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One of my favorite aspects of BME is that it applies concepts from biology, physics, chemistry, and computer science to generate engineering solutions. At Cornell, I have been able to take classes that reflect the wide range of knowledge required for the field. During my first year, I took many introduction courses to give me a solid foundation. My second and third years delved into more BME-specific courses that discuss real-world applications of molecular engineering and drug delivery.
In addition to studying BME, I also decided to minor in business because I want to bridge the gap between business and engineering. Great ideas from engineers mean nothing unless people can benefit from them; putting a product on the market is the main avenue for a solution to reach a large target audience. Hence, the business minor allows me to combine an in-depth understanding of production and distribution to the technical know-how of an engineer.
Some of the most notable classes from my BME major and business minor are listed below.
Cell Principles of Biomedical Engineering (BME 3010)
Cell Principles of Biomedical Engineering (BME 3010)
Key concepts: intercellular signaling, cell culture, modeling cell growth, bioreactors, stem cells, differentiation pathways, organs on a chip, tissue engineering, immune system, engineering immune memory
Most exciting idea: You can perform CDR grafting to humanize monoclonal antibodies. Only the antigen-binding domain remains xenogeneic, while the rest of the antibody is human. This reduces risk of immune response and improves interactions with effector cells!
Biomedical Circuits (BME 3030)
Biomedical Circuits (BME 3030)
Key concepts: Fourier transform, analog-to-digital converts, frequency filters, op amps, LTI systems, impulse response functions, convolution, bandwidth, modulated signals, Matlab digital signal processing
Most exciting idea: Every signal is the infinite weighted sum of impulse functions. Therefore, if you know how an LTI system responds to a single impulse (the impulse response function), you can predict the output of the LTI system for any input.
Biomaterials (BME 2210)
Biomaterials (BME 2210)
Key concepts: biomaterial classifications, polymerization mechanisms, thermal transitions, defects, mechanical testing, degradation, surface treatments, form manipulation, biocompatibility optimization (prevent thrombosis/cytotoxicity/infection)
Most exciting idea: Prevent an implant-associated infection by releasing antibiotics from the biomaterials themselves. This is done by co-delivering the devices with absorbable antibacterial envelopes.
Biomolecular Thermodynamics (BME 2110)
Biomolecular Thermodynamics (BME 2110)
Key concepts: free energy, probability, thermodynamic processes, Boltzmann distribution/partition function, solvation, reaction transition states, electrochemical equilibria, polymerization
Most exciting idea: Drugs can be encapsulated such that uptake into cells can be more thermodynamically favorable, thus increasing bioavailability.
Physiology of Human Health and Disease (BME 2010)
Physiology of Human Health and Disease (BME 2010)
Key concepts: cellular respiration, nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, renal system, musculoskeletal system, endocrine system, digestive system, integumentary system
Most exciting idea: Combination therapy can improve patient outcomes by targeting different stages of the pathology of a disease.
Organic Chemistry (CHEM 1570)
Organic Chemistry (CHEM 1570)
Key concepts: functional groups, isomers, bonding, resonance, aromaticity, conformers, acids/bases, nucleophilic substitution, carbonyl reactions, alpha carbon reactions, reduction/oxidation
Most exciting idea: Learning the molecular process behind DNA replication.
MATLAB (CS 1112)
MATLAB (CS 1112)
Key concepts: variables, functions, conditional statements, for/while loops, plotting, arrays, image processing, document processing, recursion, object-oriented programming
Most exciting idea: You can repeatedly adjust the difficulty of a task for a user based on their performances in previous iterations.
Microeconomics (ECON 1110)
Microeconomics (ECON 1110)
Key concepts: production possibility frontiers, opportunity costs, comparative advantage, supply/demand functions, elasticity, types of surplus, types of cost, monopolies/cartels, game theory
Most exciting idea: Regulatory agencies can create shortages/surpluses of expendable goods in the market by imposing price floors/ceilings on producers.
Cell and Developmental Biology (BIOMG 1350)
Cell and Developmental Biology (BIOMG 1350)
Key concepts: organelles, regulation of protein activity, microtubules, microfilaments, intercellular and intracellular transport, mitosis, cell signaling, stem cells, telomeres
Most exciting idea: Telomerase activators can prolong the human lifespan by increasing the number of mitotic cycles required for a cell to reach the Hayflick Limit, thus delaying senescence.
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