Curriculum

The Bioprocessing Certificate entails 15 credit hours derived from the Paper and Bioprocess Engineering Graduate Program at SUNY-ESF.  Participants must earn a grade of B or better for successful completion. The specific courses, along with a brief description of each, are provided below.

Microbiology for Bioprocessing (ERE 501 / 3 credits)
Lectures, conferences, discussions and laboratory. Topics in environmental and resource engineering not covered in established courses. An overview of microbiology, biochemistry, enzyme technology, metabolic pathways and microbial growth kinetics. Discussion of mammalian cell lines, medium formulations and bioreactor design, including batch, fed-batch and continuous.

Topics include general microbiology, molecular engineering, enzymology, enzyme kinetics, metabolic regulation, microbial growth and product formation (with general stoichiometry), media formulation and bioprocess design including batch, fed-batch, and continuous modes, techniques for product recovery and purification, and mammalian cell lines/culture. Laboratory sessions include hands-on experience with a variety of microbiological laboratory techniques, operation of a bench-scale fermentor/bioreactor, and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer production, recovery, and characterization. A working knowledge of microbiology is critical for professionals involved in a wide range of industries, including, but not limited to pharmaceuticals, personal care products, food processing, breweries and distilleries, paper and pulp, emerging biorefineries, biotechnology and biomolecules, petroleum and allied products, chemicals and fertilizers, clothing and textiles and public health.

Bioseparations (ERE 502 / 3 credits)
Lectures, conferences, discussions and laboratory. Topics in environmental and resource engineering not covered in established courses. Topics covered include: cell disruption, centrifugation, chromatographic techniques (gel filtration, affinity, ion exchange), and membrane processes (micro and ultrafiltration, dialysis, reverse osmosis). Crystallization, drying, and a brief discussion of packaging. In addition, preparing water for injection (WFI), viral clearance and aseptic preparation of biologics.

Bioprocess Engineering (ERE 542 / 3 credits)
Lectures, conferences, discussions and laboratory. Topics in environmental and resource engineering not covered in established courses. An economic analysis of bioprocesses, including equipment, installation and operating cost estimates, and methods for estimating return on investment. Bioprocess flow sheet synthesis, operability, and process simulation will be provided. Optimization techniques will be discussed. Preparation for a bioprocess design project.

Bioprocess Plant Design (ERE 503 / 3 credits)
This course provides a broad overview of coordinating and balancing the upstream and downstream process systems to balance the cycle times through appropriate selection of a variety of Process Equipment and Process Support functions. Using the various functions needed in a typical Biologics Manufacturing Plant, general concepts of facility design will be developed. Emphasis on specifics to Biologics like GMPs, Automation and Validation, Clean-Dirty Concepts, and, People and Product Flow and Protection will be addressed. Capital Investment and Product Cost and methods for estimating Return on Investment will be covered. Topics covered will cross reference to real life practices in a Biologics Manufacturing Plant.

Management in Bioprocessing (ERE 796 / 3 credits)
Three hours of lecture per week. Provides the student with background and context for managing and integrating bioprocessing into organizations and organizational contexts. The student will study and analyze business cases pertinent to management of bioprocessing functions and strategies.