MSc InBiological &Bioprocess Engineering.

Chemical &ProcessEngineering.

“Big businesses love Sheffield.Its students are snapped up ongraduation…and its facilitiesare used by companies wantingto push back the frontiers ofknowledge.”

The Sunday Times

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About the course

You will be in demandThe bioprocessing and biopharmaceuticalindustries are crying out for graduates withexpertise in biological and bioprocess engineering.The problem they face is that universities don'tproduce enough suitably qualified graduates.Our MSc in Biological and Bioprocess Engineeringat Sheffield aims to change this.

The course is designed to develop your skills andknowledge in this emerging field to prepare youfor a professional career in bioindustry oradvanced bioengineering research.

A world-class place to studyThe Department of Chemical and ProcessEngineering has a worldwide reputation forexcellence in teaching and innovative research.In the last Teaching Quality Assessment, wereceived the highest possible grade.

The department is home to a unique bio-engineering centre with world-class capabilities.We have a team of staff with expertise inbiosystems engineering and bioprocessing.

The course harnesses this knowledge to provide aunique multidisciplinary learning experiencerelevant to the emerging discipline of biologicalengineering and careers in industrialbioprocessing.

The course also incorporates teaching from threeother world-class departments at Sheffield:Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, EngineeringMaterials and Physics.

First step towards a PhDIt is possible to combine the MSc course with athree year PhD. This is called a New Route PhD.For more information about the New Route PhDplease see:www.sheffield.ac.uk/cpe/prospectivepg/research/bbe-phd

To find out more about the course, see pages 4–5. For details on how to apply, see page 8.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/bbe

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2 Biological and Bioprocess Engineering.

Great prospectsBioprocessing is a crucial part of the UK and globalbiotechnology and biopharmaceutical sector. However,there is a global shortage of people able to design anddevelop new bioproduction processes. This is whereyou come in. For example, it is anticipated that withinthe next five to eight years up to 50 per cent of alldrugs in development will be biopharmaceuticals; alarge proportion recombinant protein therapeutics.Biological and Bioprocess Engineers are required todesign novel manufacturing approaches for these newdrugs and related products such as proteins, celltherapies, tissue engineering and gene therapeutics.

We have excellent working relationships with industry.Companies both large and small sponsor much of ourbiological and bioprocess engineering research. Wework with small, local companies such as Asterion, UKbased biopharmaceutical companies such as Lonza,MedImmune and Pall, and US based giants Pfizer andWyeth.

Your future career

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We are part of the Faculty of Engineering at Sheffield –one of the largest and most successful engineeringfaculties in the UK. We are justifiably proud of ourresearch facilities which include up-to-datelaboratories, extensive computing facilities and a verymodern, applied science library.

We encourage a friendly and informal atmosphere inthe department. A central lounge serves as a focalpoint for both undergraduate and postgraduatestudents. Graduate students in the department run aflourishing society (GRAND) which organises industrialvisits, social and sporting events.

A unique bio-engineering centreWe are home to a unique bio-engineering centre withworld-class capabilities. ChELSI specialises in researchat the interface of chemical engineering and lifesciences and provides a core team of multidisciplinaryacademic staff with primary research interests andexpertise in biosystems engineering and bioprocessing.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/chelsi

The BioincubatorOur Biological and Bioprocess Engineering researchlabs are based in the impressive Sheffield Bioincubator.This state-of-the art facility houses our researchstrengths in mammalian and microbial cell culture,molecular biology, cell and biomolecular analysis andsystems biology/computation.

© Lonza

First-class facilities

4 Biological and Bioprocess Engineering.

Course structure:two routes into theMScAre you a bioscientist but don't have a clue aboutengineering? Or an engineer with no knowledge ofbioscience? Well don't worry – the course is designedfor both engineering and bioscience graduates. In thefirst semester you will take a tailor-made conversioncourse. This will teach you engineering principles if youare a bioscientist, and if you are an engineer you willstudy the equivalent in bioscience.

Core modulesAs well as the conversion course, which is worth 30credits, you’ll also study three other core modules eachworth 15 credits:

• Research Methods in Biochemical Engineering • Biosystems Engineering and Computational Biology • Biopharmaceutical Bioprocessing

Optional modulesYou then have to choose three from the following 15credit optional modules:

• Bionanomaterials• Microfluidics• Stem Cell Biology • Tissue Approaches to Failure in Living Systems

Research projectYou will also undertake an extensive laboratory-basedresearch project which will allow you to explore indetail what you learnt in your taught modules.The research project is worth 60 credits.

The programme also provides a number ofopportunities for personal development, including theinteraction with leading bio-industrialists during invitedseminars and workshop sessions.

MSc in Biological and Bioprocess EngineeringSemester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory

BiosystemsEngineering

andComputational

Biology(15 credits)

MastersResearchProject

(60 credits)

Engineeringgraduate

Sciencegraduate

Research Methods in Biochemical Engineering(15 credits)

Principles of BiochemicalEngineering

Biochem. Eng.Conversion Module

(30 credits)

Principles ofBiomolecular ScienceBioscience Conversion

Module (30 credits)

BiopharmaceuticalBioprocessing

(15 credits)

+3 from:

Microfluidics(15 credits)

Stem Cell Biology(15 credits)

Bionanomaterials(15 credits)

Tissue EngineeringApproaches to Failure

in Living Systems(15 credits)

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ModulesCore modules

Principles of Biochemical Engineering (30 credits)Introduces core concepts to science graduates.Includes concepts of material and energy balances,heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamics and reactionengineering.

Principles of Biomolecular Sciences (30 credits) Introduces graduate engineers to core concepts ofbiomolecular structure and function, cell biology,metabolism and systems biology.

Research Methods in Biochemical Engineering(15 credits) You will gain an appreciation of the philosophicalobjectives of research in biochemical engineering. Youwill also understand the basis of why research isconducted, how research is conducted and resultsanalysed, and how research is presented.

Biosystems Engineering and ComputationalBiology (15 credits) Provides you with the knowledge and tools necessaryto understand, analyse and design biological systemsfor human benefit. In particular, the course will teachyou aspects of reconstruction of biochemical networksand their mathematical representation and analysis.This will then be used to allow for formulation ofmetabolic engineering and/or synthetic biologystrategies. You will be introduced to core concepts ofcomputational/systems biology and its application toengineering of biological systems.

Biopharmaceutical Bioprocessing (15 credits) You will learn about biopharmaceutical manufacturing.Generic examples of cell engineering, metabolicengineering, upstream and downstream unitoperations and other related topics such asbiopharmaceutical formulation, bioproduct analysisand systems engineering will be covered withreference to particular products and processes.The module will be run as small group teaching withadditional seminars and case histories provided byexpert speakers from industry. As part of this moduleyou will visit an industrial biopharmaceuticalmanufacturing site.

6 Biological and Bioprocess Engineering.

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Research Project (60 credits) Aims to introduce you to the practical experience ofresearch in a chosen area of biological and bioprocessengineering. You will choose projects in an area relatedto the research activities at the Department ofChemical and Process Engineering, supervised by oneor more members of academic and research staff.

Optional modules

Bionanomaterials (15 credits) Introduces you to basic concepts of cell and molecularbiology, before looking at examples of howbiomolecules can be used for designing nano-structures, and the use of these nano-structures inbiological and medical applications. You will learn theprinciples of bionanotechnology and gain anunderstanding of applications of natural materials innanotechnology and of nanomaterials in biology andmedicine.

Microfluidics (15 credits) Gives you an understanding of the range of processesthat can be conducted in microfluidic devices. You willlearn the fundamental physicochemical hydrodynamicsnecessary to analyse and design microfluidic devicessuitable for applications such as pharmaceuticalproduction and biotechnology.

Stem Cell Biology (15 credits)Gives you an in-depth account of stem cell biology andits application to regenerative medicine. Specialreference will be made to the molecular and geneticcontrol of cell fate specification and differentiation.The module is designed with due consideration toexisting and potential clinical use of stem cells andtheir derivatives, and of the ethical issues that theseraise. As this is a rapidly developing field, strongemphasis will be placed on understanding the currentcontroversies in the literature.

Tissue Engineering Approaches to Failure in LivingSystems (15 credits) Explores tissue and biomedical engineering approachesto address disease, failure and old age in the humansystem. A theme throughout the module considerscommon forms of pathology or injury to tissues andcurrent therapeutic approaches and then uses this as abasis to explore the tissue and biomedical approaches.

© Lonza

8 Biological and Bioprocess Engineering.

How to applyOnlineThis is the quickest and easiest way to apply.For details:www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/apply

By mailIf you didn’t get a form with this brochure, you candownload one from the website (above). Return yourcompleted form and all supporting documents to theaddress shown.

How long is the course?The course is full-time and lasts 12 months, starting inlate September each year.

What qualifications do I need?At least a 2.1 honours degree or its equivalent inengineering or science in a suitable subject.

What if English isn’t my first language?You need IELTS minimum overall score of 6.5 with noindividual score less than 5.0 or TOEFL minimum score550. If your application is successful but you don’t havethe necessary scores, you may be asked to attend anEnglish Language course at the University before orduring your course.

The biotech, bioprocessing andbiopharmaceutical industries are cryingout for graduates with expertise inbiological and bioprocess engineering.You could be the solution to theirproblem. A great career awaits – all youhave to do is apply for the MSc inBiological and Bioprocess Engineering.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/bbe

ContactProfessor David JamesCourse DirectorDepartment of Chemical and Process EngineeringThe University of Sheffield Mappin StreetSheffield S1 3JDUK

T: +44 (0) 114 222 7505F: +44 (0) 114 222 7501E: d.c.james@sheffield.ac.uk

Further information www.sheffield.ac.uk/bbe

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