What is Biological Engineering?

bio engineeirng

 

Biological Engineering is the application of engineering design and analysis to:

Microbiological production and processing: bioreactors, fermenters, and other systems for the production of pharmaceuticals, vitamins, preservatives, and food supplements. Biological Engineering also includes the use of biological organisms to produce energy, including fermentation to produce ethanol and anaerobic digestion for methane generation.

 

 

Where Will You Get a Job with as a Biological Engineer?
Biological Engineers are employed by companies that need engineers with a knowledge of biological processes. The following are the types of companies that hire Biological Engineers:


Pharmaceutical Manufacturers    Food Processing Companies   Biotechnology Firms


What are Your Chances of Getting a Good Job?
Placement of students pursuing Biological Engineering into career positions is close to 100 percent. The demand for our students exceeds the number graduating. Graduates are in demand regionally, nationally, and internationally.

What Courses Will You Take to become a Biological Engineer?
Students pursuing Biological Engineering take courses that provide a solid engineering foundation, with applications to biological systems. We guarantee hands-on laboratory experiences in just about every major course! Specific Biological Engineering course topics include:

  • environmental influences on biological systems
  • modeling of biological and physical systems
  • transport phenomena in biosystems
  • properties of biological materials
  • engineering elements of biochemistry and microbiology
  • food engineering
  • microbiological engineering
  • instrumentation and measurement
  • systems optimization
bench

What Other Courses Will You Take at Penn State?
A student pursuing Biological Engineering will take courses in the basic sciences, engineering sciences, communications, and liberal arts. Specific course topics include:

  • calculus
  • physics
  • chemistry
  • biomolecular biology
  • organic chemistry
  • engineering mechanics: static forces, dynamic forces, strength of materials
  • fluid mechanics
  • thermodynamics
  • plant and animal biotechnology
  • statistics
  • economics
  • arts, humanities, and social sciences
  • speech communications
  • English
  • courses of the student's choosing in engineering science and design, biological sciences, and other technical electives.
bioreactor

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The Biological Engineering Major: We bring engineering to life!