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Session 2513

Development of a Biochemical Experiment for the Unit Operations Laboratory Through An Undergraduate Research Project

Muthanna Al-Dahhan, Steve Picker, Christina Weigand, Amy Chen Chemical Engineering Laboratory Washington University St. Louis, MO 63130

Introduction

In the era of rapidly expanding biotechnology based processes, it is necessary to train and educate undergraduate chemical engineering students and broaden their education and knowledge in the fields of emerging technologies such as biochemical engineering.

It is obvious that the successful commercialization of the developments in biochemical engineering depends on the technical advance in biochemistry and biology as well as the education of those who will implement such advances. We believe that the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries benefit best from chemical engineers who have been trained and educated on how to implement and expand chemical engineering knowledge to biological systems. One way of achieving this is by adding new experiments in biochemical engineering to the undergraduate chemical engineering laboratory curriculum 1 (unit operations laboratory). The overall objectives of this endeavor are: 1) to familiarize the students with the operation of equipment used in biotechnology, 2) to introduce students to the applicability and limitations of biochemical engineering models, and 3) to let students discover the unique problems in working with biological systems.

At the same time, it is crucial to provide research opportunities to our undergraduate students in order to develop their ability to design and conduct experiments, to analyze and interpret data, to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs, to function in multidisciplinary teams, to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems and to stimulate collaborative learning environments2. One approach that can be used in providing research opportunities to our undergraduates, and in broadening their education, is by involving them in the process of developing new experiments that cover emerging technologies for the unit operations laboratory. The benefits of this approach are two fold. First, we provide the opportunity to our students to develop the abilities mentioned above (ABET 2000 criteria)2. Second, we expand the unit operations laboratory in a cost-effective manner into areas related to the emerging technologies such as biochemical technology, environmental science and engineering, electronic materials and semiconductors technology, etc.

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Picker, S., & Al-Dahhan, M. H., & Weigand, C., & Chen, A. (2000, June), Development Of A Biochemical Experiment For The Unit Operation Laboratory Through An Undergraduate Research Project Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8291