical technologies developed in BE 695. The course has limited enrollment and is restricted to SMG Health Sector MBA students. There are no prerequisites. Permission of instructor is required.
• ENG BE 700: Advanced Topics in Biomedical Engineering
  Advanced study of a specific research topic in biomedical engineering. Intended primarily for advanced graduate students. Variable cr.

Back to full list of College of Engineering