Vision & Mission Statement

The Biological Engineering Department involves students with hands-on experiences in laboratory and field projects to develop new bio-based products, technologies, and engineering services. We offer Bachelor, Master, and PhD degrees.

We emphasize design, building, and testing of new specialized bioreactors, biomedical biomaterials, bioplastics, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, biosensors, and bioinstrumentation.

  • We develop engineered systems that protect public health from water, air, and soil contamination.
  • We prepare students for entry into professional schools, including medicine, law, and public health.
  • We offer specific courses in biochemical engineering, synthetic biological engineering, metabolic engineering, biophotonics, biofuels, tissue engineering, biomaterials engineering, and biosensors that provide students with new skills required by employers in industry, government national laboratories, medical and other research institutes, and universities.
  • The Undergraduate Biological Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, for the BS degree in Biological Engineering.

Vision Statement

The vision of the Biological Engineering Department is to become a “Top 25” Biological Engineering Program in the U.S. based on an emphasis on teaching and research based in the fundamental sciences with applications to biological systems, components, and devices as recognized by other academic Biological Engineering Programs, and by U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The BE Program is composed of four “research clusters” of faculty members that include:

  • Bioenergy and Bioproducts
  • Bio-interface Engineering
  • Bioprocessing and Biomanufacturing
  • Biosensors and Bionanoelectronics

This vision will be accomplished through developing a critical mass of people and infrastructure resources that can produce high quality graduates, publications, processes, and products based on the College of Engineering Research Entrepreneur Model, and graduates who are leaders in the field of Biological Engineering. The identification of the vision statement is the first goal of the strategic plan.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Biological Engineering Department is to apply fundamental biological science and modern engineering analysis to create new knowledge and to translate that knowledge into novel applications.

  • Teach students how to integrate engineering principles and the knowledge of basic biological sciences to the design, control, and analysis of engineered biological systems to meet the needs of society and to improve the quality of life.
  • Prepare students with engineering skills for entry into biological-based professions including medicine (MD and MD/PhD), law, and public health programs, and for entry into graduate programs in biological engineering, biomedical engineering, and similar disciplines.
  • Provide a curriculum that is relevant to the needs of the region, nation, and world (global) that will attract the most outstanding students.
  • Create new research-based biological engineering processes, technologies, and products to address local and global problems and the local and global economy, which will foster growth of spin-off companies in the private sector.
  • Develop partnerships with industry and government to stimulate high-technology job creation and economic growth supporting a circular economy.
  • Develop leaders in the biological engineering profession, including faculty members and students, who can address technology innovation and bioethics challenges.