Biological Engineering

Lalit R. Verma

Department Head

203 Engineering Hall

479-575-2351

E-mail: baeg@engr.uark.edu

Web: http://www.beng.uark.edu/

• Professors Griffis, Li, Loewer, Verma, Vories
• Research Professor Gardisser
• Associate Professors Carrier, Costello, Matlock
• Research Associate Professors Huitink, Tacker, VanDevender
• Assistant Professors Bajwa, Chaubey, Kavdia, Kim, Osborn
• Adjunct Professors Ang, Clausen, Ingles
• Adjunct Associate Professors Beitle, Deaton, Yang (Z.)
• Adjunct Assistant Professors Haggard, Howell, Ward, Wimberly, Yang (W.)

Degrees Conferred:

M.S.B.E. (BENG) in Biological Engineering

M.S.E., Ph.D. in Engineering (ENGR) (See Engineering)

Primary Areas of Faculty Research: Biomedical engineering (bioimaging, modeling, genetic/molecular engineering, computational bioengineering, biodetection, bioharzard and risk assessment, bioremediation, nano-biotechnology); bioresource engineering (precision agriculture, remote sensing, GPS and GIS, sensors and control, renewable energy); ecological engineering (watershed management, water quality remediation, natural resource management, animal housing and waste management); food and bioprocess engineering (monitoring and control, biosensors, biological safety and security, nutraceuticals, biotechnology).

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree: (Minimum 30 hours) In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School and the graduate faculty in Engineering, the following departmental requirements must be satisfied for the M.S.B.E. degree:

1. Candidates are required to complete not less than 24 semester hours of course work acceptable to the committee and a minimum of six semester hours of thesis.

2. The minimum acceptable grade on a graduate course is “C.”

3. Prior to acceptance into the program a candidate must, in consultation with the department head, identify a professor who is willing to serve as the major professor. During the first
semester, the candidate must, in consultation with the major professor and department head, select a graduate committee. The candidate will, in consultation with the committee, prepare a written graduate program of study that will achieve the candidate’s objectives.

4. Candidates must prepare a paper suitable for submission to a refereed journal from research done for a thesis or BENG 500V.

BENG4103 Instrumentation in Biological Engineering (SP)  Theory and advanced applications of analog circuits, digital circuits, and commercial instruments involving biological materials. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 4100L. Prerequisite: BENG 2103 or ELEG 2103.

BENG4103H Honors Instrumentation in Biological Engineering (SP)  Theory and advanced applications of analog circuits, digital circuits, and commercial instruments involving biological materials. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 4100L. Prerequisite: BENG 2103 (or ELEG 2103 or ELEG 3903).

BENG4100L Instrumentation in Biological Engineering Laboratory (SP)  Corequisite: BENG 4103.

BENG4100M Honors Instrumentation in Biological Engineering Laboratory (SP)  Corequisite: BENG 4103.

BENG4113 Risk Analysis for Biological Systems  (FA, Odd years)  Principles of risk assessment including exposure assessment and dose response, and risk management. Methods of risk analysis modeling and simulation with computer software. Applications of risk analysis in animal, food and environmental systems. Prerequisite: MATH 2564 and MBIO 2013.

BENG4123 Biosensors & Bioinstrumentation  (SP, Odd years)  Principles of biologically based sensing elements and interfacing techniques. Design and analysis methods of biosensing and transducing components in bioinstrumentation. Applications of biosensors and bioinstrumentation in in bioprocessing, bioenvironmental, biomechanical and biomedical engineering. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 4120L. Prerequisite: MBIO 2013 and BENG 4103.

BENG4120L Biosensors & Bioinstrumentation Laboratory (SP)  Corequisite: BENG 4123.

BENG4203 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (FA)  Engineering principles applied to the design and analysis of systems affecting human health. This is an introductory course focusing on fundamentals of physiological systems and modeling and how this relates to analysis and equipment design. Topics include: brief overview of anatomy and physiology; biomedical sensors, instrumentation and signal processing; physiological modeling, biomechanics, and fluid mechanics. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: MEEG 2013, (MEEG 2403 or CHEG 2313), ELEG 2103, (MEEG 3503 or CVEG 3213 or CHEG 2133), MEEG 3013, and BIOL 1543.

BENG4213 Applications of Biomedical Engineering (SP)  Continuation of BENG 4203. Biomedical engineering fundamentals applied to biomedical engineering problems. Topics include: biomaterials, tissue engineering, biotechnology, radiation imaging, ultrasound, NMR, MRI, biomedical optics and lasers, rehabilitation engineering, assistive technology, and clinical engineering. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: BENG 4203.

BENG4403 Controlled-Environment Structures for Biological Systems (IR)  Environmental, structural and functional requirements of buildings, with emphasis on confinement systems for commercial animal and plant production. Analysis of heat and mass balances which incorporate physiological input of the organisms. Psychometrics and solar energy principles. Design of ventilation, heating and cooling systems. Simple structural design with wood components. Pre- or Corequisite: MEEG 3013. Corequisite: BENG 4400L. Prerequisite: MEEG 2403.

BENG4400L Controlled-Environment Structures for Biological Systems (IR)  Corequisite: BENG 4403.

BENG452V Special Topics in Biological Engineering (1-4) (IR)  Special topics in biological engineering not covered in other courses. May be repeated. May be repeated for 8 hours.

BENG4623 Biological Reactor Systems Design  (FA, Even years)  Extension of principles of microbial growth kinetics and transport phenomena to the design of biological reactor systems used in biological engineering. Reactor systems using specialty microbial biomass (activated sludge) for substrate utilization as well as biomass and product formation. Application areas such as bio-remediation, bioprocessing and organic (food/animal) waste treatment. Corequisite: BENG 4620L. Prerequisite: BENG 3733.

BENG4620L Biological Reactor Systems Design Laboratory  (FA, Even years)  Corequisite: BENG 4623.

BENG4703 Food & Bioprocess Engineering  (SP, Even years)  Basic engineering principles involved in the design of systems for handling, conditioning, and storage of agricultural materials. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 4700L. Prerequisite: BENG 3723 or CHEG 3143 or MEEG 4413.

BENG4700L Food & Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory  (SP, Even years)  Corequisite: BENG 4703.

BENG4803 Precision Agriculture  (FA, Odd years)  Introduction to precision agriculture, benefits, spatial variability within a field, zone concept, site-specific management. Spatial data collection: sensors, GPS, yield monitoring, remote sensing. Knowledge discovery from data: data processing, neural networks, genetic algorithms, use of GIS. Decision support systems. Variable-rate technology: real-time and map-based systems, variable-rate machinery, smart controls. Evaluation: Yield mapping, economic analysis.Students are expected to have basic computer skills and statistics knowledge. (Same as CSES 4803) Prerequisite: MATH 1213 and junior standing.

BENG4800L Precision Agriculture Laboratory  (FA, Odd years)  

BENG4813 Senior Biological Engineering Design I (FA)  Design concepts for equipment and processes used in biological, food and agricultural industries. Initiation of comprehensive two-semester team-design projects; defining design objectives, developing functional/mechanical criteria, standards, reliability, safety, ethics and professionalism issues. Design mechanisms, solid modeling, consideration of vibrations using computer-aided techniques. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 4810L. Prerequisite: BENG 3803.

BENG4810L Senior Biological Engineering Design I Laboratory  (FA, Even years)  Corequisite: BENG 4813.

BENG4822 Senior Biological Engineering Design II (SP)  Continuation of BENG 4813. Design concepts for equipment and processes used in biological and agricultural industries. Completion of 2-semester team design projects. Construction, testing, and evaluation of prototypes. Written and oral design reports. Discussion of manufacturing methods, safety, ergonomics, analysis/synthesis/design methods as appropriate for particular design projects. Laboratory/design 4 hours per week. Prerequisite: BENG 4813.

BENG4903 Natural Resources Engineering  (FA, Odd years)  Engineering principles for the design of systems for utilization of surface water and ground water. Includes frequency analysis of rainfall, infiltration, runoff, evapotranspiration, hydraulic control structures, ground water pumping, drainage and irrigation. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 4900L. Prerequisite: CVEG 3213 or MEEG 3503.

BENG4900L Bioenvironmental Engineering Laboratory  (FA, Odd years)  Corequisite: BENG 4903.

BENG4913 Bio-Environmental Engineering  (SP, Even years)  Engineering principles for the design of systems for the biological treatment and utilization of organic by-products from animal and crop production and food and crop processing. Design of best management practices to protect bio-environmental resources by minimizing non-point pollution (off-site movement of sediment, nutrients and other constituents) and by minimizing nuisance odors associated with land applied organic residues, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. Emphasis on economic utilization of beneficial components of typical wastes. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Pre- or Corequisite: BENG 4903 or CVEG 3223. Corequisite: BENG 4910L.

BENG4910L Bio-Environmental Engineering Laboratory  (SP, Even years)  Corequisite: BENG 4913.

BENG4923 Non-Point Source Pollution Engineering  (SP, Odd years)  Engineering principles involved in assessment and management of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Effect of NPS pollution on ecosystem integrity. Use of GIS/mathematical models to quantify extent of pollution. Design/implementation of best management practices. Discussion of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) principles and processes. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 4920L. Prerequisite: CVEG 3213 or MEEG 3503.

BENG4920L Non-Point Source Pollution Engineering  (SP, Odd years)  Corequisite: BENG 4923.

BENG500V Advanced Topics in Biological Engineering (1-6) (FA, SP, SU)  Special problems in fundamental and applied research. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

BENG5103 Advanced Instrumentation in Biological Engineering  (SP, Even years)  Applications of advanced instrumentation in biological systems. Emphasis on updated sensing and transducing technologies, data acquisition and analytical instruments. Prerequisite: BENG 4103.

BENG5100L Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory  (SP, Even years)  Corequisite: BENG 5103.

BENG5113 Agricultural Remote Sensing and GIS  (FA, Even years)  Introduction to passive and active remote sensing, remote sensing systems, optical radiation models, sensor models, data models, spectral transforms, spatial transforms, correction and calibration, geo-rectification, classification, vegetative indices. Introductin to GIS, spatial interpolation, spatial modeling. Applications in agriculture, variable rate technology, hydrologic modeling, yield monitoring, crop modeling. Prerequisite: GEOL 4413.

BENG5110L Agricultural Remote Sensing and GIS Laboratory  (FA, Even years)  

BENG5123 Imaging and Rapid Analysis of Biological and Agricultural Material s  (FA, Odd years)  Techniques of imaging and non-invasive analyses of biological and agricultural materials. Covering spectral sensing (x-ray, UV, VS, IR), optics, image processing, recognition, on-line monitoring and vision-based controls. Applications to automated food/fruit inspections, defect/contaminant detection, and characterization of food non-food materials in real-time on processing lines. Prerequisite: BENG 4103.

BENG5613 Simulation Modeling of Biological Systems  (FA, Even years)  Application of computer modeling and simulation of discrete discrete-event and continuous-time systems to solve biological and agricultural engineering problems. Philosophy and ethics of representing complex processes in simplified form. Deterministic and stochastic modeling of complex systems, algorithm development, application limits, and simulation interpretation. Emphasis on calibration, validation and testing of biological systems models for the purposes of system optimization, resource allocation, real-time control and/or conceptual understanding. Prerequisite: AGST 4023 or STAT 4003 or INEG 4333.

BENG5703 Design and Analysis of Experiments for Engineering Research (IR)  Principles of planning and design of experiments for engineering research. Propagation of experimental error. Improving precision of experiments. Analysis of experimental data for optimal design and control of engineering systems using computer techniques. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 5700L. Prerequisite: INEG 4333.

BENG5700L Design and Analysis of Experiments for Engineering Research Labor atory (IR)  Corequisite: BENG 5703

BENG5713 Food Product and Process Development  (FA, Odd years)  Multidisciplinary approaches for developing new food products and processes, in the context of an industry-sponsored project. Group dynamics and interpersonal skills. Factors that influence product and process development. Analysis and modeling applied to food process design. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 6 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 5710L. Prerequisite: BENG 4703.

BENG5710L Food Product and Process Development Laboratory  (FA, Odd years)  Corequisite: BENG 5713.

BENG5723 Food Safety Engineering  (FA, Even years)  Principles of engineering methods applied to food and safety and sanitation. Discussion of thermal, chemical, electrical pasteurization or sterilization in food processing. Demonstration of monitoring and detecting techniques for food safety, including image analysis, biosensors and modeling. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: BENG 4103 and FDSC 4124 (or equivalent).

BENG5733 Advanced Biological Process Engineering  (FA, Odd years)  Applications of the principles of bioprocess/biochemical engineering to microbiological and biomedical problems. Topics include applied enzymology, metabolic engineering, molecular genetics and control, and bioinformatics in addition to classical applied enzyme and cell-growth kinetics and advanced bioreactor design. Prerequisite: BENG 3732 or CHEG 5531.

BENG5801 Graduate Seminar (FA)  Reports presented by graduate students on topics dealing with current research in agricultural engineering. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

BENG5903 Water Quality Modeling and Management  (SP, Odd years)  Processes and methodologies associated with surface water quality modeling, investigation of management processes based on modeling results. Process from simple steady-state spreadsheet models (to understand aquatic biosystems modeling) to complex GIS-based dynamic models. Develop calibration and validation statistics for model applications. Students will develop a semester project that integrates their skills and knowledge in parameterizing, calibrating, and validating water quality models for environmental applications. Prerequisite: BENG 5613.

BENG5913 Bioremediation and Biodegradation  (SP, Odd years)  Environmentally-relevant biotechnology using organisms to remove or metabolize environmental pollutants through microbial degradation and phytoremediation of recalcitrant compounds. Benefits as well as potential costs of environmental applications of biotechnology will be evaluated.

BENG5923 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control and Modeling  (SP, Even years)  Control of hydrologic, meteorologic, and land use factors on nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in urban and agricultural watersheds. Discussion of water quality models to develop NPS pollution control plans and total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), with consideration of model calibration, validation, and uncertainty analysis. Prerequisite: BENG 4903 or CVEG 3223.

BENG5933 Environmental and Ecological Risk Assessment  (SP, Even years)  Process and methodologies associated with human-environmental and ecological risk assessments. Environmental risk assessments based on human receptors as endpoints, addressing predominantly abiotic processes. Ecological risk assessments based on non-human receptors as endpoints. Approach using hazard definition, effects assessment, risk estimation, and risk management. Application of methods to student projects to gain experience in defining and quantifying uncertainty associated with human perturbation, management and restoration of environmental and ecological processes. Prerequisite: BENG 4113.

BENG600V Master’s Thesis (1-6) (FA, SP, SU)  Prerequisite: graduate standing.

BENG6713 Advanced Properties of Biological Materials (IR)  An advanced treatment of the physical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties of food and other biological materials. Special emphasis on the microscopic bases for physicochemical properties. Modeling of material properties and behavior. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BENG 6710L. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

BENG6710L Advanced Properties of Biological Materials Laboratory (IR)  Corequisite: BENG 6713.

BENG700V Doctoral Dissertation (1-18) (FA, SP, SU)  Prerequisite: candidacy.