Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Faculty

Rufina Alamo, Professor; Ph.D. University of Madrid, 1981. Polymer crystallization and characterization; structure - property relations; morphology of semi-crystalline polymers.

Hoyong Chung, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 2011. Polymer synthesis, biomaterials, smart materials, bio-inspired polymers, catalytic polymerization.

Samuel C. Grant, Associate Professor; Ph.D. University of Illinois- Chicago, 2001. Magnetic resonance microscopy and spectroscopy; single cell analysis; compartmental diffusion and exchange in cells and bioengineered constructs; radio frequency MRI coils; MRI of neuro- and muscular degeneration in chronic and acute disease states..

Daniel J. Hallinan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Drexel University, 2010. Electrochemical energy storage; polymer-inorganic composites for lithium batteries; stress at block copolymer interfaces; transport in polymer electrolyte membranes .

Kimberly Thompson Hunter, Teaching Faculty II; PhD, Florida State University, 2013. Biomedical engineering, undergraduate chemical engineering education.

Egwu E. Kalu, Professor; Ph.D. Texas A&M University, 1991. Renewable energy catalysis - biofuels and hydrogen; environmental and biosystem catalysis; electrochemical computations and modeling.

Yan Li, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. Ohio State University, 2002, Stem cell technology and engineering, biomaterials; cell processing and bioprocessing; human stem cell line development; systems to differentiate stem cells into cardiomyocytes.

Bruce R. Locke, Distinguished Research Professor and Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs Ph.D. North Carolina State University, 1989, P.E. Non-thermal plasma processes for air and water pollution treatment and environmentally friendly chemical and material synthesis; transport and reaction in cells, tissues, and gels with applications to tissue and cellular engineering, muscle energetics and metabolism, and separation processes.

Hadi Mohammadigoushki, Assistant Professor; PhD, University of British Columbia, 2014. Structure-properties relationship of transport processes and advanced materials (e.g., polymers, soft materials, surfactants), optimization of materials processing for applications in the sustainable energy, environmental, and biotech sectors.

Subramanian Ramakrishnan, Professor; Ph.D., University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, 2001. Colloidal and interfacial science; nanoparticle self-assembly; structure-property relationships in soft condensed matter; renewable energy, biomass conversion to biofuels and value added co-products.

Theo M. Siegrist, Professor; Ph.D., ETH Switzerland, 1982. Structure-property relationships in complex electronic materials: single crystal organic semiconductors and crystal growth; crystal chemistry of complex oxides, oxide superconductors, and intermetallic compounds; materials for energy application; structure determination using X-ray diffraction.

Yaw D. Yeboah, Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1979. Electrocatalysis/heterogeneous catalysis; combustion and emission control; oilfield scale formation; coal and/or biomass conversion processes; petroleum and natural gas production and processing; energy, materials, and the environment.

Affiliate Faculty

Chang S. Hsu, Affiliate Professor and Assistant Scholar/Scientist; Ph.D., University of Kentucky, 1974. Petroleum chemistry, exploration, and processing; hydrocarbon science and technology; environmental chemistry, monitoring, and controls; lubricant oils and petrochemicals; biomass fuels and chemicals.

Mandip Sachdeva, Professor of Pharmacy (FAMU); Ph.D., Dalhouise University, 1994. Drug delivery systems, pharmaceutics.

Sachin Shanbhag, Assistant Professor, Department of Scientific Computing (FSU); Ph.D., Michigan, 2004. Computer modeling of polymer rheology; modeling of biological cell morphology and interactions.

Program Overview

The vision of the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering as an educational unit is to be recognized as a place of excellence in fundamental and applied chemical and biomedical engineering education and life-long learning, and to maintain a national research leadership in modern areas of engineering challenge. To attain this vision, the department realizes that it has to continually satisfy its major stakeholders: students, industrial employers, alumni, departmental faculty, the college, the universities, the community, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET), and other professional societies.

Chemical engineering encompasses the development, application, and operation of processes in which chemical, biological, and/or physical changes of material are involved. The work of the chemical engineer is to analyze, develop, design, control, construct, and/or supervise chemical processes in research and development, pilot-scale operations, and industrial protection. Chemical engineers are employed in the manufacture of inorganic chemicals (e.g., acids, alkalis, pigments, fertilizers), organic chemicals (e.g., petrochemicals, polymers, fuels, propellants, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals), biological products (e.g., enzymes, vaccines, biochemicals, biofuels), and materials (e.g., ceramics, polymeric materials, paper, biomaterials). The graduate in chemical engineering is particularly versatile. Industrial work may involve production, operation, research, and development. Graduate education in medicine, dentistry, and law, as well as chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, and other engineering and scientific disciplines are viable alternatives for the more accomplished graduate.

The Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering has made a long-term commitment to emphasize a biological component in its curriculum. The increasing importance of biological and medical subjects within the field of engineering cannot be underestimated. Many of the remarkable breakthroughs in medical science can be directly attributed to advances in chemicals, materials, and devices spearheaded by biochemical and biomedical engineers. Currently, biomedical engineering represents the fastest growing engineering discipline in the U.S. and it is likely to continue as such. The biomedical/biotechnology industries are also the fastest growing of all current industries that employ engineers. Training in biological and biomedical engineering provides an excellent background for graduate and/or medical school, especially in light of the increasing technological complexity of medical education.

Biomedical engineering concerns the application of chemical engineering principles and practices to large scale living organisms, most specifically human beings. As one of the newest sub-disciplines of chemical engineering, the field is rapidly evolving, involving chemical engineers, biochemists, physicians, and other health care professionals. Biomedical research and development is carried out at universities, teaching hospitals, and private companies, and it focuses on conceiving new materials and products designed to improve or restore bodily form or function. Biomedical engineers are employed in diverse areas such as artificial limb and organ development, genetic engineering research, development of drug delivery systems, and cellular and tissue engineering. Many biomedical engineering professionals are engaged in medical research to model living organisms (pharmacokinetic models), and to make biomedical devices (e.g., drug delivery capsules, synthetic materials, and prosthetic devices). Because of increasing interest in biomedical sciences and biotechnology, the degree in biomedical engineering also provides an avenue for students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, biotechnological patent law, or biomedical product sales and services.

The Department currently offers two Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees. The first is in Chemical Engineering with two major options (Chemical Engineering and Chemical-Materials Engineering). The second is the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biomedical Engineering with three major options (Cell and Bioprocess, Biomaterials and Biopolymers, and Imaging and Signal Processing). The BS degree takes between four and five years to complete. The undergraduate curriculum emphasizes the application of experimental and computer analysis to classical chemical and biomedical engineering principles. This includes laboratory instruction in modern, state-of-the-art facilities in the transport phenomena, unit operations, process control, anatomy and physiology, biodynamics, biomaterials, and bioinstrumentation laboratories. Students are instructed in and utilize state-of-the-art computational programs such as MATLAB, Simulink, Aspen, and COMSOL Multiphysics.

To meet newly developed interests in chemical and biomedical engineering and related fields, elective courses are available in bioengineering, polymer engineering, materials engineering, electrochemical engineering, and petroleum engineering. The major options build upon the core chemical and biomedical engineering principles developed for the original BS degree in Chemical Engineering and then expanded to the new BS degree in Biomedical Engineering. Consult an advisor for specific requirements for the three major options.

Please contact the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Suite A131, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310-6046; phone: (850) 410-6144 or (850) 410-6149; fax: (850) 410-6150; e-mail: chemical@eng.famu.fsu.edu; or Website: https://www.eng.famu.fsu.edu/cbe.

Program Objectives and Outcomes

The Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). As part of the accreditation process, the Department has developed program educational objectives and program outcomes to reflect the educational goals of the Department. These objectives and outcomes are continually assessed and modified to meet the changing demands of the departmental stakeholders.

Program Educational Objectives

The Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering shall prepare its students for academic and professional work through the creation and dissemination of knowledge related to the field, as well as through the advancement of those practices, methods, and technologies that form the basis of the chemical engineering profession. Accordingly, the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering has identified the following three departmental educational objectives for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering:

Successfully pursue careers in a wide range of industrial, professional and academic settings through application of their rigorous foundation in chemical engineering and strong communication skills
Successfully adapt and innovate to meet future technological challenges and evolving regulatory issues, while addressing the ethical and societal implications of their work at both the local and global level
Successfully function on interdisciplinary teams and assume participatory and leadership roles in professional societies, and interact with eucational, community, state, and federal institutions.

Student Outcomes

These objectives are further expanded and detailed through seven (7) nine program student outcomes.

Student Outcomes - BS in Chemical Engineering - 2017-18

1. Student Outcome #1 - Scientific Knowledge and Problem Solving.

Outcome Definition: Students graduating from the program will have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

2. Student Outcome #2 - Design Skills

Outcome Definition: Students graduating from the program will have the ability to design and analyze new and existing biomedical systems and processes to meet desired needs, taking into realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.

3. Student Outcome #3 - Effective Communications

Outcome Definition: Students graduating from the program will have the ability to communicate effectively.

4. Student Outcome #4 - Professional and Ethical Responsibility

Outcome Definition: Students graduating from the program will have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.

5. Student Outcome #5 - Teamwork

Outcome Definition: Students graduating from the program will have the ability to function on teams to reach a common goal.

6. Student Outcome #6 - Biomedical Engineering Process Experimentation

Outcome Definition: Students graduating from the program will be able to design and conduct biomedical engineering experiments, and analyze and interpret data of importance to the design and operation of biomedical processes.

7. Student Outcome 7 — Lifelong Learning

Outcome Definition: an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. with ABET Engineering Criteria 2000 as encourages each engineering department to pursue its own unique BS degree program objectives in accordance with its own environment and stakeholder demands. ABET EC 2000 also stipulates that the outcomes of program implementation must be assessed and evaluated regularly, and the results of such assessments and evaluations must be utilized as needed in future program objectives and implementation.

Undergraduate Laboratory and Computational Facilities

Undergraduate teaching laboratories in measurements and transport phenomena, unit operations, and process control are designed to augment classroom instruction. The undergraduate chemical engineering laboratory experiments feature a 20 stage distillation column for the study of organic chemical separations, several reactor vessels for the design and analysis of batch and continuous reactor configurations, and a liquid/liquid continuous extraction process system, among others. All experiments include computer data control and computer data acquisition systems in order to provide a “real world” experience for our students.

The Department has extensive computational and laboratory facilities in a number of areas. In addition to the University computing center facilities accessible by remote terminals, students have access to College of Engineering computer labs that have workstations connected to college-wide servers. Within the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, undergraduate students working on research projects utilize laboratory computer terminals connected to the college servers and workstations dedicated to research use. The Department requires the use of computers for data acquisition, process control, experimental design and analysis, report writing, and homework problem calculations in the chemical engineering curriculum.

Areas of Study (Majors)

In the Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in Chemical Engineering, students may choose between two different areas of study that reflect new directions in the broader field of chemical engineering. These major options include chemical engineering and chemical-materials engineering.

Chemical Engineering. The most common major, it prepares students for employment or further study in traditional areas of chemical engineering (described above).

Chemical-Materials Engineering. Chemical engineers have extensively developed and studied the molecular structures and dynamics of materials-including solids, liquids, and gases-in order to develop macroscopic descriptions of the behavior of such materials. In turn, these macroscopic descriptions have allowed the construction and analysis of unit processes that facilitate desired chemical and physical changes. This constant interplay between molecular scale understanding and macroscopic descriptions is unique and central to the field of chemical engineering.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BS DEGREE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

A program of study encompassing at least 128 semester hours is required for the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in chemical engineering A candidate for the bachelor’s degree is required to earn a “C” or higher in all engineering courses, and must achieve a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in all of the chemical engineering major courses. In addition, students must achieve a grade of “C-” or higher in all courses transferred into the Department of Chemical and Biomed-ical Engineering. Students should contact the department for the most up-to-date information concerning the chemical engineering curriculum requirements.

There are two majors within the chemical engineering bachelor’s degree program. These include Chemical Engineering and Chemical-Materials Engineering. Most of the curriculum is common to both majors, and includes topics in liberal studies, mathematics, basic science, computer science, advanced chemistry, general engineering science, and chemical engineering science and design. History/social science/humanities electives are to be selected to satisfy the Florida State University liberal studies requirement. Students in all three majors should successfully complete the following courses in addition to the liberal studies, other University, and College of Engineering requirements:

MATH AND SCIENCE PREREQUISITES

MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (4)

MAC 2312 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (4)

MAC 2313 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (5)

ECH 3301 Process Analysis and Design (4)

BSC 2010 Biological Science I (3)

CHM 1045 General Chemistry I (3)

CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)

CHM 1046 General Chemistry II (3)

CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Laboratory (1)

PHY 2048C General Physics A (combined lecture/lab) (5)

PHY 2049C General Physics B (combined lecture/lab) (5)

ADVANCED CHEMISTRY

CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)

CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)

CHM XXXX Advanced Chemistry Elective (3-4)

GENERAL ENGINEERING

EGN 1004L First Year Engineering Lab (1)

EGM 3512 Engineering Mechanics (4)

EEL 3003 Introduction to Electrical Engineering (3)

CHEMICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND DESIGN

ECH 3023 Mass and Energy Balances I (3)

ECH 3024 Mass and Energy Balances II (4)

ECH 3101 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (3)

ECH 3266 Transport Phenomena I (3)

ECH 3274L Transport Phenomena Laboratory (3)

ECH 3418 Separations Processes (3)

ECH 3844 Chemical Engineering Statistics (3)

ECH 3854 Chemical Engineering Computations (4)

ECH 4267 Transport Phenomena II (3)

ECH 4323 Process Control (3)

ECH 4323L Process Control Laboratory (1)

ECH 4404L Unit Operations Laboratory (3)

ECH 4504 Kinetics and Reactor Design (3)

ECH 4604 Chemical Engineering Process Design I (4)

ECH 4615 Chemical Engineering Process Design II (3)

ECH 4XXX Chemical Engineering Electives (6) (for Chemical Engineering and Chemical-Materials Engineering Majors)

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the courses listed above that are required for all majors, the following courses are specifically required for each of the three majors.

MAJOR IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

ADVANCED CHEMISTRY ELECTIVE

The advanced chemistry elective is to be selected from the following courses offered in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry or selected other courses in either chemical engineering or biological sciences specifically approved by the Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

Select from one of the following choices:

CHM 3120 Analytical Chemistry I (3)

CHM 4080 Environmental Chemistry I (3)

CHM 4081 Environmental Chemistry II (3)

CHM 4410 Physical Chemistry I (3)

CHM 4411 Physical Chemistry II (3)

CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (3)

BCH 4053 General Biochemistry I (3)

ECH 4XXX Approved Advanced Chemistry Course taught in the CBE Department

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING ELECTIVES

The two chemical engineering electives (three semester hours each) are to be selected from the 4000-level elective courses offered in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

Note: A six credit-hour sequence in the Department’s Undergraduate Research Program (URP), consisting of the course designations ECH 4904 (ECH URP), or ECH 4906 (ECH Honors in the Major), will substitute for this requirement.

MAJOR IN CHEMICAL-MATERIALS ENGINEERING

ADVANCED CHEMISTRY ELECTIVE

CHM 3120 Analytical Chemistry I (3)

ECH 4XXX Approved Advanced Chemistry Course taught in the CBE Department

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING ELECTIVES

Select from two of the following choices:

ECH 4823 Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering (3)

ECH 4824 Chemical Engineering Materials (3)

ECH 4825 Polymer Process Engineering (3)

ECH 4937 Special Topics in Chemical Engineering [Electrochemical Engineering] (3) or other approved elective (3)

Note: A six credit hour sequence in the Department’s Undergraduate Research Program, consisting of the course designations ECH 4904 (ECH - URP), ECH 4906 (ECH - Honors in the Major), will substitute for the Chemical Engineering Electives requirement.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

AREAS OF STUDY (MAJORS)

In the Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in Biomedical Engineering, students may choose from among three diverse areas of study that reflect new directions in the broader field of biomedical engineering. These major options include cell and bioprocess, biomaterials and biopolymers, and imaging and signal processing.

Cell and Bioprocess. Biomedical engineers in this field are employed in diverse areas such as artificial limb and organ development, genetic engineering research, development of drug delivery systems, and cellular and tissue engineering.

Biomaterials and Biopolymers. Engineering professionals in this field are engaged in medical research to model living organisms (pharmacokinetic models), and to make biomedical devices (e.g., drug delivery capsules, synthetic materials, and prosthetic devices).

Imaging and Signal Processing. The field of signal and image processing encompasses the theory and practice of algorithms and hardware that convert signals produced by artificial or natural means into a form useful for a specific purpose. The signals might be speech, audio, images, video, sensor data, telemetry, electrocardiograms, or seismic data, among others. This major option is tailored to students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, biotechnological patent law, or biomedical product sales and services.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BS DEGREE IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

A program of study encompassing at least 128 semester hours is required for the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in biomedical engineering. A candidate for the bachelor’s degree is required to earn a “C” or higher in all engineering courses and must achieve a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in all biomedical engineering major courses. In addition, students must achieve a grade of “C-” or higher in all courses transferred into the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. Students should contact the department for the most up-to-date information concerning the chemical engineering curriculum requirements.

There are three majors within the biomedical engineering bachelor’s degree program. These include Cell and Bioprocess, Biomaterials and Biopolymers, and Imaging and Signal Processing. Most of the curriculum is common to all three majors, and includes topics in liberal studies, mathematics, basic science, computer science, advanced chemistry, general engineering science, and biomedical engineering science and design. History/social science/humanities electives are to be selected to satisfy the Florida State University liberal studies requirement. Students in all three majors should successfully complete the following courses in addition to the liberal studies, other University, and College of Engineering requirements:

MATH AND SCIENCE PREREQUISITES

MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (4)

MAC 2312 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (4)

MAC 2313 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (5)

ECH 3301 Process Analysis and Design (4)

BSC 2010 Biological Science I (3)

CHM 1045 General Chemistry I (3)

CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)

CHM 1046 General Chemistry II (3)

CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Laboratory (1)

PHY 2048C General Physics A (combined lecture/lab) (5)

PHY 2049C General Physics B (combined lecture/lab) (5)

ADVANCED CHEMISTRY

CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)

CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)

CHM 3217 One Semester Organic Chemistry (3)

BCH 3023 Survey of Biochemistry (3)

GENERAL ENGINEERING

EGN 1004L First Year Engineering Lab (1)

CHEMICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND DESIGN

ECH 3023 Mass and Energy Balances I (3)

ECH 3024 Mass and Energy Balances II (4)

BME 3009 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (3)

BME 3100 Biomaterials (3)

BME 3361 Biotransport Phenomena I (3)

BME 3622 Biothermodynamics (3)

BME 3702 Biocomputations (4)

BME 4211 Biomechanics (3)

BME 4323 Biodynamics and Control (3)

BME 4323L Biodynamics and Control Laboratory (1)

BME 4403C Quantitative Anatomy and Systems Physiology I (3)

BME 4404C Quantitative Anatomy and Systems Physiology II (3)

BME 4503 Bioinstrumentation (3)

BME 4503L Bioinstrumentation Laboratory (1)

BME 4801 Biomedical Engineering Process Design I (3)

BME 4802 Biomedical Engineering Process Design II (3)

BME 4XXX Biomedical Engineering Electives (9)

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the courses listed above that are required for all majors, the following courses are specifically required for each of the three majors.

MAJOR IN CELL AND BIOPROCESS

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND DESIGN

BME 4332 Cell and Tissue Engineering (3)

BME 4332L Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory (1)

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND DESIGN

ECH 4504 Kinetics and Reactor Design (3)

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ELECTIVES

The three biomedical engineering electives (three semester hours each) are to be selected from the 4000-level elective courses offered in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

Note: A six credit hour sequence in the Department’s Undergraduate Research Program, consisting of the course designations BME 4904 (BME - URP), or BME 4906 (BME - Honors in the Major), will substitute for the Biomedical Engineering Elective requirement.

MAJOR IN BIOMATERIALS AND BIOPOLYMERS

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND DESIGN

BME 4332 Cell and Tissue Engineering (3)

BME 4332L Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory (1)

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND DESIGN

ECH 4823 Polymer Science and Engineering (3)

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ELECTIVES

The three biomedical engineering electives (three semester hours each) are to be selected from the 4000-level elective courses offered in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

MAJOR IN IMAGING AND SIGNAL PROCESSING

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND DESIGN

BME 4XXX Medical Imaging (3)

BME 4XXX Medical Imaging Laboratory (1)

BME 4508 Biosignals System Processing

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ELECTIVES

The three biomedical engineering electives (three semester hours each) are to be selected from the 4000-level elective courses offered in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

PRE-MED ELECTIVES (RECOMMENDED, CONSULT THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FOR DETAILS)

BCH 4053 General Biochemistry I (3)

BSC 2010L Biological Science I Lab (1)

BSC 2011 Biological Science II (3)

BSC 2011L Biological Science II Lab (1)

CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Lab (3)

PCB 3743 Vertebrate Physiology (3)

Academic Requirements and Policies

In accordance with ABET criteria, all engineering students are subject to a uniform set of academic requirements agreed upon by Florida State University and Florida A&M University. Students should consult the “FAMU-FSU College of Engineering” chapter of the General Catalog and the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering web site for a list of all academic requirements and policies.

Prerequisite Grade Requirements

In addition to the college course prerequisite requirements, the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering requires students to have obtained a grade of at least “C-” in all courses listed as prerequisites for the department’s engineering courses.

Undergraduate Research Program (URP)

The Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering offers an Undergraduate Research Program (URP) in chemical and biomedical engineering to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research as part of the undergraduate experience. The program is two-tiered, with those students meeting a more stringent set of academic requirements being admitted to the Honors in the major (Chemical and Biomedical Engineering) program. For requirements and other information, contact the department, and see the “University Honors Office and Honor Societies” chapter of this General Bulletin.

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Graduate Programs

Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty

Rufina Alamo, Professor; Ph.D. University of Madrid, 1981. Polymer crystallization and characterization; structure - property relations; morphology of semi-crystalline polymers.

Hoyong Chung, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 2011. Polymer synthesis, biomaterials, smart materials, bio-inspired polymers, catalytic polymerization.

Samuel C. Grant, Associate Professor; Ph.D. University of Illinois- Chicago, 2001. Magnetic resonance microscopy and spectroscopy; nsingle cell analysis; compartmental diffusion and exchange in cells and bioengineered constructs; radio frequency MRI coils; MRI of neuro- and muscular degeneration in chronic and acute disease states.eurodegenerative diseases; bioengineered constructs & materials; high field MRI contrast; single cell diffusion analysis; spectroscopy and osmoregulation.

Jingjiao Guan, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Ohio State University, 2005. Particulate nanodevices for gene delivery and biomedical imaging; nanoscale and molecular manipulation of single DNA molecules for biosensing; polymer micro/nanofabrication for tissue and cellular engineeringicro and nano-devices for drug delivery.Daniel J. Hallinan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Drexel University, 2010. Electrochemical energy storage; polymer-inorganic composites for lithium batteries; stress at block copolymer interfaces; transport in polymer electrolyte membranes odern battery technology, solid state electrolytes, polymer physics.

Kimberly Thompson Hunter, Teaching Faculty I; PhD, Florida State University, 2013. Biomedical engineering, undergraduate chemical engineering education.

Egwu E. Kalu, Professor; Ph.D. Texas A&M University, 1991. Electrochemical Renewable energy catalysis - biofuels and hydrogen; environmental and biosystem catalysis; electrochemical computations and modeling engineering; electrophysiological processes.

Bruce R. Locke, Distinguished Research Professor and Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs; Ph.D. North Carolina State University, 1989, P.E. TNon-thermal plasma processes for air and water pollution treatment and environmentally friendly chemical and material synthesis; transport and reaction in cells, tissues, and gels with applications to tissue and cellular engineering, muscle energetics and metabolism, and separation processesransport/reaction in tissues and complex media; transport process using NMR/MRI; reaction kinetics in non- thermal plasmas.

Theo M. Siegrist, Professor; Ph.D., ETH Switzerland, 1982. OStructure-property relationships in complex electronic materials: single crystal organic semiconductors and crystal growth; crystal chemistry of complex oxides, oxide superconductors, and intermetallic compounds; materials for energy application; structure determination using X-ray diffractionrganic semiconductors; structural analysis of organic nanoscale materials.

Yaw D. Yeboah, Professor , Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1979. Electrocatalysis/heterogeneous catalysis; combustion and emission control; oilfield scale formation; coal and/or biomass conversion processes; petroleum and natural gas production and processing; energy, materials, and the environment.

Affiliate Faculty

Chang S. Hsu, Affiliate Professor and Assistant Scholar/Scientist; PhD, University of Kentucky, 1974. Petroleum chemistry, exploration, and processing; hydrocarbon science and technology; environmental chemistry, monitoring, and controls; lubricant oils and petrochemicals; biomass fuels and chemicals.

Mandip Sachdeva, Professor of Pharmacy (FAMU); Ph.D., Dalhouise University, 1994. Drug delivery systems, pharmaceutics.

Sachin Shanbhag, Assistant Professor, Department of Scientific Computing (FSU); Ph.D., Michigan, 2004. Computer modeling of polymer rheology; modeling of biological cell morphology and interactions.

Department Overview

The Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering offers the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Science (MS) in both chemical and biomedical engineering, and Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in in both chemical and biomedical engineering. The bachelor’s degree is fully accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., while both undergraduate and graduate degrees are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Department is strongly committed to building a graduate research program of national reputation in both applied and fundamental areas. The faculty believes that graduate programs must be diverse, interdisciplinary, and flexible in order to prepare chemical and biomedical engineers who can handle the challenging applications in modern research, industry and society.

Many of these efforts are conducted in close cooperation with the Florida State University High Performance Materials Institute (HPMI), Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics, and Energy (AME) Center, and Institute of Molecular Biophysics (IMB); the FSU Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physics, and Scientific Computing; the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL); the FSU College of Medicine and Department of Biomedical Sciences; the Florida A&M University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; as well as with the Departments of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing, and Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering.

Please contact the Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering at: Suite 131, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310-6046; phone: (850) 410-6149; fax: (850) 410-6150.

Research Facilities

The Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering has extensive graduate research laboratory facilities located in the College of Engineering buildings. Three undergraduate teaching laboratories, a design classroom, and fifteen graduate research laboratories comprise the current physical resources. All laboratories are well equipped with modern experimental apparatus. These facilities include laboratories dedicated to polymer science and engineering, electrochemical engineering, gas/liquid phase pollutant treatment by non-thermal plasma, biomass processing, nuclear magnetic resonance, and cell and tissue engineering.

Research facilities include: a 500-MHz (11.75-T) NMR spectrometer; a 4.7-T MRI system; an atomic-force microscope; extensive cell and tissue growth facilities; rheological apparatus; pulsed and DC power supplies; analytical instruments (GC, GC/MS, HPLC, UV-IR, spectrophotometers, TOC, etc.); and analytical microscopes. Process equipment including various types of gas and liquid phase chemical reactors, controlled temperature fermenters, and polymer production reactors are also located in these laboratories. Infrastructure includes autoclaves, controlled environment incubators, water polishing systems, refrigerated/heating circulating baths, isotherm ovens, high purity gas production and mixing systems, refrigerated centrifuges, and additional support equipment

Chemical engineering (ChE) encompasses the development, application, and operation of the processes in which chemical and/or physical changes of material are involved. The work of a chemical engineer is to analyze, develop, design, control, construct, and/or supervise chemical processes in research and development, pilot-scale operations, and industrial production. Emphasis is placed on the application of computer analysis to problems encountered in the above areas. Chemical engineers are employed in the manufacture of inorganic chemicals (i.e., acids, alkalis, pigments, and fertilizers), organic chemicals (i.e., petrochemicals, polymers, fuels, propellants, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals), biological products (i.e., enzymes, vaccines, biochemicals, biofuels, etc.), foods, semiconductors, and paper.

Graduate-level chemical engineers with graduate degrees work in a wide range of organizations for which their technical skills are needed. These organizations may include: local, state, and federal governments; private and public corporations; and education. Chemical engineers are involved in process and plant operation, technical services groups, research and development laboratories, plant design groups, occupational and safety programs, technical sales, technical training, and technical management. Graduate education can lead to careers in the medical sciences, chemical engineering, and other engineering and scientific disciplines as well as business and law.

The thesis MS degree and non-thesis MS degrees require thirty semester hours for completion, and the PhD requires a total of fifty-seven semester hours.

Master of Science (MS)

Admission Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree in chemical engineering or an allied field from an accredited college or university;

2. Fulfillment of the requirements for the baccalaureate degree or its equivalent. Students may be required to satisfy deficiencies by taking undergraduate courses or they can enroll in a Summer Transition Program if they do not have a degree from an accredited chemical engineering degree program;

3. An undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale);

4. For thesis MS applicants, a minimum revised GRE percentile of at least 48% on the verbal portion and 75% on the quantitative portion of the test. It is noted that the GRE percentiles of funded graduate students on assistantship are typically higher than these minima;

5. Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the student’s work and background;

6. A personal statement of professional goals; and

7. International students: For students whose native language is not English and who did not graduate from an accredited US institution with either a BS or MS degree, minimum scores on the TOEFL are 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet-based).

Students who do not possess a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering may be required to complete a department-designated sequence of undergraduate courses with grade of “B” or higher in each course or must participate in a Summer transition program, for students with bachelor’s degrees in either another engineering discipline or basic science (e.g., physics, chemistry or biology). In all cases, an applicant must have taken a course in differential equations prior to their matriculation. Typical undergraduate course sequences (in preparation for graduate courses) may include, but are not limited to, the following courses:

ECH 3023 Mass and Energy Balances I (3)

ECH 3024 Mass and Energy Balances II (3)

ECH 3101 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (3)

ECH 3266 Introductory Transport Phenomena (3)

ECH 3418 Separations Processes (3)

ECH 3854 Chemical Engineering Computations (3)

ECH 4267 Advanced Transport Phenomena (3)

ECH 4504 Kinetics and Reactor Design (3)

Additional courses in subjects including mathematics, chemistry, physics, and general engineering may be required. Departmental financial support may not be available for graduate students taking undergraduate courses. Up to six semester hours of 4000-level coursework approved by the department may be counted as graduate electives. Transfer credit from another institution is limited to six semester hours with departmental approval. Acceptance of equivalent courses is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, following petition to the Graduate Committee. Departmental financial support is not available for graduate students taking undergraduate courses.

Eligible candidates for the Summer Transition Program for non-ChE/BME majors which would replace the majority of the above course requirements, will be identified and notified by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Applicants to the Summer Transition Program must submit their graduate admissions application in time (by 1 March) to be admitted to the Summer semester prior to their Fall enrollment in core CBE graduate courses. Additional information about the Summer Transition Program can be found below and at the departmental Website or by contacting the Graduate Coordinator.

Degree Requirements

The Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering offers both thesis-type and course-type (non-thesis) options leading to the Master of Science (MS) degree. Each semester, all graduate students are required to enroll in and attend ECH 5935r: Chemical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only). In addition, all students are required to take required safety training courses and annual refreshers. Eligible graduate students are required to attend either the College of Engineering Orientation or the Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) Teaching Conference/TA Orientation (http://pie.fsu.edu) to prepare for teaching assistant (TA) duties. For international graduate students, the SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) is a test for evaluating the English speaking ability of non-native speakers of English. At FAMU-FSU, the SPEAK test is administered by the Center for Intensive English Studies to international students who have been appointed or will be appointed as teaching assistants in an academic department at the college. The SPEAK exam requirement must be cleared (scores greater than 45 or 50 for graders or TAs, respectively) before students can serve as teaching assistants.

I. Thesis Option (thirty semester hours)

The thesis-type master’s degree is awarded upon successful completion of the following requirements:

Twelve semester hours of chemical engineering core courses (see below);
Nine semester hours of approved electives;
Nine semester hours of ECH 5971r: Thesis (1-12) (S/U grade only);
Oral defense of the master’s thesis, ECH 8976: Thesis Defense (0) (P/F grade only);
Registration and attendance at all departmental seminars, ECH 5935r: Chemical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only).

Required Core Engineering Courses (twelve semester hours)

ECH 5052 Research Methods in Chemical Engineering (3)

ECH 5126 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I (3)

ECH 5261 Advanced Transport Phenomena I (3)

ECH 5840 Advanced Chemical Engineering Mathematics I (3)

ECH 8976 Thesis Defense (0) (P/F grade only)

Elective Courses (nine semester hours)

Typical chemical engineering elective courses:

ECH 5262 Advanced Transport Phenomena II (3)

ECH 5526 Advanced Reactor Design (3)

ECH 5828 Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering (3)

ECH 5934r Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (3)

ECH 5841 Advanced Chemical Engineering Mathematics II (3)

ECH 5852 Advanced Chemical Engineering Computations (3)

ECH 5905 Directed Individual Study (3)

ECH 5910 Supervised Research (3)

ECH 6272 Molecular Transport Phenomena (3)

Other elective courses may be found in the University Graduate Bulletin.

Thesis Hours (nine semester hours)

ECH 5971r Thesis (1-12) (S/U grade only).

In addition to the thirty semester hours of coursework and thesis, an oral examination in defense of the thesis (ECH 8976) is required for the MS in the chemical engineering thesis option. At least two hours of thesis (ECH 5971r) must be registered for concurrently during the term of the thesis defense (ECH 8976).

II. Course (non-thesis) Option (thirty-three semester hours)

The course-type master’s degree is awarded upon successful completion of the following requirements:

Twelve semester hours of chemical engineering core courses (see below);
Eighteen semester hours of approved electives;
Registration and attendance at all departmental seminars, ECH 5935r: Chemical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only).

Note: Departmental support is generally not available for students pursuing a non-thesis master’s degree.

Required Courses (twelve semester hours)

ECH 5052 Research Methods in Chemical Engineering (3)

ECH 5126 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I (3)

ECH 5261 Advanced Transport Phenomena I (3)

ECH 5840 Advanced Chemical Engineering Mathematics I (3)

Elective Courses (Eighteen semester hours)

Typical chemical engineering elective courses:

ECH 5262 Advanced Transport Phenomena II (3)

ECH 5526 Advanced Reactor Design (3)

ECH 5828 Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering (3)

ECH 5934r Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (3)

ECH 5841 Advanced Chemical Engineering Mathematics II (3)

ECH 5852 Advanced Chemical Engineering Computations (3)

ECH 5905 Directed Individual Study (3)

ECH 5910 Supervised Research (3)

ECH 6272 Molecular Transport Phenomena (3)

Other elective courses may be found in the University Graduate Bulletin.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Admission Requirements

1. Fulfillment of the Department’s admission and core course requirements for the master’s degree or its substantive equivalent (see above).

2. Maintenance of a high scholastic record for graduate coursework at the previous college or university attended;

3. Demonstrated proficiency in conducting research in chemical engineering by passing the departmental PhD Qualifying Examination (see PhD Qualifying Examination requirements below and on the departmental Web site for more details).

Students who meet the admission requirements are encouraged to apply directly for the PhD program. Students who maintain a 3.0 graduate GPA and demonstrate proficiency in conducting research in chemical engineering by passing the departmental PhD Qualifying Examination (see ‘PhD Qualifying Examination Requirements’ below and on the departmental Web site for more details) are admitted to PhD candidacy if they have satisfied departmental core course requirements for the master’s degree. Students who fulfill these requirements may elect, upon approval of the Graduate Committee and major supervisor, to proceed directly toward the PhD without first obtaining a thesis-based master’s degree.

Students with a thesis-type master’s degree in chemical engineering from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering may, with approval of the Graduate Committee and major professor, take nine additional approved semester hours beyond the master’s requirements to satisfy the thirty-three hour course requirement for the PhD. All other requirements must be fulfilled as stated below.

Students with master’s degrees from other institutions will be given a specific course plan by the departmental Graduate Committee and have the option of transferring up to six hours towards their PhD requirements.

Degree Requirements

Each semester, all graduate students are required to enroll in and attend ECH 5935r: Chemical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only). In addition, all students are required to take required safety training courses and annual refreshers are required to attend either the College of Engineering Orientation or the FSU Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) Teaching Conference/TA Orientation (http://pie.fsu.edu) to prepare for teaching assistant (TA) duties. This requirement is mandatory regardless of the student’s classification as a teaching assistant or research assistant. For international graduate students, the SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) is a test for evaluating the English speaking ability of non-native speakers of English. At FSU, the SPEAK test is administered by the Center for Intensive English Studies to international students who have been appointed or will be appointed as teaching assistants in an academic department at Florida State University. The SPEAK exam requirement must be cleared (scores greater than 45 or 50 for graders or TAs, respectively) before students can serve as teaching assistants or progress to full PhD candidate status.

Fifty-seven semester hours and the following requirements must be completed successfully for the award of the PhD degree in Chemical Engineering:

Passage of ECH 8965: Doctoral Preliminary Examination within two consecutive exam attempts (see PhD Qualifying Examination requirements below for more details). Successful completion will result in formal admission to PhD candidacy;
Completion of thirty semester hours of advanced coursework (including twelve semester hours of core graduate coursework as indicated above);
Completion of at least twenty-seven semester hours of dissertation research, ECH 6980r: Dissertation (1-9) (S/U grade only);
Registration and attendance at all departmental seminars, ECH 5935r: Chemical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only);
Selection of a research topic and major professor(s);
Formation of a supervisory committee in consultation with the major professor(s);
Submission and defense of a prospectus on the dissertation topic to the supervisory committee;
One semester teaching assistantship in an undergraduate laboratory;
Presentation of a research topic at one local, regional, national or international professional meeting;
Submission or publication of scholarly articles based on original dissertation research in peer-reviewed journals;
Satisfaction of the University Scholarly Engagement requirement; and
Successful passage of ECH 8985: Dissertation Defense (0) (P/F grade only). At least two hours of dissertation (ECH 6980r) must be registered for concurrently during the term of the dissertation defense (ECH 8985).

No course with a grade below “C” will be counted toward fulfillment of degree requirements. No more than one course with a grade in the “C” range will be counted toward fulfillment of degree requirements. At least two hours of dissertation hours (ECH 6980r) must be registered for concurrently during the term of the thesis defense (ECH 8976).

Program in Biomedical Engineering

Dramatic advances in health care and medical technology made possible by the merger of engineering and medicine have prompted the development of new graduate degree programs in biomedical engineering at many of the top institutions in the United States. Currently, biomedical engineering is the most rapidly growing graduate engineering discipline in the U.S with expectations of more labor force growth than any other engineering discipline over the next ten years. The overall goal of this program is to implement education and research in biomedical engineering that will prepare graduates for industrial, governmental, and academic careers in clinical research, bioengineering, biotechnology, and related professions. Biomedical engineers analyze and design solutions to problems in medicine and biology, with the goal of improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care.

The graduate program in biomedical engineering (BME) provides special emphasis in cellular and tissue engineering, biomaterials and bioimaging. Advanced engineering, medicine, chemistry, physics, and biology students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills that will allow them to contribute to improved technology in health and medical care, and to solve real-world engineering problems in biology and medicine, both in research and industrial settings.

The thesis MS degree and non-thesis MS degrees require thirty semester hours for completion, and the PhD requires a total of fifty-seven semester hours.

Master of Science (MS)

Admission Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree in chemical or biomedical engineering, or an allied field from an accredited college or university;

2. Fulfillment of the requirements for the baccalaureate degree or its equivalent. Students may be required to satisfy deficiencies by taking undergraduate courses or can enroll in a Summer Transition Program if they do not have a degree from an accredited chemical or biomedical engineering degree program;

3. An undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher;

4. A minimum revised GRE percentile of at least 48% on the verbal portion and 75% on the quantitative portion of the test. It is noted that the GRE percentiles of funded graduate students on assistantship are typically higher than these minimum requirements;

5. Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the student’s work and background;

6. A personal statement of professional goals; and

Students who do not possess a bachelor’s degree in biomedical or chemical engineering may be required to complete a department-designated sequence of undergraduate courses with grade of “B” or higher in each course or must participate in a Summer transition program for students with bachelor’s degrees in either another engineering discipline or basic science (e.g., physics, chemistry or biology). In all cases, an applicant must have taken a course in differential equations prior to their matriculation. Typical undergraduate course sequences (in preparation for graduate courses) may include, but are not limited to, the following courses:

ECH 3023 Mass and Energy Balances I (3)

ECH 3024 Mass and Energy Balances II (3)

ECH 3266 Transport Phenomena (3)

ECH 3418 Separations Processes (3)

ECH 4267 Transport Phenomena II (3)

ECH 4504 Kinetics and Reactor Design (3)

BME 4403C Quantitative Anatomy and Systems Physiology I (3)

BME 4404C Quantitative Anatomy and Systems Physiology II (3)

In addition, students also should have taken Biological Sciences I (if not included in their degree program). Additional courses in subjects including mathematics, chemistry, physics and general engineering may also be required. Up to six semester hours of 4000-level coursework approved by the department may be counted as graduate electives. Transfer credit from another institution is limited to six semester hours with departmental approval. Acceptance of equivalent courses is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, following petition to Graduate Committee.

Eligible candidates for the Summer Ttransition Pprogram for non-ChE/BME majors which would replace the majority of the above course requirements, will be identified and notified by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Additional information about the Summer Transition Pprogram can be found below and at the departmental Website or by contacting the Graduate Coordinator.Degree Requirements

The Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering offers both thesis-type and course-type (non-thesis) options leading to the Master of Science (MS) degree. Each semester, all graduate students are required to enroll in and attend BME 5935r: Chemical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only).. In addition, all students are required to take required safety training courses and annual refreshers. Eligible graduate students are required to attend either the College of Engineering Orientation or the FSU Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) Teaching Conference/TA Orientation (http://pie.fsu.edu) (http://pie.fsu.edu/PIE-TA-Orientations-Conference) to prepare for teaching assistant (TA) duties. This requirement is mandatory regardless of the student’s classification as a teaching assistant or research assistant. For international graduate students, the SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) is a test for evaluating the English speaking ability of non-native speakers of English. At FSU, the SPEAK test is administered by the Center for Intensive English Studies to international students who have been appointed or will be appointed as teaching assistants in an academic department at Florida State University. The SPEAK exam requirement must be cleared (scores greater than 45 or 50 for graders or TAs, respectively) before students can serve as teaching assistants.

I. Thesis Option (thirty semester hours)

The thesis-type master’s degree is awarded upon successful completion of the following requirements:

Twelve semester hours of chemical engineering core courses (see below);
Nine semester hours of approved electives;
Nine semester hours of BME 5971r: Thesis (1-9) (S/U grade only);
Oral defense of the master’s thesis, BME 8976: Thesis Defense (0) (P/F grade only);
Registration and attendance at all departmental seminars, BME 5935r: Biomedical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only).

Required Courses (twelve semester hours)

ECH 5052 Research Methods in Chemical Engineering (3)

ECH 5261 Advanced Transport Phenomena I (3)

ECH 5840 Advanced Chemical Engineering Mathematics I (3)

BME 8976 Thesis Defense (0) (P/F grade only)

XXX XXXX Approved course in physiology or cell biology (3)

An approved course in physiology or cell biology is required for completion of the graduate BME degree. Approved courses include: PCB 5137: Advanced Cell Biology; PCB 5525: Molecular Biology; PCB 5795: Sensory Physiology; and PCB 5845: Cell and Molecular Neuroscience. Additional courses may satisfy the physiology/biology requirement but require petition to the Graduate committee for approval as a core substitute.

Elective Courses (nine semester hours)

Typical biomedical engineering elective courses:

BME 5086 Biomedical Engineering Ethics (3)

BME 5620 Biophysical Chemistry and Biothermodynamics (3)

BME 5905 Directed Individual Study (3)

BME 5910 Supervised Research (3)

BME 5937r Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering (3)

BME 6530 NMR and MRI Methods in Biology and Medicine (3)

BME 6938 Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering (3)

Other elective courses may be found in the University Graduate Bulletin.

Thesis Hours (nine semester hours)

BME 5971r Thesis (1- 9) (S/U grade only)

In addition to the thirty semester hours of coursework and thesis, an oral examination in defense of the thesis (BME 8976) is required for the MS in the chemical engineering thesis option. At least two hours of thesis (BME 5971r) must be completed during the term of the thesis defense (BME 8976).

II. Course (non-thesis) Option (thirty-three semester hours)

The course-type master’s degree is awarded upon successful completion of the following requirements:

Twelve semester hours of chemical engineering core courses (see below);
Eighteen semester hours of approved electives;
Registration and attendance at all departmental seminars, BME 5935r: Biomedical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only).

Note: Departmental support is generally not available for students pursuing a non-thesis master’s degree.

Required Courses (twelve semester hours)

ECH 5052 Research Methods in Chemical Engineering (3)

ECH 5261 Advanced Transport Phenomena I (3)

ECH 5840 Advanced Chemical Engineering Mathematics I (3)

XXX XXXX Approved course in physiology or cell biology (3)

An approved course in physiology or cell biology is required for completion of the graduate BME degree. Approved courses include: PCB 5137: Advanced Cell Biology; PCB 5525: Molecular Biology; PCB 5796: Sensory Physiology; and PCB 5845: Cell and Molecular Neuroscience. Additional courses may satisfy the physiology/biology requirement but require petition to the Graduate committee for approval as a core substitute.

Elective Courses (Eighteen semester hours)

Typical biomedical engineering elective courses:

BME 5086 Biomedical Engineering Ethics (3)

BME 5620 Biophysical Chemistry and Biothermodynamics (3)

BME 5905 Directed Individual Study (3)

BME 5910 Supervised Research (3)

BME 5937r Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering (3)

BME 6530 NMR and MRI Methods in Biology and Medicine (3)

BME 6938 Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering (3)

Other elective courses may be found in the University Graduate Bulletin.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Admission Requirements

1. Fulfillment of the department’s admission and core course requirements for the chemical engineering master’s degree or its substantive equivalent (see above);

2. Maintenance of a high scholastic record for graduate coursework at the previous college or university attended; and

Students who meet the admission requirements are encouraged to apply directly for the PhD program. Students who maintain a 3.0 graduate GPA and demonstrate proficiency in conducting research in biomedical engineering by passing the departmental PhD Qualifying Examination (see PhD Qualifying Examination Requirements below and on the departmental Website for more details) are admitted to PhD candidacy if they have satisfied the departmental core course requirements for the master’s degree. Students who fulfill these requirements may elect, upon approval of the Graduate Committee and major supervisor, to proceed directly toward the PhD without first obtaining a thesis based master’s degree.

Students with a thesis-type master’s degree in chemical or biomedical engineering from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering may, with approval of the Graduate Committee and major professor, take nine additional approved semester hours beyond the thesis-type master’s course requirements to satisfy the thirty hour course requirement for the PhD. All other requirements must be fulfilled as stated below.

Degree Requirements

Each semester, all graduate students are required to enroll in and attend the departmental seminar, BME 5935r: Biomedical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only). In addition, all students are required to take required safety training courses. Graduate students on teaching assistanceship are required to attend either the College of Engineering Orientation or the FSU Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) Teaching Conference/TA Orientation (http://pie.fsu.edu) (http://pie.fsu.edu/PIE-TA-Orientations-Conference) to prepare for teaching assistant (TA) duties. This requirement is mandatory regardless of the student’s classification as a teaching assistant or research assistant. For international graduate students, the SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) is a test for evaluating the English speaking ability of non-native speakers of English. At FSU, the SPEAK test is administered by the Center for Intensive English Studies to international students who have been appointed or will be appointed as teaching assistants in an academic department at Florida State University. The SPEAK exam requirement must be cleared (scores greater than 45 or 50 for graders or TAs, respectively) before students can serve as teaching assistants or progress to full PhD candidate status.

Fifty-seven semester hours and the following requirements must be completed successfully for the award of the PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering, as follows:

Passage of BME 8965: BME Doctoral Qualifying Examination within two consecutive exam attempts (see PhD qualifying examination requirements below for more details). Successful completion will permit the student to continue work towards PhD candidacy;
Completion of a minimum of thirty semester hours of advanced coursework (including twelve semester hours of core coursework);
Completion of at least twenty-seven semester hours of dissertation research, BME 6980r: Dissertation (1-9) (S/U grade only);
Registration and attendance at all departmental seminars, BME 5935r: Biomedical Engineering Seminar (0) (S/U grade only);
Selection of a research topic and major professor(s);
Formation of a supervisory committee in consultation with the major professor(s);
Submission and defense of a prospectus on the dissertation topic to the supervisory committee. Successful completion will result in formal admission to candidacy for the PhD degree;
One semester teaching assistantship in an undergraduate laboratory;
Presentation of a research topic at one local, regional, national, or international professional meeting;
Submission or publication of at least one scholarly article based on original dissertation research in peer-reviewed journals;
Satisfaction of the University Scholarly Engagement requirement; and
Successful passage of BME 8985: Dissertation Defense (0) (P/F grade only). At least two hours of dissertation (BME 6980r) must be completed during the term of the dissertation defense (BME 8985).

Transition Program for Non-Chemical or Non-Biomedical Engineering Majors

The Graduate Committee of the Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering has instituted an accelerated transition program for prospective graduate students who are non-Chemical or non-Biomedical Engineering Majors. These students should follow the Summer preparatory curriculum shown below in order to formally enter the FAMU-FSU Chemical and Biomedical Engineering graduate program. More details are available online at the departmental website (https://www.eng.famu.fsu.edu/cbe/graduate/transition-program).

Target Applicants and Eligibility

Applicants with non-ChE or non-BME BS degrees in engineering.

Applicants with Physics BS degrees.

Applicants with Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Biology BS degrees having strong math skills (through Ordinary Differential Equations).

Transition Program Requirements

The transition program requires that students take one online course and one accelerated transition course during the preparatory Summer prior to taking the graduate core courses offered in the Fall semester, as follows:

1. ACS online course or equivalent - “Beakers to Barrels: Chemical Engineering for Chemists” Online Short Course. This course will be replaced in subsequent years by a departmental online course;

2. Graduate preparatory course - combined summer course of Mass and Energy Balances, Transport I and II, and Thermodynamics for accelerated preparation of entering students. Two three credit hour six-week courses (Summer terms B and C) will be taken during the Summer before core ECH/BME coursework; and

3. Required completion of the graduate section of ECH 4504: Kinetics and Reactor Design.

Requirements 1 and 2 must be completed successfully prior to matriculation in Fall core graduate courses. Students who do not successfully complete all fifth requirements before their third semester in the graduate program will not be allowed to continue.

Notes: Students needing to take any mathematics course(s) through differential equations would need to complete these prior to entrance. Students needing a course in ordinary differential equations should take ECH 3301: Process Analysis.

Other graduate electives or thesis hours can be taken during the first two years if prerequisites are met.

Courses prior to the first Fall semester will be at the student’s expense or supported by the department based on available funds.

The PhD Qualifying Examination (see below) follows the first Spring semester.

Academic Regulations and Procedures for Graduate Students

Selection of Course Plan

Selection of courses for the first semester should be done in consultation with the departmental Graduate Coordinator. All students must also register for the departmental seminar ECH/BME 5935r, Chemical/Biomedical Engineering Seminar, every semester. After the first semester in the graduate program, the supervising major professor will develop a course plan for MS-thesis and PhD candidates. For course-based MS students, the departmental Graduate Coordinator will assist in developing the course plan, acting as the de facto supervisor.

Selection of Major Professor

All full-time graduate students following the MS thesis or PhD options are required to select a research topic and major professor by the end of the first term in which they enter the Department. A form for this purpose is available online at the departmental web site. The completed form should be submitted to the departmental Graduate Coordinator.

The major professor is responsible for directing the student’s research and progress toward a degree. Once a major professor has been approved, a supervisory committee should be established and a program of study prepared in consultation with the major professor before the end of the second semester of enrollment in the graduate program.

Supervisory Committee

The supervisory committee for a master’s degree candidate must consist of a minimum of three faculty members with graduate faculty status. The major professor is the chair of the supervisory committee and must be a faculty member from the Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering. At least one other member of the committee must be from the Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering; the third member of the committee should be from outside the department. Additional members may be appointed to the committee if deemed desirable by the major professor.

The supervisory committee for a doctoral candidate must have at least four members (including major professor) with graduate faculty status. The major professor is the chair of the supervisory committee and must be a faculty member from the Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering. Two of the remaining members of the committee must be from the Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, and the fourth member must be from outside the Department. Additional members may be appointed if deemed desirable. Members of the supervisory committee must be approved by the Department Chair.

Program of Study

A program of study should be prepared by the student in conjunction with the major professor and submitted to the supervisory and graduate committees. For graduate students working toward a thesis-based MS or PhD, the program of study should be defined based on the student’s background and research objectives, in consultation with the major professor and supervisory committee. For graduate students working toward a course-based, non-thesis MS, the program of study should be defined in consultation with the Graduate Committee. The program of study is a complete plan of courses to be taken and research objectives to be achieved. On approval of the program of study, this form will also be placed in the student’s permanent file. If changes to the initially approved program of study become necessary, a new program of study form must be submitted for approval.

PhD Qualifying Examination and Prospectus

All students admitted to the PhD program will be required to take the PhD qualifying examination after completion of the core course ECH 5052, Research Methods in Chemical Engineering. A research topic will be assigned by the graduate qualifying examination committee. The student must write a research report and defend it orally in front of the graduate qualifying-examination committee by the end of the first Summer Semester, unless otherwise approved by the Graduate Committee. This examination must be passed within two consecutive attempts, or the individual will not be allowed to continue as a doctoral student. For additional details, see PhD Qualifying Examination Requirements on the departmental Website.

Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student may continue work toward the PhD degree. Within five semesters of admission to the graduate program (within the three semesters following the PhD qualifying examination), students are expected to present a prospectus detailing their program of study for PhD dissertation work. If this timeframe cannot be met, the student must petition the graduate program chair for special dispensation, stating specific reasons the delay. The PhD prospectus will consist of a written plan of research that must be orally defended in a formal presentation before the student’s major professor and supervisory committee. After the successful completion of the PhD prospectus, the student will be admitted formally to the PhD candidacy and their research program.

The doctoral committee should provide continual feedback to the PhD candidate throughout the progression of the student’s research. As such, it is important to maintain regular and at least annual meetings of the student and doctoral committee so that updates on research can be presented and feedback can be received by the student. For additional details, see Academic Regulations and Procedures for Graduate Students and the College of Engineering’s website.

Maintenance of Good Standing

In order to maintain good standing in the department, the student must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0, with no more than two grades in the “C” range. No more than one course in the “C” range will be counted toward fulfilling the degree requirements. No grades below “C” will be counted toward degree requirements. Students without an undergraduate degree in chemical or biomedical engineering should obtain a grade of “B” or better in all required undergraduate courses.

Master’s and doctoral degree students must submit a CBE annual graduate student evaluation on research progress, goals, and completed courses during the Spring Semester for evaluation by the graduate and supervisory committees. A form for this purpose is available on the departmental website. An assessment of the progress of the student in research and courses by the student’s supervisory committee will be placed in the student’s permanent file. Continuance of assistantships and/or tuition waivers is contingent upon satisfactory evaluations.

Time to Degree Completion

Students with undergraduate degrees in chemical or biomedical engineering normally complete the thesis-type master’s program in four to five semesters, including one Summer Semester. Although the availability of departmental support ultimately is subject to budgetary constraints, the Graduate Committee will not normally recommend continuation of assistantships and tuition waivers beyond a period of two years subsequent to the student’s admission to the master’s program. Students without an undergraduate degree in chemical or biomedical engineering will be given one additional year for completion. However, these students are normally not supported financially during their first year, when they are primarily taking preparatory undergraduate chemical/biomedical engineering courses.

Students with undergraduate degrees in chemical or biomedical engineering normally complete the doctoral program within five years of their admission to graduate school, with reduced time expected if the student enters the program with a master’s degree. Although the availability of departmental support ultimately is subject to budgetary constraints, departmental/college commitments and research grant availability, doctoral candidates will be recommended for departmental support only for a period of three years subsequent to being admitted to candidacy for the doctoral program following the successful completion of the PhD Qualifying Examination. PhD students should submit and defend a prospectus on the dissertation topic to the supervisory committee within five semesters from admission to the graduate program.

Assistantship Duties

Graduate student support is generally in the form of research or teaching assistantships (RAs or TAs), although University fellowships are also available. Research assistantships derived from contracts and grants focus mainly on the performance of research leading to their degree. However, teaching assistants who receive departmental support for tuition waivers will be required to grade, TA, or run recitation sections for lecture courses in addition to research responsibilities. Doctoral candidates will also have to satisfy the teaching requirements of the degree (TA for one laboratory course). Typical TA duties include grading homework and/or exams, conducting problem-solving recitation sections, and having office hours for answering student questions. Specific duties are assigned by the course instructor.

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

Doctorate Degree