Bioengineering for Undergrads: Info Night and Open Q

1
Bioengineering for UndergradsInfo Night and
Open QA

• May 15, 2008
• Parvathy Menon
• Academics and Research Committee (ARC) and BE
  Faculty

2
History Undergrad. Survey

• February 2007, sent out survey to all undergrads
  to ask about various academic issues at Caltech
• Extremely large response 380 students (45 of
  undergrads)
• Large sample, representative data

3
Results of 2006-7 Survey

• Are you interested in a bioengineering major for
  undergrads?

38 of responding students interested in having
BE for undergrads
52 of responding would like to see a BE seminar
class for undergrads
At least 22 of responding would actually
consider majoring in BE
4
Why is BE Option needed at Caltech?

• EAS Engineering and Applied Science
• Self-designing EAS is difficult and unappealing
  due to generic-sounding degree
• Forced to choose between Bio, EE, MechE, ChemE
  (to avoid generic EAS)
• Extra BE courses doesnt count towards Option
  requirements
• Current option requirements too narrow to
  accommodate immersion in BE
• Interested engineering undergrads are limited and
  unable to fit in many available BE courses

5
Fall 2009, Bioengineering will be an Option for
Undergrads!!!

• If you see these professors
• thank them hug them for fighting hard for BE
  and pulling off a miracle! ?

Dave Rutledge (EAS Chair)
JL. Chameau
Vice-Provost Melany Hunt
Scott Fraser (Bi/BE)
Niles Pierce (ACM/BE) BE Executive officer Main
Fighter Extraordinaire!
And many other BE faculty.
6
BE Option IMPORTANT POINTS

• Bioengineering is NOT an existing option for
  undergrads at Caltech right now!!
• BE will become an option in Fall 2009 ---
  potentially the Class of 2010 (current
  sophomores) can graduate as Bioengineers
• You can follow the Syllabus Draft and it will
  pretty closely resemble the final Syllabus in
  Fall 2009 Catalog

7
How to decide your Option?

• Make sure you enjoy and want to learn and be
  involved with requirements in your option
• Time will be spent doing very different things
  depending on major
• Science vs. Engineering Theory/Fundamentals vs.
  Engineering/Design

8
Science Majors

• Physics/Applied Physics
• Biology
• very different from AP Biology
• experimental biology questions designing
  experiments from a very biology-experiment-heavy
  perspective
• Learn experimental techniques and methods
  problem-solving using biology research tools
• Chemistry
• Lots of chemistry lab

9
Electrical Engineering at Caltech

• Electrical systems Mathematics and concept heavy
  
• Also with large time-investment labs
• Use of micro-scale applied physics in the design
  of analog and digital components with a
  programming aspect
• Using these components to design and build
  systems (micro-tinkering)

10
Mechanical Engineering at Caltech

• Mechanical systems statics/dynamics, mechanical
  thermo., fluids
• Use of macro-scale applied physics in design
  projects that answer open-ended large physical
  system problems
• Lots of machining and building big things
  (macro-tinkering)

11
Chemical Engineering at Caltech

• Chemical systems Use of applied chemistry and
  mathematics and controls concepts
• Chemical thermo., chemical systems control and
  design, transport phenomena, kinetics
• Lab requirements basic pure chem. labs, and then
  upper labs depend on track (environmental,
  biomolecular, materials, process)
• Engineering with chemical and biological
  (cellular/molecular) systems

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Official Approaches to BE

• 1 Electrical Engineering with BE concentration
• 2 Chemical Engineering with Biomolecular
  concentration
• 3 Bioengineering as an Option!! Fall 2009

13
Official Approach 1 Electrical Eng. With BE

• Pros
• Solid, established and recognized option
• Well-designed and proven course schedule
• Plenty of professors and upper-classmen available
  to advise you
• Cons
• Very full schedule of EE courses
• Need to overload to include listed BE classes
• Little flexibility to take BE classes outside the
  listed electives - will they count towards major?

14
Official Approach 2 ChemE with Biomolecular
track

• Pros
• Solid, established and recognized option
• Well-designed and proven course schedule
• Plenty of professors and upper-classmen available
  to advise you
• Cons
• Very full schedule of ChemE courses
• Need to overload to include more BE classes than
  listed
• Little flexibility to take BE classes outside the
  listed electives will they count towards major?

15
BE Option In the making?

• The Caltech BE Faculty have made an early
  syllabus draft for BE for FALL 2009 when it
  becomes a full undergraduate option!!
• Distributed today as a handout also will be made
  available on ARC website
• This presentation will also be posted on ARC
  website

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BE Option Syllabus DraftCore Requirements
BE will be offered officially only in Fall 2009!!!
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BE Option Syllabus DraftBE Tracks Elective
Suggestions
BE will be offered officially only in Fall 2009!!!
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BE Option Syllabus DraftSample Schedule
Suggestion take Bi 8, 9, 10 during frosh year!
BE will be offered officially only in Fall 2009!!!
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BE Option Syllabus DraftSample Schedule
BE will be offered officially only in Fall 2009!!!
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BE Option Syllabus DraftSample Schedule
BE will be offered officially only in Fall 2009!!!
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Questions?
Questions? Email Parvathy. parvathy_at_caltech.edu.
Be part of the BE undergrad mailing list. Sign
up on the sheet or email Parvathy. Niles Pierce
(niles_at_caltech.edu) is the Option Representative
and Executive Officer for BE