2024-2025 Catalog

MENG 00211. Collaborative Learning in Molecular Engineering (CLIME) for Principles of Engineering Analysis. 000 Units.

This optional workshop is for students who are concurrently enrolled in MENG 21100 Principles of Engineering Analysis I. CLIME for MENG 21100 provides students with an in-depth and applied understanding of foundational engineering concepts through weekly problem sessions that augment the MENG 21100 course. Sessions consist of active small group discussions, in a collaborative environment fostered by undergraduate team leaders, and rigorous problem sets designed to develop analytical intuition and critical thinking skills. Success in CLIME is primarily achieved through consistent engagement. Therefore, grades in this zero-credit course are assigned P/F based on student attendance and level of participation.

MENG 00213. Collaborative Learning in Molecular Engineering (CLIME) for Engineering Quantum Mechanics. 000 Units.

This optional workshop is for students who are concurrently enrolled in MENG 21300 Engineering Quantum Mechanics. CLIME for MENG 21300 provides students with fundamental quantum mechanics concepts, with an emphasis on their mathematical application, through weekly problem sessions that augment the MENG 21300 course. Sessions consist of active small group discussions, in a collaborative environment fostered by undergraduate team leaders, and rigorous problem sets designed to develop analytical intuition and critical thinking skills. Success in CLIME is primarily achieved through consistent engagement. Therefore, grades in this zero-credit course are assigned P/F based on student attendance and level of participation.

MENG 00214. Collaborative Learning in Molecular Engineering (CLIME) for Molecular Engineering Thermodynamics. 000 Units.

This optional workshop is for students who are concurrently enrolled in MENG 21400 Molecular Engineering Thermodynamics. CLIME for MENG 21400 provides students with fundamental thermodynamics concepts, with an emphasis on their mathematical implementation and engineering applications, through weekly problem sessions that augment the MENG 21400 course. Sessions consist of active small group discussions, in a collaborative environment fostered by undergraduate team leaders, and rigorous problem sets designed to develop analytical intuition and critical thinking skills. Success in CLIME is primarily achieved through consistent engagement. Therefore, grades in this zero-credit course are assigned P/F based on student attendance and level of participation.

MENG 20000. Introduction to Emerging Technologies. 100 Units.

This course will examine five emerging technologies (stem cells in regenerative medicine, quantum computing, water purification, new batteries, etc.) over two weeks each. The first of the two weeks will present the basic science underlying the emerging technology; the second of the two weeks will discuss the hurdles that must be addressed successfully to convert a good scientific concept into a commercial product that addresses needs in the market place.

Instructor(s): Terry Johnson     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the general education requirements in mathematics and physical or biological sciences
Note(s): May not be counted toward PME doctoral requirements
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 30000

MENG 20100. Engineering Design Principles and Practice for Everyone. 100 Units.

Design concepts underpin almost every product, software, and institution we interact with daily. Many students lack a fundamental understanding of the principles of design which result in how modern products, ideas, and tools are developed. This is an introductory course, which seeks to introduce students to design in theory and practice. It examines the process of applying engineering principles to the iterative design loop and how these are implemented in practice. Emphasis is placed on the practice of design through a selected project and working with a team to achieve specific design specifications or goals. The course emphasizes iterative problem solving, design, team-oriented projects, and the soft skills that accompany their successful implementation.

Instructor(s): Aaron Esser-Kahn     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): MENG 20000, and Completion of the general education requirements in mathematics and physical or biological sciences.

MENG 20200. Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering. 100 Units.

Synthesis, processing and characterization of new materials are the pervasive, fundamental necessities for molecular engineering. Understanding how to design and control the structure and properties of materials at the nanoscale is the essence of our research and education program. This course will provide an introduction to molecularly engineered materials and material systems. The course starts with atomic-level descriptions and means of thinking about the structure of materials, and then builds towards understanding nano- and meso-scale materials architectures and their structure-dependent thermal, electrical, mechanical, and optical properties. Strategies in materials processing (heat treatment, diffusion, self-assembly) to achieve desired structure will also be introduced. In the latter part of the course, applications of the major concepts of the course will be studied in quantum materials, electronic materials, energy-related materials, and biomaterials.

Instructor(s): Shuolong Yang     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the general education requirements in mathematics and physical or biological sciences

MENG 20300. The Science, History, Policy, and Future of Water. 100 Units.

Water is shockingly bizarre in its properties and of unsurpassed importance throughout human history, yet so mundane as to often be invisible in our daily lives. In this course, we will traverse diverse perspectives on water. The journey begins with an exploration of the mysteries of water's properties on the molecular level, zooming out through its central role at biological and geological scales. Next, we travel through the history of human civilization, highlighting the fundamental part water has played throughout, including the complexities of water policy, privatization, and pricing in today's world. Attention then turns to technology and innovation, emphasizing the daunting challenges dictated by increasing water stress and a changing climate as well as the enticing opportunities to achieve a secure global water future.

Instructor(s): Seth Darling      Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): None
Equivalent Course(s): GLST 26807, ANTH 22131, HIPS 20301, ENST 20300, HIST 25426

MENG 20400. Commercializing Products with Molecular Engineering. 100 Units.

Many technologies and products that have been successfully commercialized benefit from engineering at the molecular scale. This course will present case studies of such technologies and products, including those drawn from the fields of pharmaceuticals (e.g., biologics, nanoparticle-based drugs, and excipients for enhanced drug solubility), food products (e.g., Cavamax by Wacker Chemie that applies beta-cyclodextrin for molecular encapsulation to improve flavor solubility), and industrial products (e.g., Febreze Air freshener, sunscreens with UV protection, photographic films, and slurries for polishing surfaces). Each case study will examine: the unmet market need addressed by the product, the science behind the molecular engineering of the technology, the background/history of the technology, and key attributes/decisions made by inventors along the pathway to commercialization. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to understand the overall process for developing a new technology/product, outline the steps to design the key critical-to-quality (CTQ) attributes, describe how to monetize a technology/product, and recognize the avenues available to protect the technology/product or create barriers to entry to the market.

Instructor(s): Atul Khare     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 20000 or MENG 21100
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 30400

MENG 21100-21200. Principles of Engineering Analysis I and II.

The courses in Engineering Analysis provide a foundation for engineering problem solving and quantitative analysis. Skills in developing mathematical models that describe biological, chemical, or physical systems will be acquired, including defining the system and system boundaries, simplifying complex systems through the application and justification of engineering assumptions, and implementing engineering data. Applied mathematical and computational tools to solve such models will be introduced. Also emphasized will be the topics of dimensions and units, scaling analyses, and data representation and visualization.

MENG 21300. Engineering Quantum Mechanics. 100 Units.

Quantum mechanics is a fundamental physical theory describing the behavior of systems on small length scales, and underlies a variety of basic phenomena in physics, chemistry and biology. It also is the basis of some of the most revolutionary technologies of the 20th century (e.g., the transistor and the laser), and will likely form the basis of even more radical quantum technologies. This course will provide students with a broad introduction to quantum mechanics, and will emphasize both a qualitative and quantitative appreciation of many of its main principles and its relevance to technology and engineering. Topics to be covered include the quantization of light and atomic orbitals, wavefunctions and probability amplitudes, the Schrodinger equation, and the basic quantum mechanics of atoms and molecules. A basic introduction to quantum bits and quantum information technology will also be provided.

Instructor(s): Aashish Clerk, Peter Maurer     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 13300 or 14300, AND MATH 18500

MENG 21400. Molecular Engineering Thermodynamics. 100 Units.

Molecular thermodynamics integrates concepts from classical thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and chemical physics to describe the properties of matter and behavior of systems at equilibrium. This course introduces thermodynamics for molecular engineers starting with the postulates of thermodynamics and the thermodynamic properties of pure substances. The concept of thermodynamic stability and the molecular origins of phase transitions will be developed to predict the phase diagrams of pure substances. Engineering applications relying on thermodynamic cycles involving flow or phase changes, including engines, heat pumps, and refrigeration, will be analyzed. Finally, an introduction to statistical thermodynamics will be provided to establish the relationship between intermolecular forces and macroscopic properties through the definition of ensembles, probability distribution functions, and partition functions, as well as the consideration of fluctuations in thermodynamic variables.

Instructor(s): Chong Liu     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21300

MENG 21500. Molecular Engineering Transport Phenomena. 100 Units.

This course introduces students to continuum mechanics, with a focus on energy and mass balances. Starting with an overview of the physical and mathematical basis of diffusion, the course will cover definitions of flux of heat and mass, setting up differential equations and boundary conditions that describe mass and energy transport, scaling and nondimensional analysis, and solution methods for common types of problems including unsteady-state problems and systems with chemical reactions.

Instructor(s): Melody Swartz     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21100-21200

MENG 21800-21900. Engineering Design.

The project-based design courses combine fundamental science and engineering skills to solve open-ended and challenging engineering problems selected among those encountered in the bioengineering, chemical and materials engineering, and quantum engineering fields. Specific objectives for the courses include learning how to define a technical problem and how to propose solutions, applying scientific and engineering knowledge to solve real-world problems, and developing an operating plan with defined sub-tasks and project timelines. Additional emphasis will be placed on enhancing skills to communicate results clearly and concisely to various audiences, access and manage resources to achieve objectives, work as part of a team, and interact with external mentors and project managers. These courses also serve as a vehicle to teach other equally important non-technical skills, such as professional and ethical responsibilities in engineering and the impact of engineering in a societal context. Students are required to take both MENG 21800 and 21900 in consecutive quarters given the continuity of the projects and teamwork throughout the Engineering Design sequence.

MENG 22100. Quantitative Physiology. 100 Units.

This course will address the physical principles that govern physiological and biological functions at the organ, tissue, and cellular levels through quantitative models. At the organ and tissue levels, topics will include the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems (organ function, oxygen transport, hemorheology, interstitial and lymphatic transport), skeletal mechanics, and physiology of the kidney, intestine, and liver, as well as tumor physiology. At the cellular level, topics of membrane transport, adhesion and migration mechanics; and cytokine and chemokine signaling will be addressed.

Instructor(s): Jeffrey Hubbell, Melody Swartz, Huanhuan Chen     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20186 and BIOS 20187, or BIOS 20234 and BIOS 20235

MENG 22200. Cellular Engineering. 100 Units.

Cellular engineering is a field that studies cell and molecule structure-function relationships. It is the development and application of engineering approaches and technologies to biological molecules and cells. This course provides a bridge between engineers and biologists that quantitatively study cells and molecules and develop future clinical applications. Topics include fundamental cell and molecular biology; immunology and biochemistry; receptors, ligands, and their interactions; nanotechnology/biomechanics; enzyme kinetics; molecular probes; cellular and molecular imaging; single-cell genomics and proteomics; genetic and protein engineering; and drug delivery and gene delivery.

Instructor(s): Jun Huang      Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first two quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 32200, MOMN 34310, BIOS 21508

MENG 22300. Quantitative Systems Biology. 100 Units.

This course aims to provide students with knowledge on the use of modern methods for the analysis, manipulation, and modeling of complex biological systems, and to introduce them to some of the most important applications in quantitative and systems biology. We will first survey theoretical concepts and tools for analysis and modeling of biological systems like biomolecules, gene networks, single cells, and multicellular systems. Concepts from information theory, biochemical networks, control theory, and linear systems will be introduced. Mathematical modeling of biological interactions will be discussed. We will then survey quantitative experimental methods currently used in systems biology. These methods include single cell genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analysis techniques, in vivo and in vitro quantitative analysis of cellular and molecular interactions, single molecule methods, live cell imaging, high throughput microfluidic analysis, and gene editing. Finally, we will focus on case studies where the quantitative systems approach made a significant difference in the understanding of fundamental phenomena like signaling, immunity, development, and diseases like infection, autoimmunity, and cancer.

Instructor(s): Savas Tay     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first two quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 28411, MENG 32300

MENG 22400. Bioengineering Kinetics. 100 Units.

This course focuses on the kinetics of biochemical reactions at the molecular level and addresses basic questions at the interface between molecular engineering and cell biology. This course will equip students with the knowledge and tools to quantitatively solve problems in biochemical systems and molecular reactions that are dynamic or at equilibrium.

Instructor(s): Jun Huang      Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first two quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 21359, MENG 32400

MENG 23000. Experimental Bioengineering Laboratory. 100 Units.

This course provides a broad knowledge and hands-on experience in bioengineering and biomaterials. The topics to be covered include the design and characterization of materials for biomaterials, cellular engineering, nanomedicine, synthetic vaccines, immunotherapies, drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioimaging, biodiagnostics and biosensors. This course also includes experimental modules for hands-on experience relevant to the topics discussed in the lectures. Students will develop skills and experience relevant to methodologies in bioengineering research. Chromatography, spectroscopy, mechanical testing, particle size analysis, and protein activity assays will be utilized in the laboratory. Students will learn to apply knowledge of bioengineering research tools to design and conduct bioengineering experiments for which they will analyze, interpret, and present the experimental results.

Instructor(s): Mustafa Guler     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 23100 or MENG 23150
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33000

MENG 23100. Biological Materials. 100 Units.

In this course, students will gain an understanding of the science and application of biomaterials, a field that utilizes fundamental principles of materials science with cell biology for applications in therapeutics and diagnostics. The course will introduce the basic classes of biomaterials, considering metals used in medicine, ceramics and biological inorganic materials such as hydroxyapatite, and polymers used in medicine. The basis of protein adsorption modulating biological interactions with these materials will be elaborated. Examples to be covered in the course will include polymers used in drug delivery, polymers used in protein therapeutics, polymers used in degradable biomaterial implants, polymers used in biodiagnostics, and hybrid and polymeric nanomaterials used as bioactives and bioactive carriers. An emphasis in the course will be placed on bioactive materials development. Students will be assessed through in-class discussions, take-home assignments and exams, and an end-of-term project on a topic of the student's choice.

Instructor(s): Jeffrey Hubbell, Mustafa Guler     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20186 and BIOS 20187, or BIOS 20234 and BIOS 20235
Note(s): This course does not meet the requirements for the Biological Sciences major.
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33100

MENG 23110. Stem Cell Biology, Regeneration, and Disease Modeling. 100 Units.

In this course, students will gain an understanding of the science and application of tissue engineering, a field that seeks to develop technologies for restoring lost function in diseased or damaged tissues and organs. The course will first introduce the underlying cellular and molecular components and processes relevant to tissue engineering: extracellular matrices, cell/matrix interactions such as adhesion and migration, growth factor biology, stem cell biology, inflammation, and innate immunity. The course will then discuss current approaches for engineering a variety of tissues, including bone and musculoskeletal tissues, vascular tissues, skin, nerve, and pancreas. Students will be assessed through in-class discussions, take-home assignments and exams, and an end-of-term project on a topic of the student's choice.

Instructor(s): Huanhuan Chen     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20186 or BIOS 20234
Note(s): CB
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 21507, MPMM 34300, MENG 33110

MENG 23120. The Structural Basis of Biomolecular Engineering. 100 Units.

In this highly practical course, students will learn different approaches to interrogate the structure-function relationship of proteins. Essential skills in identifying related protein sequences, performing multiple sequence alignments, and visualizing and interpreting conservation in the context of available structures will be acquired. The most basic method of biomolecular engineering is based on rationale design which uses such knowledge of sequence and structure to predict or explore changes in function in a low throughput manner. Advanced methods that employ evolutionary platforms, such as phage-, ribosome-, and yeast display, will also be introduced for screening large libraries of biomolecules to find variants with a specific function of interest. Additional biomolecular engineering topics to be covered may include computational tools to model and design proteins, protein fusions, enzymatic or chemical modifications to change function, and pharmacokinetics. Students will be assessed through in-class discussion, take-home assignments, exams, and an end-of-term project chosen by the student with approval from the instructor(s).

Instructor(s): Juan Mendoza     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20200
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33120

MENG 23130. Proteomics and Genomics in Biomolecular Engineering. 100 Units.

Modern genomic and proteomic technologies are transforming the analysis and engineering of biological systems. One part of the course will introduce the molecular biology of genomics, including how and why next-generation sequencing is used to measure DNA, RNA, and epigenetic patterns. In addition to experimental tools, it will cover key computational concepts for transforming raw genomic data into biologically meaningful data, as well as the application of those results to analyze biological systems. Specific topics will vary but will include single-cell RNA-sequencing and its analysis in different settings. The other part of the course will focus on technologies that enable the identification of proteins and their dysregulation in disease. Examples include mass spectrometry techniques to determine the exact number of proteins in cells, as well as techniques that identify the types and locations of post-translational protein modifications, such as histone methylation, that are frequently associated with diseases such as cancer. Additionally, the course will review methods to discover protein-protein interactions using computational and experimental screening methods. Student assessments will be made through in-class discussion, take-home assignments, exams, and an end-of-term project chosen by the student with approval from the instructor(s).

Instructor(s): Juan Mendoza, Samantha Riesenfeld     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20200 or equivalent, and experience with data analysis and computation in R or Python (e.g., MENG 26030, BIOS 20151/20152, STAT/CMSC 11800, or STAT 22000).
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33130

MENG 23140. Biodiagnostics and Biosensors. 100 Units.

This course focuses on the biological and chemical interactions that are important for the diagnosis of diseases and the design of new assays. The principles and mechanisms of molecular diagnostics and biosensors, as well as their applications in disease diagnosis, will be discussed. Bioanalytical methods including electrochemical, optical, chemical separation, and spectroscopic will be described. Surface functionalization and biomolecular interactions will be presented for the development of protein and DNA based biosensor applications. The goals for the course are to introduce the fundamental mechanisms of bioanalytical methods/tools, examples of specific methods for diagnostic purposes, and analytical methods necessary for developing new precision medicine tools.

Instructor(s): Mustafa Guler      Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first two quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 28700, MENG 33140

MENG 23150. Nanomedicine. 100 Units.

This course focuses on the applications of nanotechnology in medicine. The chemical, physical and biological features of the nanomaterials will be discussed for applications in medicine. A survey of concepts in therapeutic drug delivery methods, diagnostic imaging agents and cell-materials interactions will be discussed.

Instructor(s): Mustafa Guler     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first two quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence.
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 28410, MENG 33150

MENG 23200. Principles of Immunology. 100 Units.

In this course students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the essential principles of immunology. The course will introduce the concept of innate immunity and pattern recognition and how antigen is processed for presentation to the immune system. We will examine how antigen presentation links innate and adaptive immunity. We will then discuss the two arms of adaptive immunity (humoral and cellular) in detail from their development to effector stages. In the last section of the course we will discuss some key aspects of immune system function including immunological memory and vaccination, immunological tolerance and its failure (autoimmunity/allergy), and mucosal immunology and the microbiome. Students will present primary articles related to the topics discussed in class in a weekly discussion section. The course will be graded on class participation, quizzes, a midterm, and a final essay-based exam.

Instructor(s): Cathryn Nagler     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): BIOS 20186 or BIOS 20234 (or equivalent undergraduate coursework with the permission of the instructor)
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33200

MENG 23210. Fundamentals and Applications of the Human Microbiota. 100 Units.

Thousands of microbes colonize the human body to collectively establish the human microbiota. Research findings over the past two decades have led to a growing appreciation of the importance of the microbiota in various facets of human health. This course will explore the human microbiota through a critical review of the primary scientific literature. The first portion of the course will cover distinct ways by which the human microbiota impacts mammalian health. The second part of the course will focus on established and developing microbiota-targeting biotechnologies. Students will leave the course with a general understanding of the current state of human microbiota research and its therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Instructor(s): S. Light, M. Mimee     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Three quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence. Third or fourth year standing or consent of instructor.
Note(s): GP.
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33210, MICR 38000, BIOS 25207

MENG 23300. Quantitative Immunobiology. 100 Units.

The science of immunology was born at the end of the 19th century as a discipline focused on the body's defenses against infection. The following 120+ years has led to the discovery of a myriad of cellular and molecular players in immunity, placing the immune system alongside the most complex systems such as Earth's global climate and the human brain. The functions and malfunctions of the immune system have been implicated in virtually all human diseases. It is thought that cracking the complexity of the immune system will help manipulate and engineer it against some of the most vexing diseases of our times such as AIDS and cancer. To tackle this complexity, immunology in the 21st century - similar to much of the biological sciences - is growing closer to mathematics and data sciences, physics, chemistry and engineering. A central challenge is to use the wealth of large datasets generated by modern day measurement tools in biology to create knowledge, and ultimately predictive models of how the immune system works and can be manipulated. The goal of this course is to introduce motivated students to the quantitative approaches and reasoning applied to fundamental questions in immunology.

Instructor(s): Nicolas Chevrier      Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first two quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence. Knowledge of R is recommended but not required. Courses in immunology and microbiology are an advantage but not required (e.g., BIOS 25256 Immunobiology; BIOS 25206 Fundamentals of Bacterial Physiology).
Note(s): CB
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33300, BIOS 26403, IMMU 34800

MENG 23310. Immunoengineering Laboratory. 100 Units.

The goal of this laboratory course is to provide students with an original and hands-on research experience in the fields of immunoengineering and synthetic immunology, whereby new molecules will be designed and tested by students in the lab to probe or control immune processes. Specifically, students will study how newly discovered cancer vaccines work. The course will cover wet lab techniques to manipulate and analyze DNA, proteins, and cells, including next-generation sequencing, genome editing, cellular imaging, and nanobodies. In addition, computational tools will be used for processing and analyzing the data generated by students during class. The outcome of students' research during this class will help decipher the inner workings of successful anti-tumor vaccines, which is important to inform future cancer immunotherapies

Instructor(s): Nicolas Chevrier     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first two quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence. Prior molecular and cellular biology wet lab work experience is an advantage but not required.
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33310

MENG 23330. Immunogenomics II: Data Science in Systems Immunology. 100 Units.

This course presents essential concepts in genomic data science and trains students to apply the concepts in immunological contexts. The course encourages students to think independently about genomic analyses. Students will gain an understanding of how to use basic statistics, linear algebra, and computation to explore, analyze, and interpret published RNA-sequencing data (bulk and single-cell) and immune-cell receptor sequencing data. Student performance will be assessed through in-class discussions, take-home assignments and exams, and an end-of-term final project of the student's choice.

Instructor(s): Samantha Riesenfeld, Joshua Weinstein     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Basic programming skills in R or Python, including control structures, data loading and saving, creating basic plots, and working with data frames. Basic molecular biology, including the central dogma.
Note(s): This course is required for, but not limited to, the Computational and Systems Immunology PhD track in Immunology.
Equivalent Course(s): IMMU 48900, MENG 33330

MENG 23500. Synthetic Biology. 100 Units.

The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the fundamentals of synthetic biology by exploration of published and primary literature. Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary area that involves the application of engineering principles to biology. It aims at the (re-)design and fabrication of biological components and systems that do not already exist in the natural world. Our goal in the course will be to examine how to apply design principles to biological systems. This will require understanding how biological systems operate, what design principles are successful in biology, and a survey of current approaches in the field to tackle these challenges. Topics will include genetic manipulation, pathway engineering, protein design, cellular engineering, and tools for information input and output in biological systems.

Instructor(s): Aaron Esser-Kahn      Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first two quarters of a Biological Sciences Fundamentals Sequence. MENG 21500, BIOS 20236, and BIOS 20200 are recommended but not required.
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33500

MENG 23510. Microfluidics and Its Applications. 100 Units.

Precision control of fluids at the micrometer scale (hence microfluidics) provides unprecedented capabilities in manipulation and analysis of cells and proteins. Moreover, fluids and particles behave in fundamentally different ways when confined to small dimensions, making microfluidics an interesting topic of basic research. This course aims to provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills on the use of microfluidics for the manipulation and analysis of physical, chemical, and biological systems. We will first survey theoretical concepts regarding microfluidics. We will then focus on design considerations and fabrication methods for multi-layer microfluidic chips using PDMS soft-lithography. We will learn how to fabricate, multiplex, and control PDMS membrane valves and integrate them into high-throughput analytical systems. We will survey recent developments in microfluidics and its scientific and industrial applications. Biological systems analysis in cell sorting, culture, cell signaling, single molecule detection, digital nucleic acid and protein quantification, and biosensing are some of the applications we will cover. This course will have a laboratory component where students will design, fabricate, and use microfluidic devices and therefore acquire hands-on skills in microfluidic engineering.

Instructor(s): Savas Tay     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MATH 13300 (or higher), or MATH 13200 (or higher) plus BIOS 20151 or BIOS 20152 or BIOS 20236
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 33510

MENG 24100. Molecular Engineering Thermodynamics of Phase Equilibria. 100 Units.

This course addresses the thermodynamics of mixtures and their phase equilibria (e.g., vapor-liquid, liquid-liquid, and solid-liquid equilibria). It includes an introduction to the theory of phase equilibria and stability for mixtures, the concepts of activity and fugacity for describing non-ideal systems, an introduction to molecular models and the prediction of thermodynamic properties from such models, as well as the importance of such topics for engineering applications including separation processes such as distillation, extraction, and membrane osmosis. The course has a laboratory component that includes characterizing vapor-liquid equilibria in distillation processes, experimentation with surface adsorption, and measurements of solubility. (Lab)

Instructor(s): Chibueze Amanchukwu     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900

MENG 24200. Molecular Transport Phenomena II: Fluid Flow and Convective Transport Processes. 100 Units.

This course will cover topics related to fluid flow and convective mass and heat transport relevant to describing chemical and biological systems. First, students learn how bulk fluid flow (velocity) is related to the transport of momentum through the application of the Navier-Stokes equation and boundary conditions. Second, fluid flow is described to understand the role of viscous forces on the formation of boundary layers near surfaces. The primary focus is on the laminar flow of Newtonian fluids, but relevant conditions leading to turbulent flow are touched upon. Standard examples such as Poiseuille flow, falling films, and flow around a sphere are covered. Third, the concepts of bulk fluid flow and boundary layer are extended to describe convective mass (concentration) and heat (temperature) transport processes. Students learn how fluid motion contributes to the flux of chemical species and the transfer of heat. Lastly, the course has a laboratory component that reinforces fundamental concepts covered in the lectures. Laboratory exercises include measurement of viscosity, Hagen-Poiseuille flow in tubes, and fabrication and assembly of microfluidic devices.

Instructor(s): Shrayesh Patel     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21500

MENG 24300. Molecular Modeling. 100 Units.

This course will introduce students to the methods of quantum and classical molecular modeling and simulation. The course will be delivered primarily through project-based learning using popular quantum mechanical (e.g., Quantum Espresso) and classical mechanical (e.g., Gromacs, LAMMPS) simulation packages. Students will also develop proficiency in the command line interface and shell scripting. The course will prioritize the physical principles underlying the methods to confer an understanding of their applicability and limitations, and hands-on immersive praxis to give students the confidence and expertise to independently use these tools.

Instructor(s): Andrew Ferguson     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 and MENG 21500, or instructor consent

MENG 24400. Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering. 100 Units.

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of reaction kinetics, from the molecular mechanisms and reaction rates of chemical reactions to its applied aspects in the reaction engineering of complex chemical systems. Course topics will include elementary reactions and rate laws, collision theory, transition state theory, reaction dynamics, complex reacting systems, the steady-state hypothesis, heterogeneous catalysis, and diffusion-limited systems. The course will draw upon examples of industrial-scale chemical processes to consider the impact of kinetics on the engineering of batch and continuous-flow reactors.

Instructor(s): Xiaoying Liu     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 (or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900) and MENG 21500

MENG 25100. Introduction to Polymer Science. 100 Units.

This course introduces the basics of polymer materials and their behavior and properties. The course will cover a general overview to polymers, basic terminology and definitions, their classification, and their applications. The mechanistic and kinetic behavior of the major classes of polymerization reactions (step-growth, chain addition, and "living" polymerizations) will be introduced with respect to control over polymer structure/architecture, size, and properties. The course will also discuss polymer properties, polymer thermodynamics, and basic structure-property relationships that provide polymers with their unique characteristics compared to small molecules. Techniques for characterizing the chemical and physical properties of polymer solutions will be introduced, including osmometry, viscometry, and gel permeation chromatography.

Instructor(s): Paul Nealey     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35100

MENG 25110. Polymer Synthesis. 100 Units.

This course introduces the most important polymerization reactions, focusing on their reaction mechanisms and kinetic aspects. Topics include free radical and ionic chain polymerization, step-growth polymerization, ring-opening, insertion, controlled living polymerization, crosslinking, copolymerization, and chemical modification of preformed polymers.

Instructor(s): Stuart Rowan     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 22000 and CHEM 22100
Equivalent Course(s): CHEM 39100, MENG 35110

MENG 25120. Polymer Physics. 100 Units.

This course is an advanced introduction to polymer physics taught at a level suitable for senior undergraduates and graduate students in STEM fields. Topics that will be covered include the statistics and conformations of linear chain molecules; polymer brushes; thermodynamics and dynamics of polymers, polymer blends and polymer solutions; phase equilibria; networks, gels, and rubber elasticity; linear viscoelasticity; and thermal and mechanical properties.

Instructor(s): Paul Nealey     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 25100
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35120

MENG 25130. Soft Matter Characterization Laboratory. 100 Units.

The goal of this course is to train students in the fundamental experimental approaches to polymer and soft materials characterization. The course will cover both the theory and practice of techniques focused on three themes: molar mass determination (size exclusion chromatography, laser light scattering, NMR spectroscopy); morphology and structure (x-ray scattering, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy); and thermo-mechanical properties (calorimetry, thermogravimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, rheometry, tensile testing). Contextual application of these characterization techniques to modern research problems will be introduced. Through this course, students will develop foundational experimental skills necessary for addressing research challenges in modern polymer and soft materials science and engineering.

Instructor(s): Philip Griffin     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): MENG 25100
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35130

MENG 25140. Functional Polymers for Electronics, Photonics, and Energy Technology. 100 Units.

In this course, students will learn the fundamental principles of the functional properties of polymers that enable their use in electronics, photonics and energy technology. The topics mainly include electron and ion transport properties, relationships between chemical structures and energy band structures, photo-excitation properties, luminescent properties, thermoelectric property, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties, as well as the associated device categories of organic field-effect transistors, organic light-emitting diodes, lasers, electrochromic devices, photovoltaic cells, and photodetectors.

Instructor(s): Sihong Wang     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 25100 (or MENG 35100), AND CHEM 22000 and CHEM 22100
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35140

MENG 25220. Molecular Gastronomy and Engineering Food as Soft Matter. 100 Units.

We will focus on understanding and analyzing food as soft matter and molecular gastronomy: the physicochemical basis for designing foods. Imagine bread, butter, wine, cheese, ice cream, chocolates, mayo, frothy beers, milk, yogurt, sushi, meats, cotton candy, burgers, fondue, chips, cookies, cakes, and champagne. We will study the science of cooking and molecular gastronomy, food production, processing, and consumption by highlighting concepts from statistical thermodynamics, macromolecular and soft matter physics, interfacial science, fluid mechanics and rheology (science of deformation & flow). Many food materials are rheologically-complex fluids that can be modeled as multicomponent colloidal dispersions with a continuous liquid phase containing dispersed proteins, polysaccharides, drops, bubbles, particles, and self-assembled structures (like micelles). We will discuss the influence of the dispersed and the continuous phases and of ingredients like salt, sugar, fat, animal proteins, and gluten on stability, microstructure, rheology, and heuristic properties like dispensing behavior, stickiness, thickening, stringiness, softness, creaminess, mouthfeel, texture, foamability, and chewability. Significant emphasis will be on understanding current foods to develop the roadmap for sustainable, cost-effective, healthier, and tasteful alternatives, including meat and dairy alternatives with plant-based ingredients.

Instructor(s): Vivek Sharma     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MATH 18500 and MENG 21400 and MENG 21500, or equivalents
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35220

MENG 25300. Molecular Science and Engineering of Water. 100 Units.

This course will cover the properties of the water molecule, hydrogen bonding, clusters, supercritical water, condensed phases, solutions, confined and interfacial water, clathrates, and nucleation. In addition, methods of water purification, water splitting and fuel cells, water in atmospheric and climate science, and water in biology, health and medicine will be discussed.

Instructor(s): Chong Liu     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900 (or concurrent)
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35300

MENG 25310. Energy Storage and Conversion Devices. 100 Units.

Addressing the challenges of a sustainable energy future requires a foundational knowledge of current and emerging energy conversion and storage technologies. Energy conversion devices such as solar cells and fuel cells to energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries and redox-flow batteries will be covered. Devices related to carbon capture and conversion in addition to 'green fuels' will be introduced as well. Applying basic principles of chemistry, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena, this course will provide a deep understanding of the operational mechanisms, resources, and material properties of each device and the synergies between them.

Instructor(s): Chibueze Amanchukwu     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 (or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900) AND MENG 21500
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35310

MENG 25320. Electrochemical Principles and Methods. 100 Units.

This course will cover topics related to basic electrochemical principles, methodologies, and systems. In particular, students will be given an overview of fundamental concepts related to electrochemical potential, electric double layer, electrode kinetics, and mass transport processes. In addition, the application of key electrochemical experimental methods will be covered. A few examples include cyclic voltammetry, AC impedance spectroscopy, and the rotating disk electrode. Throughout the course, students will apply basics principles of thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport phenomena. Lastly, a brief overview of traditional electrochemical systems and emerging technologies related to energy storage and conversion (e.g., lithium-ion batteries, flow batteries, and fuel cells) and bioelectronics applications will be discussed.

Instructor(s): Shrayesh Patel      Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 (or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900) and MENG 21500
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35320

MENG 25330. Materials and Characterization Tools to Address Challenges in Energy and Water. 100 Units.

The development of new materials, as well as understanding the materials' structure and dynamics, are at the heart of addressing the challenges in energy and water technologies. This course will introduce students to the design and development of advanced functional materials that enable energy and water related technologies. The importance of all classes of materials spanning metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, glasses, and their combinations as composite materials will be covered. To understand material properties and function, students will learn about essential characterization tools including microscopy, spectroscopy and mechanical testing techniques. In addition, the course will convey the importance of advanced characterization tools available at X-ray and neutron facilities that are essential in revealing unique physical properties.

Instructor(s): Junhong Chen     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 (or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900)
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35330

MENG 25500. Classical Molecular and Materials Modeling. 100 Units.

This course will introduce students to the methods of molecular modeling. The topics covered will include an introduction to the origin of molecular forces, a brief introduction to statistical mechanics and ensemble methods, and an introduction to molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. The course will also cover elements of advanced sampling techniques, including parallel tempering, umbrella sampling, and other common biased sampling approaches. Students will also establish expertise in scientific programming in Python 3.

Instructor(s): Andrew Ferguson      Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900, AND MATH 20100 or PHYS 22100. MENG 21300, or prior course work or research experience with elementary programming, is strongly recommended.
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35500

MENG 25510. Quantum Molecular and Materials Modeling. 100 Units.

Quantum mechanical methods, including quantum chemistry, density functional theory (DFT), and many body perturbation theory, for simulating the properties of molecules and materials will be explored in this course. Numerical algorithms and techniques will be introduced that allow for solution of approximate forms of the Schroedinger and Boltzmann Equations that model structural and transport properties of molecules and materials. The coupling of DFT with molecular dynamics will be detailed for determining finite temperature properties. Coupling of DFT with spin Hamiltonians to study dynamical spin correlations in materials will also be described. Examples of the application of quantum mechanical methods to materials for energy conversion and quantum information technologies will be provided.

Instructor(s): Laura Gagliardi,Giulia Galli     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21300 or CHEM 26100 or PHYS 23400 or instructor consent
Equivalent Course(s): CHEM 36800, CHEM 26800, MENG 35510

MENG 25610. Applied Scientific Computing in Molecular Engineering. 100 Units.

This course provides hands-on practical training in scientific computing with a focus on applications to molecular engineering. The first third of the course will provide training in core programming concepts, including a broad introduction to Python programming and use of key scientific libraries. The second third of the course will cover advanced programming topics in CPU and GPU parallel programming and quantum computing, exploring their use through practical examples drawn from a range of scientific and engineering disciplines. The final portion of the class will engage particular applications in computational molecular engineering, including electronic structure calculations of molecules and materials, highlighting the use of modern computing platforms to enable modeling of complex phenomena at unprecedented scales. Students will develop proficiency in making effective use of the diverse landscape of programming models, open-source tools, and computing architectures for high performance computing. Hands-on immersive praxis, mostly using electronic notebooks, will introduce students to the efficient use of several computational resources such as pre-exascale and quantum computers, with the goal of providing them with the confidence and expertise to independently use these tools.

Instructor(s): Marco Govoni     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Prior programming experience and familiarity with Linux/bash are useful but not required. Prior coursework in quantum mechanics is useful but not required.
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35610

MENG 25620. Applied Artificial Intelligence for Materials Science and Engineering. 100 Units.

Machine learning and other artificial intelligence tools are quickly becoming commonplace in the computational design of materials. This course is intended to introduce the concepts and practical skills needed to employ machine learning techniques across many areas of computational materials science. The course will cover topics including the management of materials data, the creation of surrogate models for costly computations, building predictive models for material properties without known physical models, and using AI to enhance characterization tools. The content of the course will focus both on the theoretical underpinnings of these technologies, as well as the practical skills needed for successful use of AI in an applied setting. Particular application areas include machine learning tools for atomistic simulations, convolutional neural networks for materials image analysis, Bayesian techniques for material property estimation, and generative methods for molecular design.

Instructor(s): Logan Ward     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Familiarity in object-oriented programming in Python is preferred. Prior coursework or experience in machine learning is recommended but not required.
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35620

MENG 25630. Design, Processing, and Scale-Up of Advanced Materials. 100 Units.

The course will cover the scientific background needed to design and optimize advanced materials for scalable synthesis. We will introduce the physics-based understanding needed to simulate the non-equilibrium conditions in reacting gas-phase and complex fluids. The course will use in situ measurement data for validation and acceleration of simulations will allow students to experiment and build the conceptual connections to the background theories and simulations. In particular, we will cover examples of scalable material synthesis such as gas-phase combustion synthesis of lithium ion battery materials, atomic layer deposition (ALD) for porous membranes and coatings, Taylor Vortex Reactors (TVR) for the synthesis of industrial catalysts, additive manufacturing of metals using laser sintering, and microfluidic continuous flow reactors for the synthesis of organic crystals for pharmaceutical applications. Data generated using sensors, imaging cameras, spectroscopic probes, and Argonne APS measurements will be combined with machine-learning approaches for decision making, process optimization and steering of synthesis conditions. This course will include optional hands-on sessions at the Argonne National Laboratory's Materials Engineering and Research Facility, and allow the students to leverage the Manufacturing Data and Machine Learning (MDML) platform and Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) supercomputing environment for physics based simulations.

Instructor(s): Santanu Chaudhuri     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21400 or CHEM 26200 or PHYS 27900, MENG 24200, and MENG 24400 or CHEM 26300. Some background in a programming language like C, C++ or python, databases, and ability to launch computing jobs in Linux environment is preferred
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 35630

MENG 26100-26110. Intermediate Quantum Engineering I-II.

This sequence of courses on quantum engineering provide an introduction to the formalism of quantum mechanics as relevant to quantum engineering and information applications, as well as advanced topics in quantum chemistry and materials modeling.

MENG 26200. QuantumLab. 100 Units.

The QuantumLab course is an advanced laboratory course where students gain experience in a broad range of quantum technologies and instrumentation. The experiments reflect current research directions of quantum science and the University of Chicago's quantum program. Students will perform these experiments in small groups and study quantum effects in different quantum systems, including photons, cold atoms, quantum circuits and materials, and defect-centers. Furthermore, participants will acquire experience in instrumentation, electronics, optics, data taking and analysis.

Instructor(s): Hannes Bernien, Alex High     Terms Offered: Autumn Spring Winter
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21300 or PHYS 23410 or CHEM 26100

MENG 26300. Engineering Electrodynamics. 100 Units.

This is an advanced course in electromagnetism with an engineering focus. Requires good preparation in freshman-level, calculus-based, electrostatics and magnetostatics; also preparation in vector calculus.

Instructor(s): Andrew Cleland     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 13300 or PHYS 14300, and MATH 20100 or PHYS 22100 or concurrent enrollment in MATH 20500 or MATH 20900

MENG 26400. Quantum Computation. 100 Units.

This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of quantum information to students who have not had training in quantum computing or quantum information theory. Some knowledge of linear algebra is expected, including matrix multiplication, matrix inversion, and eigenvector-eigenvalue problems. Students will learn how to carry out calculations and gain a fundamental grasp of topics that will include some or all of: entanglement, teleportation, quantum algorithms, cryptography, and error correction.

Instructor(s): Andrew Cleland     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): MATH 19620 or PHYS 22100 or equivalent
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 36400

MENG 26500. Foundations of Quantum Optics. 100 Units.

Quantum optics seeks to illuminate the fundamental quantum mechanics of the interaction of light and matter. These principles can form the basis for quantum technologies in areas such as cryptography, computation, and metrology. This course provides a foundation in the fundamental principles and applications of quantum optics. Topics to be discussed may include Fermi's Golden Rule, interaction of two-level atoms and light, spontaneous emission, Rabi oscillations, classical and non-classical photon statistics, beam splitters, atom cavity interaction, vacuum-Rabi splitting, coherence, entanglement, and teleportation. The course will assume that students are comfortable with single-particle quantum mechanics at the level of a typical introductory graduate-level course.

Instructor(s): Alex High      Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 23400-23500 strongly recommended but not required
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 36500

MENG 26510. Optics and Photonics. 100 Units.

Electromagnetic radiation in the optical spectrum, or light, plays a fundamentally important role in modern physics and engineering. This introductory course covers the basic properties of light, its propagation in and interactions with matter, and techniques for generating, guiding, and detecting light. Photonic technologies including lasers, optical fibers, integrated optics, optoelectronic devices, and optical modulators will be introduced with selected demonstrations of real-world devices.

Instructor(s): Tian Zhong     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 13300 or PHYS 14300

MENG 26600. Electronic and Quantum Materials for Technology. 100 Units.

This is a one-quarter introductory course on the science and engineering of electronic and quantum materials. The intended audience is upper-level undergraduate students and first-year graduate students in Molecular Engineering and other related fields, including Chemistry and Physics. We will learn the basics of electrical and optical properties of electronic materials, including semiconductors, metals, and insulators starting from a simple band picture, and will discuss how these materials enable modern electronic and optoelectronic devices and circuitry. We will also explore the modern synthesis techniques for these materials and the effects of reduced dimensions and emergent quantum properties. No comprehensive exposure to quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, or advanced mathematical skills will be assumed, even though working knowledge of these topics will be helpful.

Instructor(s): Jiwoong Park     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 26200 or PHYS 23500 or instructor consent
Equivalent Course(s): CHEM 39300, MENG 36600

MENG 26610. Science of Materials. 100 Units.

This is a course covering the principles behind both traditional electronic materials and quantum materials, and connecting the knowledge to various modern applications. It covers basic topics such as Bravais lattice, real and reciprocal space, band theory, classification of materials, physical properties of metals, semiconductors, and insulators. Quantum materials including superconductors, topological materials, and quantum defects will be introduced.

Instructor(s): Shuolong Yang     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21300 or equivalent (PHYS 23410 or CHEM 26100), and MATH 18500 or equivalent

MENG 26620. Physics of Solid State Semiconductor Devices. 100 Units.

This course covers the fundamental concepts needed to understand nanoelectronic solid state semiconductor devices. After an overview of the basic properties of semiconductors and electronic transport in semiconductors, we will explore the device physics behind some of the major semiconductor devices that have changed our lives. These include the p-n junction diode, the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor (MOSFET), the photovoltaics cell (solar cell), the semiconductor light emitting diode (LED) and injection laser, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and Flash memory. These devices collectively form the backbone behind all computing, communications, and sensing systems used today.

Instructor(s): Supratik Guha     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): MENG 21300 (or PHYS 23500 or CHEM 26100) or PHYS 22700 or PHYS 23600
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 36620

MENG 26630. Introduction to Nanofabrication. 100 Units.

This course will cover the fundamentals of nanofabrication from a practical viewpoint and will be useful for students planning to pursue research involving semiconductor processing technology, as well as broader topics such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), quantum devices, optoelectronics, and microfluidics. This course will cover the theory and practice of lithographic patterning; physical and chemical vapor deposition; reactive plasma etching; wet chemical processing; characterization techniques; and other special topics related to state-of-the-art processes used in the research and development of nanoscale devices. A solid grounding in introductory chemistry and physics is expected.

Instructor(s): Andrew Cleland     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 13300 and CHEM 10200, or equivalent
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 36630

MENG 27300. Experimental Techniques and Advanced Instrumentation. 100 Units.

This course aims to provide students with a knowledge of state-of-the-art experimental measurement techniques and laboratory instrumentation for applications in broad scientific research environments, as well as industrial and general engineering practice. Topics include atomic-scale structural and imaging methods, electronic transport in low dimensional matter, magnetic and optical characterization of materials. Basic concepts in electronic measurement such as lock-in amplifiers, spectrum and network analysis, noise reduction techniques, cryogenics, thermometry, vacuum technology, as well as statistical analysis and fitting of data will also be discussed.

Instructor(s): David Awschalom     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): MENG 37300

MENG 29700. Undergraduate Research for Molecular Engineering. 100 Units.

PME faculty offer one-quarter research experiences for credit for interested students in the form of this Reading and Research (R & R) course. Students are expected to initiate and develop the research opportunities themselves. A quality grade will be given based on performance in this course. In order to assign a quality grade, an agreement between the sponsoring PME faculty member and each student will be made that includes: (1) the content and scope of the project, (2) expectations for time commitment, (3) a well-defined work plan with timelines for particular experiments or calculations to be accomplished, and (4) a summary of academic goals such as demonstrating knowledge of the literature and developing communication skills (e.g., through presentations at group meetings).

Instructor(s): PME Faculty     Terms Offered: Autumn Spring Winter
Prerequisite(s): Faculty consent required
Note(s): Students interested in registering for MENG 29700 should complete a “College Reading and Research Course Form” available from the College advisers (https://college.uchicago.edu/advising/registration) and seek the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Molecular Engineering (Dr. Mark Stoykovich, stoykovich@uchicago.edu).