Profile Biochemical Engineering

In a world where we are challenged to develop sustainable industrial processes, biochemical engineering offers great promise. Biochemical engineering is essential, for example, to develop and manage the processes by which micro-organisms such as yeasts and bacteria are used to make products that could only be fabricated until recently with classical industrial chemistry.

Biochemical engineers are deeply involved in research and the development of green alternatives to many processes that simply cannot otherwise be continued over the longer term. In fact, biochemical engineers are playing a crucial role in many fields, including the development, design and production of vitamins, hormones, drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, bioplastics, and biofuels; the processing of food and drink; the cleaning of wastewater and the recycling of waste streams.

Engineering breakthroughs in human health, agriculture, industry and environmental science

The Biochemical Engineering specialisation is concerned with new processes that involve cells or constituent parts of cells such as enzymes, and which are based on sustainable feedstocks. Bioprocess engineers are essential for a wide range of applications including the production of vitamins, drugs, vaccines, diagnostics , bioplastics, and biofuels; the manufacture of foods and drinks; the cleaning of wastewater; and the recycling of waste streams.

What you will learn

Students learn how to design bioprocesses and gain an awareness of the importance of a solid understanding of the underlying cellular, molecular and physical principles for the engineering aspects of bioprocesses. The teaching of the basics of biochemical engineering is integrated into (and often supplemented by) individual research projects in engineering and biotechnology. A quantitative approach is used, involving mathematical modelling and computer tools.

Graduates of the programme will have knowledge of applications involving microbial organisms, systems and processes and the skills to move into a wide range of positions in this exciting and increasingly important field.

Combining different specialisations

This specialisation is part of the MSc programme in Life Science & Technology. The timetable for the programme has been set up to make it possible to follow two (or even three) specialisations at the same time. This gives you the possibility to first sample the different flavours, and only later in the first year to definitively choose a particular specialisation.