Biological Engineering

The world has tremendous need for solutions to problems related to the environment, energy, health, food and sustainability. Biological systems are related to or at the heart of all of these issues.

 

 

A biological engineer learns to design and analyze biological systems to develop innovative and practical solutions. Our graduates are well prepared for careers in the food industry, pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, and bioprocessing as well as entrance into graduate or medical school. Students may select a major and plan of study within biological engineering that is tailored to their specific career goals. 

Areas of focus include: 

  • Bio Environmental Engineering: Bioprocessing manufacturers, including food and pharmaceutical industries, are looking for innovative environmental controls, waste processing and water treatment to meet corporate sustainability goals and to comply with increasingly strict governmental regulations. In addition, there exists a high potential for identifying value added products from these water streams. 
  • Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering: This emerging field is expected to rapidly advance and open opportunities in biomanufacturing, drug design, human therapeutics, tissue and organ regeneration, bioenergy and biofuel production, bioremediation, and biodefense.
  • Food & Biological Process Engineering: This is an interdisciplinary field that applies basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering to convert agricultural commodities into edible foods and biological materials through various processing steps. Advances in genetic engineering lead to new types of crops and new processing methods to create value added products.
  • Pharmaceutical Process Engineering: This program of study is targeted to provide graduates with unique skills and job opportunities to take on roles within all phases of the pharmaceutical industry including research, product and process development, processing engineering, manufacturing, and marketing.

Dual Degrees and Pre-Med Plans

Expand your knowledge and opportunities by completing a dual degree or focusing electives toward medical school pre-requisites.  Dedicated plans of study include:

·         Dual Degrees:

  • 5-year plan of study resulting in dual degrees in Biological Engineering AND Biochemistry  or Biological Engineering and Pharmaceutical Sciences

·         Pre-Med:

  • 4-year plan of study with recommend and required course for pre-med students 

Ready to learn more?

Visit ABE

 

Other Resources:

Biological Engineering Advising Information

The Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE) Newsletter

Focus on Biological Engineering - Resource Magazine Special Issue - Biological engineering is involved in nearly every area ASAE encompasses both traditional and emerging. Our cover suggests some of the many facets of the profession and its unique capabilities which include the interface of engineering with biology. From multi-spectral image technology to autonomous robotic vehicles, modern high-tech ingenuity stems from the dedication and exacting stamina of researchers and engineers worldwide.

Discover Biological & Agricultural Engineering - ASABE Brochure - In the early twentieth century, even in industrialized countries, production of the world's food supply required the labor of at least half the population. Today, thanks in large part to advancements made by biological and agricultural engineers, developed countries can accomplish this using only a slim 2% of their populations. And engineering efforts have not been limited to food production: fiber, timber, and energy products, as well as the technologies, equipment, and precious natural resources required to produce them, have all benefited from the talents and vision of biological and agricultural engineers.