Process Eng for Biomedical Technologies (BMEN90040)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Process engineering applies scientific principles to convert raw materials and energy into useful products, and it is critical to a variety of biomedical technologies including production of pharmaceuticals, dialysis, tissue engineering, etc. Core to process engineering is an understanding of how energy and mass move through systems – and how these can be controlled – to achieve a desired goal.
In this subject you will learn the fundamental laws that describe how heat and mass move through systems and develop mathematical models that describe this movement. We will then look at how this movement of energy and mass is applicable to the biomedical engineering discipline. Some of the topics covered are listed below:
- How oxygen and nutrients travel through the human body to maintain homeostasis,
- How cell culture and tissue engineering systems can be designed to provide sufficient nutrients and oxygen to maintain cell viability,
- How dialysis can be used to remove contaminants from blood of patients suffering kidney failure,
- How the presence of a bacterial biofilm limits the ability to treat biomedical device-related infections, and
- How processes can be designed to produce products like pharmaceuticals.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Evaluate mass transfer in the context of biomedical engineering
- Analyse the roles of transport processes in the cells, tissues and organ systems of the human body
- Formulate problems in biological systems, identifying fundamental transport processes and the equations that describe these systems
- Apply principles of transport to develop solutions to problems in process and biomedical engineering
Generic skills
- Ability to communicate effectively, with the engineering team and with the community at large
- Ability to manage information and documentation
- Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities, and commitment to them
- Ability to function effectively as an individual and in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, as a team leader or manager as well as an effective team member
- Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
- Ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance
- Understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development
- Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL10002 | Biomolecules and Cells | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BIOL10008 | Foundational Biology: Life's Machinery |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BIOL10009 | Biology: Life's Machinery | Not available in 2025 |
12.5 |
BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
CHEN20009 Transport Processes
BMEN30007 Biotransport Processes
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Laboratory Practical 1. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1-5 are addressed in this assessment.
| From Week 2 to Week 7 | 15% |
Laboratory Practical 2. ILOs 1-5 are addressed in this assessment.
| From Week 5 to Week 12 | 15% |
Individual Written Assignment 1. ILOs 1-4 are addressed in this assessment.
| From Week 4 to Week 8 | 10% |
Individual Written Assignment 2. ILOs 1-4 are addressed in this assessment.
| From Week 8 to Week 12 | 10% |
Final Exam. ILOs 1-4 are addressed in this assessment.
| During the examination period | 50% |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Daniel Heath Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 x 1 hour lectures per week for 12 weeks, 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week for 12 weeks, 2 x 2 hour laboratories Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Dr Daniel Heath
Email: daniel.heath@unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
This subject was first offered in 2022.
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject is delivered through lectures, tutorials, workshops, practicals, and consultations. Assessment is in the form of a practical reports, assignments, and a final exam.INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Students are provided with lecture slides, tutorials with worked solutions, workshops with discussed solutions, assignments with worked solutions, and references.CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
Building student understanding of process engineering is crucial for manufacturing of biomedical solutions. Students develop a toolbox of theory and its application in process engineering and mass transfer as applied to critical biomedical technologies regarding pharmaceutical manufacturing and tissue engineering/drug delivery. - Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Engineering Specialisation (formal) Biomedical with Business Specialisation (formal) Biomedical - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025