The Masters of Science in Biological Engineering prepares students to conduct research involving the application of engineering to biological systems.  Examples of research projects are sensors to detect specific biological molecules or pathogens in food or water, understanding cell membranes in terms of signaling and transport of molecules, imaging of cells or proteins, conformation of biological molecules at membrane surfaces as well as environmental risk assessment modeling.  Alliances with several governmental agencies and other organizations, such as the Institute of Molecular Biophysics, the Jackson Laboratory and Maine Medical Center Research Institute, increase research opportunities related to genetics and biomedical issues in engineering.  Cooperation with the Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology gives access to tools related to surface analysis.

Research Facilities

Standard equipment for cell growth and characterization, near IR, confocal microscope, mechanical testing of biological materials and other tools are available.  Specialized equipment is also available related to individual projects.

Financial Aid

Graduate Research Assistantships are available on a competitive basis for externally funded research projects.

Applying

Applications for entry into the program for either the fall or spring semesters must be received at least three months prior to the start of the semester.  For fall semester, it is recommended that applications be received by March of that year.  Applications are available on line at the graduate school web site.

Correspondence:

The Graduate School
5755 Stodder Hall, Room 42
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5755
207-581-3291
graduate@maine.edu

Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering
117 Jenness Hall
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5737
207-581-2277
gradinfo@umche.maine.edu

Requirements

Required core courses are CHE 510 (Transport Phenomena) and CHB 460 (Biochemical Engineering).  One course in advanced mathematics, such as CHE 580, is required.  Three technical electives, approved by the thesis committee, and two semesters of the graduate seminar course are required.  A thesis and a total of 30 hours of graduate credits are needed to fulfill the master’s degree requirements.

Graduate Faculty

Douglas W. Bousfield, Ph.D. (California at Berkeley, 1986), University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation Professor. Fluid mechanics, rheology, numerical methods, coating processes, modeling of coating and absorption processes.

Albert Co, Ph.D. (Wisconsin, 1979), Associate Professor. Transport phenomena, fluid mechanics, polymeric fluid dynamics, rheology, applied numerical methods.

William J. DeSisto, Ph.D., (Brown, 1989), Assistant Professor. Advanced material, sensors.

Darrell W. Donahue, Ph.D. (North Carolina State Univ., 1992), Associate Professor. process engineering, biosensors for liquid food systems, statistical process control, industrial simulation and control, quantitative risk assessment modeling.

Joseph M. Genco, Ph.D. (Ohio State, 1965), Calder Professor. Process engineering applied to pulp and paper technology and science.

John J. Hwalek, Ph.D. (Illinois, 1982), Associate Professor. Process information systems, heat transfer.

Michael D. Mason, Ph.D. (California at Santa Barbara, 2000), Assistant Professor.  Photophysics of nanoparticles and molecular nanoprobes, single molecule imaging, time-resolved single photon spectroscopic imaging techniques.

Paul J. Millard, Ph.D., (University of Maryland, 1984), Assistant Professor. Microbial biosensors, physiological genomics systems, fluorescence technology.

David J. Neivandt, Ph.D. (Melbourne, 1998), Assistant Professor. Conformation of interfacial species, surface spectroscopies/microscopies, binary polymer/surfactant solutions and lipid membrane structures.

Hemant P. Pendse, Ph.D. (Syracuse, 1980), Professor and Chair. Colloidal phenomena, paper manufacture, fluid particle systems, and instrument/sensor development.

Adriaan Van Heiningen, Ph.D. (McGill, 1982), J. Larcom Ober Professor of Chemical Engineering and FiDiPro professor. Forest products biorefinery, chemical reaction engineering in wood pulping and pulp bleaching, black liquor gasification and direct causticization with titanate.

G. Peter van Walsum, Ph.D. (Dartmouth College, 1998), Associate Professor. Renewable energy, fuels and chemicals, bioprocessing, process engineering.

M. Clayton Wheeler, Ph.D.(Austin, 1997), Assistant Professor. Chemical Sensors, fundamental catalysis, surface science, and selective sensor materials.