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 707: Quantitative Studies of Excitable Cells
  Focuses on the properties of the membranes of nerve and muscle cells. Classical models of resting potentials, action potentials, synaptic transmission, and sensory receptors are treated. The structure and function of single ionic channels are characterized in detail from patch-clamp recordings, neuropharmacological studies, and molecular studies. Mechanisms of muscle contraction and other forms of cellular motility are also covered.
• ENG BE 709: From Cells to Tissue: Engineering Structure and Function
  This course is a primary literature-based course that will introduce students to engineering concepts in understanding and manipulating the behavior of biological cells. We will try to understand the interplay between cells, the extracellular environment, and intracellular signaling pathways in regulating cellular and multicellular structure and function. In particular, we will explore the use of modern experimental approaches to characterize and manipulate cells for bioengineering applications, and the concepts in scaling cellular engineering to functional issues. In this context, we will focus on several topics, including signal transduction and the molecular regulation of cell function, cellular microenvironment, cell adhesion and mecghanics, stem cells, multicellularity, and experimental models of tissue development. We will introduce both classic approaches and those that are still in early development. Due to the expansive nature of this area of science, we will only be able to introduce a sampling of the space.
• ENG BE 710: Neural Plasticity and Perceptual Learning
  This course explores the capacity of cortical sensory and motor maps in the adult brain to change as a result of alterations in the effectiveness of the input, direct damage, or practice. The lectures will describe and discuss (1) the physiology and anatomy underlying adult dynamics; (2) psychophysical methods and experimental paradigms that have been used to study cortical plasticity in the early stages of the sensory and motor pathways; (3) evidence for perceptual learning; and (4) biologically plausible computational models of learning. We will discuss applications of functional neuroimaging to study perceptual learning and restorative plasticity in the human brain.
• ENG BE 726: Fundamentals of Biomaterials
  Provides the chemistry and engineering skills needed to solve challenges in the biomaterials and tissue engineering area, concentrating on the fundamental principles in biomedical engineering, material science, and chemistry. Covers the structure and properties of hard materials (ceramics and metals) and soft materials (polymers and hydrogels). Same as ENG BE 526, ENG ME 726, ENG MS 726. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 727: Principles and Applications of Tissue Engineering
  Provides the chemistry and engineering skills needed to solve challenges in the biomaterials and tissue engineering area, concentrating on cell-biomaterial interactions, soft tissue mechanics and specific research topics. Students will write a NIH-style grant proposal on a specific research topic. Same as ENG BE 527, ENG ME 727, ENG MS 727. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 745: Nanomedicine- Principles and Applications
  The use of nanoscience and technology for biomedical problems has spawned a field of applications ranging from nanoparticles for imaging and therapeutics, to biosensors for disease diagnostics. Nanomedicine is a rapidly growing field that exploits the novel properties of nanoscale materials and techniques to rapidly advance our understanding of human biology and the practice of medicine. This course focuses on the fundamental properties, synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, coupled with their applications in nanomedicine, including: micro- and nano-particles for drug delivery and imaging, microfluidics for in vitro diagnostics, nanomaterials and platforms for biological applications. The biomedical applications include cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infectious diseases. Same as ENG EC 745. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 747: Advanced Signals and Systems Analysis for Biomedical Engineering
  Introduction to advanced techniques for signals and systems analysis with applications to problems in biomedical engineering research. Time-domain and frequency-domain analysis of multiple input, multiple output systems using the fundamental matrix approach. Hilbert transform relations; applications to head- related transfer functions. Second-order characterization of stochastic processes: power density spectra, cross-spectra, auto-and cross-correlation functions. Gaussian and Poisson processes. Models of neural firing patterns. Effects of linear systems on spectra and correlation functions. Applications to models of the peripheral auditory system. Optimum processing applications. Applications to psychophysical modeling. Introduction to wavelets and wavelet transforms. Wavelet filter banks and wavelet signal processing.
• ENG BE 755: Molecular Systems and Synthetic Biology Laboratory
  Molecular Systems and Synthetic Biology Laboratory
• ENG BE 771: Introduction to Neuroengineering
  This course covers existing and future neurotechnologies for analyzing brain signals and for treating neurological and psychiatric diseases. It focuses on the biophysical, biochemical, anatomical principles governing the design of current neurotechnologies, with a goal of encouraging innovations of a 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, gene therapy, and stem-cell therapy. Discussions of related literatures and design projects will be involved. This course is open to graduate students only. Same as ENG BE 571. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 772: 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 572. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 773: Advanced Optical Microscopy and Biological Imaging
  This course will present a rigorous and detailed overview of the theory of optical microscopy starting from basic notions in light propagation and covering advanced concepts in imaging theory such as Fourier optics and partial coherence. Topics will include basic geometric optics, photometry, diffraction, optical transfer functions, phase contrast microscopy, 3D imaging theory, basic scattering and fluorescence theory, imaging in turbid media, confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), holographic microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET), and nonlinear-optics based techniques such as two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. Biological applications such as calcium and membrane-potential imaging will be discussed. A background in optics is preferable. A background in signals and analysis is indispensable. In particular, the student should be comfortable with Fourier transforms, complex analysis, and transfer functions. Same as ENG EC 773. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 788: Soft Tissue Biomechanics
  This course will introduce students to the mechanics of soft biological tissue. In particular, the response of the heart, vasculature, and tissue scaffolds to mechanical loads from the perspective of nonlinear solid mechanics will be studied. Constitutive models for hyperelastic materials will be adapted to biomaterials to handle mechanical characteristics such as nonlinearity, viscoelasticity, and orthotropy. Basic experimental methods, and anatomy and physiology of particular tissue types will also be introduced. Emphasis is placed on integrating the basic analytical, experimental, and computational methods for a more complete understanding of the underlying mechanobiology. Meets with ENG ME 788. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG BE 790: Biomedical Engineering Seminar
  Discussion of current topics in biomedical engineering. Students are expected to read assigned journal articles and to participate actively in weekly discussion meetings. Meetings organized around presentations by invited guests of their research problems, strategy, and technique.
• ENG BE 791: PhD Biomedical Engineering Laboratory Rotation System
  This course allows PhD students to take part in a laboratory rotation system. During these rotations, students become familiar with research activity within departmental laboratories that are of interest to them. These rotations help students identify the laboratory in which they will perform their dissertation research. PhD students must complete three rotations: one in their first semester of matriculation, and two in their second semester. Normally each rotation will last up to seven weeks.
• ENG BE 792: Critical Literature Review
  Peer-reviewed publications in the area of biomedical engineering will be critically evaluated. Scientific ethics and the process of review and publication of manuscripts will be discussed. The classes will be a mix of didactic information and group discussion. Methodological issues covered will include study design, techniques used, and interpretation of research findings. Students completing this course will understand the principles underlying preparation and publication of scientific manuscripts and will be able to apply these principles as they read the scientific literature.
• ENG BE 801: Teaching Practicum
  This course cannot be used to meet the structured course requirements. Practical teaching experience for an assigned course, includes some combination of running discussion sections, managing laboratory sections, providing some lectures, preparing homework and solution sets, exams, and grading. Attend lectures/seminars on best teaching practices.
• ENG BE 802: Teaching Practicum II
  Practical teaching experience.
• ENG BE 810: PhD Internship in Biomedical Engineering
  This course provides BME PhD students the opportunity to include a full-time (30-40 hours/week, for at least 12 weeks) paid internship experience as part of their professional training. The internship must be related to the student's area of study. International students require CPT authorization. Written summary required. Graded P/F. Prerequisite: Permission of advisor and an approved, full- time internship offer; at least two complete semesters in the BME PhD program.
• ENG BE 811: Part-Time PhD Internship in Biomedical Engineering
  This course provides BME PhD Students the opportunity to include a part-time (15-20 hours/week, for at least 12 weeks) paid internship experience as part of their professional training. The internship must be related to the student's area of study. International students require CPT authorization. Written summary required. Graded P/F. Prerequisite: Permission of advisor and an approved, part-time internship offer, at least two complete semesters in the BME PhD program.
• ENG BE 900: PhD Research
  Prerequisite: restricted to pre-prospectus PhD students. Participation in a research project under the direction of a faculty advisor leading to the preparation and defense of a PhD prospectus.

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